10 Best Family Cars for Going Over the River and Through the Woods10 Best Family Cars for Going Over the River and Through the Woods

No matter the tension that might strike at the dinner table, these cars can make your family's ride to Thanksgiving totally relaxing.

Dan Carney, Senior Editor

November 22, 2021

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General Motors Co., Stellantis, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Ford

Thanksgiving this year has the potential to be the first large family gathering in a while for many extended families. Of course, the news of the day presents the potential for some tense discussions between the pumpkin pie and kickoff for the Cowboys game.

No matter the possible discomfort at the actual event, your immediate family's travel to Thanksgiving dinner can be more comfortable than ever thanks to continuing attention to the amenities that families appreciate while traveling by car.

For one thing, travel probably won't be in a "car" in the traditional sense. No more packing 'em in three abreast in an invitation to territorial disputes because now families travel in SUVs and family vans with multiple rows of seats that provide ample space to keep the peace.

And the in-car electronics ensure the availability of a variety of entertainment options to minimize squirming and boredom by passengers.

About the Author

Dan Carney

Senior Editor, Design News

Dan’s coverage of the auto industry over three decades has taken him to the racetracks, automotive engineering centers, vehicle simulators, wind tunnels, and crash-test labs of the world.

A member of the North American Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year jury, Dan also contributes car reviews to Popular Science magazine, serves on the International Engine of the Year jury, and has judged the collegiate Formula SAE competition.

Dan is a winner of the International Motor Press Association's Ken Purdy Award for automotive writing, as well as the National Motorsports Press Association's award for magazine writing and the Washington Automotive Press Association's Golden Quill award.

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He has held a Sports Car Club of America racing license since 1991, is an SCCA National race winner, two-time SCCA Runoffs competitor in Formula F, and an Old Dominion Region Driver of the Year award winner. Co-drove a Ford Focus 1.0-liter EcoBoost to 16 Federation Internationale de l’Automobile-accredited world speed records over distances from just under 1km to over 4,104km at the CERAM test circuit in Mortefontaine, France.

He was also a longtime contributor to the Society of Automotive Engineers' Automotive Engineering International magazine.

He specializes in analyzing technical developments, particularly in the areas of motorsports, efficiency, and safety.

He has been published in The New York Times, NBC News, Motor Trend, Popular Mechanics, The Washington Post, Hagerty, AutoTrader.com, Maxim, RaceCar Engineering, AutoWeek, Virginia Living, and others.

Dan has authored books on the Honda S2000 and Dodge Viper sports cars and contributed automotive content to the consumer finance book, Fight For Your Money.

He is a member and past president of the Washington Automotive Press Association and is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers

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