Cal lives in Denver and needs to upgrade his Tiguan to a three-row SUV to accomodate an expanding family. With a budget of up to $45,000 there are plenty of options to choose from, but he is finding the options overwhelming. He needs our help to narrow the field and tell him what car to buy.
(Welcome back to What Car Should You Buy? Where we give real people real advice about buying cars. Do you want us to help you find a car? Submit your story on our form.)
Here is the scenario.
Quick Facts:
My wife and I have one son (Age- 2) and are expecting twin boys this fall. We are trading in our Tiguan and need a three-row SUV. My wife like the VW Atlas but I need help with what our other options are. I feel like there are so many, I just get lost. I am hoping to spend $45k or less. I currently drive a Q5 but I am not really a car guy and have no brand allegiance. I like them because they are comfortable and while the Q5 isn’t overly powerful it has enough to merge and pass on highways. I just want something that is pleasant enough to drive. And I’ve already discussed the minivan idea, that’s a no go.
Budget: up to $45,000
Location: Denver, CO
Daily Driver: Yes
Wants: 3 rows, decent power, comfort
Doesn’t want: A minivan
Expert 1: Tom McParland – No Need To Over Complicate It
Cal, I understand that this should be a straightforward task with so many quality options in that $40,000 ranget, but it’s easy to get lost in all of the choices. You mentioned you like the passing power of your Q5, and while that isn’t a “fast” car the turbo motor gives a nice boost when you need it. However, I think you may find the Atlas to be a bit sluggish since it’s using essentially the same engine but carrying around a lot more weight. Other competitors in this class offer V6 power or even hybrid powertrains though the latter will be hard to source at a reasonable price. You also seem to be leaning towards a luxury-ish kind of car.
Since you already have good experience with the German stuff, perhaps just upgrading to the Q7 is the way to go. You will sacrifice some of the roominess of the Atlas for the performance and luxury upgrades in the Audi, but the three rows should be enough room for the three kiddos provided the older brother is ok with being in the back.
While lightly used inventory under $45,000 is decent, you will want to focus on the 3.0T models with the twin-turbo V6 that can sprint to 60 MPH in about five seconds. This will narrow your options a bit, but you can score something like this loaded Prestige model if you don’t mind having some miles on it.
Expert 2: Collin Woodard – Don’t Want A Minivan? Fine.
Tom was nice to you, Cal, but I am not the saint that Tom is. Your wife may not want a minivan, but she needs a minivan. Oh, she doesn’t want to look like a lame parent hauling three kids around? I’m sorry, but nothing that has room to comfortably haul three kids and all their stuff is cool.
The Suburban? Lame. Durango? Lame. Highlander? Lame. Telluride? Lame. Q7? It may be luxurious, but wouldn’t you know it, also lame. Maybe, just maybe, you could make the argument that the Rivian R1S is cool in its own way. I’d be willing to entertain that argument except for the fact that you can’t get an R1S in your budget, so it’s ultimately irrelevant in this particular conversation.
You and your wife can find ways to still feel alive when you’re not behind the wheel of your family hauler. Have you two considered joining a rock climbing gym? I assume Denver’s full of those and that they all have nice, big parking lots for you to park your new Honda Odyssey. Go inside. Defy gravity. Contemplate mortality as you fall 20 feet onto the pads. Feel the rush of endorphins. It’ll be good for you. Then drive home in your boring, practical Honda Odyssey.
Still, you insist minivans are off the table. Fine. Minivans are off the table. You’re getting the anti-minivan then — a Lexus LX 570. Are the ones that fit your budget going to have a lot more miles than you were probably hoping for? Of course. Is the LX 570’s third row anywhere near as practical as the Odyssey’s third row? Not at all. Will you get abysmal gas mileage around town? You bet your ass you will.
Here’s a 2016 model with 100,000 miles that’s basically in budget, or if you’re willing to accept even higher-mileage examples, there are all sorts of less-expensive ones in the area such as this one for $21,000. Either way, at least it’s not a minivan, right?
Expert 3: José Rodríguez Jr. – Three Diamonds, Three Rows
Cal, a minivan really would be ideal in this scenario. If the minivan is a non-starter, however, then I’m going to suggest another car that most people would think is a non-starter for reasons that are beyond me. What you need is a 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, which starts at just over $40,000 when new.
With your budget, you can go for a mid-grade model like the Outlander PHEV SE. Or, because people often overlook the Mitsubishi, you may even find a top trim SEL for around your budget. Mitsubishi has a reputation as a forgotten marque in the U.S., which you can take advantage of that to score a well-appointed, three-row SUV that comes with a partially-electrified drivetrain. The Outlander has been largely shunned by the general public due to its diamond badge, but it’s no worse than a lot of other crossovers.
You’ll save on fuel around town with the plug-in hybrid’s 38 miles of EV range and still have the ability to take your family on trips with the gas-sipping 2.4-liter inline four. The Outlander PHEV has Mitsubish’s new AWD system, and while the engine may not seem like enough to move the sizable SUV, we found it to be serviceable even without the boost from the two electric motors in the PHEV. No, the Outlander isn’t German nor is it fast. But it’s a fine vehicle that’s well-suited to its task. Don’t sleep on the Mitsu, is all I’m saying.
Expert 4: Andy Kalmowitz – Stop Lying To Yourself
Cal, it’s time you grow up and admit what you really need in your life: a minivan. I know, I know. That’s not what you want to hear, but I’m going to give you a reality check: not a single three-row SUV on the market is going to do what you really need it to do. They’re compromised by their very nature. You know what isn’t compromised when it comes to hauling people around? A goddamn minivan, Cal. A goddamn minivan.
I’m a good guy, so I’m willing to forgive you for thinking you need a three-row SUV instead of a van. Because of that, I’ve got the perfect one for you. Buddy, what you need is a Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid. There’s no better vehicle on earth to do what you’re trying to do, plus it checks all of your boxes. It’s also the most van minivan you can buy right now.
With a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 and a 16 kWh battery, the Pacifica PHEV has enough oomph that you won’t be missing the sportiness of your old Audi. On top of that, you get 33 miles of all-electric range, which will get you some granola cred with your Denver friends! I’m looking out for you, Cal.
Again, because I’m such a good guy, I’ve even found the perfect Pacifica Hybrid for you: this one, located in Denver is a facelifted 2022 model with just 10,000 miles on the clock that comes in at under $40,000 It’s pretty much brand new! You’re not gonna beat that, buddy. I know you don’t want a minivan, but my friend, you need a minivan.
Expert 5: Erin Marquis – When Is A Minivan, Not A Minivan?
I, for one, don’t think your wife is wrong for not wanting a minivan—I think she’s wrong for thinking minivans aren’t cool. Let’s get to brass tacks here: minivans are actually the most useful vehicles out there and I’m tired of pretending they aren’t.
However, I understand your spouse’s street cred is at stake here. People need to know she’s a mom not to be fucked with. Enter the Kia Carnival, refreshed for 2025 with a brand new, more aggressive front end and a hybrid engine. This is a minivan, make no mistake about it, but it has big SUV vibes. It has a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 good for 287 horsepower for the new gen (and 290 for the 2024 models.) A brand new one from the last gen is well within your price range, even at higher trims that come with all the safety gadgets and warnings a young family needs.
For a little extra pep, the 2025 hybrid version gives you less power but more pep with a 72-HP electric motor providing 242-HP and 271 lb-ft of torque. Plus, you’ll likely save a little cash on fuel once the numbers are announced, and will be making your kid’s climate future brighter. And someday, one of them will be handed down this van in order to start some sort of band, and you’ll be glad you have it.