The Kelley Blue Book team, known for its eponymous, highly regarded car value listings, recently announced its choice of this year’s most family-friendly vehicles. This year, the Kelley Blue Book editors evaluated a wide range of candidates using “such factors as resale value, fuel efficiency, capability and kid-friendliness,” and the results were a drastic—if unsurprising—turnabout from previous years.
With Toyota struggling to battle an ever-growing list of quality problems, the Japanese automaker placed no vehicles at all on the 2010 KBB list; last year, three models made the cut. Instead, Ford and General Motors led the way in 2010, with each automaker placing three vehicles among the top 10, followed by two for Honda and one each for Subaru and Hyundai.
The complete list of winners: the nine-passenger Chevrolet Suburban, surprisingly fuel-efficient Chevrolet Traverse and standout Chevrolet Equinox; the “tour de force” Ford Taurus, all-around winner Ford Flex and Ford Fusion Hybrid, “one of the best” mid-sizers on the market; the versatile Honda Odyssey and Honda Accord Crosstour, with its mix of sedan styling and hatchback flexibility; the unexpectedly roomy and efficient Hyundai Elantra Touring; and the rugged yet sporty Subaru Outback.
And here’s a fun factoid: Despite being a list of top “cars,” Ford Sweetwater notes that the only true cars here are the Taurus, Fusion and Elantra. The rest are crossovers (Traverse, Equinox, Flex, Crosstour and Outback), a body-on-frame SUV (Suburban) and a minivan (Odyssey).
Regardless, representing a wide range of MSRPs—from the $16,715 Hyundai to the $41,585 Chevy—and some very fuel-efficient products—including the class-leading Equinox—the KBB list of 2010 Top-10 Family Cars certainly lives up to its name.
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