Best Used SUVs for Families for Safety, Reliability, and Fun

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Best Used SUVs for Families for Safety, Reliability, and Fun

Posted on October 4, 2024

If you live in Canada, especially the harsher climes found in the prairies and Alberta, searching for the best SUVs in our used inventory for your family makes a lot of sense.

You’ll discover SUVs, expanding on our list of the best used family cars with a focus on what makes SUVs the best family choice: spacious interiors, advanced safety features, and solid performance. Whether you need a budget option or a bit of luxury, we’ve got you covered. Let’s find your family’s perfect match.

Our List of Best SUVs for Families at a Glance

• The Subaru Ascent is your best bet for large families, offering tons of space and seating for up to 8 people.
• The Honda Pilot stands out for its roomy interior, comfy ride, and intuitive tech, plus it’s loaded with Top Safety Pick winning safety features.
• The Kia Sorento offers great value as an affordable 3-row SUV, making it perfect for families with its spacious interior and the turbocharged option's towing capacity of up to 3,500 pounds
• The Toyota Highlander stands out for its fuel efficiency with even the non-hybrid version getting 8.1 L/100 km at highway speeds, without sacrificing safety.
• You can find some solid used SUVs under $20,000, depending on our inventory; keep an eye out for the Hyundai Tucson, Ford Escape, and Subaru Crosstrek, which are all reliable and safe rides.
• The Lincoln Nautilus, Lexus RX 350, and Genesis GV80 provide plenty of space and safety features to keep everyone comfortable and secure—all with luxury design.

Subaru Ascent - Ideal for Large and Adventurous Families

The Subaru Ascent is perfect for large families, offering a spacious cabin and seating for up to 8 passengers. This midsize SUV ensures comfortable travel for all without feeling cramped. Loading up the entire family for a weekend getaway becomes a breeze with ample room for everyone and everything.

One of the standout standard features of the Ascent is its all-wheel-drive capability, providing excellent stability and traction in various driving conditions. Navigating snowy roads or tackling rainy days is easy with the Ascent’s all-wheel drive, making it a reliable choice for families in areas with unpredictable weather. One thing about Subaru models is that they need great care, or high mileage SUVs can suffer.

Ultimately, the Ascent doesn’t skimp on safety. Its robust build and comprehensive safety features ensure your family is well-protected on every journey, offering peace of mind. It’s no wonder the Subaru Ascent remains one of the best used SUVs for large families looking for a spacious and dependable ride. We're always looking for used Ascent models to get on trade-in so we can improve our inventory.

Honda Pilot - Reliable Midsize SUV

The Honda Pilot is another excellent choice for families in need of a reliable midsize SUV. With a spacious interior that accommodates up to 8 passengers, it’s ideal for family road trips or daily commutes. Enjoy the smooth ride quality the Pilot is known for, even on long journeys.

One of the Pilot’s standout features is its user-friendly infotainment system, which keeps everyone entertained and connected on the go. Streaming music, easy navigation, and keeping the kids occupied with their favorite shows are all made possible with the Pilot’s tech-savvy features.

Safety is a top priority with the Honda Pilot, showcased by its recent recognition as a IIHS Top Safety Pick. Advanced safety technologies like automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control ensure a safer driving experience. Plus, its high resale value makes it a smart financial choice for families seeking a reliable vehicle that holds its worth over time.

Toyota Highlander - Versatile and Safe

The Toyota Highlander is a versatile midsize SUV that ticks all the boxes for safety, efficiency, and comfort. With ratings up to 8.1 L/100 km at highway speeds, its impressive fuel economy makes it a practical choice for road trip-loving families. The start-stop feature of recent used models adds noticeable efficiency and less time at the pump; fewer stops at the gas station mean more time exploring new destinations with your loved ones.

The Highlander also offers a hybrid powertrain option for even greater efficiency, blending performance with eco-friendliness—so keep an eye out in our used inventory. As one of the top hybrids in used condition on the market, it's an appealing choice for environmentally conscious families who don’t want to compromise on power or utility.

Safety is a key design feature in the Highlander, with its array of standard safety features from Toyota's best minds (Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 is its best yet), providing security on every journey. Given a solid build and advanced driver-assist technologies ensure family safety, making the Highlander a compelling choice in the crowded midsize SUV market.

Kia Sorento - Affordable Three-Row Options

For families on a budget, the Kia Sorento offers an affordable midsize SUV with 3 rows of seating. The newer used Sorento also offers more space than many competitors for the value you get, ensuring comfortable travel without breaking the bank. Its stylish interior from any year, complete with high-quality materials, adds sophistication to daily drives.

The Sorento excels in practicality with excellent cargo space, making packing for family vacations or weekend adventures easy. And the available turbocharged 2.5 L engine option, perhaps the best available, delivers lively performance, ensuring that driving the Sorento is both fun and efficient.

Moreover, the Sorento’s towing capacity of up to 3,500 pounds in this spec, meaning you can bring along everything you need, from trailers to small boats. It’s a fantastic choice for families who need an affordable, reliable, and spacious SUV.

Mazda CX-9 - Stylish and Fun to Drive

If style and driving enjoyment are high on your priority list, look no further than the Mazda CX-9 from our used Mazda inventory. This midsize SUV combines an upscale interior with sporty handling, making it a joy to drive whether you’re commuting or hitting the open road. The CX-9’s high-quality materials and sleek design give it a luxury feel without the luxury price tag.

Tech-savvy families will appreciate the range of features available in the CX-9, including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and an optional Wi-Fi hotspot. Everyone stays connected and entertained, no matter how long the journey—putting its natural style and comfort into the back seat; it's always there but lets your media take the center stage.

