As others have said, if it is just for the AP, then something cheap and with low insurance - it is going to get dinged up….

If she will be using it with the kids, then you may want to get something newer with more space/safety features. But again not something that you will get upset about if it gets scratched or dented.

If just for the au pair I would get a Honda Accord or similar, a few years old. If expected to drive kids, kids friends etc even if down the road I would get a van. When I was a Nanny the original agreement was I would use my own car for the kids who were 1 and 3. Well, then they started preschool and having play dates and I couldn’t fit 3 across safely in the back. So the family bought a used minivan for me to use for work.

Will the au pair be using the car the drive your children around? If so, I’d focus on safety, dependability and having enough room for your children + their gear. Maybe a Honda Odyssey.

What are you going to do with the car when your au pair leaves / you no longer need au pairs? If you are going to continue to use the car - maybe you would have a teen driver by that time - I’d focus on longevity and ease of maintenance. Maybe a Honda Accord or Toyota Camry.

If this car is strictly for the au pair’s use, I’d do a used car with low insurance rates. For me personally, especially in this climate where cars are being sold for way over MSRP and used cars are grossly overpriced, I personally wouldn’t spend more than $10k over a car only for the au pair. But the sky’s the limit…. My au pair told me that another family “gave” their au pair a Tesla Model X. Lmao.

Year,make,model?