Mazda 3- A small family just starting out would fit this car. It gets 41 MPG and has i-Activesense, an electronic safety system. It detects cars in the front, back, and sides of the driver and signals them if they need to take action to avoid an accident. The headlight system turns off high-beams for other cars and turns the lights when the driver turns the car. The Mazda 3 starts at around $17,000.
Subaru Outback- SUVs are popular among families because they tend to be spacious, durable, and safe. Subaru offers symmetrical all-wheel drive for optimum control. Like i-Activesense, the Outback uses EyeSight® Driver Assist which can also slow the car before an emergency situation occurs. The frame is designed to protect passengers in an accident by diverting the impact. It gets up to 30 MPG and prices start just under $23,500.
Mitsubishi Outlander-< Starting at $23,000, the Outlander seats seven people and gets up to 31 MPG. It comes with a rear-view camera and different wheel control settings for various terrains. What stands out is how affordable the Outlander is. It won the 2014 Kelly Blue Book 5-year Cost to Own award. It also has a warranty that lasts up to 10 years or 100,000 miles.
Toyota Highlander-$29,215 is the minimum price for this car but it usually goes around $43,590 to include many of the popular features. It can seat seven or eight people which is perfect for a mid-size family and a dog or two. With 25 MPG it has a towing capacity of 5000LBs for family vacations in campers. The Highlander also comes with a system that checks tire pressure to keep the driver safer.
Honda Odyssey- Families can expect to pay at least $30,000 for this minivan. It can get up to 28 MPG. The body is designed to distribute impact force throughout the whole car. Daytime headlights keep the driver visible in any weather. Best of all, the Odyssey is highly compatible with multiple models of child seats with the LATCH anchor system.
Resources:
http://www.iihs.org/iihs/news/desktopnews/thirty-nine-vehicles-meet-tougher-criteria-to-earn-2014-safety-awards-from-iihs
http://www.subaru.com/vehicles/outback/safety.html
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/displayPage.action?pageParameter=modelsMain&vehicleCode=M3S#awards-reviews
http://www.mitsubishicars.com/outlander/features/performance
http://www.toyota.com/highlander/#!/Welcome