Good new/used choices for city family of 4?
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Anonymous
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We live in DC proper and have lived car free for many years. Due to a job change with a location and hours incompatible with transit timetables, we now need a vehicle.
It’s obviously not a great time to buy and we’re unsure whether new or used makes more sense. Newer cars around us (Toyotas and Hondas$ are often seen propped up on crates due to wheel theft and whatever we buy will be exposed to the elements, so wary of buying a brand new car. We need space for 2 growing kids, 2 skinny but tallish adults, reliability, safety, and great gas mileage (willing to pay more for a hybrid, EV is not an option for us right now). We have a small parking spot behind our home that can accommodate a midsize sedan or small SUV (up to the size of, say, an Accord or CR-V). Budget ideally would be around $35K, five or take a few thousand dollars. We have impeccable credit, no debt aside from mortgage, and are credit union members, so would qualify lower finance rates. We have $20K cash on hand and would finance the rest at the shortest term we can swing (and yes, we know how DCUM feels about car payments). When we had a vehicle, we drove every last ounce of life out of it and will do this to our next one. What makes/models/years should be considered? Used models are ok, too! TIA |
Anonymous
| Do you take taxis and Ubers everywhere? Pdo you just get groceries delivered or slept then home on the bus? How do you get your teens to the doctor? Sports? |
Anonymous
We live next to a Metro station, several bus routes, and have at least 3 grocery stores within a 10-15 minute walk. Kids are elementary aged and their school is a few blocks from home. One spouse can walk or take a short bus ride to work. All our doctors are within walking distance. We have things delivered and have used Zipcar/Uber for big shops/items. |
Anonymous
| We have a Mazda CX-5 and love it (and my kids are younger - aka bulky car seats). 2022 out-the-door price was $37k or so with the highest trim. |
Anonymous
| My adult dd just bought a Hyundai Elantra hybrid. She gets like 58 mpg. It was under your budget. |
Anonymous
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For reliable and safe, you can't go wrong with Honda, Toyota, Mazda, and Subaru. You will pay a premium for new/used Hondas and Toyotas, though (especially hybrids).
Current "best used cars" lists by price range from Consumer Reports, filtered for Japanese automakers only (unsure how realistic these price ranges are compared to the local market): $20,000-$25,000 Small Cars Mazda3 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid 2020 Nissan Leaf 2019-2020 Toyota Corolla 2020-2021 Toyota Prius 2016-2018 Toyota Prius Prime 2017 Midsized and Large Cars Toyota Avalon Hybrid 2015-2016 Honda Accord Hybrid 2017-2018 Subaru Legacy 2019 Toyota Avalon 2017-2018 Toyota Camry 2018-2019 Toyota Camry Hybrid 2017-2018 Toyota Prius V 2017 Wagons and Minivans Toyota Sienna 2017-2018 Small SUVs Subaru Crosstrek 2018-2020 Acura RDX 2016-2018 Honda CR-V 2017, 2019 Honda HR-V 2019-2020 Lexus NX 2015-2016 Mazda CX-5 2018-2020 Toyota RAV4 2017-2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid 2016 $25,000-$30,000 Small Cars Toyota Prius 2019-2021 Toyota Corolla 2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid 2021-2022 Toyota Prius Prime 2018-2019 Midsized and Large Cars Toyota Camry 2020 Honda Accord 2020-2021 Honda Accord Hybrid 2019 Subaru Legacy 2021 Toyota Avalon 2019 Toyota Avalon Hybrid 2017-2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid 2019 Small SUVs Honda CR-V 2020-2021 Lexus NX 2017-2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid 2017-2018 Honda HR-V 2021-2022 Mazda CX-5 2022 Subaru Crosstrek 2021-2022 Toyota RAV4 2019 $30,000-$40,000 Small Cars Toyota Prius Prime 2020-2022 Toyota Prius 2022 Midsized and Large Cars Toyota Avalon 2020-2021 Honda Accord Hybrid 2020-2021 Toyota Avalon Hybrid 2019-2021 Toyota Camry 2022 Toyota Camry 2021-2022 Wagons and Minivans Toyota Sienna 2020 Toyota Venza 2021 Small SUVs Acura RDX 2019 Lexus NX 2019-2021 Lexus NX Hybrid 2019-2020 Toyota RAV4 2022 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid 2019, 2021 Lastly, below is CR's list of best new (2023 model year) cars for teens that meet the highest safety standards. Sharing because DMV drivers are insane and your kids may end up with this vehicle sooner rather than later... SMALL CAR Mazda 3 MIDSIZED CAR Subaru Legacy SMALL SUVS Honda HR-V Subaru Forester Mazda CX-5 Mazda CX-50 Toyota RAV4 Honda CR-V Lexus UX Lexus NX MIDSIZED SUVS Subaru Outback Subaru Ascent Hyundai Palisade Toyota Highlander Mazda CX-9 MINIVAN Honda Odyssey |
Anonymous
| We have 2 Subarus-a Legacy and a crosstrek. I’d recommend the legacy, comfortable, huge trunk and good safety features. It had more options at a better than Toyota/Honda |
Anonymous
| NP. Thank you for that list, very helpful! |
Anonymous
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Eight years ago, I bought a Subaru Legacy because I wanted a sedan over an SUV, but wanted a lot of leg room in the back seat for my growing teen boys. It has not disappointed.
About to purchase a Forester now because our lifestyle has changed. That has reclining back seats which teen boys also will enjoy. |