Seven Great Used Vehicles for Growing Families

When you start looking at different used vehicles, you’ll quickly realize there’s a huge selection of options available to you—so many that it can quickly become overwhelming. Here at Rusty Wallace Honda, for example, we typically have more than a hundred used vehicles in our inventory at any given time, including a wide range of makes and models.

As your used car dealer, our goal is to simplify things for you and help you find something that meets your needs and that you will enjoy driving each day. This becomes easier if you know what you’re looking for. If you want a great used vehicle for a growing family that gives you room inside for more than five passengers, then we have you covered. Let’s take a look at seven of our favorite options for this kind of ride…

Honda Pilot: Three Rows of Legacy

Although full-size SUVs can work well for big families, if you’re not sure something quite that large is right for you, then a three-row midsize SUV is likely a better pick. The Honda Pilot is a three-row model that has been around for more than 20 years, creating a fantastic legacy for impressive performance and great features inside and out.

A midsize SUV, the Pilot fits easily into just about any lifestyle, which is one of the reasons we love it. Plus, its long tenure in the Honda lineup means you can find many of them when looking at pre-owned vehicles. As you look for a used Honda Pilot, we suggest one from 2019 or later, when its third generation received a facelift and updates. A 2023 or later Pilot gets you a fourth-gen model, which is the perfect choice if you want updated features and excellent performance.

Kia Sorento: Stylish and Affordable

Another great option for a three-row SUV, the Kia Sorento has also been around for more than 20 years and earned a large number of fans in that time. It was a smaller, compact model when it first hit the road in the early 2000s, although its redesign for the 2009 model year and its second generation saw it grow in size into a larger offering.

One of the great things about the Sorento is that it’s generally one of the most affordable three-row SUVs on the market, even when sold as new, so used models can be very budget-friendly—something we can all appreciate. Its third row was added for the third generation that launched in 2015; we suggest looking for a Sorento from 2019 or later, given that it was updated so that three-row seating became standard in all trims. You can also go with a fourth-gen Sorento from 2021 or later, which is perfect if you want its available hybrid engine or more standard safety features.

Chevy Traverse: Has Much to Offer

Continuing our exploration of three-row SUVs, the Chevy Traverse is another great option that’s been around for more than 15 years and has offered a lot of impressive features during that time. Some might mistake this for a full-size SUV, but it’s a three-row midsize model; this is particularly noticeable when compared to full-size Chevy SUVs like the Tahoe and Suburban.

When looking at used Traverse options, we suggest a second-gen model from 2018 or later to get some of the nicest features and impressive performance. You can find both front- and all-wheel drive on Traverse models, along with cloth and leather seating; the refreshed 2022 Traverse is a particularly good choice to get nicer interior features and safety tools (like Automatic Emergency Braking) standard in each trim.

Ford Explorer: Growing in Greatness

One of the oldest SUVs still on the road, the Explorer has been around since the 1991 model year and has more than proven itself during that time. Across more than three decades, the Explorer has changed numerous times; it started as a compact model with a midsize version available, before growing into the dedicated three-row SUV that we see today.

Since it’s been around so long, there are six generations of Explorers available at this point, so you’ll want to pay careful attention to the model year you find with any used option. We suggest a 2018 or 2019 model if you’re shopping on a tight budget, since these are late-year fifth-gen models. For the latest features and advanced options, go with an Explorer from 2020 or later to get a sixth-generation SUV; it was just refreshed for the 2025 model year, so keep that in mind as you shop.

Toyota Highlander: Spacious and Reliable

As the last three-row SUV we’re looking at today, the Highlander is a good way to go if you like the dependability and performance that Toyota is known for. This model has been around for well over 20 years and first hit the road for the 2001 model year, quickly becoming Toyota’s most popular SUV until the RAV4 surpassed it.

The third generation of the Highlander launched with the 2013 model year, but you’re better off going with one from after its refresh for 2017, which included updated engines. Better yet, a 2020 or later Highlander gets you a fourth-generation model with more rear cargo space, an available hybrid engine, and plenty of great features. Standard safety features were enhanced for the following year, so we particularly like 2021 and later Highlander models for families.

Honda Odyssey: Sophisticated Minivan

Although we’ve focused on three-row SUVs so far, they’re not your only option for a great used vehicle to meet the needs of a growing family. The Honda Odyssey is an amazing choice when looking for a ride that can get you and your loved ones around in style. This is a minivan that’s been around since the mid-1990s, but it’s come a long way since that time and the kinds of minivans that many of us grew up riding in.

The modern Odyssey is sleek and stylish, with a stunning array of features inside that you’ll enjoy each day. We suggest going with a model from 2021 or later, when the fifth-generation Odyssey received a facelift and updates, including new looks inside and out, incredibly comfortable seating, and the standard Honda Sensing suite of advanced safety features to help protect your family on the road.

Toyota Sienna: Super Spacious Minivan

If you’re interested in a second option for an impressive minivan, the Toyota Sienna is worth considering. Although it hasn’t been around quite as long as the Odyssey, the Sienna has been available for more than 25 years and has also changed a lot over that time.

Early Sienna models were marked by being smaller than some of their competitors, but it has grown over the years through numerous redesigns and has become a very nice option. The fourth generation of the Sienna launched with the 2021 model year, making that a great place to start when looking at used options that also have impressive features.

Which Used Model Is Right for You?

As you can see, there are several fantastic models available when you look at different used vehicles to meet the needs of your growing family. No matter which one is right for you, it’s vital that you get something with enough room inside to work for your particular situation and with other features that you’ll enjoy as you drive each day.

Whether you’re running errands, picking up your kids from school, or getting to and from work, you deserve to have a vehicle that you love and that’s a lot of fun on the road. With the right used vehicle, you get everything you want and so much more—and we here at Rusty Wallace Honda can help you figure out all of these details and make sure you drive away in something you love.