School is back in session, and that means parents across the country have begun schlepping their kids -- and their stuff -- to school and home… and everywhere in between. It doesn't matter whether Henry plays hockey, Barbara takes ballet, Suzy kicks soccer balls, or Ben plays baseball; if you're hauling kids, you're also hauling their gear. Make that more than one child, more than one backpack, and more than one sport, and the trunks in most cars are pretty much full. And that's BEFORE the trip to the grocery store to pick up a few things for dinner.
If this back-to-school season has taught you that your family's cargo needs have outgrown your current vehicle, we've got the info you need to help you find the best new car to help you carry you, your kids, and all their stuff. Look below to find the best current deals on a variety of vehicles, as well as a summary of their cargo space and fuel economy to help you make your best shopping decision.
Depending on the vehicle, we've measured the amount of space (in cubic feet) in either the trunk or behind the second row; that gives you a measure of how much cargo you can carry while a couple of kids ride in the back seat. To help you decide, we've also included fuel economy figures to help you balance your space needs against your fuel budget -- if you're doing a lot of driving, you may choose to sacrifice some space for a vehicle that offers better fuel economy.
Subcompact Cars
| Year/Make/Model/Trim | MSRP | % Discount | $ Discount | Average Paid |
| 2011 Suzuki SX4 4dr Sedan Man FWD | $14,244 | -15.3% | -$2,175 | $12,069 |
| 2011 Chevrolet Aveo 5dr HB LS | $12,875 | -15.0% | -$1,930 | $10,945 |
| 2011 Kia Rio 4dr Sedan Base | $12,990 | -10.0% | -$1,299 | $11,691 |
Even if your budget is small, that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice on space: The Suzuki SX4 offers the most amount of space among these budget-friendly cars with 15.5 cubic feet of storage and offers a fuel economy rating of 23 city/33 hwy/ 26 combined -- all for a price around $12,069 at a Certified TrueCar dealer. The Chevrolet Aveo ranks second in trunk space with 12.4 cubic feet, a fuel economy rating of 27 city/ 35 hwy/ 30 combined, all for about $10,945 at a TrueCar dealer. Finally, the Kia Rio Sedan offers 11.9 cubic feet of storage with fuel economy of 28/34/30.4 and an average price of $11,691.
Midsized Cars
| Year/Make/Model/Trim | MSRP | % Discount | $ Discount | Average Paid |
| 2011 Mitsubishi Galant 4dr Sedan ES | $22,394 | -20.6% | -$4,605 | $17,789 |
| 2011 Nissan Altima 4dr Sedan I4 eCVT Hybrid | $27,560 | -19.8% | -$5,449 | $22,111 |
| 2011 Chevrolet Malibu 4dr Sedan LT w/1LT | $23,735 | -15.8% | -$3,759 | $19,976 |
These midsized cars may offer more passenger comfort, but not much more room in the trunk -- except, that is, for the Chevrolet Malibu which boasts 15.1 cubic feet of trunk space and a fuel economy rating of 22 city/33 hwy/25.9 combined -- all for a price around $19,976 at a Certified TrueCar dealer. The Mitsubishi Galant offers 13.3 cubic feet of trunk space and fuel economy of 21/30/24.3, for an average price of $18,789. At 11.2 cubic feet, the Nissan Altima Hybrid has about the same amount of trunk space as the Kia Rio, but with excellent fuel economy of 33 city/ 33 hwy/33 combined, all for about $22,100 after a whopping discount of more than $5,000 off MSRP.
Large Cars
| Year/Make/Model/Trim | MSRP | % Discount | $ Discount | Average Paid |
| 2011 Chevrolet Impala 4dr Sedan LS Retail | $25,320 | -13.9% | -$3,522 | $21,798 |
| 2011 Ford Taurus 4dr Sedan SEL FWD | $28,445 | -11.9% | -$3,377 | $25,068 |
| 2011 Ford Flex 4dr SE FWD | $30,180 | -11.1% | -$3,363 | $26,817 |
Great discounts are also available if you want a large car with more room to carry large people. Our data shows the Ford Flex boasts the most flexible space in this segment, with up to 43.2 cubic feet of storage behind the second row, but the lowest fuel economy ratings of 17 city/24 hwy/19.6 combined, at a TrueCar price of about $26,817. The Ford Taurus sedan offers 20.1 cubic feet of trunk space with a fuel economy rating of 18/28/21.4, and an average price of $25,068 at a Certified TrueCar dealer. The Chevrolet Impala offers 18.6 cubic feet of trunk space, fuel economy of 19 city/29 hwy/22.5 combined, and an average TrueCar price of $21,798.
