Luxury versus affordable vehicles… which is right for you?

The market for vehicles in general is incredibly competitive, so new vehicles of all price ranges are designed to be on par with each other. That being said, the physical makeup of luxury vehicles is better. The materials each vehicle is made up of tend to be more high end, but that also means you are paying a premium for it.

With vehicles nowadays having a starting MSRP that feels like a luxury vehicle, there is no need to spend additional money for specific features or tech alone. Modern vehicles (luxury and affordable) are all equipped with virtually the same attributes, so you don’t have to shop the high-end market if that’s all you’re interested in. Although I love the look and vibe of luxury cars, there are some affordable vehicles I prefer way more!

If you’re new here - welcome! I’m Kelly the Car Mom and as a CPST, mom of three, and family car lover, I want to help you find the perfect vehicle for your budget. If you’re in the market for a true luxury vehicle, I’ll be breaking down the best luxury family vehicles in both the midsize and full size category to help narrow down your options.

My Top Full Size Luxury Vehicles:

Cadillac Escalade

When you think of a luxury full size SUV, I bet you think of a Cadillac Escalade. I do. This car is what a lot of people consider their goal mom car, but there is a whole lot that goes into the hype behind it. With a starting MSRP of $81,000 (but you’ll typically see them in the $100,000 range) this is about as luxury of a family vehicle you can get.

In 2021, Cadillac revealed a fresh body style for their Escalade and it looks amazing. There are 5 trim levels available, but even the base level has everything you could need. From the perspective of the first row, it has all the bells and whistles including a rear view camera in the mirror.

When it comes to the second row, I’m disappointed. The car seat setup is great, but no sun shades? I think that’s absolutely ridiculous when the price point is this expensive. Ceiling vents do make up for it. In the third row, there are no lower anchors or headrest on the middle seat. It's also a little tricky to access the third row without a car seat-friendly tilt option.

Trunk space is best in class. Need I say more? There’s enough room for anything and everything. To see a full walkthrough of the Cadillac Escalade, click here.

Lincoln Navigator

The Lincoln Navigator is what I’d consider the luxury version of the Ford Expedition. It received a massive revamp in 2019 and has become a major competitor in the market for families needing a full size vehicle. There are three trim levels available: Standard, Reserve, and Black Label, all of which increase in price from a starting MSRP of $83,000.

This is a comfortable vehicle! I have heated, ventilated and massaging seats as well as a heated steering wheel in this trim. The seats kind of look like gamer chairs but might be the most comfortable seats I’ve sat in. As for the infotainment system, it’s got all the great tech you know and love, along with a really nice display. I do wish it had a rear view camera in the mirror for better visibility.

Looking at the second and third row car seat set up, there are a ton of options available. In the second row with bench seating, you'll find six tethers and five sets of lower anchors. I love that the Navigator offers lower anchors on two of the seats in the third row for plenty of car seat versatility and head restraints on the middle seat position in both rows. Like the Ford Expedition, the Navigator's independent second-row bench seating gives me more flexibility all around.

With the Lincoln Navigator “L” this gives an extended wheelbase, meaning you have an additional foot added to an already large trunk. I do think the Escalade has more space, but there’s still a ton of room available. To see a complete walkthrough of the Lincoln Navigator, click here.

Full Size SUV Amenities Breakdown

It’s important to me not just to show the luxury vehicles and their amenities, but also how they compare to the more affordable competitors on the market. Here is a an overall breakdown of how each full size vehicle compares to each other:

My Top Midsize Luxury Vehicles:

Lexus TX

The Lexus TX was in the running for the Car Mom 2023 Car of the Year. Yes, it’s that good. Although it didn’t win, I think this vehicle is incredible for families with a higher budget looking for a vehicle to really last the test of time. With a starting MSRP of $55,500, you are getting a ton of bang for your buck.

The TX is a brand new model from the Lexus lineup and honestly, it was so needed. Consider this in the same platform as the Grand Highlander, these cars have a lot in common. Let me put it out there first: the exterior is not my favorite. I love almost everything about the TX’s interior, but for the price, I think it could look way sportier.

In the first row, Lexus finally amped up their infotainment system to what is needed to compete in this luxury midsize market. It’s got everything you want, plus a lot of safety features that make driving it easy. I’m a big fan of the crash prevention tech it has included.

In the second row, there are both captain’s chairs and bench seating available. I tested out the captain’s chairs and had a great experience with car seat install, but I also strongly believe you’d be able to fit three car seats across the bench.

The third row of the TX truly makes this vehicle. There’s a nice Tilt and Slide and comes with two really comfortable third row seats instead of the useless middle seat. The trunk space is some of the best I’ve seen in its class, even with the third row up. To see a complete walkthrough of the 2024 Lexus TX, click here.

Volvo XC90

Although I try to remain fairly impartial on the vehicles I talk about, the Volvo XC90 is one of my absolute favorites on the market for families. It’s available in both gas and hybrid options, coming in with a starting price of $56,000, but the model I walked through with a higher trim came in at $85,000. Personally, I really loved all the upgrades available, such as leather seats and power tailgate.

The first row is exactly what you’d expect from a vehicle in this price point. The infotainment system is really high tech and includes features such as seat belt indicators and Heads Up display. I do wish the screen itself was slightly larger.

The XC90 is available in both bench and captain’s chairs, but I HIGHLY recommend the bench seat. It’s versatile, wide, comfortable, and has a high likelihood of fitting three across based on your car seat combination. What makes it most unique is the seats aren’t broken up into certain percentages of the overall bench, but designed as their own individual chairs. I love when cars have this!

The third row is nothing to write home about, but you can still fit a double stroller in the trunk with it up! This is a huge win. To watch the complete walk through of the 2023 Volvo XC90 Plug-In Hybrid, click here.

Rivian R1S

Rivian is the manufacturer on the block, but their all-electric SUV is extremely popular. I am a fan of boxy SUVs and this car is boxy, but also so unique. I think it’s fresh and futuristic. It’s a mid-size, three-row SUV that’s about the same size as a Ford Expedition and comes with a starting MSRP of $85,000.

Looking in the first row, there are a ton of fun features I’ve never seen before and the first is on the driver’s side door—a built-in flashlight. The infotainment system is like nothing I’ve seen before. It’s incredibly minimalistic. The only button pulled out is the emergency hazard button, which is government mandated. There is a small screen in front of the driver in the dash and another larger screen in the center. It’s super cool, but a little clunky to use.

To put it simply, this car is not three car seats across friendly. I think it’s amazing for two-car seat families, but won’t get my stamp of approval for families with three car seats in the second or third row. They definitely will safely fit, but I’m concerned about the access. To see a complete walkthrough of the Rivian R1S, click here.

Midsize SUV Amenities Breakdown

Just like the full size SUVs, I wanted to break down both the top luxury and affordable vehicles in terms of amenities families look for most often. Here is a an overall breakdown of how each midsize vehicle compares to each other: