10 most popular cars for moms

Unless you’re Octomom and require a schoolbus to transport your brood, if you’re a mom, chances are you’re probably driving either a Honda, Nissan, Subaru, or Volkswagen. And unless you have two or more kids, you’re probably NOT driving a minivan.

Just in time for Mother’s Day, TrueCar.com has identified the 10 Most Popular Cars for Moms. Based on 2011 data received from women with children about the cars they drive, the findings place the Honda CR-V midsize SUV at the top of the list, followed by the Nissan Altima midsize sedan, Honda Odyssey minivan, Subaru Outback wagon, and Honda Pilot midsize SUV. (Click here to view the complete and detailed rankings.)

Moms have specific needs when it comes to transporting their families, but they’re not willing to sacrifice practicality or style. The data shows moms are making prudent purchases seeking vehicles that offer lots of flexibility for their family and cargo needs. “Moms are definitely value-oriented when it comes to choosing their family car,” said Kristen Andersson, Senior Analyst at TrueCar.com. “Most of the cars are priced below $30,000, with a few right around $20,000.”

So what are the 10 most popular cars for moms? Let’s take a look and see!

1) Honda CR-V
MSRP: $29,575 / Average Paid: $29,036
Potential discount: 1.8% or $539

Honda has five vehicles in the top 10 most popular cars for moms, with the CR-V midsize SUV leading the pack. Its popularity is thanks largely to its five-passenger capacity, spacious and functional 37.2 cubic feet of storage behind the second row, and fuel economy rated at 23 city, 31 highway, and 26.8 combined miles per gallon.

2) Nissan Altima
MSRP: $21,330 / Average Paid: $20,092
Potential discount: 5.8% or $1,238

Nissan has three vehicles in the top 10 most popular cars for moms. The Altima midsize sedan boasts a sporty design with a roomy interior with room for five and 25.3 cubic feet of cargo in the trunk. Its 175-horsepower 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine is mated to a continuously variable transmission to offer fuel economy rated at 23 city, 32 highway, and 27.2 combined miles per gallon.

3) Honda Odyssey
MSRP: $37,855 / Average Paid: $35,402
Potential discount: 6.5% or $2,453

While the CR-V topped the list for moms in general, the Honda Odyssey minivan actually ranked the highest among moms with two or more kids, thanks to its ability to hold up to eight people, a whopping 38.4 cubic-feet of cargo, and fuel economy rated at 18 city, 27 highway, and 22.0 combined miles per gallon.

4) Subaru Outback
MSRP: $32,470 / Average Paid: $31,011
Potential discount: 4.5% or $1,459

Regardless of whether or not you love a wagon, you gotta love the safety of the Subaru Outback, which has been recognized by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the third consecutive year as a Top Safety Pick. Its 256-horsepower/3.6-liter six-cylinder engine is paired with a five-speed automatic transmission to offer fuel economy rated at 18 city, 25 highway, and 21.3 combined miles per gallon. Combine all that with room for five passengers as well as a generous 38.4 cubic feet of storage in the cargo area, and it’s easy to see why so many moms love the Outback.

5) Honda Pilot
MSRP: $40,200 / Average Paid: $38,284
Potential discount: 4.8% or $1,916

Priced at $40,200, the Honda Pilot midsize SUV is the most expensive vehicle on the list of popular cars for moms. The Pilot, which ranks fifth overall, actually came in second place among moms with two or more kids, largely attributable to its ability to carry up to eight passengers and 18 cubic feet of cargo. Lower the third row, and you’ve still got spacious room for five, and 47.7 cubic feet of cargo. Its 250-horsepower/3.4-liter V-6 engine is paired with a five-speed automatic transmission to offer fuel economy that ties with the less-expensive Subaru Outback at 18 city, 25 highway, and 21.3 combined miles per gallon.

6) Volkswagen Jetta TDI
MSRP: $27,215 / Average Paid: $26,407
Potential discount: 3.0% or $808

The only diesel offering on the list, Volkswagen’s Jetta is powered by a 140-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder Clean Diesel engine mated to a DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission to provide an impressive 30 city, 42 highway, and 35.6 combined miles per gallon, making it the most fuel-efficient vehicle in this collection. The five-passenger Jetta TDI can travel up to 609 miles on a single tank of diesel fuel and carry 15.7 cubic feet of stuff to be used once Mom and the family arrive at their destination.

7) Nissan Rogue
MSRP: $29,235 / Average Paid: $28,346
Potential discount: 3.0% or $889

A favorite feature of the five-passenger Nissan Rogue is its convenient Around View Monitor, which helps moms see all the way around the midsize SUV to maneuver into tight parking spaces with more ease and watch for toys or pets that might be outside the vehicle. The Rogue can carry 28.9 cubic feet of storage behind its second row, and its 170-horsepower/2.5-liter four-cylinder engine is paired with a continuously variable transmission to offer fuel economy rated at 23 city, 28 highway, and 25.2 combined miles per gallon.

8 ) Honda Accord
MSRP: $25,995 / Average Paid: $24,222
Potential discount: 6.8% or $1,773

Offering roomy comfort for five, the Honda Accord sedan also boasts a roomy trunk that can hold up to 14.7 cubic feet of cargo. Powered by a 190-horsepower/2.4-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a five-speed automatic transmission, the Honda Accord promises fuel economy rated at 23 city, 34 highway, and 28.0 combined miles per gallon.

9) Honda Civic
MSRP: $24,445 / Average Paid: $20,469
Potential discount: 4.6% or $976

Down at the bottom of the list, the popular Honda Civic is big on fuel economy, but compact on trunk space. Boasting fuel economy rated at 28 city, 39 highway, and 33.1 combined miles per gallon but only 12.5 cubic feet of storage, making the Civic the smallest among the most popular cars for moms.

10 ) Nissan Sentra
MSRP: $19,140 / Average Paid: $18,879
Potential discount: 1.4% or $261

The least expensive vehicle on the list, the compact Nissan Sentra features an MSRP of $19,140, making it a favorite among small families with small budgets. When the 140-horsepower/2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is paired with the continuously variable transmission, the Sentra boasts fuel economy of 27 city, 34 highway, and 30.4 combined miles per gallon. The five-passenger compact sedan also features a compact 13.1 cubic feet of storage.

Buying a New Car over Mother’s Day Weekend?
Rankings data used in this article is based on Strategic Vision’s New Vehicle Experience Survey. Average price paid is the estimated average transaction price of a vehicle including delivery after incentives within the last 30 days, is subject to change, and does not include sales tax or licensing fees. Percent discount is rounded to the nearest tenth.