Forbes lists top 10 family cars
As the self-appointed family car reviewer for Autoblog, I have some opinions on the topic. If money were no object, my nomination for the ultimate family car would be split between the Mercedes-Benz R-Class and the BMW 5 Series wagon. But the R-Class entry price is $42k, and the Bimmer's is close to $50k -- not exactly family-friendly.
Forbes Magazine, however, is a bit more realistic in its quest for the perfect family car, and considers price a deciding factor, like the majority of families. I agree with its Compact Car pick. The 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit is a good deal for your $16k entry price (though Forbes says $19k). On paper, its 15 cu. ft. of cargo space doesn't sound like much, but in reality, it's bigger than it sounds. The Rabbit also averages about 25 mpg, and these days, that's a big deal.
Still, there are some Forbes picks I just don't agree with. For example, the mag selects the Saab 9-3 Sport Combi as best wagon. Really? I admit I've never driven one, but I'm just wondering where the new Jetta Sportwagen placed. (I just stepped out of reviewing one for a week.) Forbes cites the Saab's maximum 72.3 cu. ft of cargo space as a big factor. But it only bests the VeeDub's by 5.4 cu. ft. And while the VW gives up 110 horses to the Saab's 280, but the VW gets, on average, 24 mpg to the Saab's 18. Oh, and the Saab requires premium fuel. I guess the question is this: Do you want to drag race your wagon or save money? My family will take the cash, please.
Then there's the Best Crossover category, where Forbes crowns the Ford Edge. This time, oddly enough, it decides to give the Edge an edge and lowball the entry level price at $25,735. Add some fairly common options, and you get pretty close to the upper range of $32k pretty quick. That, combined with an average fuel economy rating of 20 mpg, puts it out of the running in my household.
So, what else did I agree with? The Toyota Sienna isn't the best-looking vehicle on the road, but it's Forbes pick for the Best Minivan title. Even with an average of 22.5 mpg and a base price of $25k, I'd be fine putting my clan in it. I can't really come up with a better nomination for best convertible for family than Forbes' choice of the 2008 MINI Cooper. Sure, the kids are gonna be cramped, and they'll only be able to bring on vacation one change of clothes, but Daddy will sure be happy. Plus, its EPA-rated 26 mpg combined (with the stick) is not shabby.
Check out Forbes family car picks and tell us which ones you agree/disagree with. And, yes, we, too, are disappointed they didn't put the S4 in there, but then, at $48k, it's not exactly a frugal choice.
[Source: Forbes]
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Torrent 6:10PM (7/05/2008)
The Saab is good enough. Maybe the Jetta was too new to be rated?
Reply
Spiel 8:04AM (7/07/2008)
I owned a newer Saab 93 (2004-2006), and my wife owns a new 2007 Volvo S40 T5, and there is no way the Saab wagon is better than the Volvo V50 T5. The build quality is night and day. The quality and reliability of the 93 is pure comical. I love how the 93 looks (03-07 ONLY), but that's all that car had going for it. It just can't compete with the competition.
I have no idea how Forbes came to this conclusion, but it just further shows all of these reports and rankings are a joke, nothing beats actual experience.
Torrent 10:49AM (7/07/2008)
I'm talking about the Jetta not a Volvo, but i agree rankings mean nothing.
Justin 6:18PM (7/05/2008)
What about the Passat Wagon? Essentially the same weight, price, and storage space as the jetta sportwagen, but I think the passat looks much better.
Reply
1337 8:31PM (7/05/2008)
So, in other words, the Jetta does everything the Passat does, but for less money? The obvious choice is the Passat then!
sarcasm
1337 8:34PM (7/05/2008)
So, in other words, the Jetta does everything the Passat does, but for less money? The obvious choice is the Passat then!
sarcasm
BTW, you should price out the Jetta and the Passat. They aren't the same price.
zamafir 6:32PM (7/05/2008)
screw the base 2.5 sportwagen, if i was looking for a family car i'd be focused firmly on the TDI sportwagen when it emerges.
Reply
PJ 6:40PM (7/05/2008)
Forbes cites a $19,000 sticker for the Rabbit because that's what a five-door model costs. $16,000 buys you a three-door, which isn't much of a family car.
As for the 9-3 SportCombi, who needs the V6? The base 210-horsepower turbo Four outhustles the Jetta 2.5 while getting 19/26 MPG (19/29 with the standard stick). And no one pays anywhere near the $29,250 sticker.
