U.S. News and World Report releases its 2012 Best Cars for Families awards

U.S. News Best Cars (http://www.usnews.com/cars) announced the 2012 Best Cars for Families Awards. These awards help busy parents navigate a confusing automotive market by identifying the cars that offer the best combination of factors important to everyday families.

Eight brands won awards across 18 automotive categories, including cars, SUVs and minivans. Honda and Ford led the pack with four winning vehicles each, while Acura, Buick, Subaru and Toyota had two wins each.

2012 BEST CARS FOR FAMILIES AWARDS:

Best Cars for Families Winner Highlights

• Honda CR-V Best Affordable Compact SUV for Families – A stylish redesign for 2012, plus strong reliability ratings, a comfortable passenger cabin, versatile cargo space (including a handy cargo shelving system) and a voice control navigation system makes the CR-V the best choice for families in this competitive class.
• Buick Enclave Best Affordable 3-Row Midsize SUV for Families – One of two awards this brand took home, Buick has been redesigning its product line since 2008 and it shows. In addition to being an IIHS Top Safety Pick, the Enclave has an unusually roomy third row for a midsize SUV – and safety features like rear-view cameras, voice controls and OnStar make it the most family-friendly vehicle in its class.
• Ford Taurus Best Full-Size Car for Families – An expansive interior, strong crash test ratings and Ford's MyKey system – which lets parents set speed limits to help keep new drivers safe – make the Taurus a strong choice for families who have kids in car seats as well as teens.
• Subaru Impreza Best Compact Car for Families – Its standard all-wheel drive and performance makes the Impreza not only surefooted in bad weather but an impressive ride in all weather – giving it the edge in its category. Available as a sedan or hatchback, it's an IIHS Top Safety Pick and has spacious seating and a useful cargo area.
• Honda Odyssey: Best Minivan for Families – Practical and convenient, the 2012 Odyssey's top-notch crash test scores, flexible interior for different cargo and seating arrangements, pop-up trash bag holder and multiple technology options, including rear-seat entertainment (with a 16.2-inch screen) and a cool box storage area for keeping snacks and drinks chilled, make it a standout.

The awards are published by U.S. News & World Report, which has a long history of helping Americans make the best choices when it comes to higher education, hospitals and more.

For more on the U.S. News and World Report Best Cars for Families Awards, click here.