By Town Crier Staff Report

The American Automobile Association and Parents magazine recently teamed up to rate the top 12 family cars on the market.

Vehicles selected were rated among the top performers in crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The list includes:

Honda Accord - Runs quietly, smooth ride; a great value. Lap/shoulder seat belts come standard in all seat positions, allowing for securing even older children in a booster seat.

Nissan Altima - Drives like a sports car; cupholders big enough for supersize drinks. Snug Kids program provides a list of children’s car seats that best fit Nissan vehicles.

Ford Taurus - One of few sedans that can seat six passengers, making it perfect for carpools. Its sturdy structure protects all passengers, big and small. Rated a “Best Buy” by the IIHS.

Chevrolet Suburban - A top choice for large families, it can seat up to nine people. Up to eight cupholders, a rear seat heating duct and two power outlets in front and one in the back.

Acura MDX - This SUV gets good gas mileage (17-23 miles/gallon). Lap/shoulder belts in every position to accommodate any size child or car seat.

Hyundai Santa Fe - Drives like a luxury sedan and beat out nearly every SUV in its class in IIHS crash tests. Backseat splits for extra cargo space.

Volkswagen Passat Wagon - Offers better-than-average warranties and a built-in pollen/dust filter. An IIHS “Best Pick.”

Volvo V70 - Comes equipped with front, side and side-curtain air bags; anti-lock brakes. The seats are designed to prevent passengers from slipping out under seat belts.

Ford Focus - This smaller station wagon gives more bang for the buck. A high roofline maximizes headroom and storage space.

Honda Odyssey - Powerful engine, low overall maintenance. Quadruple five-star rating in NHTSA’s front and side-impact crash tests. Optional DVD entertainment system.

Ford Windstar - Hugs the road like a smaller vehicle. Rear-sensing system alerts you if you’re about to back into something or someone. Earned highest crash-test ratings possible.

Toyota Sienna - Lower-than-average maintenance costs, high resale value. Smart brakes advise if driver is depressing brake pedal hard enough in an emergency. A “Best Pick” by the IIHS.