Reply
Chase 1:10AM (7/06/2008)
Five door Rabbits are $17,575 base. :)
thomas 11:31AM (7/06/2008)
props to everyone defending the saab! I don't know what the EPAs problem is, but my 2.0T consistently gets about 28 combined.
PJ 12:58PM (7/06/2008)
Arg... good catch.
It's the 5-door *automatic* with the $18,560 MSRP.
CalGuy 10:25PM (7/06/2008)
.. and the Saab has free maintenance for 3 years, a 4 year warranty and incredibly good safety. Most owners enjoy at least 30 mpg on the freeway with the non-Aero. It's a sweet ride.
Raj 6:41PM (7/05/2008)
With the smaller engine (2.0 Turbo with 210 horsepower), the Saab SportCombi gets 23 combined MPG.. so not too bad. The 9-3 is also an IIHS best pick for safety which is something that put it on my list for a family vehicle when I was looking last year.
Reply
zamafir 7:59PM (7/05/2008)
while we're at it, the sportwagen with 2.0T manages much of the same, 200hp, over 23 combined, great crash ratings, it would have been nice for forbes to compare the two.
P B 6:46PM (7/05/2008)
I'm surprised by the lack of Toyota or Honda in the car entries. Nothing Honda even made the list.
Reply
Seoultrain 4:11AM (7/06/2008)
I think they went overboard with the "We're not gonna be like everyone else and award Toyondas" mentality. Trying a little too hard to be different. Saab? Mini? Mitsubishi? Saturn? Decent cars, but please.
wilsonce01 6:49PM (7/05/2008)
Go drive the 9-3 SportCombi and report back. Yeah, the Aero (V6) is probably overkill, the 2.0T is a great value. Plus it's got a safety factor that is hard to beat. Fuel economy for the 2.0T comes in at 19/29 for the manual or 18/24 with the auto.
I certainly wouldn't discount the Jetta wagon, especially in diesel form, but I still prefer the Saab both in looks and performance.
Reply
no_Odle 7:10PM (7/05/2008)
who the hell is crazy enough to buy a mini. I find it more of a bachelor's car, not family... plus its a useless car, I would maybe get the cooper S, but only if i was forced to choose between that and going over to Michael Jackson's house...
Reply
Sandy 5:22PM (8/15/2008)
Mo such animal as the "perfect" car. Well, if you are trying to move mud, well, then, yes, a dumptruck.
If you live where it snows, you'd probably need (or want) a 4WD. In that regard, we have an absolute mint, showroom condition 2001 Jeep Cherokee Limited 4x4 that my wife uses for shopping and we both share when snow in on the ground. It does the job and looks great doing it.
Okay, now it's an evening out. Perhaps just us, or 2 friends along also. For that, I take our 2003 Lincoln Town Car Limited. Big, Comfortable, luxurious, smooth, beautifully appointed inrterior.
But, sometimes, like on a nice Sunday morn, when e'one is sleeping, say this time of the year, I take a run for some Sunday Am Bagels 'n Lox and cream cheese and stuff and being all alone, i like to pop the top on my Show-Car, 1 7,327 mile 1990 Mustang GT 'Vert, and punch the gas a bit, maybe "chirp" a tire ot two, just a little bit, top down, cruzin' and stereo playing, and knocking off 12 years from my real age.
So, I think I've come pretty close top 3 (literally - three) family cars. Ill (by the way) have always performed flawlessly and have caused zero problems.
The Lincoln in the snow is horrid. The Jeep for a Summer's night Cruise is a "DUH" and the Mustang GT for the dinner out with two rather "heavy" friends to sit IN THE BACK, is torture. So......
Each occasion cannot be equally met, by one car.
However... I have been eying the idea of selling both the Town Car AND the 1990 Mustang GT (7,237 miles) and combining the $$$ and the two cars into one, with a 2009 Dodge Charger R/T 6.1 HEMI. Fun like the 'Stang and a 4-Door Sedan, with really good room inside.
1337 8:39PM (7/05/2008)
Sandy,
Wow, you own a 1990 Mustang? That's so amazing, I always wanted one of those; it's soooo collectible! Since it has such low miles, I bet you sell it and then could buy like three new Challenger SRT8s. Oh, and an old Fox Mustang perfect family car--it's so reliable and safe...oh..wait...
Gah, the kind of junk that people see as prized possessions... Even Forbes does a better job of understanding cars.