What Cars Make Mom Happy? MotherProof.com Names 2009 Family Cars of the Year

Washington DC MotherProof.com, a website dedicated to helping women and moms navigate the automotive world based on features most important to them and their families, announced the winners of its 2009 Family Cars of the Year Awards today at the Washington Auto Show.

“There are countless family-friendly vehicle options on the market today, offering a combination of style and features,” said chief mom Kristin Varela. “Our goal is to help women, and moms in particular, evaluate the options best suited for their unique needs. Our awards are unique in that evaluations are based on our own experiences with test vehicles - taking our kids to school, loading up groceries for the week, commuting, even heading out for date night. We put each car to the test the way real families use them in their daily lives.”

Launched in 2006, the MotherProof.com Family Cars of the Year Awards recognize several of the best new vehicles on the market across nine categories: minivan, three-row SUV or crossover, two-row SUV or crossover, wagon, sedan, fun, overall value, hybrid and best Latch connectors.

“Often when people think ‘family car’ they think only of the minivan,” Varela said. “While that’s a great selection for many people, moms no longer need to limit themselves to the van. The MotherProof.com awards showcase a wide range of vehicle types and body styles, all well-appointed for families.”

Award winners are selected based on criteria deemed most important to families by the MotherProof.com mom-reviewers, including ease of entrance and exit for all passengers, Latch connector usability, ease of seat belt use for kids in boosters, and other relevant family-friendly features. The same criteria are taken into account in every MotherProof.com vehicle review.

“The team at MotherProof.com applauds our 2009 award winners for keeping families front and center in their designs,” Varela said. “All of these vehicles represent the best of the best for families and offer the complete package of safety, style and convenient features for families on the go.”

2009 MotherProof.com Family Cars of the Year Award Winners

Minivan: 2009 Toyota Sienna
Mama Says: This minivan actually treats mom like a bona fide grownup, with a fit and finish that anyone would be proud to drive. Sure, it has all the gadgets, gizmos and family-friendly features you’d expect in a minivan, but with a surprisingly car-like ride.
Momorable Mention: 2009 Chrysler Town & Country

SUV/Crossover (three rows): 2009 Buick Enclave
Mama Says: The Enclave is a major hit with its luxurious environment, flexible seating and quiet interior. Its thoughtful details, like seat belt tethers for booster seats and tether anchors in the third row, make us swoon.
Momorable Mention: 2009 Ford Flex

SUV/Crossover (two- rows): 2009 Subaru Forester
Mama Says: The Forester’s go-anywhere attitude meshes well with busy moms on the go. All-wheel drive and increased spaciousness for 2009 bumped this favorite up to winner status. Factor in its IIHS Top Safety Pick status, and the Forester becomes an obvious vehicle for families to consider. A panoramic sunroof doesn’t hurt, either.
Momorable Mention: 2009 Mercedes ML320

Wagon/Hatch: 2009 Volvo XC70
Mama Says: Safety abounds, of course, in the Volvo XC70. A lane departure warning system, blind spot warning system and adaptive cruise control keep families protected. It’s the simple, clean and beautiful interior that wins our hearts. Winningest feature? Integrated booster seats that make life for moms and kids immeasurably easier.
Momorable Mention: 2009 Toyota Venza

Sedan: 2009 VW Passat
Mama Says: We were very impressed with everything the Passat had to offer. From the built-in sunshades for backseat passengers to the easy-to-use navigation system, the Passat exceeded our expectations. Add to this a fun drive and a bevy of safety features, and the Passat is a winner.
Momorable Mention: 2009 Lincoln MKS

Hybrid: 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Mama Says: The Hi-Hy’s plentiful cargo space gave us the biggest thrill. For an SUV that doesn’t look or feel big, this baby can pack a lot in (including hybrid technology). We have an ongoing quandary because we don’t love huge cars, but a teeny car just doesn’t cut it anymore. The Hi-Hy fit all our family gear with room to spare.
Momorable Mention: 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid

Just for Fun: 2009 Audi R8
Mama Says: Everything about this car makes Mom happy. The R8 paved the way for an expectant mom-reviewer to fulfill her destiny of driving a sexy supercar while being a gracious queen of the road. It supported another mom-reviewer in her indulgent single-mom weekend. It took one more mom-reviewer and her son out for some birthday fun. Someone tell us how this is NOT a mom-mobile—we dare you!

Overall Value: 2009 Mazda5
Mama Says: The Mazda5 makes good use of its carlike qualities by hugging the road better than a minivan—no topsy-turvy feel here. We love that the interior is highly usable, while the exterior doesn’t make us feel like moms. We have to hand it to the Mazda designers on this one; the Mazda5 really does have a “zoom-zoom” effect.

Top Latch Connectors: 2009 Audi S5
Mama Says: It’s a two-door coupe, and the Latch connectors work? Yes, they do. Do you know what we like most about them? They’re out there for everyone to see. It’s almost as if the S5 were proclaiming, “I have Latch connectors, and I’m to-die-for!” Built into plastic housing, the Latch connectors are easy to use, too.

About MotherProof.com
MotherProof.com is a mom’s guide to life in the car that offers opinions and practical information about cars and car life, written from one savvy mom to another.
MotherProof.com was born in 2004 when young mother and entrepreneur Kristin Varela needed a new car to meet the growing demands of her family, and found that a short test drive didn’t deliver mom-relevant information. While women purchase more than 50 percent of new cars and influence 85 percent of all car sales, most automotive advice speaks to men and automotive enthusiasts. Varela saw the need to deliver automotive information to moms, an important and underserved niche.
Source: MotherProof.com