The CX-9 also delivers on performance with sporty handling and responsive steering through Mazda's unique i-Activ AWD. It’s the perfect blend of style, fun, and practicality, making it a standout choice for families who want more from their SUV.

Ford Explorer - Spacious and Practical

When it comes to space and practicality, the Ford Explorer in used condition is hard to beat. Known for its spacious cargo area, this midsize SUV offers plenty of room for all your family’s gear, especially with the 3rd-row seats folded down. Whether you’re packing for a weekend getaway or a cross-country road trip, the Explorer has the space you need.

Comfort is another key feature of the Explorer, with a ride designed to make long trips and rough roads feel effortless. You can drive your kids on family trips for hours without feeling fatigued, thanks to the Explorer’s well-cushioned seats and smooth ride quality.

For those who crave power, the twin-turbo V-6 engine of select years, including recent years, delivers a robust performance that makes the Sport model notably quick. But if you find models from last decade, this powerful option is not available!

Whether well-used or newer used, it remains an excellent choice for families who need a versatile and powerful SUV that can handle a variety of driving conditions in Canada's toughest road conditions.

Hyundai Palisade - Near-Luxury Feel on a Budget

Your next used Hyundai Palisade is the perfect blend of luxury and affordability. Featuring a powerful 3.8-liter V-6 engine that produces 291 horsepower, this midsize SUV offers a smooth and enjoyable driving experience. This budget-friendly option mimics the beauty of the luxury Genesis GV80 doesn’t compromise on performance or comfort.

One of the standout features of the Palisade is its generous cargo space, which can reach up to 86 cubic feet (approximately 2,447 litres) when the 2nd and 3rd rows are folded down. The extra space makes it an excellent choice for families needing plenty of room for their luggage and extra-curricular gear.

In addition to its spacious interior, the Palisade comes with a grand host of included technology and comfort features that families love for their almost luxury feel.

Best Used SUVs Under $20,000

For families on a tight budget, plenty of reliable SUVs under $20,000 offer great value without sacrificing safety or comfort. It's all about finding your price point among a constantly changing, but beautiful inventory of quality used SUVs.

Hyundai Tucson

Our sales advisors swear up and down about some of our recently improved model. The Hyundai Tucson in used condition stands out even in this in this price range, known for its user-friendly technology and high safety ratings, ensuring peace of mind on every drive.

Subaru Crosstrek

A used Subaru Crosstrek of recent years, with standard all-wheel drive and impressive safety ratings, is another great option. It balances performance and safety, making it reliable for families—and makes safety for pedestrians one of its top features.

Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-V, known for its spacious interior and strong reliability of 82/100 on J.D. Power over multiple years, is a practical and dependable choice for growing families. It's also nabbed a Top Safety Pick + spot recently.

Best Used Luxury SUVs for Families

For a touch of luxury, used luxury SUVs blend comfort, performance, and advanced safety features. Some brands are in the range of economy cars but some of the most notable used car brands famed for reliability are luxury brands with prominent models, like Lexus.

Used Lexus SUVs for Families

A used Lincoln Nautilus, with its spacious and serene interior, is ideal for family trips, ensuring every journey is pleasant. Its advanced safety features and high-quality materials make it a top choice for families seeking both comfort and peace of mind.

The Lexus RX 350 gained a reputation especially among our used Lexus SUV sales experts for its smooth ride and high-quality interior, provides a luxurious driving experience for families who value both style and substance. With its advanced safety features and spacious cabin, it ensures that every journey is comfortable and secure for all passengers.

Used Genesis SUVs for Families

The newer used Genesis GV80 combines luxury with cutting-edge technology, creating a comfortable environment for families. A stylish blend of luxury and practicality makes it a compelling choice for a premium SUV.

Browse Kaizen Auto's Used Inventory to Find Your Family SUV

While the choices might seem overwhelming, finding the right used SUV for your family involves considering various factors like passenger space, safety features, and overall reliability. The Subaru Ascent, Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, and other models mentioned in this guide offer a range of options to suit different needs and budgets.

Whether you’re looking for a spacious three-row SUV, a stylish and fun-to-drive model, or a luxury vehicle on a budget, there’s something here for everyone. If you see your car on this list, and an exciting new hybrid, EV, or updated model is calling to us, please, sell us your used SUV!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most reliable 10-year-old SUV?

The most reliable decade, or rather "decade-plus," aged SUV is often considered to be the 2013 Toyota Land Cruiser. Known for its robust build and long-lasting performance, the Land Cruiser has a reputation for reliability and durability—and that's why its a great find in any of our used inventory.

It features a powerful V8 engine and advanced off-road capabilities, making it a favorite among those who need a dependable vehicle for both city driving and rugged terrains.

What is the cheapest SUV to fix?

The Hyundai Kona is one of the cheapest SUVs to maintain and repair. With an average service cost significantly lower than many of its competitors, the Kona offers excellent value for money. Its new parts are widely available and affordable to replace, and it has a renewed reputation for reliability, which helps keep repair costs down.

What SUV is the safest to drive?

The Tesla Model Y is currently one of the safest SUVs to drive. It has received top safety ratings from both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The Model Y is equipped with advanced safety features, including automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assist, which contribute to its outstanding safety performance. However, this SUV isn't always available to larger groups. CarFax's safest 3-row SUVs for larger families include the following:

• 2024 Hyundai Palisade
• 2024 Ford Explorer
• 2024 Mazda CX-90

Which SUV is least likely to roll over?

The Tesla Model Y also stands out as the SUV least likely to roll over. According to the NHTSA, it has the lowest rollover risk of any SUV they have tested. This is due to its low center of gravity, thanks to the battery placement, and its advanced stability control systems. Other SUVs with low rollover risks include the Toyota RAV4 and the Mazda CX-5.