- Best Minivan For Moms: Chrysler Pacifica
- Best Hybrid For Moms: Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid
- Best Sedan For Moms: Honda Civic
- Best Luxury Crossover For Moms: Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class
- Best Expensive SUV For Moms: Land Rover Range Rover Sport
- Best Mid-Sized SUV For Moms: Acura RDX
- Best Go-Anywhere Car For Moms: Mazda CX-50
- Best Safety Option For Moms: Volvo XC90
- Best Coupe SUV For Moms: Audi Q8
- Best Performance SUV for Moms: Porsche Cayenne
Safety, comfort, and reliability are important criteria every mother needs when buying a vehicle.
You're a modern mother looking for a car, but the hundreds of vehicles on sale in America make it tough to choose. You want the best for your family in every aspect, with a safe, spacious, and comfortable car, but you also want something fun to drive that you can enjoy, and it doesn't hurt if it's not heavy at the pumps, either. Being a mom is tough already, and many moms are also business professionals that want to maintain that image too, and the car you drive plays a big role in that. So, to help make things easier, we've picked out the best motherly cars from a broad spectrum of vehicle categories that we feel are best suited to the lifestyle of a modern mom. They aren't all SUVs and minivans, either; just because you're a mom doesn't mean you're a stereotype.
Best Minivan For Moms: Chrysler Pacifica
We said they're not all minivans and SUVs, but can you have a list of the best cars for moms and not have the best minivan on the market on it? We didn't think so.
The Chrysler Pacifica is one of only two cars sold by Chrysler, but it's phenomenal, providing a blend of luxury, space, safety, and technology into one package. It looks good, drives well, and you can get it in all-wheel drive. Not only are there three rows of seating, configurable in 243 different ways, but all occupants have an abundance of space, and with amenities like tri-zone climate control, everyone will be comfortable whether you're on the school run or a family vacation.
Trims and equipment options range from basic (Touring) to luxurious (Pinnacle), meaning something for everyone. And, the Pacifica is available with a regular V6 and as a hybrid option, giving you versatility other brands simply don't offer.
Best Hybrid For Moms: Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid
Toyotas are well known for being some of the most reliable cars on the market. Somehow, the Japanese automaker has perfected the formula of making cars go for longer with minimal repair and excessive maintenance. The Toyota Corolla is actually the best-selling car worldwide, so it's no surprise that Toyota decided to slap that nameplate on a car forming part of the ever-growing crossover segment with the new Corolla Cross. While it's available in a gas-only form, it's the hybrid we're highlighting here to prevent wasting unnecessary fuel, consuming 37 mpg combined.
The interior may not seem very inspiring, and it only seats five, meaning this is geared toward moms with small families, but it's robust, the tech is up to date, and it's safe. How safe? 2022 IIHS Top Safety Pick + safe. Best of all, it's affordable, too, starting at an MSRP of $27,970.
Best Sedan For Moms: Honda Civic
What if you aren't actually a fan of big cars? Maybe you'd rather have something small and nimble to navigate your trips to the mall. The Honda Civic Sedan is the perfect choice for the busy family woman. Honda has been perfecting the Civic formula since the first iteration rolled out in 1972. You can choose from a sedan or a hatch, but for us, the sedan is spot on with a large trunk boasting 14.8 cubic feet of storage space and foldable rear seats if you need more. Unlike many compact cars, you don't have to worry about a bigger car when the kids get older, as the rear seats have an abundance of space that will comfortably cater to adults.
This new generation is stacked with tech, and with Honda Sensing technology and a 2023 Top Safety Pick award to its name, the Civic Sedan is safe as houses.
Best Luxury Crossover For Moms: Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class
An abundance of luxury in a small package: the Mercedes-Benz GLB is overlooked as a contender in the Mommy-car segment, probably due to its starting price of $39,800, which can go as high as $51,500. This may be a hefty price to pay for a relatively small vehicle, but you have to understand you're paying for German engineering and the bragging rights included with the badge.
The GLB is a classy option in the family car segment, including includes Merecedes' dual-screen infotainment system, MBUX operating system, and tons of standard and optional safety. The GLB has seating for seven people, lots of headroom, and a fair chunk of style with its mini-GLS design. With 221 horsepower in base form, it's also got some punch, and you can even get an AMG version if you want a little more spice on the school run. With the Mercedes badge up front, it looks classy, meaning it fits in just as well in a business environment as it does in the school drop-off.
Best Expensive SUV For Moms: Land Rover Range Rover Sport
Ever heard of the term “soccer-mom” car? You know, a car driven by moms who don't work and have the time to attend every possible school and sports function? Well, the Range Rover Sport is the cover picture of soccer-mom cars. They're large, classy, spacious, and keep people talking – probably owing to the over $80,000 starting price.
