Leading Japanese Family Vehicles for 2010

Potential car buyers have questions regarding the best family cars to buy from the automotive retail outlet.  Would it accommodate all the members of a family?  What is the luggage capacity if going on a vacation?  Is it fuel efficient? Here are two of the leading family vehicles of model year 2010. Among the leading choices for family vehicles from Japanese car makers,  Toyota Sienna and Mazda CX-9 are considered the best buy for the year 2010.

2010 Toyota Sienna

The Toyota Sienna minivan is here to stay and in spite of the downsizing happening around the world, Toyota stands by manufacturing new vehicles.

The 2010 Toyota Sienna sports an elegant exterior and is a pride to drive around.  It comes with a choice of two engines – a 3.5L V-6 engine which is fuel-efficient and produces 266 hp with a towing capacity of 3,500 lb., and a 2.7L 4-cylinder engine that generates 187 hp. Both are fitted with 6-speed smooth-shifting automatic transmission.

Toyota offers the new Sienna with interior options like reclining captain’s chairs in the second row, increased seating to hold seven to eight passengers, a center console that slides, leather upholstery, storage bins and cup holders, and a 10-speaker Bose audio system.  The seats can be adjusted to almost any configuration or height conceivable.  The new Sienna can take even pack plenty of luggage for a two-week vacation easily.

An eight-passenger Sport Edition V-6 model is also available aerodynamic sculpted, regular 19-inch wheels and side skirts effecting low-ground visuals.  This could perhaps be considered the perfect family vehicle.

2011 Mazda CX-9

This Japanese brand from Mazda is being produced in line with the RX-8 coupe and the MX-5 Miata roadster and is a five-door people-hauling wagon in the class of crossovers.

This CX-9 is a CUV having agile rack-and-pinion system of power-driven steering attributes.  It has a traction control system, and four-wheel disc brakes electronic brake force distribution, an electronic connection to an antilock brake system, dynamic stability control to make up for lateral skidding and a system to control traction.

Empowered by a V-6 engine transferring 3.7 liters, the CX-9 has a ratio of 10.3:1 for high compression.  The V-6 has an output of 273 hp at 6,250 rpm with the torque that can escalate up to 270 lb-ft at 4,250 rpm.

The cabin of the CX-9 is laid out in three rows of seats and a cargo hold in the aft bay.  The first row consists of two bucket seats that are bolstered and a floor console.  Three passengers can be accommodated in the second row in the bench-style seat with lounge backrests and five inches of front and back sliding space.  The third row is styled in a split bench to accommodate adults also. The wagon’s cargo space can be increased by folding the second and third-row benches flat.

To summarize, Toyota Sienna is an ideal choice for large families on a budget.  The CX-9 crossover that has sporty handing and sleek styling is a dutiful family-mover too.

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