I need to upgrade my Subaru Outback to something bigger! Which car should I buy? – Jalopnik

Adam is from Minneapolis and his family is expanding, and his 2019 Outback will feel a little cramped. He wants something bigger with good safety ratings that can still handle Minnesota winters. What car should he buy with a budget of up to $50,000?

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Here’s the scenario.

Hi! I’m having a second child this summer and want to upgrade our current daily driver (outback 2019) to something larger for two parents, two children under 3 and a medium sized dog (20kg). We live in Minneapolis so AWD for winter purposes is essential because the alley system connecting the driveways is plowed last and our slab is in the valley of two hills.

I have read this website’s opinions on the Minivan/3 Row SUV debate and am agnostic on both sides. I did check out the Ascent, but didn’t like it that much.

We don’t drive daily, but often travel to rural MN/WI to visit family/getaways (roads often plowed in winter, but hard snow is common).

Must-haves: AWD/FWD; good safety rating; trustworthy; comfortable driver’s seat for journeys of more than 3 hours; heated seats; good performance in the snow.

Nice to have: heated steering wheel; center console screen not too large (if applicable); good fuel economy (for the segment); remote start installed (if used).

Budget – up to $50,000 would prefer new but could be converted into a nice used model.

Fast Facts:

Budget: up to $50,000

Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Daily driver: Yes

Want to: AWD, comfortable seats, good safety

Don’t want: Everything that is unreliable

Adam, if you’re looking for the ideal family car, you already know what I’m going to say…just buy the damn minivan. Everything else is an exercise in aesthetics over function. Soft seats in the front, electrically operated sliding doors and enough space for the whole family. If you have to slog for three hours, do it comfortably. Of course, if you need an all-wheel drive minivan, there’s only one choice: the Toyota Sienna. While this is arguably the best van on the market, with its excellent build quality and hybrid powerplant, the downside is that they are incredibly in demand, and they are getting a bit pricey.

Within 200 miles of you, there are fewer than 40 AWD Siennas priced under $55,000. Many of these cars are ‘stock photo’ advertisements where a dealer has often been assigned a car for inbound traffic, but has already reserved it for a customer. If you manage to get your hands on something that’s actually available, don’t expect much from it. Here’s a 2026 XLE in white for just over $50,000

I haven’t had the chance to drive the new Outback myself yet, but Andy swears by it. It’s actually quite strange that he doesn’t recommend it below. Maybe he doesn’t have your best interests at heart. I do, and so does Subaru, because the kind folks at Ebisu have designed a new Outback just for you – and I’m just here to recommend it to you.

Just think how much fun it would be. You don’t have to figure out another automaker’s arcane infotainment, you don’t have to figure out a new kind of driver assistance system that doesn’t work well with your muscle memory. Just the same car that you already like, but slightly better tailored to your current needs.

Here is one at a dealer near youwithin your budget, but you can really make your choice here. Find a color and upholstery you like, get the options you really want, and you’ll almost certainly get something that works for you.

This is a vehicle that really has and does everything you need. Personally, I’d opt for the top-down Calligraphy Hybrid all-wheel drive, which is packed with every conceivable convenience, safety and luxury you can imagine, but will be a little above your budget at $52,230, including destination. Still, that comes pretty close and you can always opt for the non-hybrid or a less luxurious version. However, if you opt for the hybrid, you get a turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four paired with an electric motor and a 1.5 kWh battery that delivers a total of 231 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. Those are really healthy power figures, but because it’s a hybrid you’ll still get 35 mpg in the city, 34 on the highway, and 34 combined with AWD. That is extremely impressive.

When it comes to comfort, this thing is a winner in both the first and second rows, which is helped by the fact that their captain’s chairs have calligraphy on them. That means your kids are spread out enough not to fight with each other. Of course you also have sufficient comfort, such as heated seats and a heated steering wheel. The screen isn’t even That large by modern standards – only 30 cm. Adam, you have a lot of options here, but the Santa Fe Hybrid is the one to get.