Small SUVs Perfect for Families

Not every family has the budget—or the need—for a large SUV. We’ve found five small SUVs that are perfect for families. Each one has features that will keep everyone safe, comfortable, and

entertained.

How They Made the Cut

Our picks for small and crossover SUVs made the grade for their:

• Affordability
• Crowd-pleasing features
• Great fuel economy or hybrid options
• Outstanding safety features

So, let’s take a look at our five favorite small SUVs for families.

Best Family Value: Hyundai Tucson

Its long list of standard safety features earned the Hyundai Tucson top safety ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Not only that, but it has the best warranty in America, and Hyundai offers three years of free oil changes and tire rotations on every new vehicle. All of that, combined with an easy-to-use infotainment system and a spacious cabin, makes the Tucson one of our top picks for families.

An SUV Grown-Ups Can Enjoy: Buick Encore

You’ve got to get the kids to school and activities, but you also have to entertain clients. The Buick Encore delivers a smooth, quiet ride that can help tame the wildest toddler. And its interior surfaces are refined yet tough enough to handle everything from muddy shoes to spilled milk.

You can configure the Encore’s cargo area and split-fold rear seats to carry your family’s everyday necessities. And it will also hold a couple of sets of golf clubs when you’ve got to schmooze that important client.

Rugged in the Right Ways: Subaru Forester

The Subaru Forester is one of the best all-around SUVs available today. Its standard all-wheel drive and higher ground clearance make it the ideal crossover for outdoor-loving families. Subaru has also reinforced the roof rails to support heavier cargo boxes and outdoor gear.

The Forester includes favorite safety features such as adaptive cruise control, forward collision mitigation, and lane-centering technology. And while rear-facing car seats might be a tight fit, the Forester comfortably seats up to three kids and adults in the back row.

Class-Leading Fuel Economy: Toyota RAV4

The Toyota RAV4 gets high marks for having an available hybrid option, but even if you opt for the gasoline-powered RAV4, you’ll still get a not-too-shabby 30 highway MPG.

The RAV4’s easy-to-load cargo area is one of the largest in its class. Toyota’s LATCH system makes it easy to install safety seats of all shapes and sizes, and it boasts an impressive list of driver assistance features to keep everyone safe.

No Growing Pains: Chevrolet Equinox

The Chevrolet Equinox is one of those rare-breed crossovers. It’s small and agile enough to park just about anywhere but so roomy inside that you can raise three kids from cradle to high school graduation without needing a larger SUV.

It’s one of the more reliable SUVs on the road, and it is loaded with family-friendly conveniences, including a rear-seat reminder and Teen Driver technology.

Five Small SUVs to Add to Your Shopping List

There you have it. Five outstanding family-friendly small SUVs, from the luxurious Buick Encore to the outdoorsy Subaru Forester. If you’re looking for a new crossover to haul your clan around, these SUVs should be on your test-drive list.