Being a mom and raising children can be many things, but cheap and predictable are two things that raising children is not. Since in order to actually get around in most parts of America, you need to own a car, an unreliable car can be the make or break difference between holding it all together and wanting to rip all your hair out. Luckily, there are many good mom cars that will allow you to rest easy and know that transportation costs won’t completely destroy your family’s financial well-being, and one of these four is bound to serve you and your family best depending on what type of mom you are.
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Best car for an urban mom: 2015-2016 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen TDI
When you are in your 20s and 30s, money is often much tighter than you want it to be, and just starting out with a new child all the while can be quite the nerve-racking experience, and the last thing you need is unexpected problems. Time and time again, I find myself coming back to Volkswagen diesels, and this recommendation is no exception, as for an urban mom, I would recommend the Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen TDI. What’s different compared to the regular Golf TDI?
Well, only one thing, and that is the longer back end that can swallow nearly 50% more cargo compared to its smaller brother, making it useful for carrying strollers and other famously difficult to manage baby supplies. Despite this size increase, the Sportwagen gets the same fuel economy as the standard hatchback, with 31 city and 43 highway MPG according to the US EPA. With gasoline prices going up, and diesel remaining proportionally cheap, the excellent fuel economy is even more attractive. When combined with excellent interior materials that are leaps and bounds ahead of its competitors and an available manual transmission, the TDI Sportwagen becomes quite the fun to drive, compelling proposition.
However, all is not perfect with the Golf. Maintenance costs are average and and safety ratings are decent, but unexceptional. With good examples on the used market readily available under $20,000 USD, the 2015-2016 Golf Sportwagen TDI represents a compelling bargain for an urban mom looking for something different, yet affordable.
Best car for the active mom: 2021-present Toyota Sienna
Minivans may the cliché soccer mom car, but there is a very good reason for that. For their size, they move people and cargo more effectively than any other class of vehicle. And among them is the newest generation of Toyota Sienna. But why the Sienna over other minivans? For one, as a hybrid-only model, the Sienna’s fuel economy is the best I’ve ever seen in the class, far surpassing the fuel economy of both the previous generation model and all its rivals with 36 city and highway MPG according to the U.S. EPA, and the Sienna is only one of two minivans for sale new in America with all-wheel drive (at all trim levels in this case), making it more usable for when the road conditions become less than ideal.
While this new model may have only recently been released and this hasn’t been tested over many years, Toyota’s strong reliability reputation means that very likely, you will have many years of reliable, trouble free transportation. Compared to its predecessor, road manners are far superior, and styling is much less generic. However, all is not perfect, as compared to the previous model, the cargo volume is far less (though much more than SUVs and still absolutely massive) and it is a bit slower due to the lack of a V6 model.
Starting at $34,000 and easily optioned up to over $50,000, the high resale value of the new-generation Siennas that are on the used market mean that, while the buy-in is a bit pricey for a new car, it is worth it. Because of the better fuel economy compared to other minivans, assuming you are commuting to work and driving 20,000 miles per year, the fuel savings total up to more than $1,200 USD/year. If you keep the car for over 10 years, you will easily come out ahead in comparison.
For me, the one to go with is the base model LE and the optional All-wheel-drive, which is just over $36,000, as that offers the maximum value for the money. However, due to the car shortage in 2021 at the time of writing, you may pay a bit more in dealer markups and it may be necessary to get a used example.
Overall though, the new Sienna is a very fuel efficient entry into the minivan segment that makes a lot of sense financially and in terms of space for the size for the Suburban mom looking for a good family hauler.
Best car for the mom of the village: 2013-present Ford Transit
For the absolute largest families of more than 5 children plus the parents, a mere minivan like the Toyota Sienna will not be sufficient. For this type of mom, a commercial grade passenger van is the necessary tool, and among them, the one to get is the Ford Transit. I know, I am recommending a vehicle from an American manufacturer, something must be seriously wrong. However, this Ford is no America-specific dinosaur waiting for the asteroid like its E-Series predecessor, as the Transit actually has had proven success in many overseas markets for nearly 70 years.
