Wondering which SUV is best for your family this year? This article highlights the best SUVs for families, focusing on safety, space, and comfort. Discover the top models that make family travel a breeze.
Whether for new or used vehicles the best family SUVs have features that your family weighs more heavily than bachelors might. Before summer's out, our inventory deserves a sorting ceremony for the most family-friendly options.
Notes From Our Discussion on the Best Family SUVs
- The newer lineups of family SUVs offer a variety of safe, spacious, and comfortable options designed for different family needs.
- The most import factors to consider when choosing a family SUV include safety ratings, driver-assistance technologies, fuel efficiency, cargo space, and seating capacity.
- Top choices for the next few years include the GMC Yukon, Chevy Suburban, Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade, and Honda Pilot.
- GMC Yukon offers roomy passenger space and a top-tier towing capability of 8,400 lb
- Honda CR-V gets praise in the order of 80/100 to 84/100 from J.D. Power—for its reliability especially in recent 2020s years.
- The Kia Telluride won 3 consecutive 10Best Awards in recent years.
Best Family SUVs Overview
One thing our sales advisors will always ask when helping you choose vehicles, new or used, from our lot in Calgary concerns lifestyle. A roomier, full-sized SUV may be required to get your whole family, including pets into a ride safely. Choose according to your passengers from our inventory!
Versatility is one of the most constant demands of family life, and SUVs are unmatched in this regard. Whether you’re shuttling kids to school, heading out for a weekend getaway, or simply running errands, a family SUV can handle it all with ease. But what exactly makes an SUV the best choice for families?
While we've done a close look at two comparable SUVs, the GMC Acadia vs the Chevy Traverse, families' practical concerns demand a wider look at all models, whether new or used!
SUVs Sorted By Family Needs
Safety is probably what matters most to you and your family. Features such as All-Wheel Drive (AWD) systems enhance traction and stability, instilling confidence even in tough driving conditions. Mid-size and full-size SUVs are particularly popular with our most vocal customers because they reportedly offer more luggage space and passenger capacity, seating between five to nine of your closest friends and family.
The interior of a family SUV is just as important as its exterior capabilities. Some key features to look for include:
- Durable and easy-to-clean materials like stain-resistant fabrics or treated leather seats, especially if you have young children.
- Adjustable seats for added comfort on long rides.
- Climate control to keep everyone comfortable, regardless of the weather outside.
- Built-in entertainment systems to keep passengers entertained during the journey.
The lineup we have coming presents a remarkable array of family SUVs, including compact SUVs and midsize SUVs, that emphasize these features, making them prime options for families seeking safety, spaciousness, and comfort. Among them, the midsize three row SUV category caters specifically to the dynamic needs of larger family life.
Top 10 Family SUVs
Identifying the top 10 family SUVs for this era was challenging, but we were up to the task your questions are answered next time you visit our lot. These winning models are ranked based on extensive testing and real-world driving impressions, considering factors like:
- acceleration
- handling
- comfort
- cargo space
- fuel efficiency
- value
- enjoyment to drive
Without further ado, here are the unique value offerings and specifics of each model—highlighting what makes them stand out in our sales advisors' minds—and why they’re the best SUVs for families for years to come.
GMC Yukon
GMC has quite a reputation among our customers for its comfort features and premium feel, making your trips serene and relaxing.
The GMC Yukon is one of our absolute favourites for families. As a large SUV that offers a roomy interior and top towing capabilities of 8,400 lb (enough for most trailers or watercraft according to our customers). It's remained an ideal choice for families who need extra space and power over the years. With seating for up to 9 passengers, the Yukon ensures everyone has plenty of room to stretch out and relax.
A standout feature of a new GMC Yukon is its comfortable ride and easy-driving experience. Whether you’re cruising on the highway or navigating city streets, this SUV provides a quiet and relaxed driving experience.
GMC has quite a reputation among our customers for its comfort features and premium feel, making your trips serene and relaxing.
The Yukon also comes equipped with an array of standard equipment, ensuring that drivers and passengers have access to the latest in safety and convenience features right out of the box.
Chevrolet Suburban
Our new or used Chevrolet Suburban models offer one of the best SUVs for sheer seating or convertible storage space. 8 passengers need a great balance of comfortable interior, turbocharged diesel engine power to accelerate safely on Calgary's crossroad highways, all while maintaining top-tier towing capabilities for extra gear when headed somewhere remote.
