US News & World Report has ranked the best cars for families for the past 12 years. The 13th list is out, with winners selected in nine categories: midsize car, hybrid car, hybrid SUV, compact SUV, 2-row SUV, 3-row SUV, large SUV, minivan and EV. As a measure of how much the vehicle landscape has shifted toward SUVs, when US News launched the awards in 2011 there were 10 categories for cars alone, as well as another nine for SUVs and one category for minivans. Now, there aren’t enough midsize sedans to break the award into affordable and upscale segments, and not enough subcompacts or hatchbacks or wagons to give those segments anything. That’s called “progress,” right? Anyway, the outlet explains that “the award methodology combines professional automotive reviews, safety and reliability ratings, seating and cargo volume, and availability of family-friendly features. In each of the nine automotive categories, the vehicle with the highest combined score is named. Best car for families.” Winners in each segment:
Midsize car: 2023 Kia K5 — one of Kia’s three awards in this year’s ranks, replacing the Honda Accord, which has won three times in the last four years.
Hybrid car: 2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid — The standard Camry is the one that usually swaps places with the Accord in the midsize category. Locked out of that this year, it leads the hybrid spot, displacing the Accord Hybrid that won last year and picking up the mantle of the Avalon Hybrid that won in 2020 and 2021.
Hybrid SUV: 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid — In the 11 years the category has been awarded, the Highlander Hybrid has lost the category only once, handing the silverware to the Lexus RX Hybrid in 2014.
Compact SUV: 2023 Hyundai Tucson – the second straight win for the Tucson in a segment once dominated by the Honda CR-V.
2nd SUV: 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe — The Honda Passport has won the last three years, with the Santa Fe taking over for its first win.
3rd SUV: 2023 Kia Telluride – The Telluride development team needs to purchase another trophy cabinet. Kia’s large SUV has won many awards. Telluride takes this spot for the fourth year in a row.
Large SUV: 2023 Chevrolet Suburban – The only local on the list to have won three years in a row and five times in total. It’s back on top after the Yukon and Escalade siblings won in 2016 and 2017, respectively, and the Ford Expedition from 2018 to 2020.
Electric Vehicle: 2023 Kia EV6 – This segment used to be associated with the Hybrid Car Award. Classified as an EV only this year, the EV6 sends another win to South Korea.
Minivan: 2023 Honda Odyssey — Odissi maintain their shutout streak with 13th straight win.
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