Six Fantastic SUVs for Families to Buy Used

When you go shopping for a vehicle, you have many options available, especially if you are interested in a pre-owned model. Buying used gives you access to a huge range of brands, models, and trims. If you are looking at used cars for sale near Springfield and want something for your family, then a pre-owned SUV is a terrific choice that’s hard to beat.

SUVs provide bold style, impressive functionality, and remarkable safety features designed to keep you and your loved ones secure every day. Since you have so many different SUVs available to you, however, it can be difficult to navigate them all and find the perfect one. Today, we’re going to briefly go over six of our favorite options across different size categories to help you find the right one that your family will love.

Compact SUVs

For this list, we’ll go in ascending order by size, just to keep things organized. We assist Springfield families of all shapes and sizes, so we know that there are plenty of couples and folks with kids who like having a small vehicle. Subcompact models can be a bit too small sometimes, but a compact SUV can work quite well for small families or if you like to keep things simple while still getting a vehicle you will love driving.

Chevy Equinox

The Chevy Equinox is one of our favorite options when looking at compact models since it has been around for more than 20 years and has been quite popular in that time. It started as a larger midsize SUV, but it’s been a compact model ever since the 2018 model year, so those are good ones to look for if you want to go back a ways.

The 2018 model year launched its third generation, which ran through the 2024 model; a refresh and update for 2022 brought a renovated exterior and enhanced standard features, making those perfect if you want the latest features and options on your vehicle.

Toyota RAV4

Another great choice for a compact SUV, the Toyota RAV4 has been around for more than 30 years and earned an army of fans in that time. It is one of the best-selling vehicles in the world and arguably the most popular SUV in the country, making it a fantastic choice as you look at used vehicles.

The fourth generation of the RAV4 went from 2013 to 2018, though an update for the 2016 model year makes that a great place to start if you’re shopping on a tight budget. A 2019 or later model will get you a fifth-generation RAV4, which is the way to go if you’re looking for the latest features and a fantastic family SUV.

Midsize SUVs

If you’re looking for something with a bit more room inside it for your family, then a midsize SUV could be the perfect choice. These models hit the sweet spot between the compact ones we just looked at and the larger options that we’ll get to in a moment. They generally have two rows of seating inside so they’re best for about five passengers, but you’ll find more spacious rear seats and a lot more cargo space in these models.

Nissan Murano

One of our favorite midsize SUVs, the Nissan Murano, has been around for more than 20 years and has proven itself time and again. This was one of the first SUVs of its type developed by Nissan, and you can see the same attention to detail and focus on impressive performance and functionality with the Murano as you’ll find on all other Nissan vehicles.

As you’re looking at used models, the third generation is a great one to focus on since it went from the 2015 to 2024 model years. Nissan gave the 2019 model year an update, so keep that in mind, and the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite of advanced safety tech became standard in 2020.

Jeep Grand Cherokee

Although Jeep’s most iconic SUV is probably the Wrangler, we’d argue that the Grand Cherokee is a better option if you want something your family will enjoy. The Grand Cherokee has been around for more than 30 years and has become one of Jeep’s most popular models.

Providing a greater focus on ride quality, functionality, and luxury than Jeep’s more off-road-focused options, this is a great choice that can help you enjoy your time driving around Springfield each day. The fourth-gen Grand Cherokee ran from the 2011 to 2022 model years, with a facelift and big updates for the 2017 model year, so those are good ones to start with if you want an older option.

Full-Size SUVs

If you’re looking for the largest option possible, either because you need to accommodate a growing family or you simply like the power and size of a big vehicle, then a full-size SUV is the way to go. These are large, powerful vehicles that have three rows of seating; many of these can be configured for either seven or eight passengers, so keep that in mind when looking at used models. When you need something with a lot of room inside, a full-size SUV can’t be beat.

Chevy Suburban

One of the largest vehicles on the road, the Chevy Suburban is an amazing choice if you need a vehicle with tons of room for you to play with. The Suburban name has been in use since the 1930s, making this one of the longest-running nameplates on the road. However, unless you’re a collector, we wouldn’t suggest going with a Suburban from nearly a century ago.

Instead, consider an eleventh-generation Suburban, which launched in the 2015 model year. Some big updates for the 2017 model make that a good one to look for, or you should go with a twelfth-gen model from 2021 or later if you’d like to find some of the latest tech features and options.

Ford Expedition

The Expedition is a powerful and sophisticated full-size SUV from Ford and one of our favorite options when helping our customers look for a family vehicle. It has been around since the mid-1990s, proving itself time and again to be a great fit for many drivers. As you’re exploring different used models, we suggest starting with a 2018 Expedition at the earliest, which kicked off the fourth generation for this SUV.

The 2022 model received big updates, including new looks inside and out, upgraded tech features, and more. If you’re looking for an incredibly spacious interior, look for an Expedition Max model from this period to get a longer, roomier SUV.

Find an SUV that You’ll Love Driving Around Springfield

As you can see, you have a fantastic array of options available to you when exploring different used SUVs, and this is only a small taste of what’s out there. For example, if you’re looking for a vehicle with plenty of seating inside but don’t necessarily want a full-size model, you might look for a used three-row midsize SUV like the Ford Explorer, Kia Sorento, or Toyota Highlander.

Having so many different options to choose from is great, but it can also become overwhelming; that’s why it’s essential to have knowledgeable folks on your side. No matter what you need for your family, we’re ready to help you find it, with an incredible selection of pre-owned vehicles available across our dealerships. We think you deserve a better shopping experience—one that you’ll enjoy and drive away from completely happy, which is precisely what you’ll find with us.