For families needing maximum roomy and responsive power, the new Chevrolet Suburban is hard to beat. This full-size SUV offers a massive cargo capacity, making it ideal for long trips and large families.
Seating for up to 8 passengers ensures that everyone has plenty of room to stretch out and relax. Whether you’re carrying sports equipment, luggage, or groceries, the Suburban has the space to handle it all.
Additionally, the Suburban’s limit-challenging 8,300 lb towing capability makes it perfect for family adventures that involve towing trailers or boats.
Honda Pilot
The Honda Pilot, while being recognized as a family favourite for a few reasons, arguably doesn't get enough attention for its 3-row seating, crossed with an enviable 10.7 L/100 km combined fuel efficiency; it's an affordable road trip model with a lot to offer Calgary families!
The Honda Pilot has long been a favorite among families, and the newest models continue this tradition. One of its standout features is the roomy interior, which provides plenty of space for both passengers and cargo.
Whether you opt for the smooth ride of a new or used Honda Pilot, it reliably excels in fuel efficiency. With rising fuel costs, having a vehicle that offers excellent fuel economy can save your family money in the long run. Plus, it's a pleasure to drive with the whole family in tow.
Hyundai Palisade
The Hyundai Palisade offers a great level of comfort and luxury families love.
The Hyundai Palisade is another top contender in the midsize SUV category—and close competition for the Telluride. Known for its high-class cabin and smooth ride, the Palisade offers a level of comfort and luxury that is hard to beat.
Value comes standard, packed into every trim level of the Palisade. Whether you choose the base model or the top-of-the-line version, you get a well-equipped vehicle that can handle all your family’s needs. The interior is spacious, with three rows of seats providing ample room for passengers and cargo alike.
Kia Telluride
Even with its luxurious offerings, the Kia Telluride retains a fair price tag, making it a compelling choice for families seeking quality without breaking the bank.
The Kia Telluride has quickly become a family favorite, and for good reason. This midsize SUV combines luxury and practicality, offering features usually found in much pricier vehicles.
The newer models include advanced safety features like blind-spot sensors and rear cross-traffic alert, ensuring your family’s safety backing out of busy roads. Inside, the Kia Telluride keeps infotainment system ready to occupy your family on long trips with the following features:
- 12.3-inch touchscreen
- Apple CarPlay
- Android Auto
- Onboard Wi-Fi
Comfort is another area where the Telluride shines. With options like driver’s seat memory settings, a head-up display, and heated and ventilated rear seats, this SUV ensures a comfortable ride for all passengers. For families with older children, less prone to mess-making, Nappa leather upholstery adds a touch of luxury for a satisfying price.
Even with its luxurious offerings, the Kia Telluride retains a fair price tag, making it a compelling choice for families seeking quality without breaking the bank.
Subaru Outback
Inside, the Outback offers a comfortable ride, a spacious interior, ample head and leg clearance in the second row, and heated seats and air vents in the second row, ensuring everyone stays comfortable.
The Outback is a versatile choice for families who love outdoor adventures. Inside, the Outback offers a comfortable ride, a spacious interior, ample head and leg clearance in the second row, and heated seats and air vents in the second row, ensuring everyone stays comfortable.
Practical features like the rearview camera in the mirror are particularly useful when car seats obstruct the view. A new or used Subaru Outback’s trunk space is another standout feature, offering generous storage capacity for all your family’s needs.
The infotainment system combines physical buttons and touchscreen controls, providing easy access to a fun yet functional ride.
Toyota Highlander
Safety is a priority with the Highlander, which comes equipped with advanced safety features native to Toyota Safety Sense designed to keep your family secure.
The Toyota Highlander has long been synonymous with reliability, and the Grand Highlander continues to uphold this reputation. This midsize SUV is perfect for families looking for a dependable vehicle that offers peace of mind for years to come.
One of the standout features of the Highlander is its all-wheel drive option. This feature provides enhanced traction and stability, making it ideal for various driving conditions, whether you’re navigating snowy roads or tackling rough terrain.
Safety is a priority with the Highlander, which comes equipped with advanced safety features native to Toyota Safety Sense designed to keep your family secure. From automatic emergency braking to pedestrian detection, these technologies help prevent accidents and protect your loved ones.
