2012 Top 10 Family Cars

When you’re shopping for the next family ride, there are several factors to keep in mind. They are, in no particular order: price, fuel economy, performance, style, space (cargo and passenger) and safety.

With that in mind, here’s a look at ten top picks for this year:

2012 Hyundai Sonata: The Sonata may not be quite as fun to drive as its Kia Optima platform-mate, but it’s arguably the better-looking one of the two, and it’s still one of the most stylish mid-sizers out there, plus it offers up to 35 mpg and a hybrid option. Base price: $19,695

2012 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ

2012 Kia Optima: The Optima shares its platform with the Sonata, but it’s a bit sportier in nature. It’s also handsome in its own right. Family-car shoppers can do much worse than looking at this mid-size sedan. Like the Sonata, a hybrid is available. Base price: $19,500

2012 Chevrolet Equinox/GMC Terrain: OK, we’re cheating here a bit by combining two models. But unlike the Sonata/Optima, the differences here aren’t as pronounced. Still, these five-seat crossovers are fairly fuel-efficient—up to 32 mpg—and not terribly expensive. Indeed, the Equinox helped spur Chevrolet’s—and GM’s—comeback when it was released a couple years ago. Base Price: $23,450 (Equinox), $25,480 (Terrain)

2012 Ford Fusion: This is another fun-to-drive mid-sizer with an available hybrid. The Fusion scores points for being sporty, and we like the design, but one caveat is that the current generation is on its last legs, pending a redesign in the next year or two. Still, the Fusion deserves a long look, especially if you like the 40-mpg promise of the Fusion Hybrid. Base price: $20,200

2012 Volkswagen Passat: The redesigned 2012 Passat gets points for range (close to 800 miles for diesel models), upscale interior trim, and for being a bit on the spacious side. The car is part of VW’s ambitious plan to take over the top sales spot by 2011, and it’s a good first step. Base price: $19,995

2012 Chevrolet Traverse: While the Traverse won’t win any fuel-economy champion awards, it offers three rows of seating and a spacious interior. It’s admittedly a bit on the bland side, but for family transport, it does its job exceptionally well. Base price: $29,430

2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee: When Jeep redesigned the GC for 2011, it came up with a winner. This version of the venerable SUV is now much better on-road with little sacrificed in terms of off-road and bad-weather capability. And the design is much better than the previous version overall. Chrysler’s ongoing renaissance began with the launch of this Jeep, and with good reason. Base price: $26,995

2012 Honda CR-V EX AWD

2012 Dodge Durango: Following on the heels of the Grand Cherokee, this seven-seat SUV is Dodge’s answer to the Traverse and Ford Explorer, and it offers performance that the previous Durango simply couldn’t. No longer big and lumbering (well, still big, but not nearly as clunky), the Durango gives Dodge a nice entry into the seven-seat mid-size SUV game. Base price: $28,995

2012 Ford Explorer: As with Jeep and the Grand Cherokee, Ford was attempting to make its Explorer more car-like without sacrificing off-road performance when it redesigned the Explorer for the 2011 model year. Mission accomplished. Unlike the Grand Cherokee, the Explorer seats seven, and it offers Ford’s EcoBoost four-cylinder, which promises to boost fuel-economy. Base price: $28,170

2012 Honda CR-V:The redesigned CR-V is just hitting the market, but it adds updated styling, more power, and more features along with improved fuel economy. That will help in the crowded crossover class. Base price: N/A

[Pricing source: Consumer Guide Automotive]