When the number of family members reaches six, the usual assortment of two-row vehicles doesn’t cut it anymore and you need a talented three-row family mover. But which one do you go for from the plethora of models available to cater to this need? If you want maximum efficiency while hauling yourself and five additional family members, then the obvious choice would be a cavernous people carrier (known as an MPV in Europe). This type of vehicle doesn’t have a design that gets your heart racing in any way, but it maximizes interior space and practicality for its footprint. The more popular choice these days is a high-riding crossover vehicle, or an SUV, as it provides similar levels of interior space and practicality, but with the raised ride height and seating arrangement, it gives drivers the feeling of safety and go-anywhere capability (even though a number of these vehicles aren’t really as capable as their chunky styling would have you believe). In recent years they’ve dethroned the traditional people carrier as the first choice for larger families to the point that there aren’t as many proper MPVs out there as there were before the “SUV revolution” of the late 1990s, early 2000s.

Chrysler Pacifica

Price: from $26,985

If you feel like you don’t need any extra ground clearance for your family of six, then the multitalented Chrysler Pacifica seven-seater has a lot going for it. It can also be had as a plug-in hybrid, further boosting its appeal, and it generally undercuts similarly speced rivals in terms of price. However, some rivals do offer better interiors and others offer better engine options.

Engine:

3.5-liter V-6

Horsepower:

287

Torque (pound-feet):

262

Drive:

FWD

0-60 mph

7.2 seconds

Top speed (mph):

TBA


Read our full review on the 2019 Chrysler Pacifica.

Honda Odyssey

Price: from $30,190

Another conventional people carrier you should not overlook is the Honda Odyssey, a seven-seater vehicle some are calling the current best in class choice. It has the best interior in the segment (for quality, comfort, and space), it has the widest array of standard and optional gadgets, and it provides a surprisingly fun drive. And yet, if you want a vehicle with an in-built vacuum cleaner, this is the other choice.

Engine:

3.5-liter V-6

Horsepower:

280

Torque (pound-feet):

262

Drive:

FWD

0-60 mph

7 seconds

Top speed (mph):

TBA


Read our full review on the 2019 Honda Odyssey.

Toyota Sienna

Price: from $31,315

The Toyota Sienna doesn’t look as modern as its rivals inside or out. However, it makes up for its old school look thanks to a positively cavernous interior that seats up to seven, a strong V-6 engine, a great reliability record, and available all-wheel drive. Its main drawback is just its sheer price, because even though it looks like a vehicle from the previous generation, it actually costs more than key rivals.

Engine:

3.5-liter V-6

Horsepower:

296

Torque (pound-feet):

263

Drive:

FWD

0-60 mph

7.4 seconds

Top speed (mph):

TBA


Read our full review on the 2019 Toyota Sienna.

Kia Sedona

Price: from $27,200

Kia makes one of the most well rounded people carriers on the market, in the form of the seven-seater Sedona, a car that can’t really be faulted in any area. I However, it’s not the most fun thing to drive (even in the company of other minivans; it can’t hold a candle to the Honda Odyssey in this respect) and, despite being competent at carrying people and their luggage, some rivals offer more cargo and passenger space. It is a bit cheaper than some rivals, though, and this should help it stand out more as a good choice in the segment.

Engine:

3.3-liter V-6

Horsepower:

276

Torque (pound-feet):

248

Drive:

FWD

0-60 mph

TBA

Top speed (mph):

TBA


Read our full review on the 2019 Kia Sedona.

Mercedes E-Class wagon

Price: from $64,200

You may not know this, but the Mercedes E-Class wagon (that in the U.S. you can only buy as an E450) can be had with two extra rear-facing seats in the boot. If you have a family of six, then you will need to draw straws to see who gets to sit in the rearmost row, but otherwise, there’s nothing to complain about. It has a great interior that that feels modern, highly luxurious, and special to sit in, plus it handles better than minivans thanks to its blend of a rear-wheel drive platform, lower center of gravity, and lower weight. It is a bit expensive, though, and it can be a bit antisocial for a large family, since one of the rows of seats is somewhat disconnected from the rest of the cabin.

