Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Best (small) Family Vehicle with Most Cargo Space

More shopping...I told you I've been shopping! Only this time it's not for clothes, it's for cars. Our ten year old (yes, that's right ten years old) Camry is just now starting to show signs of aging...big-dollar aging. We drag our feet to buy a new one because we live in the city with no off-street parking. Which means we suffer all the blows parking on the street offers. We just let the sideswiping of our old car roll off our backs. We also don't want to have to worry about our new car being dinged, stolen, broken into, etc. Our old Camry doesn't really invite thieves. It doesn't hurt that the car is totally paid for either. We have no intention of taking on a car note either, so whatever we buy...we plan to buy outright...so we aren't looking at cars in the $50k and up price range. However, the next big-ticket repair that pops up for this old car we want to be ready and have researched out what car we want to buy because at that point, we'll be buying a new car. I don't think it will be very long before we have to buy a new car either. Too bad this old Camry can't go another five years for us!

In addition to not wanting to worry about a new car getting damaged, etc...we really do think that at some point in the next five years we'll be moving to the 'burbs (insert crying here) so the kids can go to a decent school without breaking our bank. We're still in debates over private vs. public and all that nonsense. But in all reality, raising kids in the city is tough. So, we would have liked to wait until we moved to buy a new car since, parking on the street requires a smaller vehicle. At least we see it that way.

What are we looking for? We are looking for the best family vehicle with the most cargo space with a small footprint. So, being the list-maker that I am...I compiled a list of cars and I'm not excited by ANY of them! Not one. Boy this parenting thing is far-reaching! I would so love, for example, to buy a Smart car or a Minicooper or a nice compact hybrid. However, since we travel at least twice a year to Montreal to see Mark's family and since flying with two kids gets pretty expensive we need a car with some cargo space for traveling. OK, we always did like to drive up but now we need a car that can accommodate all our ssshi... um I mean stuff.

Here is our shopping criteria: Number one on the list is reliability & safety (enter Edmunds.com for all that info), Number two is cargo space, third - gas mileage and maintenance cost...

I ended up with a comparison list of eight cars. Surprisingly one of the most expensive cars (the BMW 328i xdrive) is the worst for safety (according to stats from Edmunds.com) and the only car in the whole list that had 100% reliability across all categories was the least expensive (the Kia Rondo Lx), again according to Edmunds.com.

After compiling this list (below) I think I'm leaning towards the Toyota RAV 4; it gives us our storage, great gas mileage, great price and very good reliability and safety. We'll see how it drives and how comfortable it is...15 hour drives kind-of requires a bit of comfort!

THE LIST:
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Cargo: 35 cu ft max or 31.7 cu ft luggage only
Gas Mileage: 18 mpg / 26 mpg / 21 mpg (city/hwy/combined)
Cost: $19,495
Edmunds reliability: 100% Green/Good all the way http://www.edmunds.com/new/2009/kia/rondo/101129996/reliability.html
Maintenance: $3421 (estimated total cost for five years)
Safety: Passenger: 5 stars | Driver: 5 stars | Side Impact Front: 5 stars | Side Impact Rear: 4 stars | Rollover Rating: 4 stars

Cargo: 59 cu ft max storage or 29 cu ft luggage only
Gas Mileage: 17 mpg / 23 mpg / 20 mpg (city/hwy/combined)
Cost: $21,245
Maintenance: $2721 (estimated total cost for five years)
Safety: Passenger: 5 stars | Driver: 5 stars | Side Impact Front: 5 stars | Side Impact Rear: 5 stars | Rollover Rating: 4 stars


Cargo: 61 cu ft Max or 27.8 cu ft luggage only
Gas Mileage: 17 mpg / 22 mpg / 19 mpg (city/hwy/combined)
Cost: $37,620
Maintenance: $3,637
Safety: Passentger: 5 stars | Driver: 5 stars | Side Impact Front: 5 stars | Side Impact Rear: 5 stars | Rollover Rating: 4 stars

Cargo: 70 cu ft Max or 30.7 cu ft luggage only
Gas Mileage: 18 mpg / 25 mpg / 21 mpg (city/hwy/combined)
Cost: $29,250
Maintenance: $4,006
Safety: Passenger: 5 stars | Driver: 5 stars | Side Impact Front: 5 stars | Side Impact Rear: 5 stars | Rollover Rating: 4 stars

Cargo: 73 cu ft Max or 36.4 cu ft luggage only
Gas Mileage: 22 mpg / 28 mpg / 24 mpg (city/hwy/combined)
Cost: $21,500
Maintenance: $3,880
Safety: Passenger: 4 stars | Driver: 5 stars | Side Impact Front: 5 stars | Side Impact Rear: 5 stars | Rollover Rating: 4 stars


Cargo: 59 cu ft max storage or 29 cu ft luggage only
Gas Mileage: 17 mpg / 23 mpg / 19 mpg (city/hwy/combined)
Cost: $32,885
Maintenance: Not yet available
Safety: Passenger: 5 stars | Driver: 5 stars | Side Impact Front: 5 stars | Side Impact Rear: 5 stars | Rollover Rating: 4 stars

Cargo: 71 cu ft Max or 31 Cu ft luggage only
Gas Mileage: 14 mpg / 20 mpg / 16 mpg (city/hwy/combined)
Cost: $39,300
Maintenance: $3,594
Safety: Passenger: 5 stars | Driver: 5 stars | Side Impact Front: 5 stars | Side Impact Rear: 5 stars | Rollover Rating: 4 stars


Cargo: 61 cu ft max or luggage only not provided
Gas Mileage: 17 mpg / 25 mpg / 20 mpg (city/hwy/combined)
Cost: $37,400
Maintenance: too new for estimate
Safety: Passenger: 4 stars | Driver: 4 stars | Side Impact Front: 5 stars | Side Impact Rear: 5 stars | Rollover Rating: 4 stars

5 comments:

Thornton Thoughts said...

We got a Mazda CX-9 in January and love it, love it. The Mazda dealer here made us a great deal. Jim LOVES doing car research so if you want some input send him an email.

Jenn @ My Kind of Strange said...

@Thornton - that was high on my list...very cute car for the class of cars we're stuck looking at - I mean...how can an SUV-ish car compete when I'm in love with the Mini Cooper?! Totally different cars. anyway, what made you guys go with the Mazda? I think our big big factor is available storage AFTER both kids are in the car seats. How much junk can we squeeze in the car after we're all seated?!

Laura said...

We were faced with a similar dilemma 2.5 years ago and ended up getting a Ford Taurus X. I think it actually has more cargo space than listed on Edmunds. We manage to squeeze all our crap in for trips but its tight tight tight. And you cant get to the back row without getting out of the car, its just a real pain for long trips. I end up sitting in the back and we put Luke in the 3rd row for trips. If I had it to do over I would get the minivan (gulp). Also now there are also many times I wish I could drive kiddie friends but we can not. Its a major pain to rearrange the seats so we can use the 3rd row.

Anyways... good list. There are a lot more options now that when we were looking.

Christy said...

I drive a rav 4 and just love it. I think you'd be happy with one too!

Sandy said...

Jenn,

I'm with Laura on this one when it comes to traveling with other's kids. We have the Toyota Sienna (minivan) and we love it. You will find, especially as the kids get older, that you'll be helping other Moms out picking up their kids and they'll be returning the favor. It is kind of nice to have room for extra kids, not to mention the family when they come to visit. It's nice that my parents and our family can all fit into one car. Anyway, if you don't go for a minivan, you should seriously consider something with a 3rd row. Have fun in the car search!