What are the Best Used SUVs for Families

The station wagon and minivan may have fallen out of fashion as family vehicles, but the need for the utility they offered remains. In their place are SUVs and their similar-looking but more car-like cousins, crossovers. Like the previous family vehicles, they are good at providing room for five or more people and still have enough space to carry everyone’s luggage for a road trip, or the necessary items needed to keep the house and yard in order.   

Since new vehicles tend to be expensive, it makes good sense to look for one on the used market, which is, of course, where Alderman Automotive fits in, as we have a large inventory with a wide variety of brands and models. The good news is that the space and versatility you want in a new SUV are just as available in a used model. If you choose a model within the last three or four years, it’s likely to have all the safety, driver assistance,  and infotainment technologies you’re looking for. Also, because SUVs have been popular for quite a while, there are plenty of used models to choose from, and their high availability helps keep prices reasonable. 

SUV vs. Crossover 

There are so many SUV choices that you are going to want to figure out your priorities to avoid becoming overwhelmed by the choices. Some very early questions you will want to ask are: 

• Do I plan to tow a trailer? 

• Is off-roading ability important? 

• Do I need three rows of seats? 

Of course, the questions above are just the start. You will have several factors you will want to weigh, such as: 

• Relative size 

• Fuel Economy 

• Reputation 

• Comfort 

The first two questions basically determine whether you want a true truck-based SUV or if a crossover might be a better choice. Crossovers can tow, sometimes up to 5,000 pounds, but the body-on-frame design of truck-based SUVs means that the structural stress from towing is limited to the chassis. In contrast, crossovers use unibody construction, which distributes stress across the entire body. Truck-based SUVs also tend to have four-wheel drive rather than all-wheel drive, allowing both front and rear wheels to move together, which helps avoid getting stuck off-road compared to all-wheel drive. If these are not priorities, crossovers might be a better choice because they tend to be less expensive, more fuel-efficient, more comfortable, and offer a wider variety of options. 

Both SUVs and crossovers are categorized by the number of rows: two rows that seat five people or three rows that can seat six, seven, or eight. You don’t need a large family for such a vehicle, as it’s suitable for single trips to visit relatives or when your kids want to bring friends. Additionally, if you don’t require the third row, these larger models will offer significant cargo space with the third seat lowered. The drawbacks include higher initial and operating costs, as well as a vehicle that is less agile in parking lots and takes up more space in the garage. 

The rest of this post mainly focuses on size and efficiency. To keep things simple, all featured models are from non-luxury brands and are from two or three model years ago. 

Full-Size 3-Row SUVs that Tow 

If you want a vehicle that can carry three rows of passengers and tow a reasonable-sized trailer, the obvious options are the Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Ford Expedition. Import-brand choices include the Toyota Sequoia and Nissan Armada. A slightly smaller alternative is the Dodge Durango. All of these vehicles offer seating for seven or eight and are powered by turbocharged V6 engines, non-turbocharged V8s, or, in the case of the GM and Ford models, available 6-cylinder turbodiesels. They all have a maximum towing capacity ranging from 8,200 to 9,200 pounds. The Tahoe notably stands out with its standard V8, superior fuel economy (20 city, 26 highway, 22 combined with 4WD), and the most cargo space in any seating configuration. 

Mid-Size SUVs that Tow 

For models that are about two or three years old, the Toyota 4Runner largely falls into its own category. It belongs to the previous design generation, which lasted 15 years. That means the 278-hp 4.0-liter V6 and 5-speed transmission are a bit outdated and only deliver a combined 19 mpg. However, it is well-built, offers a small third-row seat, and can tow up to 5,000 pounds.    

The Four Largest 3-row Crossovers 

If towing isn’t a concern, you’ll probably prefer the comfort and efficiency of a crossover. But if you still want the maximum available space, the four largest models in the category are: 

• Honda Pilot 

• Chevrolet Traverse   

• Toyota Grand Highlander 

• Volkswagen Atlas 

At 158.4 cubic feet, the Pilot offers the most passenger space. However, the other three models all have 20 to 23 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats, while the Pilot has 18.6. As you fold down the seats, these models continue to provide more cargo space, with the Traverse and Grand Highlander effectively tied for the maximum capacity at 97.6 and 97.5 cubic feet, respectively. Regarding towing, the Atlas is limited to 2,000 pounds, while the other three models and others in the category can tow up to 5,000 pounds. 

The Three Largest Mid-size Crossovers 

Bridging the gap between the big 3-row crossovers and compact crossovers are mid-size crossovers. This includes a mix of larger 5-seater models and 3-row models where the third row seating is likely less than fully comfortable for adults, though it may be acceptable for short trips. The largest among these include: 

• Ford Explorer 169.2 ft. interior volume 

• Hyundai Santa Fe 166.6 ft. interior volume 

• Honda Passport 156.1 ft. interior volume 

The Largest Two-Row Compact Crossovers 

Compact crossovers are the country’s most popular type of vehicle, as these five-seaters seem to find the ideal balance between space and efficiency. If you want your compact crossover to be less compact, three models stand out for interior space: 

• Honda CR-V 145.3 ft. interior volume 

• Hyundai Tucson 146.9 ft. interior volume 

• Kia Sportage Unspecified, but assumed to be similar to the Tucson 

All three of these models have over 145 cubic feet of interior space, while the rest have 130 to 137 cubic feet. Of the three, the Honda gets the best fuel in non-hybrid form at a combined 28 mpg (AWD) vs. 26 and 25 for the Hyundai and Kia, respectively. 

Compact Crossovers with the Highest Fuel Economy 

Unsurprisingly, the hybrid models have the best fuel economy in this category, with combined figures of 9 to 14 mpg higher than their non-hybrid counterparts. All hybrids in this category achieve 35 or greater combined mpg (with AWD), but the three most efficient models are: 

• Toyota RAV4 Hybrid 41 city, 38 hwy, 39 comb. 

• Ford Escape Hybrid 42 city, 36 hwy, 39 comb. 

• Honda CR-V Hybrid 40 city, 34 hwy, 37 comb. 

For non-hybrid models, the leader is the Nissan Rogue, which has an AWD mileage of 28 city, 34 hwy, and 31 combined. 

In addition, it should be noted that three models are available with plug-in hybrid drivetrains, allowing for several miles of electric-only propulsion after overnight charging, which may suffice for your daily commute. These models are: 

• Toyota RAV4 PHEV 42 miles EV range,  38 combined MPG 

• Hyundai Tucson PHEV 37 miles EV range,  35 combined MPG  

• Kia Sportage PHEV 34 miles EV range,  35 combined MPG  

These are just some reference points, and we certainly are not saying you should limit your search to these models. We will leave the brand reputation, and exterior and interior aesthetics to you. You’ve likely seen all these models around town and know what looks appeal to you. Almost all these models do well in safety tests, but it is worth checking out the details on the NHTSA and IIHS sites.    

Once you do your preliminary priority setting, check out Alderman Automotive’s inventory, where you can easily look at SUVs only and then narrow the selection by make, model price, mileage, and other filters. And remember, our inventory is always changing, so if you can’t find what you are looking for, check again in a few days.