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2012 Family Vehicles: The Most People, The Most Mileage

Large families of seven or eight looking for a vehicle that can carry them all and also get the best mileage have quite a few choices among 2012 product offerings. Here we take a look at seven- or eight-passenger SUVs, crossovers and minivans that carry the most people and get the most mileage.

Of course, whether you're looking for the highest city, highway or combined fuel economy makes a difference, as well as whether you require seven or eight seats. You'll have to make choices as to engines as well, since some of the highest fuel economy models have four-cylinder engines.

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2012 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

(photo credit: Toyota)

2012 Toyota Highlander

Leading the pack is the seven-passenger 2012 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, which gets an EPA rating of 28 mpg city/28 mpg highway/28 mpg combined. Next best is the two-wheel drive (2WD) four-cylinder Highlander with a 20/25/22 mpg rating, followed by the 2WD V-6-powered model at 18/24/20 mpg, both mated with a six-speed automatic transmission.

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2012 Kia Sorento

(photo credit: Kia)

2012 Kia Sorento

With seating for up to seven, the 2012 Kia Sorento LX, powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine paired with six-speed automatic transmission, gets an EPA-estimated 22/32/25 mpg fuel economy.

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2012 Honda Odyssey

(photo credit: Honda)

2012 Honda Odyssey

If a minivan is the family choice, families can deck out the 2012 Honda Odyssey, with seating for eight, to their liking. The Odyssey's fuel economy is impressive as well, coming in at 19/28/27 mpg with the 3.5-liter V-6 engine and six-speed automatic transmission.

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2012 Ford Explorer

(photo credit: Ford)

2012 Ford Explorer

The mid-size 2012 Ford Explorer seats up to seven and, when powered by the 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine mated with six-speed automatic transmission, achieves fuel economy ratings of 20/28/23 mpg in city/highway/combined.

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This article originally appeared on Family Car Guide.

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