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U.S. News: Best Cars for Families Awards


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WASHINGTON, Aug. 23, 2011 -- U.S. News Best Cars, the definitive source for car rankings, car reviews and car-buying advice, today released the Best Cars for Families Awards at usnews.com/cars-trucks/Best-Cars-for-Families. The awards identify the best family cars across 20 automotive categories.  Toyota and Honda tied for the most awards, taking home five each. Ford took home three awards, the most of any domestic automaker.  

"Families are spending more time in their cars than ever and finding the right family car is complex and time-consuming," says Jamie Page Deaton, managing editor of U.S. News Best Cars. "The Best Cars for Families Awards save parents time and anxiety by highlighting cars that are safe, comfortable and affordable over the long term."

2011 Best Cars for Families Award Winners


2011 Honda Fit

Best Subcompact Car for Families

2011 Honda Civic

Best Compact Car for Families

2011 Ford Fusion

Best Affordable Midsize Car for Families

2011 Ford Taurus

Best Affordable Large Car for Families

2011 Honda Fit

Best Hatchback for Families

2011 Toyota Prius

Best Hybrid Car for Families

2011 Hyundai Elantra Touring

Best Wagon for Families

2011 Honda CR-V

Best Affordable Compact SUV for Families

2011 Toyota Venza

Best Midsize SUV with 2 Rows for Families

2011 Toyota Highlander

Best Midsize SUV with 3 Rows for Families

2011 Ford Explorer

Best Off-Road SUV for Families

2011 Toyota Sequoia

Best Affordable Large SUV for Families

2011 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Best Hybrid SUV for Families

2011 Honda Odyssey

Best Minivan for Families




The full list of winners is available at US News .

The U.S. News Best Cars for Families Awards take component scores from the U.S. News Best Cars rankings and weigh them to reflect what families look for in their cars. Safety, reliability, comfort and affordability are paramount to families when they shop for cars, and the Best Cars for Families Award winners are the cars that do the best on those measures. Five-year total cost of ownership data from TrueCar.com is also included in the award equation.  

What sets the U.S. News Best Cars for Families Awards apart from other car awards is that they don't reflect the opinion of just the U.S. News Best Cars editors.  The scores used to determine the award winners are based on the collective opinion of the automotive press as expressed through published reviews from credible sources. This data-driven approach makes the Best Cars for Families Awards a smart source for any family shopping for a new car.

About U.S. News Best Cars

Like the respected U.S. News College rankings, the U.S. News car rankings are an invaluable decision-making tool for consumers. The rankings use reviews from respected sources and a weighted algorithm to create objective reviews and rankings lists. Rather than trust the opinion of any one person, U.S. News Automotive compiles judgments from authorities across the automotive industry to create a one-stop shop for buyers looking for information.