Disclaimer: A big thank you to my local car dealership, Reedman Toll Auto World, for being a cash sponsor of this post filled with crossover SUVs for moms on the go. If you’re interested in a Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, or Ram, stop by Reedman Toll in Langhorne, PA.
All opinions expressed are my own.
As a mom on the go myself, I fully understand the need to have a vehicle that fits your needs – cargo space, safety, affordability, and much more. But I don’t always want to have to settle for the reliable minivans – don’t get me wrong, they are awesome, but there are some crossover SUV options that will fit all your needs and still have some style and flair too.
All of the vehicles that I’m sharing below are ones that I have personally driven within the past two years. I share facts about the 2014 editions (if available), but most are standard options. The costs are referenced from the manufacturer website or on Reedman Toll’s website.
1. Dodge Nitro
The Dodge Nitro is a great fit for a mom on the go – classy, sleek, and a little rough around the edges. This is how I described my lovely Dodge Nitro to anyone that asks. There’s a couple of options that I love about this vehicle, and first and foremost, it is the option to switch from 2WD to 4WD. I would always worry that I’d get stuck somewhere in the snow with no help in sight. It doesn’t matter if there is 4 inches of snow on the ground, this vehicle plows through it like nothing once you use the simple switch.
There are some great additional options – wireless phone connectivity, comfortable seating for 5, and if you flip over the carpeting in the trunk, there’s a great rubberized flooring to hold your groceries in place while you drive. Safety options include anti-lock brakes, stability control (helps prevent the driver from losing control of the vehicle), front impact and overhead airbags, pretensioners (tightens seatbelts before a collision), and anti-whiplash head restraints. And most importantly, you can buy a Dodge Nitro for less than $20,000. A great deal!
Dodge has discontinued manufacturing the Dodge Nitro, which was sad news to me, but I must admit that I miss my little Dodge Nitro. Here’s some more pictures of the Nitro.
2. Buick Encore
The other day, I had issues with my car. When I took it to the dealership, I was able to take a loaner. In comes the Buick Encore. Comfortable seating for 5, the Buick Encore offers tons of cargo space for strollers, groceries, whatever you need.
This crossover is a beauty; it has safety options that any mom would love, including 4-wheel anti-lock brakes, forward collision alert (alerts driver of an impending collision alert), front and rear park assist (for when your child is having a tantrum and you’re trying to focus on parking the car), side blind zone alert (detects vehicles in adjacent lanes), a total of 10 airbags, including frontal and knee air bags for driver and front passenger, rear cross traffic alert (senses cross traffic up to 65 feet away, helpful when backing out of a parking spot or driveway), and lane departure warning (sensors that warn drivers of impending lane changes). And the greatest part – the 2014 edition ranges from $24,000 – $28,000. You can’t beat that deal!
Needless to say, we had tons of fun driving around with the Buick Encore. I’m honestly considering this crossover to be my next vehicle of choice.
3. Dodge Durango
I didn’t like the Dodge Durango in the past; I just didn’t like how it looked or the features. But I instantly fell in love with the new Dodge Durango. Having a chance to drive this vehicle for a week last year while I was getting some work done on my car was a pleasure.
Comfortable seating for 7 and airbags for every passenger, the Dodge Durango is a great pick for all moms. The ride is smooth and easy to maneuver; you’ll feel like you’re driving a car instead of a powerful V6 or V8 engine powered SUV. I didn’t know this before, but after some research, I found out that the Dodge Durango has over 45 standard safety options and was recognized as a Top Safety Pick in 2012 by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The Durango has some great features too, including the Adaptive Cruise Control (which I tested out myself), which detects vehicles in front of you and slows down appropriately. You can set the distance that you want to be between vehicles and the cruise control will maintain that difference. Some other great standard options include Rain Brake Support (help improve stopping power during wet conditions), Brake Assist (senses emergency braking), Blind Spot Monitoring (alerts driver of potential hazards in your blind spot), and Ready Alert Braking (prepares for panic stop when you quickly depress the accelerator). The 2014 edition starts at$29,000.
4. Chevrolet Traverse
Comfortably seating 8 with tons of cargo space, the Chevrolet Traverse is a great option for moms. It’s a mid-size SUV on the outside, but has the amenities of a minivan on the inside – rear seat video entertainment, lots of head room, great on gas, and a smooth ride. The Chevrolet Traverse also has some great safety options including rearview mirror, rear parking assist, forward collision alert and lane departure warning, side blind zone alert, full airbag support for all passengers, and OnStar support. The 2014 edition starts at about $30,000.
5. Jeep Grand Cherokee
The most awarded SUV ever, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is another great option for every mom. The Jeep Grand Cherokee received a Top Safety Pick in 2013 and numerous other awards in 2013 and 2014. I love the Command View sunroof – perfect to enjoy the sun or the moon and the stars. Comfortably seating 5, the Jeep Cherokee is also filled with safety options for moms and children — airbags on all sides, blind spot monitoring, back up camera, and accident avoidance systems. A cool option that I particularly enjoyed was the adaptive HD headlamps. It freaked me out a bit at first, but then I quickly started to learn what was happening. The headlamps adjust to illuminate the road around corners. High beams auto-dim and adjust as needed based on ambient light and oncoming traffic. The 2014 Grand Cherokee starts at $29,000.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this list of crossover SUVs filled with great safety options, style and flair, and affordable – these are all great vehicles and will be perfect for you if you don’t want to buy a minivan.
