Top 10 Vehicles for a Family of 6 (Various Body Styles – 2023)
As the family grows, fewer types of vehicles can fit, reducing the options to SUVs, trucks, and minivans.
Still, most models from the larger segments can comfortably seat a family of six, with spare seats in some cases.
Best SUVs for a Family of 6
#1 Mazda CX-9
Larger vehicles tend to be less engaging to drive, but the reverse is true for the CX-9.
The Mazda CX-9 is one of the best midsize SUVs for a family of six, boasting sporty handling and a premium-quality interior that can seat up to seven passengers.
Although its cargo capacity is less than the competition, the CX-9 has plenty of appeals:
- Agile handling – sharp and feels planted when cornering.
- Sleek design – a stark contrast to boxy, tall SUVs.
- Quiet and comfortable cabin – traveling long distances will not cause fatigue.
- Quality interior design – impressive cabin materials and is more upscale than most mainstream midsize SUVs.
The CX-9’s IIHS safety ratings have been impeccable since the second generation’s debut in 2016:
| IIHS Award | |
| 2022 Mazda CX-9 | Top Safety Pick + |
| 2021 Mazda CX-9 | Top Safety Pick + |
| 2020 Mazda CX-9 | Top Safety Pick + |
| 2019 Mazda CX-9 | Top Safety Pick + |
| 2018 Mazda CX-9 | Top Safety Pick |
| 2017 Mazda CX-9 | Top Safety Pick + |
| 2016 Mazda CX-9 | – |
If you have young children sitting in the final row, the modest space back there will fit without issue; but if you have taller teenagers, the following vehicle on this list (Palisade) is a better fit.
#2 Hyundai Palisade
Unlike most segment rivals, the Palisade boasts plenty of space in all three rows for taller kids or adults.
It can accommodate seven or eight passengers, depending on the trim level and seating configuration, and the comfortable ride in a spacious, well-appointed interior makes the Hyundai Palisade the best affordable SUV for a family of six in the midsize segment.
Besides, the Palisade has several other qualities that a larger family would appreciate:
- Affordable price – one of the cheapest midsize three-row SUVs.
- Excellent value for money – Hyundai offers an industry-leading warranty with abundant useful features.
- Good ride quality – minimal noise intrusion even when the vehicle gets up to speed.
- Segment-average fuel economy – but you can use regular gas instead of the pricier premium fuel.
- Available all-wheel-drive – the cheapest AWD option comes at less than $2,000 extra.
The Palisade is quality at an affordable price, on top of excellent crash safety since its debut in 2020.
IIHS safety awards the Palisade received:
| IIHS Award | |
| 2022 Hyundai Palisade | Top Safety Pick + |
| 2021 Hyundai Palisade | Top Safety Pick + |
| 2020 Hyundai Palisade | Top Safety Pick |
#3 Acura MDX
The MDX is an excellent pick if you desire a premium midsize SUV with three rows of seats that doesn’t cost a fortune.
The modest starting price of under $50k makes the Acura MDX one of the more affordable luxury vehicles for a 6-person family.
While its interior space is on the smaller side, the MDX remains a functional three-row SUV:
- Sporty handling – impressive considering its size. It handles like a German car, but at a lower price.
- Optional all-wheel-drive – front-wheel-drive is standard.
- Decent interior space – ample room in the first and second rows, while the third row is best-suited for pre-teen children.
- Higher cargo capacity than many 3-row midsize SUVs – the wide and flat cargo floor enhances usability. Maximum storage capacity reaches 95 cubic ft. with the second and third-row seats folded.
- Solid safety ratings.