So, what exactly do you get for that lump sum? Of course, you'll get all the attention thanks to the new Range Rover's sleek and futuristic design, further emphasized by the 23-inch wheels. Naturally, the interior is littered with leather, chrome, and more from Ultrafabrics to make each and every surface soft, comforting, and luxurious. The car even goes as far as to actively cancel out external noise with speakers placed in the headrests, the perfect way to escape the noise your children have been making all weekend. Safety and comfort are a given here, and it can go off-road, making this the perfect family vehicle for every situation.
Best Mid-Sized SUV For Moms: Acura RDX
Acura is to Honda what Lexus is to Toyota – a slightly better version of an already established brand and fleet. The RDX is, therefore, a fancy Honda, but one we are very much in support of, as it has proven itself to be a premium experience without the cost associated with buying into a German brand.
So, why would you choose an RDX as a crossover option when it has an asking price of over $40,000? Well, simply put, the RDX makes for one of the coolest Mom cars on the market with its striking design and focus on features.
The RDX has 272 hp on tap and boasts great handling ability when paired with the “Super Handling” all-wheel drive system. What's more, adaptive damping and numerous drive modes make for a ride ready to handle school trips, camping getaways, business trips, and long highway drives. The most significant element for you as a mother is safety; the crossover was awarded the Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, so there's no doubt you'll make it home in one piece.
Best Go-Anywhere Car For Moms: Mazda CX-50
It's smaller than several cars on this list, but adventurous moms need a car that's ready for the challenges ahead of them, without compromising on the things that matter, like safety, comfort, and luxury. Think of the CX-50 as the CX-5's more rugged cousin, but without compromising on the things you love about the CX-5, like the luxurious interior, easy-to-navigate infotainment, and the 2.5-liter turbocharged engine with 250 hp on tap.
As standard, each CX-50 gets adaptive cruise control, acts as a Wi-Fi hotspot for passengers, and includes complimentary Mazda Connected Services for three years, including roadside assistance, automated connection with 9-1-1 when in danger, the ability to read the vehicle's health and the option of remote start with the MyMazda app.
Inside is where the CX-50 truly shines thanks to its upmarket interior, wireless charging, a Bose sound system, blind-spot monitoring, and a power tailgate on higher models (just in case your children are unable to reach the trunk lid).
Best Safety Option For Moms: Volvo XC90
Volvo should be one of the first brands one looks at when planning on traveling with the family. It has a rich history of safety innovation and makes for a great alternative to German and Japanese offerings. The XC90 is the tip-top of the Volvo family tree until the EX90 takes its place and is an ideal family vehicle for a number of reasons. Not only is it eco-conscious (hybrid options available), spacious (three rows of seating), and tech-laden for the kids, but with air suspension, it's plush and comfy, and with Volvo's IntelliSafe technology monitoring driver awareness and keeping the car out of danger, it's extremely safe. We've experienced this system slam on brakes when someone cuts into our lane or cars have pulled onto the road dangerously, and it reacts as quickly, if not quicker than most people can. With a Top Safety Pick + award to its name, it's one of the safest family buys you can make.
Best Coupe SUV For Moms: Audi Q8
Just because you're a mom doesn't mean you no longer want to look good or enjoy something with sporty styling. Enter the Audi Q8, which shares underpinnings with the Porsche Cayenne but looks way cooler. Unlike the Q7, this one only seats five people, but even with its coupe roofline, rear-seat passengers still have plenty of space.
Not too uncommon in the VW Group lineup of SUVs, the Q8 comes standard with four-wheel steering; turning the opposite way at low speeds to significantly tighten the turning circle and pointing in the same direction as the front wheels at high speed to change lanes rapidly.
It's up to snuff technologically with three separate screens for the driver alone, although we'd certainly prefer physical climate controls. On the performance side, the Q8 produces 335 hp in base form and reaches 60 in just 5.6 seconds, and you can get S and RS versions if you want more. How is this relevant to mothers? How else are you going to get little Jimmy to football practice in time?
Best Performance SUV for Moms: Porsche Cayenne
The Cayenne may be very similar to the Q8, but for the 2024 model year, it's been given such a big facelift, it's almost an entirely new model. It gets more power, with 13 hp extra in base form, and if you don't mind a coupe body, you can get the Cayenne Turbo GT Coupe, which was already a Nurburgring record holder prior to the update. With a newly revised chassis and suspension, it's a keen handler that belies its sheer size, and it's still a comfortable cruiser the whole family can enjoy.
A wealth of new technology includes Porsche's most advanced Matrix Design LED headlights ever, and a slew of advanced driver assistance systems like lane change assist and lane keep assist. The Cayenne is now a better driver's car, a technological powerhouse, and yet it retains its reputation for safety and comfort, making it a perfect family car for the mom who refuses to live by other people's rules.
Keyword: Best Cars for Moms:10 Family-Friendly Vehicles To Keep Your Loved Ones Safe And Comfortable