Our family is growing and, well, now we’ve started to do a bit of family car shopping. There’s nothing immediately urgent, per se, but it is something that’s been weighing on our mind. One of silver linings from this pandemic, if you can call it that, is that we haven’t gone anywhere. Thus, our family vehicle needs aren’t immediately pressing. But, as we creep back toward some semblance of normalcy, we’ll probably need a different car to better suit our current needs. Maybe you can help us pick.

Our Current Family Car Needs

Naturally, every family situation is different. Thus, there is never a “one size fits all” solution for the “best” family car. Going from having one kid to two has changed a lot of our family dynamics and understandably so. To summarize our current needs, our next family car should accommodate the following:

  • 2 adults in the front seats (obviously)
  • 2 child seats – currently an infant bucket and a forward-facing convertible child seat
  • This will change to a rear-facing convertible and a high back booster seat soon.
  • Eventually, this will change to a front-facing convertible and a high back booster.
  • An occasional third adult

That last bullet point is what throws the biggest wrench into this family car decision. My mom lives us with us. We’d like to avoid having to drive two cars if all of us want to go somewhere together. It won’t be super often, but it won’t be super rare either. This also means we’d rather not install a child seat in the third row if we can help it.

In terms of budget, I originally wanted to stay under the $40,000 mark before taxes for a new vehicle. The more I explore what’s available, the less likely this is starting to sound. Somewhere in the mid-40s seems doable, putting us out the door and on the road for under $50,000. We’ll see.

The Non-SUV Options to Consider

As you peruse this first group of options, you’ll quickly notice that one of these things is not like the others…

  • Subaru Legacy: The only sedan to make this list (at least for now), the Legacy has one of the widest second rows in the segment. My mom should be able to fit in the middle seat, I think. Or, if we can install the child seats side-by-side, my mom can sit in the rear passenger seat or rear driver’s seat?
  • Honda Odyssey: I’ve been a big fan of Honda for many years, having owned both an Acura Integra and a Honda Fit. The Odyssey is obviously a very different vehicle. We’re really hesitant to take the minivan route, but the horizontally-sliding second row seats sure make things look really convenient. The lack of AWD bugs me though.
  • Toyota Sienna: I like that this is available as a hybrid for the incredible fuel savings. But, like the Odyssey, the Sienna is also a minivan. Unlike the Honda, this Toyota does have available all-wheel-drive.

2-Row SUVs and Crossovers

If we only had to concern ourselves with two adults and two kids, a compact or even subcompact crossover (with two rows) could probably do the job. That’s mostly what I was checking out when we were at the Vancouver Auto Show a couple of years ago. With a third adult, we need a wider second row with appropriate child seat installation options. This whole category is one big question mark until we test fit everything for ourselves.

  • Nissan Murano: We currently drive a Nissan Rogue, so this would offer the easiest transition. The Murano is wider. But, it is starting to show its age. The current model has been around since 2015 (aside from a mild refresh in 2019).
  • Subaru Outback: Realistically speaking, the Outback is just the station wagon (or crossover, sorta) version of the Legacy. It’s a few thousand more for the added cargo space in the back. I’m just not sold on the look, as we’re not much of an “outdoor adventure” type family.
  • Honda Passport: For some reason, the 2-row Passport can cost more than the 3-row Pilot, even though they’re basically the same vehicle. Could we make this work?

3-Row SUVs and Crossovers

Begrudgingly, this is probably the category of family car that we’ll end up getting. Coming from someone who much prefers compact and subcompact cars in general, going this big is a big adjustment. I have my concerns about driving around the city, parking, and fuel consumption. But, we have to be practical. And 3-row SUVs might be helpful when the time comes to shuttle around the kids and their friends.

  • Nissan Pathfinder (2022): For the most part, every other vehicle on this list has been about the same for the last couple years. The upcoming 2022 Pathfinder is very different (looking) than the 2020 model. I like the new look. I also like the EZ Slide system for accessing the third row even when child seats are installed in the second row.
  • Volkswagen Atlas: The Atlas has a similar system as the Pathfinder for accessing the third row. I am concerned about the higher fuel consumption and the larger size overall. The Atlas is also more expensive.
  • Subaru Ascent: The largest Subaru lacks the tilt-and-tumble second row of the Pathfinder and Atlas. However, the second row seems to slide forward enough to provide third row access. Fuel economy is good from the turbocharged 4-cylinder boxer engine too.
  • Mazda CX-9: From what I can gather, among 3-row SUVs, the CX-9 is the most fun to drive. It’s that whole “zoom zoom” mentality from Mazda. I like that. The third row does look especially small, though.

Which Family Car Do You Suggest?

Another option that blipped onto my radar was the Acura MDX. It’s got three rows and I’m a fan of Acura vehicles in general. The biggest sticking point — aside from the “mouse pad” controls rather than a touchscreen — is the sticker price of around $60,000. That’s more than we’d like to spend. If we get into that range, we open up a number of other family car options to consider too.

You’ve likely figured out that I have many conflicting priorities in what I want out of our next family car. I don’t want to drive a big vehicle, but I want to make sure we have enough space for everyone (and our stuff). I want to enjoy excellent fuel economy, but not if it means sacrificing adequate power. It’d be great to have a car that’s fun and agile to drive, but that seems less reasonable the bigger you get. I’m at a bit of a loss, if we’re being honest.

So, taking everything into account…. what would you recommend? What family car would you pick if you were in our situation?