What Are Some of the Best Pre-Owned SUVs for Families in Rensselaer?

Do you want to get your family comfortably situated in the right SUV? There are many SUVs, so what are some of the best pre-owned SUVs for families? At DePaula Auto Group, we specialize in used cars for sale near Rensselaer and finding the right one to fit your needs. We have all the information you’ve been searching for, so let’s get right to business reviewing some of the best pre-owned SUVs for families.

Ford Explorer

One of Ford’s best offerings for families is the Explorer. The Ford Explorer is a three-row SUV that packs performance, efficiency, spaciousness, and more into a vehicle ready for all adventures. With three rows of seating, the Explorer is great for families, even if more than five people live in the house.

The Explorer isn’t a full-size SUV, but that means that it’s easier to fit the Explorer into tighter spaces. The smaller size of the Explorer compared to a full-size model doesn’t harm its ability to provide each passenger, regardless of which row they’re sitting in, with a smooth ride punctuated by ample head, leg, shoulder, and hip room. Are you looking for the perfect family car to bring everyone to Littles Lake? How about an SUV to get the kids to school at Rensselaer Junior/Senior High 180 days of the year? The Explorer is more than equipped for the task.

The Ford Explorer is also built “Ford Tough,” which you’d hope with such branding. An example of how safe driving the Explorer can be is that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the Explorer its coveted Top Safety Pick+ award in 2020, 2021, and 2022. The 2023 Explorer won the Top Safety Pick award, the second prestigious award handed out by the IIHS. Fifth and sixth-generation Explorer models are readily available and offer tremendous value considering their consistently forward-looking designs and feature combinations. You and your family will have plenty to enjoy in a used Ford Explorer, whether it’s from an older model or the current generation.

Chevy Equinox

The Chevy Equinox turned 20 years old in 2024, which means the first-ever released model now qualifies for the “retro” label. This ultimately means that the Equinox is a mature SUV with plenty of attention and thought put into crafting what is one of the best family-oriented SUVs that Chevy builds. Mind you, the Equinox doesn’t have a third row of seats, so it’s not perfect for every family. For families between three and five, the Equinox gives you and your loved ones everything you’d want from the family automobile. It’s often found at a tremendous price, meaning that you can easily save money on older Equinox models and still get years of enjoyment out of it.

The 2025 Equinox kicks off a new generation, meaning every generation before it is currently what you’re looking at in the pre-owned market. Families laud many older models as reliable and efficient. Performance holds up considerably well, as the 2025 Equinox hasn’t upgraded from the turbocharged 2.0L I-4 engine from previous models. Combined with exceptional cargo space, both with the seats up and down, a used Chevy Equinox will be a fantastic family vehicle for a picnic with the family at Washington Park.

Honda Pilot

The Honda Pilot is a fantastic Honda SUV featuring three rows of seats, great tech, and exceptional cargo space compared to its competition. This mid-size SUV can seat up to eight passengers while providing some of the best third-row head, leg, shoulder, and hip room you can find. An exceptional highlight of the Pilot is that folding down both rows of seats will supply over 100 cu.ft. of space. When eight people are aboard, you still have more cargo space than some sedans offer. Thanks to this cargo space, the Pilot is an SUV that helps you and your family stay active. For example, you can bring everything down to the lake at Washington Park in Albany, including beach toys, towels, beach chairs, and more. Everyone can bring along their lunch and hiking sticks for a hike on the Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail.

Another one of the Pilot’s greatest features is its 3.5L V6 engine. While performance isn’t equal in every model, 2016 through 2022 Pilots all come with a powertrain that outputs 280 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. This enables a towing capacity of up to 5,000 lbs, matching competitors like the Ford Explorer, and is great if you need to bring a camper or the family boat down to the lake. The Pilot also has all-terrain capabilities if you and your family enjoy a bit of adventure in your lives. Some models, like the 2023 Pilot, offer seven distinct drive modes for various off-roading experiences, including Normal, Sport, ECON, Tow, Snow, Trail, and Sand.

Chevy Suburban

Let’s wrap up our list by highlighting what many agree is the ultimate family SUV. The Chevy Suburban is a full-size SUV, meaning it’s the largest of any SUV we’ve spoken about today. With the Suburban, you’re getting three rows of seats, but in a significantly larger chassis, which allows greater comfort for its up to nine passengers while providing class-leading cargo space along with its sibling, the GMC Yukon. If you live in a house with a large family, it doesn’t get much better than the Suburban.

With size being one of the leading components of the Suburban, it’s no surprise its cargo space is one of its best qualities. With your Suburban, even if you have up to nine people in the cabin, you’ll have 41.5 cu.ft. of cargo space. This is comparable to a three-row midsize SUV with its third row folded down and only five passengers on board.

In some models, like the 2020 Suburban, folding down the third row almost doubles the cargo space to 76.7 cu.ft. On 2021 models and newer, folding down the third row more than doubles the cargo space, bringing it up to around 93.8 cu.ft. Folding down both back seats gives you over 121.7 cu.ft. in the 2020 Suburban and 144.7 cu.ft. of cargo space for later models. Many pre-owned models can tow up to 8,000 lbs right out of the gate, meaning nothing is preventing your Suburban from bringing anything your family needs on the journey, whether it’s stored in the back or being towed behind you.

A Car Everyone Can Enjoy

If you’re looking for the best transportation for everyone in the family, live near Rensselaer, and appreciate comfort, you’re making the right call by purchasing an SUV. We’ve listed some of our favorites, but which one should you buy? This comes down to which vehicle suits you and your family’s needs most accurately, so it’s not a one-size-fits-all answer. A smaller family would do well with a Ford Explorer, while a big family that wants to tow their camper to Lake George would benefit from the Chevy Suburban’s capabilities. We hope this list has given you some insight into what you can buy on the used market and that there are even more vehicles to discover. Rest assured, you’ll pick the right one with the right help. Contact us today to get started.