Kia

2011 Kia Optima EX Turbo

What it Is: A turbocharged midsize four-door five-passenger sedan.
Who it's For: Families looking for more power in their midsize sedan without breaking the bank.
What's Hot: Excellent power, decent price, plentiful features.
What's Not: Narrow windows, limited rear visibility.
Family Friendly Features: Navigation, backup camera, USB input, panoramic sunroof.
How It Got Its Score: The 2011 Kia Optima EX Turbo boast more power than its competitors' V-6 engines, yet gets far better fuel economy. Along with its low price, it's a tough act to follow.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 8.0

2011 Kia Optima Hybrid

What it Is: A hybrid midsize four-door five passenger sedan.
Who it's For: Families who value fuel economy more than trunk space in a five-passenger sedan.
What's Hot: Low price, outstanding fuel economy, plentiful features.
What's Not: Narrow windows, limited rear visibility, tiny trunk.
Family Friendly Features: Navigation, backup camera, USB input, panoramic sunroof.
How It Got Its Score: The 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid boasts an inexpensive but very efficient hybrid engine that produces excellent fuel economy, but at a low base price. The biggest drawback is the small trunk.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 7.9

2011 Kia Optima LX

What it Is: A midsize four-door five passenger sedan.
Who it's For: Families looking to stretch their dollar on a five-passenger sedan.
What's Hot: Low price, excellent fuel economy, plentiful features.
What's Not: Narrow windows, limited rear visibility.
Family Friendly Features: Navigation, backup camera, USB input, panoramic sunroof.
How It Got Its Score: The 2011 Kia Optima boasts excellent crash test scores, a big trunk, great fuel economy and a low price. Put it all together and you have a very Family Friendly sedan.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 8.3

2009 Kia Borrego EX V-8 Rear-Wheel Drive

What it Is: A full-size seven-passenger SUV
What's Hot: Good towing capacity, competitive price, plentiful standard features.
What's Not: Small cargo area behind third row, so-so fuel economy.
Family Friendly Options: Premium audio, Bluetooth, navigation system with backup camera.
How It Got Its Score: The V-8 powered 2009 Kia Borrego has good power, but fuel economy suffers. Cargo space is also tight, but lots of safety features and seven passenger capability help make up for it.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 8.0

2009 Kia Borrego LX V-6 Four-Wheel Drive

What it Is: A full-size seven-passenger SUV
What's Hot: Off-road capability, competitive price.
What's Not: Small cargo area behind third row.
Family Friendly Options: Premium audio, Bluetooth, navigation system with backup camera (EX only) 
How It Got Its Score: While the 2009 Kia Borrego seats seven and has a low price, its fuel economy is only so-so, and it doesn't offer much cargo space behind the third row.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 8.0

2009 Kia Borrego LX V-6 Rear-Wheel Drive

What it Is: A full-size seven-passenger SUV
What's Hot: Competitive price, decent fuel economy for the class.
What's Not: Small cargo area behind third row.
Family Friendly Options: Premium audio, Bluetooth, navigation system with backup camera (EX only) 
How It Got Its Score: Full-size SUVs are often hobbled by two things: Fuel economy and price. While fuel economy in the V-6 Kia Borrego is OK for the class, and it's not too expensive, it gets dinged for a small cargo area.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 8.1

2009 Kia Borrego LX V-8 Four-Wheel Drive

What it Is: A full-size seven-passenger SUV
What's Hot: Off-road capability, good towing capacity, competitive price.
What's Not: Small cargo area behind third row, so-so fuel economy.
Family Friendly Options: Premium audio, Bluetooth, navigation system with backup camera (EX and Limited only) 
How It Got Its Score: The 2009 Kia Borrego V-8 offers up plenty of safety features and seven-passenger seating for a good price, but its small cargo area and so-so fuel economy hurt its score.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 7.9

2010 Kia Forte Koup EX

What it Is: A compact two-door five-passenger car
What's Hot: Sporty styling, good fuel economy, plenty of safety equipment
What's Not: rear seats are hard to reach.
Family Friendly Options: Standard Bluetooth and USB port
How It Got Its Score: All two-door cars come to the Family Friendliness fight with one hand tied behind their backs. The Kia Forte Koup looks great and has lots of safety features, but buyers with kids should look at the sedan.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 7.2

2010 Kia Forte Koup SX

What it Is: A compact two-door five-passenger car
What's Hot: Sporty styling, good fuel economy, plenty of safety equipment
What's Not: Rear seats are hard to reach.
Family Friendly Options: Standard Bluetooth and USB port
How It Got Its Score: The Kia Forte Koup SX has a bigger engine than the EX, and falls behind in fuel economy. If you like the looks, then consider the sedan.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 7.1

