Sedans

2010 Acura TL

What it Is: A mid-size luxury sport sedan.
What's Hot: Aggressive power and handling.
What's Not: Controversial styling, pricey.
Family Friendly Options: Navigation, rear-view camera, surround sound audio, keyless entry (Technology package)
How It Got Its Score: The Acura TL is a striking looking sport sedan with a powerful V-6 engine. However, like many luxury cars its price hurts its family friendliness score, despite its midsize dimensions and decent (if not stellar) fuel economy.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 7.4

2010 Acura TL SH-AWD

What it Is: A mid-size all-wheel drive luxury sport sedan.
What's Hot: Aggressive power and handling.
What's Not: Controversial styling, pricey.
Family Friendly Options: Navigation, rear-view camera, surround sound audio, keyless entry (Technology package)
How It Got Its Score: The Acura TL is a striking looking sport sedan with a powerful V-6 engine. However, like many luxury cars its price hurts its family friendliness score, despite its midsize dimensions and decent (if not stellar) fuel economy.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 7.3

2010 Acura TSX Four Cylinder

What it Is: An entry-level luxury compact sedan.
What's Hot: Might be best-looking Acura currently available.
What's Not: V-6 models can get pricey.
Family Friendly Options: Navigation, keyless entry, back-up camera (Technology package)
How It Got Its Score: The Acura TSX is a good looking compact sedan, with lots of luxury features. However, its $30,000 asking price and compact dimensions hurt its Family Friendliness score.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 7.2

2010 Acura TSX V-6

What it Is: An entry-level luxury compact sedan.
What's Hot: Might be best-looking Acura currently available.
What's Not: V-6 models can get pricey.
Family Friendly Options: Navigation, keyless entry, back-up camera (Technology package)
How It Got Its Score: The Acura TSX is a good looking compact sedan, with lots of luxury features. However, its $35,000 asking price and compact dimensions hurt its Family Friendliness score.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 6.8

2010 Audi A4 Premium All-Wheel Drive

What it Is: A four-door, all-wheel drive five-passenger small luxury sedan.
What's Hot: Striking good looks.
What's Not: High entry price, expensive options, small trunk.
Family Friendly Options: Navigation, active cruise control, blind-spot warning.
How It Got Its Score: The 2010 Audi A4's quattro all-wheel drive may make enthusiasts smile, but it hurts fuel economy and adds expense, driving the Family Friendliness score down.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 7.1

2010 Audi A4 Premium Front-Wheel Drive

What it Is: A four-door, five-passenger small luxury sedan.
What's Hot: Striking good looks, fuel efficient turbo engine.
What's Not: High entry price, expensive options, small trunk.
Family Friendly Options: Navigation, active cruise control, blind-spot warning.
How It Got Its Score: The 2010 Audi A4's score reflects multiple safety technologies such as active cruise control, excellent crash test scores and good fuel economy.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 7.3

2010 Buick LaCrosse CX

What it Is: A midsize five-passenger luxury sedan.
What's Hot: Luxury surroundings at a sub-$30,000 price.
What's Not: Needs a bigger trunk.
Family Friendly Options: Navigation system with back-up camera, Bluetooth, Rear-seat entertainment system with dual screens.
How It Got Its Score: The Buick LaCrosse boasts good fuel economy and generous safety equipment, and its low price (for a luxury brand) helps it score well against many competitors.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 7.5

2010 Buick LaCrosse CX 4-Cylinder

What it Is: A midsize five-passenger luxury sedan.
What's Hot: New fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine.
What's Not: Needs a bigger trunk.
Family Friendly Options: Premium audio, Bluetooth, USB connection, dual-zone climate control.
How It Got Its Score: The Buick LaCrosse CX boasts fuel economy that's among the best in the premium midsize sedan market. However, it's still pricey, and a bigger trunk would help.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 7.6

2010 Buick LaCrosse CXL All-Wheel Drive

What it Is: A midsize five-passenger luxury sedan.
What's Hot: Only all-wheel drive LaCrosse model.
What's Not: All-wheel drive system eats into trunk space.
Family Friendly Options: Navigation system with back-up camera, Bluetooth, Rear-seat entertainment system with dual screens.
How It Got Its Score: The all-wheel drive Buick LaCrosse CXL loses a couple of tenths compared to the CX due to its higher price, lower fuel economy and slightly smaller trunk.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 7.3

2010 Buick LaCrosse CXS

What it Is: A midsize five-passenger luxury sedan.
What's Hot: Performance-oriented V-6 engine doesn't sacrifice fuel economy.
What's Not: Needs a bigger trunk.
Family Friendly Options: Navigation system with back-up camera, Bluetooth, Rear-seat entertainment system with dual screens.
How It Got Its Score: Normally, an upgraded engine means lower fuel economy, but in this case, the 2010 Buick LaCrosse CXS gets a slightly better score than the all-wheel drive CXL because of its more fuel efficient engine.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 7.4