The MDX’s long history of IIHS safety awards:
| IIHS Award | |
| 2022 Acura MDX | Top Safety Pick + |
| 2021 (hiatus) | – |
| 2020 Acura MDX | – |
| 2019 Acura MDX | Top Safety Pick |
| 2018 Acura MDX | Top Safety Pick |
| 2017 Acura MDX | Top Safety Pick + |
| 2016 Acura MDX | Top Safety Pick + |
| 2015 Acura MDX | Top Safety Pick + |
| 2014 Acura MDX | Top Safety Pick + |
| 2013 Acura MDX | Top Safety Pick |
| 2012 Acura MDX | Top Safety Pick |
| 2011 Acura MDX | – |
| 2010 Acura MDX | – |
| 2009 Acura MDX | Top Safety Pick |
| 2008 Acura MDX | Top Safety Pick |
| 2007 Acura MDX | Top Safety Pick |
| 2006 Acura MDX | – |
#4 Lincoln Navigator
Should a higher price tag is within your budget, and the family needs more room to stretch, the Navigator will satisfy and then some.
The Lincoln Navigator is the best full-size/large luxury SUV for a family of six, with seats for additional passengers and extra cargo space.
The standard and extended-length models (approximately 12 inches longer) provide ample space for up to seven passengers, so the Navigator is plenty comfortable for six occupants.
Noise intrusion is minimal when the car gets going, and although the suspension struggles a little over bumpy surfaces, the ride quality is livable.
The 400-plus horsepower is potent and can quickly get you up to speed, covering 0-60 mph in a little over six seconds and pulling rapidly with six onboard.
Plus, the Navigator is one of the most fuel-efficient in its class, registering close to 20 mpg overall – the 4WD returns only one or two mpg less.
While the Navigator is ideal for a large family, the up to 222 inches in length may not fit in some garages, so you need to check beforehand.
Best Trucks for a Family of 6
#5 Ram 1500
Min. Cab Size for 2 Adults + 4 Pre-Teen Kids: Quad Cab
Best Cab Size for 2 Adults + 4 Teenagers: Crew Cab
While the Ford F-150 leads the class with superior towing ability, the Ram 1500 is a close second, rivaling the former in space, comfort, and fuel economy.
If ride quality is crucial to transporting your family in comfort, the Ram 1500 is a compelling pick and the best pickup truck for a family of six.
The unique coil-spring rear suspension provides a smooth ride without sacrificing a truck’s traditional strengths.
It expertly soaks up bumps and road imperfections, with minimal road and wind noise, even at elevated speeds, giving your family a relatively quiet and comfortable time on longer journeys.
The rear-wheel-drive trim with a hybrid powertrain is the most fuel-efficient of the extensive options.
#6 Ford F-250
Min. Cab Size for 2 Adults + 4 Pre-Teen Kids: SuperCab
Best Cab Size for 2 Adults + 4 Teenagers: Crew Cab
The leading truck manufacturers offer heavy-duty options to their light-duty pickups, so the F-250 is the logical upgrade if you need increased toughness for substantial loads.
Although Ram and GMC have similar offerings, Ford F-250’s extra payload capacity translates into the best full-size truck for a 6-pax family, with abundant power for the maximum load of passengers plus cargo.
Like the light-duty F-150, F-250 has an aluminum-alloy body with high-strength steel frames for weight saving and marginally improved fuel economy.
Alternatively, if you’re willing to trade some towing prowess, the Ram 2500 is the better equivalent for improved ride comfort and a more appealing interior.
#7 GMC Sierra 3500HD
Min. Cab Size for 2 Adults + 4 Pre-Teen Kids: Double Cab
Best Cab Size for 2 Adults + 4 Teenagers: Crew Cab
A heavy-duty truck is ideal if you need a family vehicle with the best towing and hauling abilities.
The GMC Sierra 3500HD is a true workhorse that can double as a family commuter and is one of the best heavy-duty trucks for a sizeable 6-pax family.
Inevitably, the Ford F-350 Super Duty and Ram 3500 will make your shortlist, and they are compelling alternatives to the GMC’s equivalent for maximum strength.
Opting for a heavy-duty truck – GMC, Ford, or Ram – means sacrificing a little ride comfort for brute strength. However, it’s still a worthwhile compromise, eliminating the need for a second vehicle for separate duties.
