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The AAA and Parents Magazine Select 15 "Best Cars for Families"

The Scion xB and Pontiac Vibe join long-time family favorites from Honda and Volvo

March 15, 2004

The AAA and Parents magazine have named the 15 "Best Cars for Families" in the April issue of the latter publication and in the AAA Auto Guide: 2004 New Cars and Trucks.

While test-driving the vehicles, AAA and Parents considered everything from air bags and fuel economy to cup holders and cargo space. The reviewers also installed a variety of child safety seats into every car, making sure it could be done easily and securely. Of those vehicles that have been tested, the AAA/Parents picks are among the top performers in crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

"Car buyers want to be sure that they'll get top safety, convenient features, and lasting value for their money when they buy a new vehicle," said Jeff Ogden, AAA Minnesota/Iowa president. "With many parents and children spending several hours per week in the car, it's important that the car be a safe, happy place for everyone in it."

Now in its third year, the list includes selections of economy cars, sedans, station wagons, sport utility vehicles and minivans. Complete descriptions of each vehicle are available in the April issue of Parents and in AAA Auto Guide: 2004 New Cars and Trucks. Here are the winners in each category:

     ECONOMY
       -- Honda Civic
       -- Scion xB
       -- Volkswagen Jetta

     SEDANS
       -- Honda Accord
       -- Chevrolet Malibu
       -- Toyota Camry

     STATION WAGONS
       -- Chrysler Pacifica
       -- Volvo V70
       -- Pontiac Vibe

     SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES (SUVS)
       -- Ford Explorer
       -- Volkswagen Touareg
       -- Nissan Murano

     MINIVANS
       -- Toyota Sienna
       -- Nissan Quest
       -- Honda Odyssey

Safety features that protect young passengers factor significantly in selecting the "Best Cars for Families." Additional information for keeping young passengers safe, including tips from AAA's award-winning child passenger safety public service campaign, "Seated, Safe and Secure," is on Parents' web site: www.parents.com , and at www.aaapublicaffairs.com .

The national AAA federation is a not-for-profit organization, with more than 45 million members in the United States and Canada.

Source: AAA, via PR Newswire