Cheap To Insure Family Cars For 2015

In addition to choosing cheap to insure family cars for 2015, there are a number of ways to lower your family’s car insurance premiums. Many carriers offer discounts if you’ve been with them for a while and renew. You can also get discounts by using the same company to insure your home. Keeping your driving record clean by avoiding traffic tickets and accidents is a huge factor. If you have younger drivers, they are eligible for discounts with some companies if they’ve had driver training, and/or maintain a 3.0 grade point average. Going with a higher deductible will result in lower premiums too – if you’re open to taking on more risk. Still though, the primary factor is the car you choose to drive.

How We Choose Them

To assemble this list of cheap to insure family cars, we consulted the Insure.com Website to find family oriented vehicles with average annual premiums below $1400. These are cars capable of transporting a family of at least four in comfort. To get the quoted rates, Insure.com determined the average of what six of the largest insurance carriers would charge to fully cover a 40-year old male with a 24-mile daily commute, a clean driving record, and good credit. ZIP codes were also a factor because of the potential for theft.

The sample policy’s provisions include uninsured motorist coverage, a $500 deductible; $100,000 for injury liability for one person, $300,000 for all injuries, and $50,000 for property damage in an accident (also known as 100/300/50 coverage).

Based upon those considerations, here’s a selection of cheap to insure family cars for 2015…

Toyota Sienna L

For 2015, Sienna gets an updated grille and taillights in addition to a reworked suspension system and a reinforced body structure for a smoother, more comfortable ride. The interior décor has been redone as well. Sienna is currently the only minivan offered with all-wheel drive (on Sienna LE, XLE, and Limited), but if the lowest possible insurance premium is what you’re after go with the Sienna L. Power comes from a 3.5-liter V6 with 266 horsepower and 245 ft-lbs of torque. A six-speed automatic is the transmission offering. Capable of seating eight, standard features include automatic headlights, triple zone climate control, Bluetooth, a 6.1-inch touchscreen, and cruise control. Pricing starts at $28,600; the average annual insurance premium is $1219.

Photo by Toyota Media

Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo

If you’ve already seen our list of the cheapest cars to insure, you know Jeeps have exceptionally low insurance rates. This holds true for the big Jeep too. The Jeep Grand Cherokee was redone for 2014 and is now more upscale than ever before. The beautiful interior treatment is supported by a long list of standard features, a comfortable ride on pavement and near invincibility off-road (when properly equipped). Standard features for the Laredo include automatic headlights, cruise control, keyless entry and start, dual-zone air conditioning, Bluetooth, and a five-inch touchscreen interface. Power comes from a 3.6-liter V6 with 290 horsepower and 260 ft-lbs of torque. A six-speed automatic feeds the rear wheels if you’re going for the lowest insurance premium. Pricing starts at $29,995; the average annual insurance premium is $1230.

Infiniti Q40

If you enjoy sporty performance, a nice array of luxury features, and your kids are on the smaller side (meaning rear seat leg room isn’t a really significant issue), Infiniti has brought back the G37 sedan under a different name – Q40. Happily, this is one of those very rare occasions when a car with remarkable performance potential can be had with a reasonable insurance premium. Power comes from a 328-horsepower, 3.7-liter V6 with 269 ft-lbs of torque. A seven-speed automatic transmission routes power to the rear wheels. Standard features include automatic xenon headlights, keyless entry and pushbutton start, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather, Bluetooth, a rearview camera, and heated exterior rearview mirrors. Pricing starts at $33,950; the average annual insurance premium is $1244.

GMC Acadia SLE-2

With a comfortable ride, good crash test scores, and room for up to eight passengers, the GMC Acadia definitely fills the bill for good solid family transportation. Acadia’s Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave relatives also serve nicely in this regard, but they cost more to insure. Go with the front-drive SLE-2 trim to get the best rate. Features include remote start, a power liftgate, voice control, Bluetooth connectivity for phone and audio streaming, as well as smartphone application integration. Power comes from a 3.6-liter V6 good for 288 horsepower and 270 ft-lbs of torque. Pricing starts at $33,975; the average annual insurance premium is $1297.

