SUVs are the unsung heroes of the modern family. Whether you’re hauling around a soccer team, embarking on a weekend camping trip, or simply trying to avoid a meltdown in the grocery store parking lot, you need a vehicle that can withstand the rigors of family life. Here are 21 resilient family SUVs that help you survive childhood’s chaos.
Honda CR-V
Starting our list is the ever-popular Honda CR-V, a vehicle synonymous with family life. The CR-V offers generous cargo space—up to 75.8 cubic feet—perfect for those long family road trips or storing your child’s ever-growing collection of toys. Its fuel efficiency is also a win, allowing parents to save money. Plus, with Honda’s reputation for reliability, you can trust that this SUV will survive the wear and tear of childhood chaos.
Toyota Highlander
If versatility had a face, it would look like the Toyota Highlander. This three-row SUV accommodates up to eight passengers, making it perfect for larger families or when you’re the designated parent for the neighborhood playdate. The Highlander is a solid choice with a robust suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. Its hybrid option offers an eco-friendly choice for the environmentally conscious family.
Subaru Ascent
The Subaru Ascent is your go-to if you’re a family that craves adventure. This SUV comes with standard all-wheel drive, ensuring you can tackle any terrain—snow-covered mountains or a muddy soccer field. With 86.5 cubic feet of cargo space, you can pack everything for a weekend camping trip or just the kids’ favorite stuffies. Plus, the Ascent features Subaru’s Eyesight Driver Assist Technology, making it one of the safest choices on the market.
Kia Telluride
The Kia Telluride has quickly become a family favorite and for a good reason. Its spacious interior is complemented by upscale materials, making it feel more like a luxury vehicle than an everyday SUV. With seating for up to eight and a host of tech features, including a user-friendly infotainment system, the Telluride makes every road trip feel like a mini-vacation. Parents will appreciate the plethora of USB ports to keep those devices charged and the high safety ratings that help ease the anxiety of parenthood.
Ford Explorer
The Ford Explorer has been a staple of family travel for decades. Ford redesigned it in 2020, moving to a rear-wheel-drive platform for better handling and towing. The 3.0L EcoBoost V6 engine offers up to 5,600 lbs. of towing capacity. Standard engines include a 2.3L turbocharged inline-four, delivering 300 horsepower, while the 3.0L V6 in higher trims amps up performance to 400 hp. Its technology suite includes Ford’s Co-Pilot360, which offers advanced safety features like blind-spot monitoring and automatic emergency braking.
Hyundai Palisade
The Hyundai Palisade stands out with its stylish design and spacious interior, making it a strong contender for family SUV of the year. Launched in 2019, this three-row SUV prioritizes both aesthetics and practicality. The Palisade’s strong silhouette and clean lines contribute to its road presence, while the large 20-inch alloy wheels add a touch of ruggedness. Also, on the inside, the Palisade offers a spacious, family-friendly cabin with premium materials, such as quilted Nappa leather seating, and thoughtful details like ambient lighting.
Chevrolet Traverse
When it comes to space, the Chevrolet Traverse doesn’t mess around. The Traverse sports a prominent grille, chiseled body lines, and LED headlights, blending elegance with rugged appeal. Inside, it offers seating for up to eight and ample cargo space. The interior feels upscale yet functional, with soft-touch materials, thoughtful storage spaces, and a user-friendly infotainment system. Also, the Traverse runs on a 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 310 horsepower, paired with a smooth-shifting 9-speed automatic transmission for a confident and comfortable drive.
Nissan Pathfinder
The latest fifth-generation Nissan Pathfinder, introduced in 2022, brings back a bolder look, fusing the rugged charm of early models with a modernized, chiseled front and rear, enhanced with a prominent V-motion grille. Also, the Pathfinder’s available four-wheel drive and off-road capability make it an excellent choice for families who enjoy exploring the great outdoors—especially when the kids go off the beaten path for an unexpected adventure.
Volkswagen Atlas
The Volkswagen Atlas offers an incredibly spacious interior, making it feel like a family room on wheels. Engine options typically include a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder or a 3.6-liter V6 with an eight-speed automatic transmission and available all-wheel drive. Safety features are a priority, with offerings like adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and automatic emergency braking. The Atlas has also evolved, with recent models featuring sleeker LED lighting, more premium materials, and advanced tech integration.
Mazda CX-9
If you’re looking for a family SUV with a touch of sporty flair, the Mazda CX-9 might be the answer. With its bold, sweeping lines, the CX-9 has a long hood and sloping roofline, emphasizing sophistication and movement, while the narrow, aggressive headlights add to its refined, assertive character. The grille, a significant design feature, is both wide and imposing, finished in a unique gloss-black mesh with chrome accents on higher trims. Additionally, this SUV is slightly lower and longer than many competitors, enhancing its aerodynamics and giving it a more upscale, elongated silhouette.
