U.S News Best Cars, a leader in the car ranking, car reviews, and car-buying advice has released the Best Cars for Families awards.  These awards identify the best family cars across 20 different automotive categories. 

“Families are spending more time in their cars than ever and finding the right family car is complex and time-consuming,” says Jamie Page Deaton, managing editor of U.S. News Best Cars. “The Best Cars for Families Awards save parents time and anxiety by highlighting cars that are safe, comfortable, and affordable over the long term.”

The U.S. News Best Cars for Families Awards take component scores from the U.S. News Best Car rankings and weight them to reflect what families look for in a car. The final ranking is based on safety, reliability, comfort, and affordability.  The five-year total cost of ownership is included in the award equation. These numbers aren’t just based on U.S. News Best Cars editor’s opinions; but are based on the collective opinion of the automotive press as expressed through published reviews from credible sources.

On this year’s list Toyota and Honda tied for the most awards with five each, and Ford took home three awards, the most of any domestic automaker.

2011 Best Cars for Families Award Winners

For a complete list of winners visit U.S. News Best Cars.