2021 CarBuzz Family Fun Award Finalists Announced

Family Fun is a popular category in the annual CarBuzz Awards and requires nominees to offer a good balance of technology, features, comfort, and an enjoyable drive. For 2021, the list of nominees was dominated by the Kia/Hyundai group, but Nissan and Ford also make an appearance. 

Family Fun

Requirements for nominees in this category include being spacious enough to fit four occupants plus their luggage, as well as providing the driver with some enjoyment. With a $40k price cap,  the list of nominees included:

• Kia Sorento

• Kia K5 GT/Hyundai Sonata N Line

• Nissan Pathfinder

• Kia Carnival

• Ford F-150

• Ford Mustang Mach-E

• Hyundai Elantra N

• Hyundai Santa Cruz

• Hyundai Kona N

The finalists that made the cut for the 2021 Awards are:   

2021 Kia K5 GT and 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line 

These corporate siblings have managed to stand out from the crowd for their styling, standard feature lists, and ability to speed off the line. Both feature a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 290 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. Fed to the front wheels via an eight-speed DCT, the Sonata N Line will hit 60 mph in five seconds flat. 

But rapid acceleration is not all there is to these sedans, which are both outfitted with loads of safety features including adaptive cruise control, lane following assist, and driver attention warning. There are large 10.25-inch touchscreen displays in both cars, and cargo space is an impressive 16 cubic feet. 

2022 Kia Carnival

The new Kia Carnival takes the soccer-mom stereotype and blows it out of the water. Not only does it make minivans cool again, but it has class-leading passenger room, cargo space, and the third row of seats folds completely flat for the ultimate utility. There are eight seats,  hands-free power sliding doors, a power liftgate, a host of safety features, and rear-seat entertainment. But there’s more – there’s a new 3.5-liter V6 under the hood with 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft that allows for a seven-second sprint to 60 mph. 

2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz

Somewhat of an oddity in the category, the new Hyundai Santa Cruz is quite literally a crossover with a truck bed. The load bed is covered, lockable, and there’s a height-adjustable tailgate, and in the cabin you’ll find a premium feel borrowed from the Tucson SUV. This includes Hyundai’s new digital dash. 

Powering the Santa Cruz is a base 2.5-liter four-pot or an available turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 281 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque. The turbo version will get to 60 mph in under seven seconds.

All finalists were subject to a week-long test drive. Winners of the 2021 CarBuzz Awards will be announced on November 30, 2021. Read more here: https://carbuzz.com/news/2021-carbuzz-awards-finalists-family-fun. 

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