GM, Domestic Brands Perform Well in Best Family Car Awards

US News and World Report has announced the 2013 Best Cars for Families winners, and unlike many vehicle awards, domestic brands were well represented. Awards were given across 19 different categories, each judging vehicles for the best combination of quality, size, and family needs. Of the 19, ten were from US based brands, including six from General Motors.

The annual awards are designed to help prospective car buyers make the best purchasing decision for their family’s needs. "We created the Best Cars for Families awards to make it easier for parents to find cars, SUVs and vans that will help make their lives easier," says Jamie Page Deaton, Managing Editor of U.S. News Best Cars. "With such a broad range of award winners, any family can find the best car for their lifestyle." To determine each category’s winner, editors from US News issued scores to each vehicle according to their three criteria, aggregating them into a single overall score.

“Quality” was determined by a weighted average of a vehicle’s US News ranking at the time the awards were published. These rankings, which have been published since 2007, establish a rank order for vehicles according to their safety and reliability ratings, as well as the consensus opinion from major automotive critics. “Size” was based on a vehicle’s seating capacity, as well as available interior space, and “family needs” accounted for the number and quality of features the editor’s deemed helpful for families.

General Motors proved family friendly across a range of categories, including compact cars, full sized cars, and luxury full sized SUVs. The Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Traverse, Chevrolet Cruze, Buick Verano, Buick Lacrosse and Cadillac Escalade all took home family-friendly trophies. Ford’s Fusion and Fusion Hybrid models also took home awards, as did the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Lincoln MKT. Honda and Toyota received multiple honors as well, as the Honda CR-V, Odyssey, Lexus RX-530, and Toyota Highlander Hybrid all received awards for the third straight year. Chevrolet, Jeep, Mercedes Benz, Audi, and Lincoln were all first time winners.

Last year, more than 27 million potential car buyers consulted US News’ website, highlighting the benefits for car makers to receive an award. In a statement released alongside the announced winners, US News said that it had “earned a reputation as the leading provider of service news and information that improves the quality of life of its readers.” By issuing their yearly Best Cars for Families awards, the news and analysis publisher attempts to give its readers the information they need to purchase the car most appropriate for their particular needs.

To be considered family friendly, a vehicle has to handle a number of specific tasks; not every automobile is suited to handle the needs of a family. Alongside the obvious need for adequate space, a vehicle must be able to protect its occupants throughout the cabin area in the event of a crash, especially in the back seats, where children will be seated. “The key is versatility,” says Jennifer Stockburger, senior automotive engineer at Consumer Reports. “The family car is the multi-use vehicle for many families. Consumers are very demanding what they want, and they aren’t willing to compromise.”