Best Family Cars of 2012 Include Three 2012 Toyota Models

Three 2012 Toyota models among best vehicles for families

For the fifth year, Parents magazine and Edmunds.com have collaborated to compile a list of the year’s Best Family Cars. Several factors were considered, including safety (every vehicle on the list is equipped with antilock brakes, electronic stability control, and a minimum of six air bags), gas mileage, perceived value, and kid-friendliness.

In the Sedan category, the 2012 Toyota Camry was praised for its space, comfort, and sure handling. It won points for the spacious back seat, with enough room for taller adults and cumbersome car seats. Total seating capacitiy is 5 passengers, including 3 car seats. Other positive attributes are convenient technology (Entune, standard USB jack and Bluetooth capability, available backup camera), excellent fuel economy (21 city/35 highway), quiet ride, and ample trunk space. The 2012 Toyota Camry is an IIHS Top Safety Pick.

The 2012 Toyota Prius V was honored in the High-Mileage category, for which vehicles must achieve 40 mpg highway.  The Prius V boasts mileage of 44 city/40 highway, while providing the cargo space of a small SUV – enough room for a travel crib and luggage. With total seating capacitiy of 5 passengers, including 3 car seats, the rear seats slide forward and back in two sections to accommodate differing heights, and they also recline. Modern conveniences include standard backup camera, USB jack, Bluetooth capability, touch-screen audio system, and a hands-free smart key that unlocks the driver's side door as you approach. The 2012 Toyota Prius V is also an IIHS Top Safety Pick.

The 2012 Toyota Sienna earned accolades in the Large Vehicle category chosen for its flexible configurations and engine options. Standard second-row seating is oversized captain’s chairs that slide forward and back and recline, but seating capacity can be boosted to eight with the optional bench seat. However, the last 2 rows can also fold down for hauling furniture or other large items. Traveling perks include a three-zone climate system, one-touch power windows, deep door pockets, and spacious glove boxes. Options include a four-cylinder or V6 engine and all- or 4-wheel drive, and available power lift-gate and backup camera. The 2012 Toyota Sienna is also an IIHS Top Safety Pick.

All three of these Best Family Cars of 2012 and many other Toyota models are available today at Toyota of Concord near Charlotte, NC. Stop by today for a test drive, on your own or with the family in tow, to find the one that best fits your needs.

Try out the safe Sienna!

The 2009 Toyota Sienna is a vehicle you can drive with your eyes closed. That is how safe it is. In fact, this safety is only a continuation of the tradition it has had from the time it was introduced more than a decade back. It has consistently returned some of the healthiest safety ratings since then.

It also has a lot more for you. It is a thoroughly dependable vehicle. It can deliver on the toughest surfaces; it can be a great companion for shopping and for dropping kids to school, or it can give upscale vehicles a run for their money with its sophistication.

It is not everyday that you come across a minivan that offers you a choice of seven or eight passengers. The 2009 Toyota Sienna's 40-20-40 split seats give enough room for all these passengers to sit comfortably. This is one of the major improvements this vehicle has got since its introduction. The vehicle was great earlier too, but newer models have removed the crammed space it had earlier.

And now to the heart of the minivan. The engine on which the 2009 Toyota Sienna rides is a highly sophisticated 3.5-liter V6 that can generate an amazingly powerful 266 horses and just 245 lb ft of torque. This is an improvement of almost 20 percent over the earliest models. The three trims -the base CE; midrange LE and the top-of-the-line XLE are made entirely for you.