For a Bay County family, the right used SUV isn't the one topping a national ranking. The right one keeps the kids cool on a July drive down US-98, fits a boat trailer hitch at St. Andrews Marina, and still has room for the soccer gear, the boogie boards, and whoever forgot to pack light. We've ranked four picks that earn their spot in the Bay Cars lineup, with real specs and honest caveats for each.
Our top pick for most Bay County families is the Kia Telluride (2020-2022), and it earns that spot by combining three rows, real towing, and a cabin that doesn't feel like a punishment after a long Gulf Coast summer.
The Ranking at a Glance
| Rank | Pick | Best For | Standout Spec |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kia Telluride (2020-2022) | Most families (3 rows + towing) | 87 cu ft cargo, 5,000 lb tow |
| 2 | Ford Explorer (2019-2022) | 3-row on a tighter budget | 85.8 cu ft cargo, up to 29 mpg hwy |
| 3 | GMC Yukon (2021-2022) | Big families + heavy towing | 8,400 lb tow capacity |
| 4 | Jeep Cherokee (2019-2021) | Smaller family, better fuel economy | Up to 31 mpg highway, EPA-rated |
The Kia Telluride: The Three-Row Sweet Spot for the Panhandle
The 2020-2022 Telluride is hard to argue with for a three-row family, though it does ask a bit more at the pump than a compact would. According to the EPA, the front-wheel-drive version delivers 20 city and 26 highway. That's solid for a three-row SUV, and the 291-horsepower V6 handles the Bay County summer heat without feeling strained. Towing is rated at 5,000 pounds when properly equipped, which puts a center-console boat or a loaded utility trailer within easy range for the run to the St. Andrews Marina boat ramp.
On the money side, depreciation on these has slowed, so used Tellurides don't always come cheap. In exchange you get up to 87 cubic feet of cargo space with the second and third rows folded, standard one-touch slide-and-fold second-row seats, and a cabin quiet enough for an actual conversation. If you find a high-mileage example, the 2020 had seven NHTSA-logged recalls, so a pre-purchase inspection isn't optional. It's worth every minute.
The Ford Explorer is the runner-up, and for good reason.
The Ford Explorer: Three Rows Without the Premium Tag
A used 2019-2022 Ford Explorer makes a strong case for families who want the same three-row footprint with a bit more room to maneuver on the budget, as long as you can live with a third row that's better suited to kids than adults. The EPA rates the 2.3-liter EcoBoost with rear-wheel drive at 20 city and 29 highway, which is genuinely strong for a midsize three-row.
Ford lists maximum cargo space at 85.8 cubic feet with both rear rows folded. That basically matches the Telluride's cargo room.
The tradeoff shows up in back. The Explorer's third row sits low, which means adults there will feel their knees rise. Fine for kids. Not ideal for your in-laws on a long haul to Pensacola. On the flip side, that base EcoBoost engine produces 300 horsepower, towing is rated at up to 5,000 pounds when equipped with the proper tow package, and multiple trim levels on the used market mean you can often find a well-equipped XLT without reaching for the top of the budget.
Pros and Cons: Telluride vs. Explorer
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Telluride: class-quiet cabin, 87 cu ft max cargo | Telluride: lower highway mpg than some rivals |
| Telluride: 5,000 lb tow, solid for boat trailers | Telluride: used market pricing reflects demand |
| Explorer: 29 mpg highway (2.3L RWD, EPA-rated) | Explorer: third-row comfort is kids-only in practice |
| Explorer: wide trim range on the used market | Explorer: V6 drops to 20 mpg combined (EPA) |
| Both: 3-row family capacity | Both: carry-all size can feel big on narrow local streets |
The GMC Yukon: When You Genuinely Need to Tow Something Big
The GMC Yukon earns its place only when you truly need to tow something big and seat a full crowd, and for everyday family duty without a heavy trailer, it's more truck than most Bay County households will use. Not every family here hauls a single-axle trailer, but some of you are backing a larger cabin cruiser down a ramp at Carl Gray Park, and for that job the GMC Yukon (2021-2022) is a different conversation entirely.
Under the hood, the 5.3-liter V8 in the 2022 Yukon is rated at up to 8,400 pounds of tow capacity when properly equipped, almost double what the Telluride handles. The 2022 model added a 12-inch digital gauge display as standard and came with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across the lineup, so the tech holds up well on the used market. Seating stretches to eight or nine passengers depending on configuration.
All that capability comes at the pump. The EPA pegs the 2022 Yukon with the 5.3-liter and two-wheel drive at roughly 16-17 mpg combined. The Yukon earns its place when big towing and full-size passenger space are what you actually need, and for everyday family duty without a heavy trailer, the Telluride or Explorer will serve you better and cost less to fuel. Run school drop-off daily on US-98 and you'll feel it.
The Jeep Cherokee: The Compact Pick for Smaller Families
A two-kid household that doesn't need a third row but wants better fuel economy has a legitimate case for the Jeep Cherokee (2019-2021), as long as you accept less cargo room than everything else here. The EPA rates the base 2.4-liter four-cylinder with front-wheel drive at 22 city and 31 highway, and that highway number beats everything else on this list. Cargo space behind the rear seat is around 27 cubic feet, so it won't fit the Telluride's audience, but it's workable for a weekend at St. Andrews State Park with two kids and a cooler.
On the tradeoff side, nearly every other SUV in this segment has more cargo space than the Cherokee, and the NHTSA gave this generation a 4-star overall rating (not the 5-star of some competitors). The Cherokee is a focused choice, not a weak one. If your family is two adults and two young kids who do a lot of daily driving around Bay County, the Cherokee's fuel economy and compact footprint make genuine sense. If you're hauling a full travel party or pulling a boat, step up to the Telluride or Yukon.
The bottom line: the Kia Telluride (2020-2022) earns the top spot for most Bay County families because it covers the widest range of real local needs. Three rows, 87 cubic feet of cargo, 5,000-pound towing for the boat run, and a quiet, well-equipped cabin all hold up on the long US-98 summer commute and the Saturday trip to the water. It isn't the cheapest used option on the lot, and a pre-purchase inspection's non-negotiable on any used vehicle. But for families who want one vehicle to do everything Bay County life asks of it, the Telluride keeps showing up on the right side of the ledger.
Come see what we've got available at Bay Cars. Our team at 615 W. 15th St. in Panama City is here to walk you through the options.