2010 Kia Forte Sedan LX

What it Is: A four-door, five-passenger compact sedan.
What's Hot: Excellent fuel economy, low price, big trunk.
What's Not: Air conditioning is an option? Crank windows?
Family Friendly Options: Standard USB and Bluetooth.
How It Got Its Score: Compact cars aren't the cramped, dangerous conveyances of yore. The 2011 Kia Forte boasts good crash test scores, plenty of safety equipment, and a big trunk.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 7.5

2010 Kia Forte Sedan SX

What it Is: A four-door, five-passenger compact sedan.
What's Hot: Good fuel economy, competitive price, big trunk.
What's Not: More than $19,000 for a compact Kia?
Family Friendly Options: Standard USB and Bluetooth.
How It Got Its Score: The Forte is a solid entry in the compact car market, with good crash test scores, plenty of safety equipment and a big trunk. The slightly higher price and lower fuel economy of the SX bring down its score a bit.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 7.4

2010 Kia Optima EX V-6

What it Is: A midsize four-door five-passenger sedan.
What's Hot: Low base price for a V-6 sedan.
What's Not: Smaller than many competitors.
Family Friendly Options: Premium audio system, navigation.
How It Got Its Score: The 2010 Kia Optima gets decent fuel economy and has a big trunk. Combine them with the low price and you get a good Family Friendliness score.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 7.8

2010 Kia Optima LX

What it Is: A midsize four-door five-passenger sedan.
What's Hot: Low, low base price.
What's Not: Only marginally bigger than less expensive Forte sedan.
Family Friendly Options: Premium audio system (EX and LX only)
How It Got Its Score: The 2010 Kia Optima scores well in fuel economy and overall price, but its IIHS crash test scores could be better, and it lacks electronic brake assist.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 8.0

2010 Kia Rio Sedan

What it Is: A subcompact five-passenger sedan.
What's Hot: One of the cheapest cars on the market.
What's Not: Poor crash test scores.
Family Friendly Options: Upgraded audio.
How It Got Its Score: Subcompacts aren't an ideal family car choice, but you can definitely do better than the Rio. While it's inexpensive and gets good fuel economy, two "Poor" scores from the IIHS outweigh everything else.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 4.6

2010 Kia Rio5 LX

What it Is: A subcompact five-passenger five-door hatchback.
What's Hot: One of the cheapest cars on the market.
What's Not: Poor crash test scores.
Family Friendly Options: Upgraded audio.
How It Got Its Score: Sheer size makes squeezing a family into a subcompact difficult, but even in the subcompact arena there are better choices than the Rio. Its low price and good fuel economy aren't enough to offset two "Poor" IIHS crash test scores.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 4.7

2010 Kia Sedona LX

What it Is: A full-size seven-passenger minivan.
What's Hot: Lots of features for a surprisingly low price.
What's Not: Only seats up to seven; no LATCH in third row.
Family Friendly Options: Rear seat entertainment system, navigation, three-zone automatic climate control (EX)
How It Got Its Score: The Kia Sedona is competitive with many full-size minivans, but its Family Friendliness score slips because it only seats seven, and there are no LATCH points in the third row.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 9.0

2010 Kia Sedona Short Wheelbase

What it Is: A short-wheelbase, full-size seven-passenger minivan.
What's Hot: Shorter wheelbase means it's more maneuverable.
What's Not: Can't get all the options available on long wheelbase models; small cargo area.
Family Friendly Options: Standard USB port.
How It Got Its Score: Normally a full-sized minivan would score better, but the short version of the Kia Sedona has a few strikes, such as a small cargo area, no power sliding doors and only two LATCH points.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 8.7

2010 Kia Soul Base

What it Is: A compact five-passenger hatchback.
What's Hot: Funky styling, roomy cargo area, good fuel economy.
What's Not: Base model is very short on amenities, no automatic transmission.
Family Friendly Options: USB audio input.
How It Got Its Score: The 2010 Kia Soul offers up a good combination of price, fuel economy and cargo space, giving it a strong Family Friendliness score despite its small size.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 8.0

2010 Kia Soul+

What it Is: A compact five-passenger hatchback.
What's Hot: Funky styling, roomy cargo area, good fuel economy.
What's Not: Many premium features not available.
Family Friendly Options: Upgraded audio, USB, Bluetooth.
How It Got Its Score: The 2010 Kia Soul+ gives up little to the less expensive base model, but gains nicer amenities and an automatic transmission.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 7.9

2011 Kia Sorento LX All-Wheel Drive

What it Is: A five or seven-passenger, all-wheel drive crossover utility vehicle.
Who It's For: Families who need no more than two LATCH points, want all-weather capability, and need plenty of cargo space or extra passenger room.
What's Hot: Sharp new styling, standard Bluetooth and USB.
What's Not: Tiny cargo area behind optional third row seat.
Family Friendly Options: Navigation, backup camera.
How It Got Its Score: The Kia Sorento's good Family Friendliness score stays high even with all-wheel drive due to its low price, good fuel economy and excellent safety equipment and crash test scores.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 8.4