Ford Taurus SE

A contemporary take on the traditional American full-size sedan, Ford’s Taurus rides exceptionally smoothly, handles adroitly, has good power, a long list of standard features and comfortably seats five. Taurus boasts strong crash test scores, a large trunk and remarkable fuel efficiency for its size – with the optional turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Speaking of which, it displaces 2.0-liters and delivers 240 horsepower and 270 ft-lbs of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission feeds the front wheels. Standard features include automatic headlights, LED taillights, keyless entry, cruise control, Ford’s Sync voice activation system, Bluetooth handsfree telephony and audio streaming, and a split folding rear seat. Pricing starts at $27,055; the average annual insurance premium comes in at $1315.

Ford Fusion S

Actually, two Ford Fusion models qualify for this list. Ford Fusion S has the lowest premium at $1319, but Fusion Energi SE also fits with an annual premium of $1369. The hybrid Ford Fusion gets better fuel economy and saves you money on insurance compared to other cars. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 175 horsepower and 175 ft-lbs of torque powers the Ford Fusion S. If you prefer the Ford Fusion Energi, you’ll get 195 horsepower from a 2.0-litter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor. Regardless of your choice, automatic headlights, keyless entry, voice activation from the Ford Sync system, and handsfree telephony are all included in the base price. MSRP for Fusion S is $22,010 – the plug-in hybrid Fusion Energi starts at $36,630.

Volkswagen Jetta S

Volkswagen’s Jetta has a lot going for it as a family car for a young family. Designed for the Autobahn, Jetta is enjoyable to drive and offers outstanding ergonomics. It’s also quiet, smooth, and offers a spacious interior and a commodious trunk. Jetta got a mild makeover for 2015, so you’ll find new front and rear styling, as well as improved safety scores. Standard features on Jetta S include power adjustable heated side mirrors, cruise control, keyless entry, Bluetooth telephony and audio streaming, as well as power door locks. The engine is a 115-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 125 ft-lbs of torque. A five-speed manual transmission feeds the front wheels, a six–speed automatic is optional. Jetta S pricing starts at $17,325; the average annual insurance premium is $1325.

Volkswagen Passat S

Outstanding refinement, a quiet ride, amazing legroom, a cavernous trunk, and a German pedigree mark the handsome Volkswagen Passat S. Designed specifically for the U.S. – and built here too – Passat offers all of the qualities of the traditional American full-size family sedan in a distinctly European package. For the best insurance premium, you’ll go with the base model Passat S; but you’ll still get automatic headlights, keyless entry, full power accessories, cruise control, and Bluetooth telephony and audio streaming. The engine is a 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 170 horsepower and 184 ft-lbs of torque. The front drive powertrain is offered with a five-speed manual transmission as well as a six-speed automatic. Pricing starts at $21,340. The average annual insurance premium comes in at $1332.

Lincoln MKX

Looking for something in a crossover sport utility, but more on the luxurious side, Lincoln’s MKX does the deal and comes in with an affordable insurance rate too. Good to go with a family of five, the Lincoln offers refinement, quiet, smoothness and a wealth of posh features to go along with its understated styling treatment. These include keyless entry and pushbutton start, remote start, a power liftgate, leather, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, voice commands and Bluetooth. Power comes from a 3.7-liter V6 with 305 horsepower and 280 ft-lbs of torque. Pricing starts at $38,900, the average annual insurance premium is $1357.

Ford Explorer Sport

Traditionalists may gravitate to the Ford Explorer, the model credited with igniting mainstream America’s love affair with the sport utility vehicle. Here’s proof you don’t have to go stripped-down basic to get affordable insurance. The Ford Explorer Sport offers a number of features found on the top of the line Explorer Limited; including 20-inch wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather, remote start, and an upgraded sound system. The 2015 Ford Explorer Sport also features more deeply bolstered heated front seats and a suspension system calibrated to improve handling. Power comes from a 365-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 with 350 ft-lbs of torque. The all-wheel drive powertrain uses a six-speed automatic transmission. Pricing starts at $43,100, the annual average insurance premium is $1382.

Photo by Ford