2010 Buick Lucerne CX

What it Is: A full-size luxury sedan.
What's Hot: Big-car styling and available six-passenger interior.
What's Not: Short on value for family car buyers.
Family Friendly Options: Back-up sensors, navigation, Bluetooth, blind-spot assist
How It Got Its Score: The Buick Lucerne is a full-sized sedan, and one of a handful still available with six-passenger seating. Its big trunk helps its score, but so-so crash test scores hurt.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 7.4

2010 Buick Lucerne Super

What it Is: A full-size premium sedan.
What's Hot: Standard blind-spot monitor.
What's Not: Expensive, lacks many modern features.
Family Friendly Options: Navigation with traffic monitor.
How It Got Its Score: The Lucerne Super costs nearly $10,000 more than the base Lucerne, but it still manages a decent Family Friendliness score thanks to standard stability control and a blind-spot monitoring system.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 7.0

2010 Cadillac CTS 3.0 V-6 All-Wheel Drive

What it Is: A four-door, five-passenger all-wheel drive luxury sedan.
What's Hot: Beautiful to look at, bigger than many competitors.
What's Not: Fuel economy could be better.
Family Friendly Options: Bluetooth, navigation, backup camera, USB port
How It Got Its Score: The all-wheel drive 2010 Cadillac CTS is bigger than many rivals, offering more interior room and a bigger trunk.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 7.3

2010 Cadillac CTS 3.0 V-6 Rear-Wheel Drive

What it Is: A four-door, five-passenger luxury sedan.
What's Hot: Beautiful to look at, bigger than similarly priced competitors.
What's Not: Fuel economy could be better.
Family Friendly Options: Bluetooth, navigation, backup camera, USB port
How It Got Its Score: The main advantage of the 2010 Cadillac CTS is size. Since it's bigger than many of its luxury car competition, it has a bigger trunk and more interior room, distinct advantages.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 7.3

2010 Cadillac CTS 3.6 V-6 All-Wheel Drive

What it Is: A premium four-door, five-passenger all-wheel drive luxury sedan.
What's Hot: Beautiful to look at, bigger than similarly priced competitors.
What's Not: Expensive, options add up quickly.
Family Friendly Options: Bluetooth, navigation, backup camera, USB port.
How It Got Its Score: Normally the fuel economy and price penalties of all-wheel drive drop the Family Friendliness score, but not here, as the all-wheel drive 2010 Cadillac CTS 3.6 comes in with the same score as the rear-drive version.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 7.1

2010 Cadillac CTS 3.6 V-6 Rear-Wheel Drive

What it Is: A premium four-door, five-passenger luxury sedan.
What's Hot: Beautiful to look at, bigger than similarly priced competitors.
What's Not: Expensive, options add up quickly.
Family Friendly Options: Bluetooth, navigation, backup camera, USB port.
How It Got Its Score: The 2010 Cadillac CTS goes up against many cars that cost the same but are smaller, giving the Caddy's big trunk and extra interior space an advantage.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 7.1

2010 Chevrolet Aveo Sedan LS

What it Is: A compact four-door sedan.
Who it's For: Families who value low price over anything else.
What's Hot: Extremely low base price.
What's Not: Poor crash test scores.
Family Friendly Options: Keyless entry.
How It Got Its Score: The Chevy Aveo doesn't offer much for families. While the price is low, stability and traction control aren't available, anti-lock brakes are only an option, and it gets a "Poor" in the IIHS impact crash test.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 5.4

2010 Chevrolet Aveo5 LS

What it Is: A subcompact five-door hatchback.
Who it's For: Families who value low price over anything else.
What's Hot: Extremely low base price.
What's Not: Poor crash test scores.
Family Friendly Options: Keyless entry.
How It Got Its Score: The Chevy Aveo5 is Chevy's smallest offering, but it lacks many modern features, such as stability and traction control. It also gets a "Poor" rating in the IIHS rear impact crash test.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 5.3

2010 Chevrolet Cobalt Sedan LS

What it Is: A compact, four-door sedan.
Who it's For: Families on a tight budget who need no more than two LATCH positions.
What's Hot: Big trunk, low price.
What's Not: Stability control not available.
Family Friendly Options: USB port, Bluetooth.
How It Got Its Score: The Chevy Cobalt offers up a very big trunk, but this dated compact sedan lacks many modern features, such as stability control, and NHTSA crash test scores trail the competition.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 6.6

2010 Chevrolet Cobalt Sedan XFE

What it Is: A compact, four-door sedan.
Who it's For: Families on a tight budget who need no more than two LATCH positions.
What's Hot: Excellent fuel economy, low price.
What's Not: Stability control not available, XFE only comes with manual transmission.
Family Friendly Options: USB port, Bluetooth.
How It Got Its Score: The Chevy Cobalt XFE gets very good fuel economy, even for this fuel-conscious class. Unfortunately, stability control isn't available, and NHTSA crash test scores trail the competition.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 6.6