Everything is so expensive these days, especially if you have a family. If you’re looking for your next family hauler and have a budget of $50,000, you might be surprised just how much vehicle your money can buy you.
The criteria for this list were simple: All the vehicles must have a third row of seats, cost under $50,000 including destination but before taxes, and be family-friendly by prioritizing practicality and value. Here are my expert picks for the best family-hauling new vehicles of 2025 for under $50,000.
2025 Subaru Ascent
The Subaru Ascent isn’t the flashiest option, but if you’ve got a family and are on a budget, it’s hard to beat because it’s affordable despite having a big footprint. It offers seating for seven or eight passengers, a lot of room to stash everyone’s stuff, and it recently got a refresh that makes it more stylish.
Best of all, you can get one for under $50,000; the base model starts at $48,818, which includes destination and fees, but not taxes. That is a wicked value, and it comes standard with an always-on all-wheel-drive system, a generous number of cupholders, USB ports for every passenger, heated front seats and steering wheel, and a host of useful safety features. The Subaru Ascent is highly underrated and offers a stellar size-to-price ratio.
2025 Kia Carnival
Minivans might not get a lot of love, but don’t sleep on the Kia Carnival because it looks more like an SUV than a minivan. Its boxy shape means there’s tons of room for your family and all of their stuff and the power sliding doors make it easier to load and unload in cramped spaces.
A base Carnival goes for $43,706, including destination and fees, but if you have a bit more budget to play with, I recommend going for the hybrid version, which goes for $49,751 before tax. That is an incredible value, and with a fantastic fuel economy rating of 7.2 L/100 km combined, you’ll be saving some money on gas, too. According to Natural Resources Canada, getting the hybrid will save the average family $1,200 a year on fuel. On top of that, the base hybrid comes with a long list of safety and driver assistance features and heated everything: front seats, steering wheel, washer nozzles, windshield, and side mirrors.
2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid
The Hyundai Santa Fe is totally new and has a fresh boxy look that helps it stand out. The Hybrid model is also cheaper than the non-hybrid, which makes it even easier to recommend.
The Santa Fe Hybrid starts at $45,405 before tax, but including destination and fees, which makes it more affordable than the Toyota Highlander. It has a combined fuel economy rating of 6.9 L/100 km, which is incredible considering its big size and standard all-wheel drive. With the extra practicality of a third row of seats, some clever storage solutions, and a user-friendly interface, the Santa Fe Hybrid would be a great choice for a family that wants a vehicle that’s both stylish and efficient.
2025 Kia Sorento Hybrid
The Kia Sorento Hybrid is another one of my favourites because it has a third row but doesn’t feel too big when you drive it, so it’s very manageable. It’s aggressive looking and, of course, I recommend the hybrid because I think families on a budget might appreciate the gas savings.
The Hybrid model starts at $48,606 including destination but before tax and, for that, you get a beefy-looking SUV with three rows of seats, room for six, and a combined fuel economy rating of 7.0 L/100 km. It’s user-friendly, has a lot of safety features, and it’s quite similar to the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid above, though it is a bit more expensive. If you think the Hyundai’s style is a bit too out there, the Sorento has a slightly more conventional look.
2025 Mitsubishi Outlander
The Mitsubishi Outlander got a glow-up a few years ago that took it from being pretty depressing to an SUV that’s actually quite competitive. It’s user-friendly, has a combined fuel economy of 8.8 L/100 km, a lot of great safety features, and standard AWD. Impressively, the fully loaded top trim will cost you $49,344 and comes with heated first and second-row seats, room for seven occupants, a head-up display, a heated steering wheel, a wireless phone charger, a fantastic safety and driver assistance system, and plenty more.
Final Thoughts
This list might surprise you in a few ways, but if you have a bit more budget to play with, your options open up significantly with vehicles like the Toyota Highlander or Chevrolet Traverse, both of which have three rows but didn’t meet under-$50k budget criteria. Of course, if these new vehicles are out of reach and you have a tighter budget, consider shopping for a used vehicle to save even more cash on your family hauler.
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