Best Minivans for a Family of 6
#8 Honda Odyssey
The Honda Odyssey minivan is the complete all-rounder, offering superior handling (among minivans), comfort, and a feature-rich package.
With segment-topping interior space and maximum cargo capacity, plus precise steering for an enjoyable driving experience, the Honda Odyssey is the best minivan for a family of six or more.
The interior is one of the quietest in the class and offers plenty of room and in-cabin features for kids or adults to travel long distances, pampered with luxurious ride quality.
As significantly, the Honda Odyssey has arguably the most extensive list of IIHS safety awards among minivans:
| IIHS Award | |
| 2022 Honda Odyssey | Top Safety Pick + |
| 2021 Honda Odyssey | Top Safety Pick + |
| 2020 Honda Odyssey | Top Safety Pick |
| 2019 Honda Odyssey | Top Safety Pick |
| 2018 Honda Odyssey | Top Safety Pick |
| 2017 Honda Odyssey | – |
| 2016 Honda Odyssey | Top Safety Pick |
| 2015 Honda Odyssey | Top Safety Pick |
| 2014 Honda Odyssey | Top Safety Pick + |
| 2013 Honda Odyssey | Top Safety Pick |
| 2012 Honda Odyssey | Top Safety Pick |
| 2011 Honda Odyssey | Top Safety Pick |
| 2010 Honda Odyssey | – |
| 2009 Honda Odyssey | Top Safety Pick |
| 2008 Honda Odyssey | Top Safety Pick |
The Odyssey’s fuel economy is an average low-20s-mpg combined – the Chrysler Pacifica plug-in-hybrid in the vehicles for a 7-pax-family post and Toyota Sienna in the cars for a 5-pax-family post are more attractive efficiency propositions.
#9 Kia Carnival
The Kia Carnival is relatively new, debuting in 2022, and its availability provides larger households with an inexpensive people hauler sporting a unique SUV styling.
Retailing at under $35,000 for a brand-new base model, the Kia Carnival is the most affordable minivan for a 6-person or larger family – it can seat up to eight passengers in relative comfort.
The spacious interior is easy to climb in and out, with excellent outward visibility for the driver, thanks to large front, rear side, and back windows.
Storage space behind the final row is class-leading at 40 cubic ft.; meanwhile, the maximum cargo capacity with the seats folded amounts to a spacious 140 cubic ft. – only the Honda Odyssey bests the Carnival in this aspect.
Best Electric Car for a Family of 6
#10 Tesla Model X
A six-seater electric car is rare – very rare – so your options are severely limited, at least for now.
But if an over-$100k price tag isn’t a deterrent, the Tesla Model X is worth considering.
It gets close to 350 miles of range, regardless of the trim level, and the horsepower output exceeding 650 hp provides rapid acceleration even with six on board.
More significantly, though, the Tesla Model X Plaid trim (over 1,000 hp) can seat one more passenger than the five-seater standard model, making it the best electric car for a family of six.
The Model X also boasts a large cargo area in the front and back of the vehicle, so storage space for six is excellent.
However, the less-than-generous third row means taller kids for the space may be a squeeze.
You could explore getting a fuel-efficient minivan instead:
- Chrysler Pacifica plug-in-hybrid – nearly as good as an EV because it can travel on electricity-only power for shorter distances.
- Toyota Sienna – the most frugal hybrid minivan yet.
The posts on vehicles for a family of seven or a family of eight or more contain those minivans.
SUV vs. Minivan for a Family of 6
For a larger-than-average family, the vehicle’s interior space becomes critical for short and long-distance comfort.
Still, between a minivan and an SUV, the decision boils down to what the primary priority is.
A minivan outshines an SUV in maximum interior space for a family of six, leaving extra seats and room for the additional guests and cargo but sacrificing car-like drivability resulting from the elongated body.
However, suppose you want the family vehicle to have a more athletic demeanor; in which case, an SUV is more likely to satisfy than the typical minivan, with adequate cabin room but potentially greater luxury for six.
References:
https://www.carsforsale.com/used-cars-for-sale
