10 Best Family Cars Under $20k

You might love a hot little roadster in your driveway, but once you have kids, the need for a practical family car typically arises. It needs to be roomy enough for everyone and the shockingly large amount of stuff they need to get through their day. However, just because you’re getting a bigger car doesn’t mean it has to be boring or break the bank.

There are lots of choices these days from sedans to crossovers, each offering the practicality families need along with affordable price tags. Check out our list of 10 family cars under $20,000 to find the perfect affordable car for your family.

The Toyota brand is synonymous with reliability, which makes it an excellent choice for families. The Corolla is celebrating its 50th anniversary and is a great little sedan for families on a budget. There’s plenty of room for the everyone with a spacious back seat and a large trunk.

Safety technology tops the list of features with every Corolla, even the base model, which comes equipped with Toyota Safety Sense P as a standard feature. This system includes lane departure warning with steering assist, dynamic radar cruise control, automatic high beams, and a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection. The Corolla is also a 2017 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ making it a solid choice for families.

The base Volkswagen Jetta S comes with a peppy 1.4-liter turbocharged engine with 150 horsepower that makes it a fun car to drive. It also has an available 5-speed manual transmission with an estimated combined fuel economy average of 33 mpg. If a manual transmission isn’t your style, then go with the 6-speed automatic, and you'll still do well with a 32-mpg range that adds to the affordability.

Packing up the family gear is easier too, thanks to a large trunk that easily holds the family’s luggage. When it comes to safety, the Jetta gets high marks. The IIHS gave the Jetta their top rating of Good in all crash tests and named it a 2017 Top Safety Pick+.

The trusty Honda Civic is all-new this year with sporty styling that defies the typical family car image. Although it’s technically considered a compact car, the Civic is roomy enough to accommodate a growing family comfortably. A manual transmission is standard, but the automatic option for the Civic still comes in at under $20,000.

The IIHS awarded the Civic its top rating of Good in crash tests and named it a 2017 Top Safety Pick, so you can drive with confidence when your most precious cargo is on board. Fuel economy ratings are good with a combined 32 mpg in the manual, or 34 mpg with the automatic, so you won’t have to make frequent stops unless the kids need another bathroom break.

The Hyundai Elantra is also all-new for the 2017 model year with attractive styling and a price you just can’t beat. It has all the room a family needs along with great fuel economy and strong safety ratings. The Elantra is an IIHS 2017 Top Safety Pick+ and achieves an estimated combined fuel economy of 38 mpg, making it an incredibly fuel-efficient car especially suited to those with long commutes.

The Elantra also has several available packages that increase its technology and comfort levels without sending the price skyrocketing. Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, a 7-inch touchscreen, blind-spot detection, heated front seats, and even a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob can all be yours for under $20,000.

Its boxy styling makes the Kia Soul a stand out and great family car. There’s lots of headroom and legroom and buckling the kids into car seats is a breeze with plenty of space to do the job. The cargo area also benefits from the Soul’s unique design with a wide opening that makes it easy to load awkward cargo like strollers.

You have your choice of either the Base or +(Plus) model as both versions come in under $20,000. If you opt for the higher trim level, additional upscale features like heated outside mirrors, fog lights, and cruise control come standard. Either choice is an affordable option that’s great for families.

Here’s proof you don’t need to spend a lot of cash to get into a solid crossover. The Honda HR-V made its debut last year as an affordable and reliable choice for families. There’s room for everyone with a large cargo area and 60/40 split-fold rear seats that make it ideal for loading bulky items.

Standard safety features include daytime running lights and a multi-angle rearview camera with guidelines so you can easily back out of tight spots. There’s a USB port up front to keep you charged and a 5-inch color LCD screen for the infotainment system. It also has excellent fuel economy with an estimated 31 mpg combined.

This newer entry in the Jeep lineup is an affordable solution for families looking for adventure. Even with the available four-wheel drive, the Renegade stays affordable below $20,000, so you can tackle whatever kind of road you manage to find. 

Jeep fans will love the styling, which remains faithful to the brand’s rugged image. There’s room for five passengers or up to 50.8 cubic feet of cargo if you fold the rear seats flat. It also has a wide liftgate opening and a low load floor that make it ideal for loading heavy or bulky items, so the entire family can enjoy on and off-road trips.

You have your choice of either a sedan or a hatchback with both versions of the Subaru Impreza coming in below $20,000. If you’re looking for extra cargo room, check out the hatchback which offers an impressive 55.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Both body styles come standard with all-wheel drive, so those who struggle through the snow every winter will have an easier go of getting the kids to school.

The Impreza also scores top marks for safety earning a 2017 Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and scoring its top rating of Good in all crash tests. Every Impreza features Subaru Starlink with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for seamless smartphone integration.

The 2017 Nissan Sentra makes the list with three different trim levels - S, SV, and SR - all coming in below $20,000 so you have plenty of choices. Even the base S trim comes well-equipped with cruise control, automatic headlights, and power side mirrors as standard features. Choose the SR and heated front seats and a leather steering wheel are added to make for a more comfortable and attractive interior.

This roomy sedan has plenty of space for the family and boasts a combined fuel economy average of 30 mpg to make long trips easier to budget. It’s also a safe car with an IIHS top rating of Good in all crash tests and a 2017 Top Safety Pick+ award. 

The Mazda CX-3 is a compact crossover with the perks of an SUV in a size that’s easy to manage, especially for those who have to navigate congested city streets. The estimated 31 mpg makes it an excellent choice for those who plan on lots of family road trips or have long commutes.

There’s room for five passengers in a nicely appointed interior with cruise control, tilt and telescopic steering column, and the Mazda Connect infotainment system with a large 7-inch color touchscreen all standard. It’s also a safety standout with an IIHS 2017 Top Safety Pick+ rating.