AAA and Parents Magazine Select 15 'Best Cars for Families'

Hip Scion xB, Pontiac Vibe Join Long-Time Family Favorites From Honda, Volvo

BURNSVILLE, Minn., March 15 -- AAA and Parents magazine name the 15 "Best Cars for Families" in the April issue of the publication and in AAA Auto Guide: 2004 New Cars and Trucks.

While test-driving the vehicles, AAA and Parents considered everything from air bags and fuel economy to cup holders and cargo space. The reviewers also installed a variety of child safety seats into every car, making sure it could be done easily and securely. Of those vehicles that have been tested, the AAA/Parents picks are among the top performers in crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

"Car buyers want to be sure that they'll get top safety, convenient features, and lasting value for their money when they buy a new vehicle," said Jeff Ogden, AAA Minnesota/Iowa president. "With many parents and children spending several hours per week in the car, it's important that the car be a safe, happy place for everyone in it."

Now in its third year, the list includes selections of economy cars, sedans, station wagons, sport utility vehicles and minivans. Complete descriptions of each vehicle are available in the April issue of Parents and in AAA Auto Guide: 2004 New Cars and Trucks. Here are the winners in each category:

   ECONOMY
     -- Honda Civic
     -- Scion xB
     -- Volkswagen Jetta

   SEDANS
     -- Honda Accord
     -- Chevrolet Malibu
     -- Toyota Camry

   STATION WAGONS
     -- Chrysler Pacifica
     -- Volvo V70
     -- Pontiac Vibe

   SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES (SUVS)
     -- Ford Explorer
     -- Volkswagen Touareg
     -- Nissan Murano

   MINIVANS
     -- Toyota Sienna
     -- Nissan Quest
     -- Honda Odyssey

Safety features that protect young passengers factor significantly in selecting the "Best Cars for Families." Additional information for keeping young passengers safe, including tips from AAA's award-winning child passenger safety public service campaign, "Seated, Safe and Secure," is on Parents' web site: www.parents.com , and at www.aaapublicaffairs.com .

AAA Auto Guide: 2004 New Cars and Trucks contains detailed reviews and photos of 200 vehicles. It is available at AAA offices and at retail bookstores. The retail price is $14.95.

AAA Minnesota/Iowa, which includes more than 700,000 members, offers automotive, travel, insurance and financial services. It is part of The Auto Club Group (ACG), the largest affiliation of AAA clubs in the Midwest, with 4.1 million members in eight states. ACG clubs belong to the national AAA federation, a not-for-profit organization, with more than 45 million members in the United States and Canada.