Minivans
| Year/Make/Model/Trim | MSRP | % Discount | $ Discount | Average Paid |
| 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan 4dr Wagon Mainstreet | $26,680 | -14.9% | -$3,967 | $22,713 |
| 2011 Kia Sedona 4dr LWB LX | $25,390 | -13.7% | -$3,484 | $21,906 |
| 2011 Nissan Quest 4dr S | $28,560 | -8.1% | -$2,306 | $26,254 |
Today's minivans offer the most flexibility by providing a third-row that allows comfortable room for extra people or that can be easily folded to offer an enormous cargo area capable of holding such giant items as Tubas or Kettle drums. While some don't love their "Minivan Mom" image, there is no beating the minivans’ interior space and comfort. The Dodge Grand Caravan offers the most space among these great deals, with up to 83.3 cubic feet of storage behind the second row and a fuel economy rating of 17/25/19.9, all for a TrueCar Certified average price of $22,713. The Kia Sedona also offers a voluminous 80.1 cubic feet of storage behind the second row, with fuel economy figures of 18 city/25 hwy/21combined, and an average price of $21,906 at a TrueCar Certified dealer. The Nissan Quest emphasizes passenger comfort over cargo space, coming in with just 63.6 cubic feet behind the second row. Fuel economy is rated at 19/24/21; average TrueCar price is about $26,254.
Midsized SUVS
| Year/Make/Model/Trim | MSRP | % Discount | $ Discount | Average Paid |
| 2011 Mitsubishi Endeavor FWD 4dr LS | $29,109 | -22.7% | -$6,601 | $22,508 |
| 2011 Dodge Journey FWD 4dr Express | $22,995 | -17.0% | -$3,901 | $19,094 |
| 2011 Nissan Xterra 2WD 4dr Auto X | $25,070 | -15.2% | -$3,812 | $21,258 |
Those who simply won't drive a minivan can choose from a variety of shapes and sizes in the sport/utility vehicle segment; these midsized SUVs are currently seeing great discounts from 15 to 22 percent, making them an affordable choice to carry up to five people and their cargo. The sporty Mitsubishi Endeavor boasts 40.7 cubic feet of storage behind the second row with fuel economy figures of 15 city/21 hwy/17.2 combined, and an average price of $22,508 at a TrueCar Certified dealer. The brawny Dodge Journey offers 39.6 cubic feet of storage behind the second row, with a TrueCar average price of $19,094. The fun and rugged Nissan Xterra offers 36.3 cubic feet of storage behind the second row, fuel economy ratings of 16/22/18.2, and an average TrueCar price of $21,258.
Large SUVS
| Year/Make/Model/Trim | MSRP | % Discount | $ Discount | Average Paid |
| 2011 Nissan Armada 2WD 4dr SV | $39,465 | -15.1% | -$5,954 | $33,511 |
| 2011 Ford Expedition EL 2WD 4dr XL | $40,725 | -12.5% | -$5,102 | $35,623 |
| 2011 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid 2WD 4dr | $52,095 | -11.5% | -$6,003 | $46,092 |
These large sport/utility vehicles give their drivers a choice between carrying up to eight passengers and their stuff with flexible third-row seats that can be folded or removed to make more space for large items. The Ford Expedition offers the most storage space among these deals, boasting 85.5 cubic feet of storage behind the second row, fuel economy figures of 14 city/ 20 hwy/16.2 combined, and an average TrueCar price of $35,623 after discounts. The Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid offers 60.3 cubic feet of storage behind the second row, but thanks to its hybrid powertrain it boasts fuel economy ratings of 20/23/21.2; pricing averages $46,092 after discounts. The Nissan Armada offers up to 56.7 cubic feet of storage behind its second row with fuel economy of 13/19/15.2 and an average price of $33,511.
Luxury SUVS
| Year/Make/Model/Trim | MSRP | % Discount | $ Discount | Average Paid |
| 2011 Lincoln Navigator 2WD 4dr | $58,625 | -12.4% | -$7,270 | $51,355 |
| 2011 BMW X5 AWD 4dr 35d | $52,675 | -12.1% | -$6,359 | $46,316 |
| 2011 Acura ZDX AWD 4dr Advance Pkg | $57,455 | -9.2% | -$5,305 | $52,150 |
Sometimes, comfort is all that matters: These luxury sport/utility vehicles will ensure your passengers are pampered, but can penalize the buyer with less space or a higher price tag. Offering the most space in this segment is the Lincoln Navigator, boasting a whopping 54.4 cubic feet of storage behind the second row; fuel economy is rated at 14/20/16.2 and the average TrueCar price is $52,355 after discounts. Comfort and style outrank storage with the Acura ZDX, which offers 27.5 cubic feet of storage behind the second row, fuel economy of 16 city/23 hwy/18.5 combined, and an average price of $52,150 at a TrueCar Certified dealer. The super sporty BMW X5 offers only 21.9 cubic feet of storage behind the second row (on par with most large sedans), fuel economy figures of 19/26/21.6, and an average TrueCar price of $46,316 after discounts.
Looking to Buy a New Economy Car?
If you're searching for a new vehicle offering room for all your kids and cargo, be sure to do your homework and visit TrueCar.com. TrueCar is your best education for new car pricing information. We show you what other people actually paid for a new car, and then find you an even better price from a trusted TrueCar Certified Dealer near you. With TrueCar, buying a new car is now easier than ever.
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