Top 10 Family Vehicles Under $5000

Cars and kids tend to be big drain on the bank account. At Carsforsale.com, we know a brand new vehicle isn’t always in the cards for every family. We’ve identified our top 10 family vehicles under $5000 to help you find reliable transportation at a price your family can afford. When we say “Family Vehicles,” we’re looking for vehicles with a focus on space, safety, practicality, and reliability.
2002 Ford Expedition
If you’re looking for a spacious, powerful family vehicle under $5000, check out the 2002 Ford Expedition. For its size, it drives quite well. As expected, the 2002 Expedition doesn’t sip gas, but it’s one of the best SUVs under $5000.
2007 Ford Freestar
The newest family vehicle under $5000 on the list, the 2007 Ford Freestar, is easy to find for under 5k. It’s not a head-turner, but it gets the job done with a great 4.2L V6, spacious seats, and a versatile interior. Some may note the initial Ford Freestars, 2004-2005, had poor transmission reliability. However, by 2007 Ford had remedied this, giving you a great deal on a vehicle some may avoid.
2004 Honda Odyssey
Odyssey |noun| A long journey full of adventures. The Odyssey has long been the benchmark in minivans. The 2004 Odyssey will take your family on all kinds of adventures without breaking the bank. This minivan has a strong engine and spacious interior. It’s not the prettiest belle at the ball, but it will be a valiant family workhorse.
2003 Honda CR-V
If you’re looking for a smaller family vehicle under $5000, check out the 2003 Honda CR-V. This vehicle has been a staple in the compact SUV market for years. It’s reliably, relatively spacious, and has car-like driving dynamics.
2006 Kia Sedona
It may not be the most popular minivan on the road today, but the 2006 Kia Sedona is a great buy for families, offering more base safety features than most of the competition during this time. You’re able to get a relatively new Sedona at an affordable price, meaning you’ll find more features and lower miles than some other family vehicles under $5000.
2006 Mazda MAZDA5
We lovingly call the 2006 Mazda MAZDA5 a mini minivan, as it’s a very unique combination of a compact hatchback and a minivan. The Mazda5 offers incredible interior flexibility, with seating for 6 passengers and fold-down 2nd and 3rd row seating. It’s more efficient and less powerful than its larger minivan competitors.
2005 Chrysler Town and Country and 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan
We combine the 2005 Chrysler Town and Country and the 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan because they are quite similar in both price, quality, and capability. While we wish these names were a bit shorter for simplicity sake, these minivans are abundant for under $5000, so you should have no problem finding a great deal on one of these family vehicles near you.
2005 Dodge Magnum
Okay, hear us out on this one. Love it or hate it, the 2005 Dodge Magnum actually serves as a great family vehicle under $5000. It’s a great SUV alternative, providing plenty of space for cargo and passengers thanks to a more traditional wagon design. While it probably wasn’t designed with kids in mind, the Magnum functions well as a sporty, off-beat family hauler. Did I mention there’s an optional 5.7L V8 engine?
2001 Chevrolet Suburban
Finally, the 2001 Chevrolet Suburban is a great family vehicle for those needing a lot of space and power. Hauling 8 passengers and a camper? No problem. The base engine is a 5.3L V8. This is more of a comfortable, passenger-friendly truck than an SUV.
Still undecided? There are many more family vehicles under $5000 to choose from on Carsforsale.com.