As a car mom who spend a lot of time in my vehicle, I get asked a lot about the best family SUVs on the market. Navigating family life and daily life means you need a vehicle that can do it all: haul massive strollers, fit multiple car seats comfortably, and still offer a comfortable ride for everyone.
Personally, I drive a Kia Telluride, and I absolutely love it. I would highly recommend it to anyone! But I also know that every family’s needs are different. I’ve dug into the data points and gathered some key insights to help you find the best family car. Whether you have small families or larger families, here are my top picks for the best mom car out there. Hopefully this helps you narrow down your car choices if you’re in the market for a new family car!
The Three-Row SUV
For many of us, a three-row suv is the absolute sweet spot. You get plenty of space without feeling like you’re driving a massive bus.
- Kia Telluride & Hyundai Palisade: These are the two SUVs I was trying to decide between at the end of all of my test drives. Let’s start with my favorite. The Kia Telluride (and its corporate cousin, the Hyundai Palisade) remains an incredible choice for any model year. Even at the base trim, you get an upscale cabin and incredible standard features like remote start, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assist. The car seat setup is phenomenal, offering plenty of legroom whether you opt for a bench seat (to utilize that middle seat) or captain’s chairs in the second row. Access to the third-row seating is a breeze, making it a huge win for carpooling. It’s a great SUV that maximizes your budget.
- Toyota Highlander & Grand Highlander: The classic Toyota Highlander is legendary for its reliability scores, but if you need extra cargo space (specifically more cubic feet behind the third row and rear seat), the newer Grand Highlander is a strong contender. I considered the Toyota Highlander but ultimately decided that it wasn’t comfortable enough in the third row.
- Honda Pilot & Volkswagen Atlas: If cargo capacity is your main priority in a midsize suv, both of these are excellent choices. The Atlas has a massive interior, while the Honda Pilot offers a very family-friendly cabin that’s perfect for road trips.
- Ford Explorer: A classic American hauler with a great starting price and available all-wheel drive. I had its smaller sibling, the Ford Escape, for years and loved it! I changed cars because we needed a bigger SUV as our family grew. Otherwise, I probably would have stuck with that car. I test drove the Ford Explorer but felt like it was a little too large.
Not all three-row SUVs accommodate multiple car seats equally. The spacing between LATCH anchors and seat width creates compatibility nightmares that most reviews never mention. I had to take our car seats with us to all test drives and install them to see what the real-world situation would actually be!
Critical Measurements:
• LATCH Anchor Spacing: Must be minimum 11 inches apart to fit two car seats side-by-side; the Telluride offers 12 inches while some competitors only provide 10.5 inches
• Second Row Width: Three-across infant seat installation requires 64+ inches of hip room; most midsize SUVs max out at 61 inches
• Third Row Access Angle: Captain’s chairs allow 24-inch pass-through width vs. 18 inches with bench seats, reducing toddler installation time by 60%
The Real-World Test:
Before buying, bring your actual car seats to the dealership and install all of them. Check if:
• You can buckle the middle seat with car seats on both sides
• The front passenger has at least 3 inches of legroom with a rear-facing seat behind
• You can access the third row without removing a car seat
• The cargo area fits a folded stroller with all seats occupied
The Telluride and Palisade pass this test with flying colors, while popular alternatives like the Mazda CX-9 (a gorgeous option we’ve driven on vacations!) often fail the three-across configuration.
Why I chose the Kia Telluride
We upgraded from my Ford Escape to a Kia Telluride when we had our second child. It was September 2020 (hello peak covid times), and we knew we were going to be doing a lot more travel driving (vs. flying). We had been debating getting a larger car for a little while when we took a trip to Cape Cod and I sat between our 2 year old in her car seat and our newborn in his car seat, and I knew we just needed to upgrade for everyone’s comfort!
I have been SO happy with our choice. My Telluride has the captain’s seats in the middle row, which makes it very easy to get to the back/third row. One unique feature on the Telluride vs. its competitors is that the third row legroom is very similar to the middle row. That was one of the features that sold me on this SUV. I test drove about 10 cars before deciding on the Telluride, and it is a joy to drive everyday!
Smaller SUVs & Crossovers
If you don’t need a third row, smaller suvs and the best crossover suvs offer better fuel efficiency and are so much easier to park!
