Best Cars for Single Parents
Raising children is tough – and it’s many times tougher if you’re a single parent. You’ve got to balance a busy and complicated adult life with the health and happiness of your children.
Everything from getting your kid to school to finding time to run errands is harder when you don’t have a built-in support network. Fortunately, you’re not alone. According to recent data from the US Census Bureau, there are approximately 13.7 million single parents out there, raising over 26% of all children under the age of 21.
These hard-working Moms and Dads know what works best for their busy lives. And as a car-shopping website that’s serious about the people behind the wheel, we thought we could help by compiling a list of the most popular cars for single parents.
We searched through Honk to find single parents who recently purchased a new vehicle and then drew on their wisdom to help explain why these cars and trucks are so well suited to family life. The final top-10 list of Best Cars for Single Parents contains a variety of sedans, hatchbacks, trucks, and SUVs that range from about $13,000 to $24,000. If you’d like to create a more personalized list for yourself on Honk, just click here.
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#1 Best Car for Single Parents: Kia Sorento
The most popular car for single parents is also the only one with 3 rows of seating, making the Sorento a great choice if you have two or more kids and need some extra space. This Kia is stylish and safe and with a starting price just shy of $20k, you’d never believe that the Sorento can also be had with premium features like an optional panoramic sunroof and DVD entertainment system. The only thing you’ll have to worry about is that you don’t spoil the kids.
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#2 Best Car for Single Parents: Mazda CX-7
Can a family car be fun? Mazda says yes and proves it with the light-on-its-feet CX-7. Owners love the sleek styling and luxurious interior, calling this crossover “surprisingly sporty and refined.” If you need some extra oomph to get you to the ballet recital on time, the CX-7’s optional turbo engine can turn this family hauler into a serious speed machine.
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#3 Best Car for Single Parents: Honda Civic
It’s hard to go wrong with a Civic. This best-selling Honda is known for rock-solid reliability and a design that is small on the outside but spacious on the inside. The Civic was also awarded a Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, so you can rest assured knowing that your child is safe inside.
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#4 Best Car for Single Parents: GMC Sierra 1500
With a sticker price that can jump from about $21k to over $40k, the Sierra is the priciest vehicle on this list. It is, however, your best choice if you need to haul large gear or tow a trailer. GMC offers a wide range of beds, cabs, and engines in the Sierra, though owners with families seem to agree that the spacious Crew Cab model is the best choice if you have kids.
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#5 Best Car for Single Parents: Mazda 3
The Mazda 3 makes a strong case that a car can be “action-packed” and “value-packed” at the same time. Forget the $15k starting price because this Mazda’s confident road manners make it feel more like a junior sports sedan from Germany than a commuter car from Japan. Though a sedan model is available, the hatchback may be a better choice if you need extra cargo space for strollers or soccer gear.
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#6 Best Car for Single Parents: Toyota Yaris
With highway fuel economy higher than that of some hybrids and a $13k starting price, this Toyota is a smart move if you’re looking to save money or the environment. In Europe, the Yaris won many awards when it was first launched, thanks to its cheeky styling and fun handling. The car comes in two versions, though cargo space is a bit more limited in the hatchback than it is in the sedan.
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#7 Best Car for Single Parents: Jeep Liberty
If you’re a single parent who loves to venture outdoors, this is the best vehicle on the list for you. The Liberty is genuinely capable off-road and has over 60 years of mud-slinging Jeep heritage behind it. There’s an optional Sky Slider canvas roof that can peel back for a convertible feel and a UConnect media system that can organize your music and display photos of your kids.
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#8 Best Car for Single Parents: Kia Forte
Kia’s brand new Forte – and its predecessor, the Spectra – earn Kia another spot on this Top 10 list. The Forte’s handsome looks come from celebrated car designer, Peter Schreyer, who is best known for his work on the stunning Audi TT and A3. Fortunately, beauty is more than skin deep on this new Kia thanks to a standard Bluetooth hands-free phone system and best-in-class 36 MPG highway rating. It’s a smart buy, too, with a starting price in the mid-$13k range and a 10-year / 100,000 mile powertrain warranty. Your child’s college fund will thank you.
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#9 Best Car for Single Parents: Toyota Corolla
After a long day of running around, it helps to have some space to stretch out. With an enormous 92 cubic feet of interior space, the Corolla lets you do exactly that. Owners love that this Toyota is a full package, bragging, “You cannot find a more sensible car in terms of price, style, value, design, fitness to any age, economy to operate, safety and fun.” And if that’s not enough to convince you, the Corolla was also honored with a Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. It’s no surprise that the Corolla landed on the Top-10 list of the most popular cars for single parents.
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#10 Best Car for Single Parents: Nissan Cube
Just because you’re a single parent doesn’t mean you have to be boring. The Cube stands out with a funky asymmetrical design that’s sure to get a few admiring stares when you pull up at a traffic light. And thanks to six standard air bags and rear seats that can slide to make room for people or cargo, this Nissan is also a smart runabout for small families. The tight exterior dimensions can be deceiving, as one owner described his Cube, “It’s like the size of a house inside but looks like a compact on the outside.”
