Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com Names 10 Best Family Cars of 2012

IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The expert editors from Kelley Blue Book's www.kbb.com, the leading provider of new car and used car information, today announce the 10 Best Family Cars of 2012 (http://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-latest/10-best-family-cars-of-2012/).  All families are not created alike, so it stands to reason that all family cars shouldn't be alike either.  Each year the kbb.com editors decide the 10 Best Family Cars, which cater to unique family specifications and situations.  New for 2012, the editors not only name what they feel are the 10 Best Family Cars of the year, but also rank their selections in the feature story on kbb.com.

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The latest kbb.com list features new vehicles that are family-approved in a big way, offering safety, comfort, child-friendliness, strong consumer ratings and impressive Kelley Blue Book Total Cost of Ownership statistics.  Transportation cost during the ownership period is important for families trying to get by on tight budgets, so a vital part of the selection process is identifying vehicles that have low cost of ownership in the initial five-year ownership period.  Available on kbb.com, Total Cost of Ownership information examines depreciation, expected fuel costs, finance and insurance fees, maintenance and repair costs, and state fees for new models. 

"Kbb.com's 10 Best Family Cars of 2012 helps busy parents navigate a hectic, confusing automotive market, offering suggestions for all types of families," said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com.  "After driving and evaluating nearly all of the new cars available on the market today, we identified the vehicles that offer the greatest combination of features and value for everyday families.  Parents will be able to cross-off 'find a new car' on their to-do lists by looking at the choices selected as our 10 Best Family Cars of 2012."

Sample Selections from Kbb.com's 10 Best Family Cars of 2012

2012 Toyota Prius V
Love the idea of 50 mpg but need room for your family and fixings?  You might be suffering from Prius envy.  But now there's a bigger Prius Toyota called Prius V.  Its combined fuel economy of 42 mpg doesn't quite match its little brother's, but it's way more fuel efficient than any compact SUV and roomier than many.                                               

2012 Ford Flex
One of the most appealing boxes in the world, the 2012 Ford Flex comes with three rows of family seating and plenty of opt-up possibilities, including all-wheel drive, an EcoBoost V6 (high power, high fuel economy) and a center-console fridge.  Best of all, the Flex is just rare enough a beast to let you maintain a degree of exclusivity in neighborhoods glutted with minivans and crossover SUVs.

2012 Honda CR-V
Fully redesigned for 2012, the fourth-generation Honda CR-V offers a more contemporary look and feel than the vehicle it replaces along with even better fuel economy and an improved Real-Time all-wheel drive system.  Perennial best-seller in the hotly contested compact crossover class, the CR-V is also one of the few in the class to offer a rear-seat entertainment system.

2012 Subaru Outback
If your family deserves a sport utility vehicle but doesn't want an SUV, the 2012 Subaru Outback is the perfect on-road, off-road, all-road choice.  Every Outback comes with all-wheel drive, an integrated roof rack and 8.7 inches of ground clearance – not bad for a fuel-smart, road-savvy station wagon with room for five adults and loads of cargo.

2012 Volkswagen Passat
Crafted specifically for the American market – it's even built in Chattanooga, Tennessee – the 2012 Volkswagen Passat is both larger and cheaper than the model it replaces.  But the European driving dynamics and interior feel remain, making the new Passat a uniquely well-rounded, high value family sedan.

For the remaining five vehicles, including full editorial commentary for each of the editors' picks and the rank order, please visit http://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-latest/10-best-family-cars-of-2012/.  For more information and news from Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com, visit http://www.kbb.com/media/, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kelleybluebook (or @kelleybluebook), or like our page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kbb. 

About Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com)
Founded in 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource®, is the only vehicle valuation and information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers and the industry.  Each week the company provides the most market-reflective values in the industry on its top-rated website www.kbb.com, including its famous Blue Book® Trade-In and Retail Values and Fair Purchase Price, which reports what others are paying for new cars this week.  The company also provides vehicle pricing and values through various products and services available to car dealers, auto manufacturers, finance and insurance companies as well as governmental agencies.  Kbb.com provides consumer pricing and information on minivans, pickup trucks, sedan, hybrids, electric cars, and SUVs.  Kelley Blue Book Co. Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of AutoTrader.com.

SOURCE Kelley Blue Book