Kelley Blue Book's 16 Best Family Cars of 2016

Want to know which are the best cars for families on the market today? Kelley Blue Book has your answer - or answers, we should say, in plural, because this year the editors of the authoritative car buying guide named no less than sixteen winners. The exhaustive selection process started with 24 finalists, all of which were tested extensively not for performance or towing capability as you might expect of other tests, but by metrics that matter most to families.

“For two weeks’ time we drove, lived-with, folded-down-seats-of, paired-phones-to and installed-baby-seats-in each and every one of the contenders,” said KBB.com editor Jack R. Nerad. “We loaded cargo, contorted ourselves into third rows, watched movies on rear-seat screens, toted rowing teams to marinas – in short, we did everything that you and your family might do with a vehicle day-to-day."

As you might have guessed, the final list doesn't include any sports cars or convertibles, but they do vary between sedans, wagons, crossovers, sport-utes, and minivans. Scroll on through to see which vehicles made the cut.

The Civic is not only one of the smallest entries on this list, and one of the newest, but was also KBB's Overall Best Buy of 2016. If you need a small car to move a small family around, the people who literally wrote the book on the subject say the Honda is the one to have.

The Honda Accord may very well be the quintessential family sedan, and now that it's been comprehensively revised, Honda's largest four-door is more fitting of its place on this list than ever before. According to KBB, it has a "roomy, high-quality interior," and now comes with "added style and safety" as well as a "solid drivetrain" that returns "good economy."

KBB not only named the new Kia Optima to this list, but also as its Midsize Car Best Buy of 2016, lauding the Korean automaker's latest family sedan as "stylish, feature-packed, [and] family friendly."

KBB notes that Chevy's new Malibu features an "all-new redesign," as well as "additional safety and efficiency, comfortable and accommodating interior [that] makes it easy to stay connected." It's also one of the few domestic models on this list, alongside two more from the Bowtie brand.

Need something bigger than the Malibu? Chevrolet's larger Impala also made the list thanks to its "roomy cabin and trunk, technologically sophisticated, contemporary looks, [and] multiple drivetrain choices." Customers can order one up with a 2.5-liter inline-four, a 3.6-liter V6, or a flex-fuel version that can run on either gasoline or compressed natural gas.

The latest Hyundai Sonata is a more sophisticated and refined affair than the model it replaces. But according to KBB, the new Sonata is all about value: "Value pricing and class-leading warranty combined with solid resale value" make it a top choice.

Looking for a crossover that doesn't break the bank and is small enough to get around town? Check out Honda's new HR-V. KBB found it to have a “surprisingly roomy second row” to make it “great for a small family in the city.”

Need all-wheel traction with your minivan? Look no further than the Toyota Sienna, which is the “only minivan to offer optional AWD.” The self-styled Swagger Wagon is also “versatile, flexible, capable” and boasts “high resale value and IIHS Top Safety Pick+” rating, making the Sienna a compelling option among minivans.