- Toyota RAV (RAV4) & Honda CR-V Hybrid: These are arguably some of the best cars ever made for everyday utility. The Honda CR-V Hybrid offers fantastic fuel economy, and the Toyota RAV is basically bulletproof.
- Kia Sportage & Hyundai Tucson: If you want great tech in a compact suv, the Kia Sportage and its Hyundai counterpart are fantastic.
- Subaru Crosstrek & Mazda CX-50: The Subaru Crosstrek brings standard awd to the table for adventurous moms, while the Mazda CX-50 feels surprisingly sporty.
- Chevrolet Trax & Ford Escape: On a tighter budget? The Chevrolet Trax is a fantastic affordable suv—it’s practically a cheap car compared to the big haulers, offering maximum value for your dollar. The Ford Escape is another great option.
The Big Haulers: Full-Size SUVs
If a midsize just won’t cut it, step up to a full-size suv.
- Chevy Suburban & Ford Expedition: When you need the absolute most space for long trips, these monsters deliver. The Ford Expedition and Chevy Suburban have massive second-row seats and adult-friendly third rows that can easily handle everything your kids throw at them. I test drove the Expedition and found it entirely too large for me, but if you need the space and want an SUV, this is the way to go!
Going Green: Electric & Plug-In Hybrids
Looking to save on your annual lifespan cost? An electric suv or plug-in hybrid might be right for you.
- Hyundai Ioniq: The electric Hyundai Ioniq lineup offers fantastic electric range and instant, silent power from the electric motor.
- Kia Telluride: The 2027 Kia Telluride comes in a hybrid version! They didn’t make one when I bought mine, and I am toying with the idea of upgrading. The 35 mpg is tempting, since my gas SUV only gets 20 mpg.
Best Luxury Family Vehicles
If you have the budget for luxury cars, treat yourself to a luxury vehicle where the first row feels like an absolute sanctuary.
- Acura MDX & Volvo XC (XC90): Both offer premium materials and top-tier safety features wrapped in gorgeous designs.
- Genesis GV (GV80) & Porsche Cayenne: If you want to turn heads in the school drop-off line, these best luxury family vehicles are stunning. And of course, the Cadillac Escalade remains the ultimate statement vehicle.
Finding the best SUVs takes time, but I always suggest looking closely at the different trim levels. Sometimes a base model has absolutely everything you need! I will forever sing the praises of my Telluride, but you truly can’t go wrong with any of these picks.
Most three-row SUVs can accommodate two car seats comfortably in the second row, but fitting three car seats across requires a bench seat configuration and at least 64 inches of hip room. The Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade handle two car seats with room to spare, while three-across installations work best in full-size models like the Chevy Suburban. Always test your specific car seat models at the dealership before purchasing.
Personally, yes. The decision depends on your cargo needs and how often you transport additional passengers. If you frequently take road trips with significant luggage, need space for sports equipment, or regularly carpool with other families, the extra space justifies the cost. However, if your compact SUV comfortably fits your current lifestyle, the better fuel economy and lower insurance costs make staying with a smaller vehicle financially smarter.
For most moms in moderate climates, front-wheel drive provides sufficient traction for daily driving, school runs, and occasional rain. All-wheel drive becomes valuable if you live in areas with snow and ice, frequently drive on unpaved roads, or need confident handling in severe weather. AWD adds $1,500-$2,500 to the purchase price and reduces fuel economy by 1-2 mpg, so evaluate your actual driving conditions before opting for this feature.
Certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles typically offer the best value, combining lower prices with manufacturer warranties and thorough inspections. A 2-3 year old CPO SUV saves 30-40% compared to new while still providing modern safety features and remaining warranty coverage. New purchases make sense if you plan to keep the vehicle 10+ years or want the latest technology, while older used models work for tight budgets if you have a trusted mechanic.
Evaluate your third row usage honestly: if you’d use it weekly or more for carpools, grandparents, or additional kids, it’s worth having. If the third row would only see use a few times per year, you’re better off with a larger two-row SUV that maximizes cargo space instead. Consider that third-row seats reduce cargo capacity significantly, and most midsize SUV third rows are uncomfortable for adults on trips longer than 30 minutes.
Chime in! If you have one of these SUVs and love it, let me know in the comments!
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