Buick Enclave
The Buick Enclave is perfect for families that appreciate a bit of elegance. Powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine with around 310 horsepower, it offers both front-wheel and all-wheel drive. It delivers decent fuel economy for its size, around 18 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. With quiet-tuning technology, the cabin is designed to minimize road noise, contributing to a peaceful driving experience. Buick positions it for those seeking luxury without high-end price tags, competing with models like the Acura MDX and Lincoln Aviator.
Jeep Grand Cherokee
For adventurous families, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is a rugged companion that doesn’t shy away from a challenge. One standout of the vehicle is the Trailhawk trim, designed explicitly for off-roading with features like skid plates, all-terrain tires, and a disconnecting sway bar for improved traction. Meanwhile, the plug-in hybrid 4xe variant offers eco-friendly appeal, combining gas and electric power for greater fuel efficiency. Along with its heritage and reputation, these enhancements make the Grand Cherokee a staple in urban and adventurous landscapes.
GMC Acadia
The GMC Acadia combines practicality with style, making it an excellent choice for families who need space but don’t want to sacrifice aesthetics. The 2024 model, for instance, brings a punchy 2.0-liter turbocharged engine as standard, with an optional V6 for a little more muscle. It’s got all the gadgets – from a 15-inch touchscreen that could double as a home theater to enough USB ports to keep a small tech convention powered. And safety features? Packed. Lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and even a camera-based rearview mirror.
Toyota 4Runner
If your family enjoys off-road adventures, look no further than the Toyota 4Runner. Under the hood, the 4Runner packs a reliable V6 engine, although it’s not winning any fuel-efficiency awards. What it lacks in MPG, it makes up in durability—people often joke the only thing outlasting a 4Runner is a cockroach. Inside, it’s straightforward and a little old-school, with ample space for gear and the occasional dog.
Volvo XC90
Volvo has long been synonymous with safety; the XC90 is no exception. Launched in 2002, this beauty is not just a pretty face; it boasts a 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating, making it safer than a pillow fort during a thunderstorm. Also, with seating for up to seven, it’s perfect for those family road trips where you realize the kids are louder than the engine. The spacious interior features a minimalist design, like a Scandinavian living room on wheels, and a very user-friendly infotainment system.
Chrysler Pacifica
The Chrysler Pacifica is a minivan that does it all! Launched in 2016, it replaced the Dodge Grand Caravan. With a spacious interior, the Pacifica seats up to eight. Its Stow ‘n Go seating allows you to fold the seats into the floor, making room for anything from grocery hauls to spontaneous family camping trips. The Pacifica also boasts a hybrid version, blending gas and electricity for eco-friendly family adventures.
Mercedes-Benz GLE
If you’re looking for luxury in your family SUV, the Mercedes-Benz GLE is worth considering. The GLE offers a plethora of engines, from fuel-sipping hybrids to roaring V8s that could wake the neighbors. Plus, it has safety features and an intuitive MBUX infotainment system. So, whether you’re cruising to the grocery store or off-roading in style, the GLE has you covered.
Nissan Murano
The Nissan Murano combines style and functionality, making it a popular choice for families who want something different. The interior is just as snazzy, often sporting leather seats that scream luxury. With a spacious cabin and a tech-savvy infotainment system, it feels like you’re driving a spaceship, minus the zero-gravity feature. Nissan’s V-motion design philosophy also aims for fluidity, giving the Murano a contemporary look that turns heads.
Land Rover Discovery
Launched in 1989, the Land Rover Discovery is famed for its off-road prowess, yet it can seamlessly blend into a high-end shopping district. With a choice of V6 and V8 engines, it delivers power that rivals that of a sports car. Its interior? Think luxury meets utility—plush leather seats, room for up to seven people. Further, it’s also equipped with a Terrain Response system that adapts to conditions like a chameleon.
Infiniti QX60
The Infiniti QX60 is a luxury SUV that packs style, comfort, and a sprinkle of elegance, like a tuxedo-wearing penguin at a formal event. Under its shiny hood, you’ll find a 3.5-liter V6 engine churning 295 horsepower. With three rows of seating, it’s perfect for those family road trips where the kids’ backseat bickering can drown out the radio.
Tesla Model X
The Tesla Model X is an electric SUV that defies all conventions. With its signature falcon-wing doors, this all-electric chariot can transport up to seven people. In the Plaid version, it zooms from 0 to 60 mph in a jaw-dropping 2.5 seconds, proving it can outrun your neighbor’s gas guzzler while also being environmentally friendly. And not to forget, it’s equipped with a range of up to 348 miles.
12 Cars That Are Known for Their Unbreakable Reliability — They Just Don’t Quit
Reliability is a core feature that defines a vehicle. Over the last few decades, some vehicles have emerged as a reliable and durable option, standing out as workhorses that never quit. These vehicles not only prove themselves in terms of performance but transcend their role and become reliable partners, always fulfilling their role. Here are 12 Cars known for their unbreakable reliability.
12 Cars That Are Known for Their Unbreakable Reliability — They Just Don’t Quit