Ford Expedition
The Ford Expedition is one of Calgary's family favourites due in part to its optional 15.5-inch infotainment screen. Your next best family-friendly SUV should balance getting there with keeping your family occupied!
The new or used Ford Expedition stands out for its family-friendly features, including:
- Highly rated LATCH child seat anchors
- Spacious interior with plenty of room for car seats or pets
- Advanced safety features to keep your little ones safe and sound
- Infotainment for enjoyment when parked in remote areas
With ample seating capacity, the Expedition can comfortably accommodate larger families. Its spacious interior and premium features make it a great choice for those who need a reliable and comfortable family SUV.
Nissan Rogue
Fuel efficiency is a major selling point of a new or used Nissan Rogue, making it an economical choice for both daily commutes and longer family trips.
The Rogue is a compact SUV that excels in fuel efficiency of upwards of 7.8 L/100 km and great maneuverability—making it an excellent choice for urban families. Its compact design allows for easy navigation through city streets while still offering ample interior space for family use.
Fuel efficiency is a major selling point of a new or used Nissan Rogue, making it an economical choice for both daily commutes and longer family trips. This means you can spend less time at the pump and more time on the road, enjoying your adventures.
This SUV's versatile cargo room offers flexible storage solutions, accommodating everything from groceries to sports equipment. Its thoughtful design ensures that you always have the space you need without compromising on comfort.
Jeep Grand Cherokee WK
The second-row seats in the Jeep Grand Cherokee WK offer ample legroom and comfort, making long family trips more enjoyable.
For families who love outdoor adventures, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is a top choice. Known for its excellent off-road capabilities, this SUV is equipped with various four-wheel-drive systems and terrain management settings to tackle different environments.
Luxury combines with ruggedness in the Grand Cherokee. Available in multiple luxury trims, including the Limited and Overland editions, this SUV features high-end materials and advanced technology to ensure a comfortable and stylish ride.
The second-row seats offer ample legroom and comfort, making long family trips more enjoyable. The spacious design also allows for easy installation of three car seats, providing a comfortable ride for passengers of all ages. With the addition of third row seats, this vehicle can accommodate even more passengers.
Key Features of Family SUVs
Our vehicles, new or used, serve Calgary families on short errands to school or weekend sport clubs just as readily as they keep your family comfortable on road trips to great North American destinations. Our sales advisors can tailor their recommendations to your lifestyle and how often you pursue these activities!
When choosing a family SUV, it’s important to consider the features that boost safety, comfort, and convenience. Adaptive headlights, available in luxury family SUVs like the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class GLE 350 4MATIC or the BMW X5 xDrive40i are a feature you might not think about often. They adjust their brightness and aim based on the car’s position and speed, improving visibility and safety during night driving.
A tire pressure monitoring system is another great feature, preventing the dangers associated with low tire pressure by alerting you when a tire needs attention. Additionally, driver-attention monitoring systems can alert you to take a break if you’re showing signs of fatigue, helping to prevent accidents caused by drowsy driving.
Other important features include:
- Lane-keep assist, which helps keep the vehicle centered in its lane
- Rear cross-traffic alert, which warns of oncoming vehicles or pedestrians when reversing
- Blind-spot monitoring, which detects traffic or obstacles that aren’t visible in the vehicle’s mirrors, providing an extra layer of safety.
Visit CMP Auto Today to Find Your Family's Next New or Used SUV
Our vehicles, new or used, from our lot in Calgary offers a lot of different types of vehicles, but we're in no shortage of family-friendly SUVs. Come pick one that's right for you from our inventory!
The top family SUVs for the next few years offer a blend of safety, comfort, and practicality, making them ideal choices for families of all sizes. From the luxurious Cadillac Escalade to the budget-friendly Hyundai Tucson, there’s a perfect SUV for every family’s needs and preferences.
Budget is another concern if you've got a family you love to lug around. The good news is that it's easy to get pre-qualified for financing through a soft credit check through CMP Auto. That goes double if you're buying a new GMC or Chevrolet!
Ready to find your perfect family SUV? Remember to consider factors like safety ratings, cargo space, and fuel efficiency. Test driving different models can also help you make an informed decision. Visit CMP Auto today to take a test drive and experience the best in safety, comfort, and versatility.