Originally made famous in the early 1970s as the go-to vehicle for bank robberies in the U.K, the Transit today is still a go-to in the van space, and for good reason. The Transit built its reputation in Europe on being a cavernous van that offered car-like refinement and was easy to drive. Fortunately, this is something that the newest Transit continues to offer today, making it an excellent choice for your absolute largest of families, with up to 15 passengers of capacity depending on trim. Towing capacity ratings are up to 7,500 lbs depending on trim, and performance of the optional turbocharged 3.7 liter engine is great for a vehicle this size, though fuel economy is less than the base engine.
Also much appreciated is an all-wheel-drive option from 2020 on that will make the van much more usable in northern climates. Maintenance costs are, naturally, higher than those of a regular car, at around $800-$1,000 per year, but quite reasonable for the class. Especially when compared to its chief rival, the Mercedes Benz Sprinter, since, in typical German fashion, you will be punished to the ends of the earth if you dare to not follow the manufacturer’s prescribed maintenance schedule exactly; not cheap on a vehicle where the only component that isn’t imported from Germany is the battery.
However, all is not perfect with the Transit. Gas mileage is unimpressive, at around 16 city and 18 highway MPG for the base engine, with 1 MPG less on both figures for the AWD model, and a few less than that for the turbo V6. Unfortunately, the 5 cylinder diesel option was discontinued for the American market in 2020, meaning no way to get higher mileage other than buying a diesel Mercedes Sprinter. Safety overall is good, though breaking it down is a mixed bag, with excellent performance in some areas, and not so good in others, like the poor performance in rollovers for the high roof models.
Overall, despite its flaws, the Ford Transit is still the best in the business when it comes to hauling 10+ people, and despite the high fuel consumption, will cost less than its competitors to operate.
Best car for the rural mom: 2007-2021 Toyota Tundra
To start this, I need to explain why I would NOT recommend buying a Ford F-150, despite it being the obvious choice as the best selling vehicle in America. In my experience, F-150s made in the last 25 years have lacked the outright staying power of the older F-series trucks; feeling more like disposable consumer goods than solid working trucks. Also, I cannot recommend it due to the greater expense in repairing the all-aluminum bodywork, and the fact that the interiors of American cars have tended age poorly, and overall poorer reliability compared to the Asian branded competition.
With that in mind, I would highly recommend the outgoing Toyota Tundra for the rural mom that needs to do rural work, as Toyota, at the time of writing, is offering a rare rebate to move out stock of new outgoing Tundras of this generation in order to replace dealer stock with the new generation just announced. This means you can get an excellent, proven vehicle for your needs at a discounted price. And if you are living in a rural area, stuff that is proven to work is not just a nice touch, but necessary for day-to-day living, and the outgoing Tundra offers that in spades.
The standard 5.7 liter V8 has proven itself to be super reliable, with one example of this generation Tundra being famously bought back by Toyota after 1 million miles and torn down by the team that makes them, and what they found is that the engine would still pass their quality control standards were it on the assembly line in its current condition. The towing capacity is also great, about 10,000 lbs, which is more than its American-branded competitors. The interior is spacious, and includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto starting in 2020. The interior is also quite spacious, especially the crew cab’s back seat, which is massive, and there is no shortage of interior storage spots. If you need extra off-road capability, the TRD Pro model will best serve you, with beefier tires and additional ground clearance. Safety is also surprisingly strong given the platform’s age, with a 4-star rating from the IIHS overall and all the safety tech expected from a car made in 2021.
However, all is not perfect with the Tundra. This is still a 15 year old design underneath, and it has all the limitations of trucks from 15 years ago, most notably, the fuel economy, which is 1970s American land yacht bad, at 14-15 mpg overall. The interior is also reminiscent of cars 15 years ago, with more hard plastics throughout the interior that cheapen the experience. This theme continues to the ride, which is not as refined as its more modern competitors. Despite the older bones, it is actually more expensive to buy than its competition, with starting prices a few thousand dollars more than the F-150.
Overall though, the 2007-2021 Toyota Tundra is a solid, simple, if slightly pricey working truck with less things that can go wrong than its competitors, though the price can be mitigated somewhat if you find a well-cared for used example with low miles. Its proven reputation for bulletproof reliability that makes a compelling package for the rural family that needs a truck to transport their children and do actual rural work.
Conclusion
Good, reliable transportation that fits your needs can make or break the day. While my recommendations may not win a popularity contest, your wallet will thank you. What car do you think is best for American moms in 2021? Which one of these four would you buy? Let me know in the comments below.
