Edmonds.com and 'Parents' magazine name best family cars for 2012

Buying a new car is a big decision, especially for families. So which cars give you the most bang for your buck?

Edmonds.com and Parents magazine teamed up to list the best family cars for 2012. They listed the top three cars in five categories: high mileage, budget, sedan, crossover and large vehicle.

Every car on the list had anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control and at least six air bags. Fourteen of the cars received a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Do keep in mind – the price listed is the base MSRP, so any additions or special features will raise the cost.

High Mileage: Toyota Prius V, $26,400
Honda Civic Hybrid, $24,000
Chevrolet Cruze Eco, $19,245

Budget: Chevrolet Sonic, $13,865
Ford Focus, $16,500
Hyundai Elantra, $15, 345

Crossovers: Mazda5, $19,625
Kia Sorento, $23,150
Honda CR-V, $22,495

Sedans: Volkswagen Passat, $19,995
Toyota Camry, $21,955
Kia Optima, $21,000

Large Vehicles: Dodge Durago, $28,995
Toyota Sienna, $25,060
Honda Odyssey, $28,375