Engine:

3.0 liter inline-6

Horsepower:

362

Torque (pound-feet):

369

Drive:

RWD

0-60 mph

5.1 seconds

Top speed (mph):

155


Read our full review on the 2019 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon.

Ford Expedition

Price: from $51,130

Yes, I deliberately left SUVs and crossovers lower down on the list because I don't think they are the best choice to move families around. I mean, for sheer carrying capacity and comfort, any of the vehicles mentioned above are better than any SUV or crossover, but since these vehicles are so popular because of the perceived notion of safety, I had to include the best ones, like the Ford Expedition. It handles reasonably well on the road for an SUV, and its interior is very good too, as are its engine options. However, among similar vehicles, the Expedition is considered quite expensive to begin with, but if you do opt for one, there is little in the package that could disappoint you.

Engine:

3.5-liter V-6 Turbo

Horsepower:

400

Torque (pound-feet):

480

Drive:

AWD

0-60 mph

6 seconds

Top speed (mph):

TBA


Read our full review on the 2019 Ford Expedition.

Mazda CX-9

Price: from $34,080

If you simply must have an SUV for your family of six, then pick one that is as car-like to drive and live with as possible (in order to make your life easy in the long run), like the latest Mazda CX-9. There’s also a new turbocharged 2.5-liter engine that makes it feel really nippy, even though it’s still not especially good at towing. But, if you don’t need to tow or only do it on occasion, and you like to drive your vehicle quickly on twisty roads, then it is the best choice in its size and price bracket.

Engine:

2.5-liter inline-4 Turbo

Horsepower:

250

Torque (pound-feet):

310

Drive:

FWD

0-60 mph

7.1 seconds

Top speed (mph):

TBA


Read our full review on the 2019 Mazda CX-9.

Kia Sorento

Price: from $26,290

An alternative to the CX-9 is the Kia Sorento, a vehicle that is highly appreciated for its affordable entry price, pleasant cabin, and good levels of comfort. It also looks very sober and grown up, and it actually packs more tech than some more established rivals. Even so, it’s proving a popular choice, especially for those who do nothing else but cruise in their vehicle and rarely if ever drive it with more vigor.

Engine:

2.4-liter inline-4

Horsepower:

185

Torque (pound-feet):

178

Drive:

FWD

0-60 mph

9 seconds

Top speed (mph):

TBA


Read our full review on the 2019 Kia Sorento.

Volvo XC90

Price: from $47,700

If you want the best of both worlds - people carrier and SUV - then pick the vehicle that mixes them best - the superb Volvo XC90, a high-rider that is so good, it may even convert SUV critics. In fact, I am one of those people and in spite of my best effort to not like it, I found the seven-seater XC90 deeply compelling as a means to move a family around in classy comfort, efficiency and, last but not least, the best safety credentials of any vehicle on the market.

Engine:

2.0-liter inline-4 Turbo

Horsepower:

250

Torque (pound-feet):

258

Drive:

AWD

0-60 mph

7.9 seconds

Top speed (mph):

133


Read our full review on the 2020 Volvo XC90

Tesla Model X

Price: from $ 80,450

There is one more crossover that I think is even better than the Volvo in many areas and that’s the all-electric Tesla Model X. It is arguably cooler and much more of a conversation starter compared to the Volvo, and it can seat seven quite comfortably. It is considerably more expensive than any other vehicle on this list, but if you have the extra cash to afford it, it is worth it.

Engine:

Electric motors

Horsepower:

2 x 259

Torque (pound-feet):

486

Drive:

AWD

0-60 mph

5.0 seconds

Top speed (mph):

150


Read our full review on the 2019 Tesla Model X.