You're not shopping for the shiniest new thing. You're shopping for something that fits three car seats, survives Bay County summers, handles a school-run stop-and-go grind without complaint, and doesn't wreck your monthly budget. The good news is that the used market in 2026 puts some genuinely capable family vehicles within reach that would've been out of the question a few years ago.
Before we go further, it's worth saying plainly: "budget used" means trade-offs are real, not theoretical. You're picking between seat count, fuel economy, cargo flexibility, and whether you want something that parks easily on Harrison Avenue or something that fits six and a half bikes in the back. We've seen all three of the options below come through our lot, and the right one depends almost entirely on your specific family situation.
The used Honda Odyssey is our top pick for families of five or more. We'll explain why below, and where the other two win instead.
- Biggest cargo + most seats: Used Honda Odyssey (2018-2021). Up to 155.8 cu ft of cargo, 8-passenger seating
- Best fuel economy for a family crossover: Kia Telluride (2020-2021). EPA-rated 20 city / 26 hwy for the FWD V6
- Easiest to park, lowest running costs: Kia Soul (2019-2020). 27 mpg combined, fits tight Panhandle parking
- The minivan wins on sheer volume. The Telluride wins on versatility. The Soul wins on simplicity.
- Years to watch: 2020-2021 Soul had a documented NHTSA piston ring recall. Confirm it was fixed before you buy.
How Do These Three Actually Compare?
For a Panama City family, the choice isn't really about what looks good in a photo. Think about cargo on a beach trip to St. Andrews State Park, A/C that can keep up with a 93-degree July afternoon, and a payment that doesn't terrify you when school supplies hit in August. Those are the things that actually matter once you're living with the vehicle.
Here's where each one stands on the specs that matter:
| Vehicle | Seating | Max Cargo | EPA Combined MPG | NHTSA 5-Star Overall | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Odyssey (2018-2021) | 8 | 155.8 cu ft | 22 mpg | Yes (5-star) | Large families, road trips, max hauling |
| Kia Telluride (2020-2021) | 7-8 | ~87 cu ft (2nd+3rd row folded) | 20-21 mpg | 5-star (2020) | 3-row SUV feel, towing, Bay County school runs |
| Kia Soul (2019-2020) | 5 | 61.3 cu ft (seats folded) | 27 mpg | 4-star | Small families, commuters, easy parking |
Two things jump off that table right away. The Odyssey's cargo advantage is staggering, nearly 70 cubic feet more than the Telluride when everything folds flat. Also, the Soul's 27-mpg combined EPA rating (per fueleconomy.gov) separates it from both larger options by a meaningful margin. At Panama City pump stops on US-98, that gap adds up every week.
Which One Makes Sense for Your Family's Real Life?
A generic national comparison won't help you here. A family of four in downtown Panama City with two kids under eight has completely different needs than a family of six driving back and forth to Tyndall Air Force Base. The specs above are a starting point. Your actual life is the filter.
The Odyssey (2018-2021) is the pick if:
Your head count is five or more. You're hauling gear regularly, whether that's beach chairs, a stroller, or baseball equipment. The Odyssey's floor-mounted third row folds flat into the floor rather than forcing you to wrestle a seat out and store it in your garage. We've watched families with three kids come through and settle on the Odyssey specifically because those sliding doors make tight parking situations at Frank Brown Park so much easier. No swinging-door panic next to another car.
One trade-off worth knowing: the Odyssey is front-wheel drive only. There's no all-wheel drive at any trim level. On Panama City's flat Gulf Coast roads that don't see ice, it's rarely a practical issue. Still worth knowing going in.
The Telluride (2020-2021) is the pick if:
You want three rows and the SUV stance, and your family runs five to eight people. The 2020-2021 Telluride earned NHTSA's 5-star overall safety rating and lands in a solid spot for used buyers who want three rows plus some towing capability. It's far more capable than the Soul and carries a more commanding road presence, but a fully loaded gear day will remind you it's not as cavernous as the Odyssey.
A used Kia Telluride from this era does carry an active recall worth checking. Per NHTSA, 2020-2024 Telluride vehicles have a front power seat motor overheating concern that can result in a fire risk. Dealers install an electronic fuse assembly free of charge. Confirm it's been completed on any specific vehicle before you buy. That's standard used-car homework, not a reason to skip the model entirely.
