Hauling Buffy and Jody

The average family with children has 1.86 young 'uns. Rounding to the nearest whole child, many families need to safely seat two kids in the back, along with all their accompanying binkies and blankies. Nearly every make of car has an adequate four-/five-passenger sedan in its lineup, so picking a top choice is even more difficult.

Here, we provide three subcategories. The first is for the driver who has lost the will to drive, making the old reliable Toyota Camry ($22,715) and Honda Accord ($22,150) prime 2012 choices. If you prefer a bit more luxury in your kids' pram, Hyundai offers the 2012 Genesis ($35,050), and Buick has the 2012 LaCrosse ($30,820). And for those of us who enjoy a good driver's car, the 2012 Mazda6 ($20,035) and 2011 Kia Optima ($18,995) will make trips to the soccer game or swim meet less boring and even somewhat exciting.

Sam Says: It's a family affair when you pack the car to see Uncle Bill and Mrs. Beasley. The sporty looks of the Kia Optima come with good power, good fuel economy, good handling, excellent interior space, and a high fun-to-drive quotient that make the sedan a stand out in this category. The price is just icing on the cake.

My Three Sons

Once you get past the standard two children, kids and booster seats begin to take up more of the back seat than a normal sedan can handle. Sorry... but you'll have to give up one of your BMW 330i sedans for a more utilitarian vehicle. If you've got the coin, the local Beemer dealer will get you into a seven-passenger 2012 X5 ($48,075 plus $1,700 for the optional third-row seat) without too much of a problem.

If you're not ready to part with 50 grand, a few 2012 people carriers rise to the top: the micro-minivan Mazda5 ($20,140), the trendy wagon Ford Flex ($30,180), the ubiquitous Chrysler Town & Country minivan ($30,830), and the pseudo-SUV GMC Acadia ($33,415).

Sam Says: Claiming three dependents doesn't mean you travel with just three passengers. My choice here is the Chrysler Town & Country. Its seven-passenger space along with cargo room for all is a fantastic combination. Add in the powerful V6 and updated interior, and the T&C returns to the top of the segment.