If you are a soccer mom (or dad), you know that you need a lot of space to transport your budding World Cup contenders, along with their gear. From time to time, you can also expect to be bringing teammates along. To put it simply, a small car is not going to do the trick – you should be considering a minivan or SUV. With that in mind, we have evaluated several used vehicles for performance, reliability and safety, and narrowed the best choices down to the Acura RDX, Chevrolet Traverse, Ford Flex, Honda CR-V, and Hyundai Santa Fe.
Acura RDX: The Acura RDX is based on the Honda CR-V, but somewhat more upscale. The interior is comfortable, and there are plenty of storage bins for stowing travel essentials. The spring-loaded rear seatbacks fold down easily to give you even more cargo space. You’ll also appreciate the V6 engine, which is powerful but surprisingly easy on gas.
Chevrolet Traverse: The Chevy Traverse is one of the roomiest three-row SUVs available. It seats eight, and the third row is actually roomy enough for most adults. The Traverse handles and steers very nicely, and there are extra side mirrors designed to reduce blind spots – very important when you’re in a crowded parking lot with other soccer parents.
Ford Flex: This boxy offering from Ford combines the drivability of a car with the flexibility of an SUV. Soccer parents will appreciate the low floor and large doors that make it easy to maneuver gear in and out of the vehicle. There are plenty of storage hooks, and even when the third seating row is in use, there is still room in the cargo-well for balls and other equipment.
Honda CR-V: The Honda CR-V is one of the smaller SUVs available, but still roomy enough for several kids and their gear. It handles well, and offers good fuel economy. Some drivers say that the road noise is a bit more pronounced than in other similar models, but realistically, when you’re transporting noisy young soccer players, chances are you won’t notice. The CR-V is equipped with a rear view camera, which is a real asset when you’re maneuvering around children
Hyundai Santa Fe: The Santa Fe is a stylish offering from Hyundai, and with three-row seating, you’ll have plenty of room for your young passengers. The third row isn’t quite as roomy as in some other models, though, so adults will probably find the second row more comfortable. We like the climate controls in the third row, though – players can cool down after the game without making other riders uncomfortable.
At YourMechanic, we believe that any of these vehicles will please soccer parents. Additionally, because of their popularity, there are plenty of used models on the market. Choose the one that best suits you and your team.
