We've been talking about the next family car lately, and the SUV seems like it's here to stay. With crazy innovation seemingly every year and the largest market segment out there, the family SUV is one of those important decisions people across the country are making. More versatile than the minivan and more stylish to boot, the family SUV is something to be proud of. So what's 2014 got on the horizon? Check out part 1 of our top 10 best family SUVs here, and read on for the rest!
2014 Kia Sorento—With seven passenger seating, an available 3.3 liter 290 horsepower V6 that is the picture of potency and smoothness as well as a beautifully styled exterior, there are few reasons not to consider a 2014 Kia Sorento. This SUV is truly midsize and pretty much stands alone between the CR-V sized compact SUV segment and the larger models such as the Dodge Durango. So if you want an SUV that is “just right,” the 2014 Kia Sorento could be perfect for your inner Goldilocks.
2014 Mazda CX-5—With a new 2.5 liter 185 horsepower SkyActiv 4-cylinder available for the 2014 model year, the one complaint about the CX-5 has been taken care of—that it was too slow. The Mazda CX-5 may not be quite as utilitarian and family friendly as the Honda CR-V but it tops all comers when it comes to being fun to drive and for actually being able to return the EPA fuel economy estimates. A great choice and the prices are very reasonable. You can even buy one with a stick shift on the base model.
2014 Acura MDX—All new for the 2014 model year, some have said that the exterior styling of the new MDX is very similar to that of last year’s version. While we think there was nothing wrong with last year’s model, Acura tells us that each body panel is all new and once you get inside it’s easy to see how much more stylishly luxurious and spacious that this 7-passenger luxury SUV has become. A best seller for Acura and it’s easy to see why. It doesn’t hurt that it’s nearly as fun to drive as a BMW X5 only thousands of dollars less expensive.
2014 Dodge Durango—If you need to tow or haul anything, you can’t beat the Dodge Durango R/T with the 5.7 liter Hemi V8 which is tow rated over 7,000 lbs. That’s a lot of capability for a manageably sized full size SUV. We prefer the Durango’s dimensions to those of models like the Tahoe and Suburban which can feel unwieldy in parking lots and pretty much anywhere there are other vehicles.
2014 Nissan Pathfinder—The Nissan Pathfinder was just redesigned recently and went from a rather style free wallflower to a comfortable SUV powerhouse with one of the roomiest, most comfortable and stylish interiors in the SUV class. We were hugely impressed with Nissan’s ability to cram so much room into this SUV without making it feel cumbersome to drive. If you need three rows of seats in your next family SUV, you must test drive the new Pathfinder.
Test drive these new family SUVs before year's end and find the right one for your family.