What Are the Best Used Family-Friendly SUVs for Drivers in Cary, NC?

There comes a time when you’re done purchasing new vehicles. The rapid depreciation of new cars, among other things – some of which may only apply to yourself – may have led you here, along with others, to look for used SUVs near Cary, NC. If you can save money by purchasing a used SUV, you can put that money towards other things, the fun things in life. Maybe you’re thinking long-term and want to save money for your children’s college later in life, but you may also prefer living in the moment and are looking to take your family on a vacation they will never forget. Many SUVs could qualify as decent, family-friendly SUVs for drivers in Cary, NC, but we’re here to tell you the best of the best. We believe drivers in Cary, NC, deserve the correct info, so allow us to explain a bit more about the SUVs we’ve selected.

The best family-friendly SUVs may depend on the size of your family, with mid-size SUVs providing fantastic family-friendly amenities like spaciousness, safety features, and excellent performance. However, if your family has five people in it – yourself included – then you may as well look no further than a full-size SUV. And, full-size SUVs are an excellent idea for drivers with smaller families too – two to four people – because the extra space makes any long drive feel easier thanks to far more stretching room. The SUVs we’ve selected cover both mid and full-size models and are perfect for North Carolina drivers – especially Cary, NC residents, as there’s lots to do in and around the town. These SUVs are the Chevy Traverse, Subaru Outback, and the Cadillac Escalade. Let’s get started.

The Chevy Traverse

The Chevy Traverse is the first family-friendly SUV we recommend to drivers in Cary, NC. The amount of money you’ll save by purchasing a used Traverse is substantial, and with a passenger capacity of between seven and eight people, there’s a strong chance there are enough seats for every household member. Whether you’re driving your child and their teammates to their soccer match at the soccer field at North Cary Park or if you drive your kids to school every weekday at Cary Academy, the Chevy Traverse is reliable, performant, and durable. Let’s talk more about the Chevy Traverse.

If you buy a used Chevy Traverse, you can get a model that isn’t too far off from what the latest models can produce. This is because various used Chevy Traverse models – like the 2020 and 2021 Traverse – come with a 3.6L V6 engine paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission, while the newer models like the 2024 and 2025 Traverse utilize a turbocharged 2.5L I-4 engine, but with an 8-speed automatic transmission.

The torque output between these older Traverse models is slightly high – the 2021 Traverse has 266 lb-ft of torque, while the 2024 model has 326 lb-ft of torque. However, the 2021 Traverse’s 3.6L V6 engine produces 310 hp, similar to the 328 hp from the 2024 model, but the towing capacity stays at 5,000 lbs. So, if you’re buying a used Traverse but don’t want to eliminate your chances at proper towing performance, then don’t fret. The money you save by purchasing a used Traverse can go towards a used Bayliner that you can take to Lake Crabtree, which is also a fantastic kayaking spot located only about 10 minutes away in Morrisville.

For a three-row SUV that’s not a full-size model, the Traverse is capably sized, which means cargo space is fantastic. If your family is larger than five people, you’ll likely keep the three rows of seats up, which means everyone will share 23 cu-ft of cargo space. If your family doesn’t exceed five people, you don’t need the third-row seats up nearly as much, so cargo space in the Traverse is brought up to 57.8 cu-ft of space – a 151% upgrade. Although you’re less likely to drive with only your seat up, it’s a benefit of three-row SUVs to maximize cargo space, and that’s no different with the Traverse as it meets a maximum cargo capacity of 98.2 cu-ft.

Subaru Outback

The Subaru Outback is a popular SUV that’s great for smaller families. The 2.5L Boxer-4 engine that you’ll get with many used Outback models is performant and fuel-efficient, and AWD comes standard. Your Outback model may also come with a 2.4L Turbo-Boxer-4 engine – many used models allow for this, like the 2021 Outback. The 2.5L Boxer-4 engine produces 182 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque, but the Turbo-Boxer-4 produces 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque.

The Turbo-Boxer-4 engine pairs with a Continuously Variable Automatic Transmission (CVT), which makes driving feel smooth and acceleration uninterrupted as the depletion of any gears from the powertrain means that your acceleration is done in one continued motion. This is also attributed to the Outback’s fantastic fuel efficiency, which means two things: you’ll save money on fuel to put it towards fun, more family-focused activities, and driving a fuel-efficient vehicle also means fewer omissions, so it’s more environmentally friendly, too. There’s also an argument to be made that purchasing a pre-owned vehicle is environmentally friendly, too, especially as no resources or materials are being consumed in the factory, like if you purchased a new one.

Fuel efficiency is excellent to have if you live in Cary, NC. You may take your family on weekend road trips, and having fuel-efficient powertrains helps prevent money being constantly spent at constant gas station trips – it’s a win/win, regardless of how you look at it. The 2.5L Boxer-4 engine in models like the 2021 Outback earns EPA-estimated ratings of 26 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway, while the turbocharged engine gets 23 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. This highway mileage is perfect if you’re visiting Lake Jordan with the family and need to cross the Causeway Bridge on Route US-64, or perhaps you’re a Football fan and want to take the family on a two-and-a-half-hour road trip to the Bank of America stadium to watch the Carolina Panthers play. And, not to mention, Cary is only 10 minutes away from the PNC Arena in Raleigh, which is great for hockey fans who want a fuel-efficient ride to get to the arena.

Cadillac Escalade

The Cadillac Escalade is the full-size SUV we’ve chosen for this list. With the Cadillac Escalade, you’re getting luxury in its finest form, which is nothing but unexpected from a prestigious brand like Cadillac. With that said, the Escalade is a bit pricey, but for drivers with the means to acquire one, everyone in the family will benefit.

Firstly, the Cadillac Escalade is strong, and that can’t be disputed. On models like the 2021 Escalade, a 6.2L V8 engine comes standard with a 10-speed automatic transmission that produces 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, and its towing capacity reaches an astonishing 8,300 lbs. The Cadillac Escalade is also available in RWD and 4WD; the latter is ideal if you prefer the occasional off-roading afternoon.

One of the biggest advantages of not just the Escalade but any full-size SUV is its cargo space. With Escalade models like the 2021 model, you can get up to 142.8 cu-ft of space with the seats folded down (on ESV models), giving you and your six other passengers 41.5 cu-ft of space. With the third row folded down, this increases to 94.1 cu-ft – 127% more – before reaching its native maximum capacity of 142.8 cu-ft, as we mentioned.

The Escalade isn’t only equipped with premium performance, materials, and amenities, but it’s also a marvel in automotive engineering, especially if you look no further than the infotainment centers. Escalade models from 2021, 2022, and several others come with a 16.9-inch screen, one of the largest infotainment center screen sizes on the market. A vehicle that’s not only a fashion statement and a seal of luxury but also one that is better than most of its competition – and undoubtedly the most capable, sought-after, and premium SUV we’ve mentioned today.

Your Choices Are Plenty

We at CBS Quality Cars hope this list has given you the knowledge to take the next step in your shopping journey. You’re understandably proud of your beautiful family, and they deserve the best in life, so why not buy a family-friendly SUV that will be a mainstay in all the best family memories for years to come? Aside from minivans, there’s no better vehicle class to buy if you’re shopping for the family and not just yourself and these three SUVs are a great place to begin shopping if you live in or around Cary, NC.