Family Haulers: 15 Under $15,000

[psycopk]

Family haulers: 15 under $15,000

By Evan Griffey of MSN Autos

School shuttling, music lessons, sports practice, friends' houses, the mall — for most busy families, moving the household from point A to point B is the name of the game. For others, their family vehicle requirements demand an even deeper vein of versatility: the ability to do more than transport five people from door to door. The following 15 candidates represent great values and various solutions to — for want of a better label — the Family Truckster Challenge.

 

[psycopk]

Honda Odyssey | 2007 – 2008

In the early days of minivans, these fresh family haulers were coveted for the number of bench seats they could contain. Today, the genre is on the leading edge of innovation, featuring all manner of digital connectivity, clever cubbyholes, and a multitude of passenger and cargo combinations. The Honda Odyssey embodies this philosophy best while providing a smooth ride and a surprising "cool" factor. Its 3.5-liter 244 horsepower V6 engine is bulletproof and delivers 17 mpg city/24 mpg highway fuel economy.

[psycopk]

Toyota Sienna | 2004 – 2006

The Toyota Sienna is also a top contender in the minivan segment. It features a long standard equipment list, a nice lineup of options, and good bang for your buck. It's even available with all-wheel drive in our price point. An accomplished family mover, the Sienna is powered by a 3.3-liter 215-horsepower V6 engine that returns 15 mpg city/21 mpg highway fuel-efficiency numbers.

[psycopk]

 

Honda Ridgeline | 2006 – 2007

Honda jumped into the pickup fray in 2006. The Ridgeline is an all-crew-cab, all-the-time proposition. It seems the Odyssey interior gurus were let loose on the Ridgeline, because it has a multitude of savvy storage solutions and a very configurable cabin. Our favorite: an 8.5-cubic-foot locking trunk in the back of the bed. The tailgate can drop down or swing out sideways like a car door for easy trunk access. A 3.5-liter 255-horsepower V6 engine provides the motivation and very respectable 15 mpg city/20 mpg highway fuel efficiency.

[psycopk]

Chevrolet Avalanche | 2004 – 2006

This Chevy is a multitasker on four wheels. Its main claim to fame is its ability to morph from an SUV to a pickup in few minutes. Chevy's midgate system converts the 4-door, 6-passenger pickup with a 5-foot bed into a more traditional 2- or 3-passenger pickup with an 8-foot bed. The Avalanche features a lockable tonneau cover for cargo protection and storage built into the bedsides. Under the hood, a 5.3-liter 295-horsepower V8 engine that gets 13 mpg city/17 mpg highway runs the show.

[psycopk]

Chevrolet Suburban | 2005 – 2007

Go big or go home: Those with large families need to do one before doing the other. Enter the Suburban, on the road since 1936, which makes it Chevrolet's longest-running nameplate. This big-rig SUV is an adept family hauler, versatile tow vehicle, and an accomplished foul-weather friend. Available in 1500 (13 mpg city/17 mpg highway) and heavy-duty 2500 lineups, the Suburban is as at home hauling a birthday party to a waterslide as it is on a cross-country road trip with nine passengers aboard.

[psycopk]

Toyota Sequoia | 2004 – 2006

Toyota's full-size SUV is more of a finesse player; it's more refined compared to the bullish Chevy Suburban. The interior is more upscale and the ride is better, but the Toyota lacks the towing capacity and outright ruggedness of the Chevy. Introduced in 2001, the Sequoia features a 4.7-liter 273-horsepower V8 engine that has Environmental Protection Agency fuel-economy ratings of 13 mpg city/16 mpg highway.

[psycopk]

Volvo XC90 | 2006 – 2009

This Volvo may not be on most buyers' radar, but it should be. Stylish, safe, well-appointed — the XC90 is an excellent, 5-passenger premium midsize SUV. The XC90 was redesigned in 2007, so buying a post-'07 version nets you one generation of evolution. The SUV's interior layout certainly makes a unique impression, with more upscale Euro chic and less blunt truck toughness. Volvo offers two engines: a 4.4-liter 311-horsepower V8 (13 mpg city/19 mpg highway) and a 3.2-liter 235-horsepower inline-6 (14/20 mpg).

[psycopk]

Subaru Forester | 2009 – 2010

The 2009 model year saw the Forester graduate from a more traditional wagon to full SUV status. You get standard all-wheel drive that is surprisingly capable off-pavement, and a great value for your dollar since our budget affords us examples as new as the 2010 model year. The one and only engine option is 2.5-liter 4-cylinder boxer engine rated at 170 horsepower and 20 mpg city/26 mpg highway — the second best for an SUV on our list.

[psycopk]

Honda CR-V | 2005 – 2007

Solid reliability, quality interior materials and excellent fit and finish are the CR-V's calling cards. The 2007 model year saw a vehicle redesign, so concentrate your efforts there to get the latest Honda innovation. All CR-Vs are powered by a 2.4-liter 166-horsepower 4-cylinder engine that delivers the best SUV fuel efficiency on our list at 20 mpg city/27 mpg highway.

[psycopk]

Chevrolet Cruze | 2011 – 2012

The Cruze is one of Chevy's most well-rounded family sedans. It features a smooth ride, seating for up to six (if you're a close-knit family), and a refined interior, which is saying something since past build quality and materials have been points of contention for General Motors. You have two engine choices: a base 1.8-liter 136-horsepower 4-cylinder (25 mpg city/36 mpg highway) or a 1.4-liter 138-horsepower turbo 4-cylinder (26/38 mpg). The popular Eco version with the turbo 1.4-liter engine nets 28/42 mpg, which makes it the mileage winner by a wide margin.

[psycopk]

Ford Fusion | 2010 – 2011

Domestic buyers should test drive the Ford Fusion. It's good looking and has a longer standard equipment list than the Chevy Cruze family sedan. The Fusion also offers better build quality. Redesigned in the 2010 model year, Fusion has two engine options: a 2.5-liter 175-horsepower 4-cylinder (22 mpg city/29 mpg highway) and a 3.5-liter 263-horsepower V6 (18/27 mpg).

[psycopk]

 

Lexus ES 350 | 2007 – 2008

In model year 2007 the Lexus ES line was redesigned and named the ES 350. With its top-flight interior materials (including standard leather), supple ride characteristics and solid reliability, this sedan is a great fit for the luxury-minded family. The sharp-looking Lexus is only offered with a 3.5-liter 272-horsepower V6 engine achieving 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway mileage estimates.

[psycopk]

Honda Accord | 2010 – 2012

The Honda Accord is a reliable, practical candidate that offers a roomy interior, quality fit and finish, and plenty of standard equipment. You can choose the midsize sedan's personality when you check the drivetrain box. Go with the 2.4-liter 177-horsepower 4-cylinder engine and get the overall mileage runner-up on our list at 21 mpg city/31 mpg highway. Opt for the 3.5-liter 271-horsepower V6 (21/29 mpg) and get a more sporty driving experience.

[psycopk]

 

BMW 5-Series | 2005 – 2008

The 5-Series covers a lot of ground. You can get sedan and wagon variants, all-wheel drive, and choose from three powerplants. The entry-level 525 features a 3.0-liter 215-horsepower inline-6 engine (18 mpg city/28 mpg highway). The 530 sports a 3.0-liter 255-horsepower inline-6 (18/28 mpg) and the line-topping 550 generates 360 horsepower from its 4.8-liter V8 (15/22 mpg). All provide plenty of status rolling up to your destination's door and tons of fun behind the wheel getting there.