Compact sedan as a family car

[IndyIan]

Ideally you'd have a compact wagon... Then you'd get compact sedan benefits with CRV/RAV4 SUV type cargo space.
For longer family trips we do tend to use the Outback more than the Focus, its just a bit bigger, quieter, and nicer inside. If its just my boys and I going skiing or biking somewhere though, we usually take the Focus. Usually I'll carry one of the kids bikes in the back and 2 or 3 bikes on the rack.

 

[PontiacHO]

1985 Olds Cutlass and then a 1991 Buick Gran Sport Regal. Both had the 231 V6 engines. Used to pack either one of them with our vacation junk tied to the trunk lid running highway speeds. Tough old cars that we ran into the dirt. Used either Phillips 66 Trop Artic or (then) Texaco Havoline 10w40 in both.

 

[AuthorEditor]

Compact Ford Escort wagon was just OK when we had two kids in car seats. Then moved to a minivan, which despite what many people say is the ideal family vehicle. Way more usable interior room than most SUVs, better on gas than the SUVs available at the time, lots better on the highway on long trips. Once the kids moved out of car seats we needed even more room because hardly a day went by when we were not transporting friends, kids, loads, bicycles, skis, everywhere. We had two bigger sedans at the time (Impala and Grand Marquis). The family of four and all our stuff could just fit for a long, multi-day road trip, but it was tight. We would have been better off with a minivan.

 

[John105]

We’ve had a SUV for so long with only 1 kid (had it before he was born) that we take it for granted as far as packing or carrying things. Rear row folded we have 115 cu ft, equivalent of the current, and skipping the prior Gen and going like 2015, Tahoes. It’d be difficult to adjust to less.

To your point, Xmas 2019 I was not able to rent a minivan for driving from phila to Toronto. They are popular rentals. So I got a 2019 Camry.

We were just fine on the trip, but we didn’t carry that much. Just luggage. Could we live with it? Sure. I guess things would change as far as being able to pick up stone, a tv, lawnmower, etc. we also have a hitch carrier and have carried a gas grill, bikes. It’s convenience. My wife is like I was when I was 22 and in a carpool. Seemingly the only one of her friends who drives. So she has had 6 addl passengers before driving all over at 14 mpg.

 

[AuthorEditor]

I have found that no matter how big the vehicle the family will fill the available space. Backseat legroom and space can become a problem when they become teens, and in general that is the biggest problem with small sedans. If the kids can sprawl out, have their own corner, play games, eat food, etc. trips will be much happier.

 

[Brett776]

Wife and I, 2 kids under 4…2 65 pound labs… nope sedan won’t work for our road trips. Our smallest kid is under 6 months and requires pack and play and tons of other stuff. We have a Grand Cherokee L and still needed a rooftop cargo carrier. Granted, we don’t always take dogs but we do every other month to spend time with family 5.5 hours away. I also have a civic which works fine for getting the boys from daycare. Trip wise, a little bigger is better.

I’m sure we could make do with less if we had to but it’s nice having everything you need and then some when you got little ones. We could have had a range topping minivan for the price of the GCL but my wife won’t drive one.

 

[thunderous1335]

Took a family vacation a couple of weeks ago (1 week, 4.5 hours in the car each way without stops, two adults two kids in car seats). I was pleasantly surprised that we fit all of us and pretty much all our stuff in our compact sedan (Chevy Cruze). Got me thinking about our next car purchase and what size vehicle we will end up shopping for, as I have just sort of assumed we would "upsize" to either a hatchback or small SUV at a minimum.

Curious who else has exclusively had compact (or subcompact) sedans as family vehicles? If so, have you been happy with that decision or had regrets?

Modern compact cars are much better than their predecessors, but not to the point to where you avoid the midsize segment.

Move up a size, and your kids will appreciate it.

 

[benjy]

girlfriends 18 kia optima is very roomy with a big trunk for an economical 36 mpg on her recent trip to the shore with 2 girlfriends + IMO its a good driver for a slush box!! in europe golf hatchbacks outsell jettas by a lot + as usual its the $$$ for the average buyer. my 2001 jetta 1.8T MK IV went 200 thou before trading + running well + it was a bit cramped when there was four in our car pool BUT later models like girlfriends MK V were bigger. i do like smaller rides for many reasons BUT some just need a bigger ride or just want one!

 

[JoelB]

You can do a lot with very little. We have become spoiled over time with space and power. But along with that came safety.

When I was a kid my dad drove around me and my 2 brothers in an extended cab ranger for years. The rear "seats" face each other and were like 8" wide. We survived.