WASHINGTON, D.C. -

U.S. News Best Cars revealed Wednesday the models it has found to be the most ideal rides for families, honoring vehicles in 18 categories.

Leading the pack among individual brands were Ford and Honda, each which had four vehicles claim top honors in a category. They were followed by Acura, Buick, Subaru and Toyota, each of which was represented in two spots.

U.S. News decides the winner in each category by considering several factors. These include:

—The opinion that auto critics have agreed upon about the vehicles
—Safety, reliability, passenger and cargo volume data
—An index of family-friendly features

“American families need cars that are safe, reliable and designed to make life easier,” commented Jamie Page Deaton, managing editor of U.S. News Best Cars, which is part of U.S. News & World Report.

“The winning vehicles provide the best mix of the bells and whistles today’s families want with the basics they need,” Deaton added. “From the rugged towing and foul-weather capabilities of the Toyota Sequoia, to the comfort and space of the Honda Odyssey, to the high-tech features to keep teen drivers safe in the Ford Taurus, this list offers a vehicle for every type of family.”

The complete list of winners is as follows:

—Affordable Compact SUV: 2012 Honda CR-V
—Full-Size Car: 2012 Ford Taurus
—Affordable Full-Size SUV: 2012 Toyota Sequoia
—Affordable Midsize Car: 2012 Ford Fusion
—Midsize SUV with Two Rows: 2012 Ford Edge
—Midsize SUV with Three Rows: 2012 Buick Enclave
—Compact Car: 2012 Subaru Impreza
—Subcompact Car: 2012 Honda Fit
—Hatchback: 2012 Honda Fit
—Hybrid Car: 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid
—Hybrid SUV: 2012 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
—Luxury Compact SUV: 2012 BMW X3
—Luxury Full-Size SUV: 2012 Cadillac Escalade
—Luxury Midsize SUV: 2012 Acura MDX
—Minivan: 2012 Honda Odyssey
—Upscale Midsize Car: 2012 Buick Regal
—Upscale Small Car: 2012 Acura TSX
—Wagon: 2012 Subaru Outback