The Soul (2019-2020) is the pick if:
Your family is four or fewer and the daily grind is short loops around Bay County. The Kia Soul's EPA-estimated 27 mpg combined (fueleconomy.gov, 2.0L FWD) is a genuine advantage when A/C is running hard all summer. Cargo at 61.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded is solid for a compact. It won't swallow a full family's beach gear the way the Odyssey does, so be clear-eyed about that. A couple, two kids, and a realistic amount of stuff: that's the scope it fits well.
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Know Before You Buy: Year-Specific Watch Items
Here's what the research shows on these three models for the years we're discussing:
Honda Odyssey (2018-2021). The fifth-generation Odyssey, redesigned for 2018, added a stronger 3.5-liter V6 producing 280 horsepower. From 2021 onward, Honda Sensing became standard across all trims. Per NHTSA records, 2020-2022 Odyssey vehicles were subject to a recall involving the front passenger seat weight sensor, which could fail to suppress the airbag as intended. Dealers replace the sensor free of charge. The 2021 model year is the cleanest buy in this generation: Honda Sensing standard, 10-speed automatic standard, and the seat sensor recall addressable. If you want the full suite of updates baked in, pass on the earliest 2018 examples.
Kia Telluride (2020-2021). The Telluride launched for 2020 and earned immediate acclaim. Per NHTSA, the broader 2020-2024 Telluride population carries the power seat motor overheating recall described above. Also per NHTSA records, a 2020-2022 tow hitch harness concern exists where debris accumulation on the printed circuit board could cause a short and fire risk. If the vehicle has the factory tow hitch, confirm that recall (dealers install a new fuse and wiring harness extension, free of charge) is complete before you sign anything. Neither of these disqualifies the Telluride as a used buy. They're the kind of recall that gets remedied and then forgotten. Just check.
Kia Soul (2019-2020). NHTSA documents a recall affecting 2020-2021 Soul vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. Piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which can result in engine damage. Kia inspects and replaces the engine as necessary, free of charge. A 2019 Soul with the 2.0L engine avoids this specific campaign. So if engine peace of mind is your priority, the 2019 model year is the cleaner choice.
Browse used Kia Soul listings on our lot to see which model years we currently have available.
Which One Fits Your Family Best?
Here's the straightforward version:
- Family of 5 or more, or you haul a lot: Used Honda Odyssey, 2020-2021 for the cleanest spec set.
- Want three rows without the minivan look, and you may want to tow a small boat or trailer: Used Kia Telluride, 2020-2021. Confirm the seat motor recall is resolved.
- Family of four, short Bay County commute, you care about fuel costs and easy parking: Used Kia Soul, 2019 specifically for the cleanest recall history on the engine.
- You haven't decided yet: Come in and compare them back to back. Sitting in all three is genuinely useful. The Odyssey feels like a different category of vehicle once you're actually inside it.
See our full pre-owned inventory to check what's currently on the lot at 615 W. 15th St.
By the Bay Cars Team | July 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a used Honda Odyssey a good buy for a Panama City family?
The 2018-2021 Honda Odyssey is one of the stronger used family vehicles available right now, and we'd point larger families toward it with confidence. It seats eight, delivers an EPA-rated 22 mpg combined (per fueleconomy.gov), and the 2021 model year added standard Honda Sensing safety technology across all trims. The one limitation to carry into your search is front-wheel drive only, though in Panama City's flat Gulf Coast climate that's rarely a practical concern. Run the VIN for the seat weight sensor recall (2020-2022 models) and confirm it's been remedied before you purchase.
Should I worry about the Kia Soul engine recall before buying a used one?
You should check it, and here's specifically what to look for. Per NHTSA, 2020-2021 Soul vehicles with 2.0L Nu MPI engines were subject to a recall for piston oil rings that may not have been properly heat-treated, which can result in engine damage. Kia inspects and replaces the engine as necessary at no charge. If you're shopping a 2019 Soul with the 2.0L engine, that specific campaign does not apply. Always run the VIN on NHTSA.gov before you buy. It takes about 90 seconds and tells you exactly which recalls are open on that specific vehicle.
What's the fuel economy difference between these three used vehicles?
The Kia Soul leads with 27 mpg combined, making it the most economical choice for short Bay County commutes. The Honda Odyssey delivers 22 mpg combined, and the Kia Telluride comes in at 20-21 mpg combined depending on trim. For families in hot Florida summers running the A/C constantly, that 5-mpg gap between the Soul and the larger options adds up week to week at the pump.