With decades of experience making top-quality vehicles, Ford offers fantastic choices. These include an impressive range from heavy-duty work trucks to powerful sports cars. And when it comes to Ford's portfolio, the availability of family-friendly vehicles is no less impressive, and you'll find SUVs and sedans with plenty of practicality and style. Today, we'll look at six of Ford's most family-friendly vehicles — the Explorer, Escape, Fusion, Flex, Focus, and Edge — all offering a wide range of options on the used market.

So are you on the lookout for something with lots of comfy seats or advanced tech features to make your daily duties around Springville worlds easier? If so, you're sure to find the perfect vehicle for you and your family in Ford's extensive portfolio.

What Makes a Great Family Vehicle?

black ford SUV parked in a field in springville, al

With families coming in all shapes and sizes, what might make a perfect vehicle for one could be a less-than-ideal choice for another. Nevertheless, certain factors remain universal when considering a fantastic car for a family, whether small or large. When selecting a family-friendly vehicle, one of the most important factors many usually consider is space. Depending on the size of your family, you're likely to focus on the number of seats and the size of the silhouette as a top priority. 

A family-friendly vehicle should also be roomy on the inside. With extra gear often in tow in addition to the kids, family vehicles should have plenty of cargo space and room for each passenger to remain comfortable, whether dropping the kids off at school or heading out on a long road trip. Finally, when it comes to families, finances tend to be a top priority. This means an ideal family-friendly vehicle should be fuel-efficient and affordable. That's why used vehicles are an especially great choice for families looking for the perfect set of wheels.

Ford Explorer

As one of the most popular SUVs of all time, the Ford Explorer is the quintessential family ride. First released in 1991, the Explorer hits the perfect balance between a comfortable car and a roomy cabin, with seating for seven passengers and 21 cubic feet of cargo space with all the seats up. Having spent decades on the market, there are plenty of used Explorer models available to choose from. 

The newest models are capable of towing up to 5,600 pounds and offer advanced tech features such as a 360-degree camera and plenty of driving-assist features, including adaptive cruise control and brake assist. Still, older generations are no less practical and impressive.

Ford Escape

A slightly more compact option than the Explorer, the Ford Escape is a crossover SUV perfect for smaller families seeking an everyday vehicle. With seating for up to five, the Escape remains comfortable and roomy, with more than 65 cubic feet of potential cargo space. Moreover, it's great for fitting into tight spaces, with a 360-degree camera and a compact silhouette. 

Today's Escapes are available in traditional, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid models, giving you plenty of options for fuel efficiency in a family-friendly vehicle. As the first hybrid version of an SUV on the market, you won't have to secure a 2023 model to save on fuel. In fact, the Ford Escape became available in hybrid versions as early as 2004.

Ford Fusion

Despite Ford retiring the Fusion in 2020, this model has yet to lose its popularity in the used-vehicle market. A four-door midsize sedan, the Fusion is a perfect option for families thanks to its roomy interior and wealth of driver-assist features. There are two generations of the Fusion to choose from, and Ford introduced the second generation in 2013 with traditional, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid models. And even though Ford no longer builds brand-new models, the Fusion was an extraordinarily popular sedan in its day and is still an excellent choice for a family-friendly set of wheels.

Ford Flex

Another discontinued Ford vehicle is the Ford Flex, a four-door, full-size crossover SUV manufactured from 2009 to 2019. With a unique, boxy silhouette that banks on a minivan, the Flex is another great choice for those with larger families. In fact, it can seat up to seven, depending on the chosen configuration. The Flex remains an affordable option on the used-vehicle market and is available in four-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive versions.

Ford Focus

The compact Ford Focus has been in production since 1998 and ranges from sedan to hatchback to estate silhouettes. Ford introduced the final fourth generation in 2018 and has since announced plans to discontinue the Focus by 2025 and redirect its attention to its truck and SUV portfolio. Nevertheless, plenty of pre-owned models are still available and continue to be a highly practical choice for smaller families.

Ford Edge

The final option on our list is the midsize Ford Edge, a crossover SUV comparable in size to the Explorer. As the most practical option we've mentioned, it's clear to see that Ford built this model for optimal handling and robust performance. With seating for up to five, the Edge is sporty on the outside and comfy on the inside. You also get up to 73 cubic feet of cargo space with the second-row seats folded down.

Plus, with its advanced tech, such as a hands-free liftgate and a wealth of driver-assist features, the Edge is a great everyday vehicle for families.

Are We There Yet?

There you have it, our six recommendations for some of the best Ford models on the used market for families. Whether your family is small or large in size, you'll be able to find the perfect Ford model for you at All American Ford in Springville, Alabama. We provide only the highest-quality pre-owned vehicles in our expansive inventory.

At All American Ford, we also understand the importance of affordability for families. That's why we offer a range of helpful financing options to ensure that a top-notch vehicle can be an option for anybody. We can't wait to help you find the perfect vehicle for you.


ford by Haryad Ali is licensed with Unsplash License