CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -

It’s that time of year again: the next generation is headed back to school and their variety of before- and after-school activities.

Parents, family and friends looking at upgrading their vehicles will have this in mind this time of year, so Steve Halloran, the chief editor at CarGurus, has announced his company’s recommendations for them to help ease their guesswork. Dealers can gain a few tips, as well.

“For families with school-age children, finding a vehicle that balances safety and reliability with space, comfort and convenience is important,” Halloran said. “To eliminate the guesswork for shoppers, we’ve identified the vehicles that meet these specific criteria and also offer bonus features that will make time spent shuttling the kids a little more pleasant.”

According to a recent online poll by CarGurus, 38 percent of car shoppers with school-aged kids said they spend between 30 minutes and one hour each day with kids in their car. A third said that time was stretched over an hour.

When a customer comes onto the lot, it may be worthwhile to ask if kid-hauling is part of their regular activities. Here’s a list of vehicles that may be appealing to them, according to CarGurus.

Midsize SUVS                             

  • Mitsubishi Outlander (2016 MSRP starts at $22,995)
  • Toyota Highlander (2015 MSRP starts at $29,765)
  • Ford Explorer (2016 MSRP starts at $30,700)
  • Chevrolet Traverse (2016 MSRP starts at $31,205)
  • Infiniti QX60 (2015 MSRP starts at $42,400)
  • Acura MDX (2016 MSRP starts at $42,865)

Minivans

  • Kia Sedona (2016 MSRP starts at $26,400)
  • Toyota Sienna (2015 MSRP starts at $28,700)
  • Honda Odyssey (2015 MSRP starts at $28,975)

Large SUV

  • Chevrolet Suburban (2016 MSRP starts at $49,700)

According to CarGurus, this list was compiled based on currently available models with a focus on safety records, cargo storage space, seating capacity and availability of technology features.

For more information about CarGurus, visit its site here.