2013 Ford Flex SEL AWD
Most people's lives fall into the same pattern: first job, meet someone, fall in love, get married, buy a house and have children, all while moving up the corporate ladder. Nothing wrong with that – it's a rewarding existence. There's still time for a little adventure and travelling when you're not picking up toys or shovelling the driveway.
But there is one bastion of the white-picket-fence life that maybe you just can't cross: buying the minivan. Sure, you appreciate the room for three kids and the strollers, hockey gear and luggage, but the stigma of driving a minivan is too much. What you need is a non-minivan; not an all-out four-wheel-drive, truck-based SUV, but something that has the same room, height and a lift-gate in the back. A budget of $15,000 can buy something up to around 2011, and all are available with either front-wheel- or all-wheel-drive.
Sensible
The Ford Flex arguably has the most controversial styling of the bunch; you either love it or you don't. If you do, it certainly has room for the family, with giant doors for easy entry and a well-appointed cabin. The standard engine is a 3.5-litre V-6, but it was also available with a more powerful EcoBoost V-6. While the Flex has proven relatively reliable, the EcoBoost engine has been the subject of a lawsuit in the United States over claimed defects in design.
General Motors offers a trio of large people-movers in the Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave. For more luxury, go with the Buick, though you'll find the Traverse in slightly newer models. All three offer seating for seven or eight and excellent cargo capacity, though the Chev and GMC both have more cargo area than the Buick. Fuel economy is not great, however, and reliability is spotty. A myriad of recalls includes possibly failing seat belts, faulty air bags, a possible engine-bay fire and windshield wipers that sometimes don't work.
The Mazda CX-9 has the performance and agility of a smaller car with a firm but comfortable ride. The interior seats seven and is more upscale than you'd expect, though cargo room is the smallest on this list. It also has the worst fuel economy at a combined 13 litres per 100 kilometres. However, it does have good reliability with just two recalls, one for a faulty power seat adjuster and another for heated-seat circuits that may catch fire.
Indispensable
It may look the most truck-like, but the Honda Pilot is a car-based SUV capable of carrying eight people. Its smooth engine delivers good performance and the strong chassis feels solid and stable on the highway, all while giving a comfortable ride. Inside is typical Honda quality along with plenty of cubbyholes for storage. It also has the most cargo area as well as the best fuel economy at a combined 12.4 L/100 km. It does have two recalls between model years 2008 and 2010 that include air bags and seat belts, but its reliability has been impeccable enough to earn a "good bet" rating with Consumer Reports.
Questionable
The stylish Nissan Murano is on the smaller side, though it's worth a look. However, no matter how much you want to avoid a boring minivan, don't be tempted by the CrossCabriolet convertible version, as it has far less room for people and cargo and only two doors. Instead, get a cheaper family hauler and spend your midlife-crisis money on a real sports car.
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