That 41-mile stretch of US-98 between Santa Rosa Beach and Panama City is mostly open highway -- and it changes everything about which used family vehicle makes sense. The right pick here is not the one with the flashiest interior or the most cup holders; it is the one that earns good highway fuel economy, keeps your kids comfortable for an hour each way, and holds up under an 82-mile daily round trip in Florida summer heat. The Honda Odyssey is the top pick on this list, and the reason comes down to numbers: the EPA rates the 2019-2021 Odyssey at 28 highway miles per gallon -- the strongest highway figure of any three-row vehicle here -- which translates directly to fewer fill-ups on that US-98 run.
Below are five used family haulers, ranked for exactly this commute.
The Ranking at a Glance
| Rank | Vehicle | Best For | Standout Highway Spec |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Honda Odyssey (2019-2021) | Overall commuter + family hauler | EPA 28 mpg highway |
| 2 | Kia Telluride (2020-2022) | 3-row SUV buyers who want SUV capability | EPA 26 mpg highway (FWD) |
| 3 | Ford Explorer (2020-2022) | Families needing towing + 3rd row | EPA 27 mpg highway (2.3L) |
| 4 | Chrysler Pacifica (2019-2021) | Budget-conscious families, max cargo | EPA 28 mpg highway |
| 5 | Buick Enclave (2019-2021) | Quiet luxury on a long daily drive | EPA 26 mpg highway |
No. 1 -- Honda Odyssey (2019-2021): The Highway Mileage Champion
Most family SUVs struggle to break 26 mpg on the highway. The 2019-2021 Honda Odyssey, rated by the EPA at 19 city and 28 highway miles per gallon, turns that gap into a meaningful advantage on an 82-mile daily round trip. Pull onto US-98 heading southeast and the Odyssey is doing exactly what it was built for: relaxed, efficient, long-distance highway cruising.
Eight seats, a class-leading cargo floor, and Honda's reputation for high-mileage reliability make this generation especially attractive as a used buy. The 3.5-liter V6 and 10-speed automatic pairing is smooth and largely trouble-free. Look for model years after the mid-2020 software update, which resolved the early fuel-injection monitoring alert that some 2018-2019 owners reported.
The sliding doors also deserve a mention for Florida life: in a Bay County parking lot in July, sliding doors mean your kids are not swinging a panel into the car next to you while you melt on the asphalt. Small thing, big win.
No. 2 -- Kia Telluride (2020-2022): The 3-Row SUV That Actually Holds the Road
Families who want ground clearance, a proper SUV feel, and a third row that adults can actually use will find the 2020-2022 Kia Telluride worth the trade-off in highway fuel economy. The EPA rates the FWD Telluride at 20 city and 26 highway mpg -- a few ticks behind the Odyssey, but still respectable for a vehicle that seats eight and carries 21 cubic feet of cargo behind the third row.
The 3.8-liter V6 with 291 horsepower gives you enough pull to merge confidently onto the Hathaway Bridge or pass on the open stretches of US-98 without hunting for a gear. The 2020 model year was the second production year after launch, so the most common first-year quirks had been addressed. The 2021 and 2022 updates added a Nightfall Edition appearance option and minor infotainment refinements -- neither changes the mechanical picture, which was already strong.
One worth-knowing detail: the FWD Telluride consistently outperforms its AWD sibling on the highway MPG side by about 2 mpg. For a commuter who rarely needs to leave the pavement, FWD is the rational choice.
No. 3 -- Ford Explorer (2020-2022): Three Rows Plus a Tow Hitch
The 2020-2022 Ford Explorer entered a redesigned generation that addressed the cabin noise and interior quality complaints of its predecessor -- and it shows up well on a highway commute. The EPA rates the 2020-2021 Explorer with the standard 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder at 20 city and 27 highway mpg, landing it right between the Telluride and the Odyssey in highway efficiency.
Where the Explorer earns its place on this list is versatility. A standard tow rating of 5,300 pounds on the 2.3L trim means you can haul a boat to St. Andrews State Park on the weekend without renting a truck or borrowing a neighbor's. The independent rear suspension, new for the 2020 redesign, made a noticeable difference in ride quality at highway speeds compared to the outgoing body-on-frame-inspired setup.
The Explorer's third row is best described as kid-friendly rather than adult-comfortable -- taller passengers will want the second row on longer runs. Keep that in mind if you are regularly carpooling adults.
No. 4 -- Chrysler Pacifica (2019-2021): The Budget-Friendly Long-Distance Runner
The Chrysler Pacifica matches the Odyssey's 28 highway mpg figure on the EPA scale, making it the most fuel-efficient minivan option for the US-98 run. At three to five model years old, a well-kept Pacifica represents some of the best dollars-per-seat value in the used family hauler segment.
The 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 has logged millions of miles across Chrysler products and is well understood by independent shops across Bay County. The Stow 'n Go second-row seating -- where the seats fold flat into the floor -- is a genuine differentiator for families who need to haul both kids and gear without the gymnastics of removing and storing heavy bench seats.
The 2019-2021 range sits in a good mechanical spot: early software bugs from the 2017 debut had been resolved, and the model had not yet reached the point where higher mileage examples begin to outnumber the cleaner ones. A thorough pre-purchase inspection of the transmission and the front suspension bushings covers the main items to verify.
No. 5 -- Buick Enclave (2019-2021): The Quiet Commuter
Sixty-plus minutes each way on a highway is a different experience in a vehicle built for cabin quietness than in one that was not. The 2019-2021 Buick Enclave, EPA-rated at 18 city and 26 highway mpg, earns its spot by making that daily hour feel more like a luxury-grade drive than a commute grind.
Pros / Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Hushed cabin for long highway runs | 18 city mpg hurts if your drive includes stop-and-go in Panama City |
| Available heated/cooled front seats -- welcome in July | Third row is tighter than Telluride or Odyssey |
| Available 7-passenger seating with genuine second-row comfort | Higher trim levels add cost in the used market |
| 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder is fuel-efficient at highway speeds | Turbo four requires more diligent oil-change intervals than a naturally aspirated V6 |
The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that powers base and mid Enclave trims produces 230 horsepower and is notably smooth once it is on-boost at highway speeds. The key used-vehicle note: turbo engines reward attentive oil changes, so pull the service records and verify the intervals before you buy. A well-maintained Enclave in this generation is a genuinely relaxing commuter.
The Bottom Line: The Odyssey Wins the Math, but the Right Pick Is Yours
For an 82-mile daily round trip on US-98, the Honda Odyssey's EPA highway rating of 28 mpg makes it the most fuel-efficient three-row family vehicle on this list -- and that advantage compounds every single workday. The Kia Telluride and Chrysler Pacifica are close behind for different reasons: the Telluride if you want an SUV, the Pacifica if you want nearly identical efficiency to the Odyssey at potentially lower used-market entry.
Bay Cars is located at 615 W. 15th St. in Panama City, so if you are making that commute from the Santa Rosa Beach side of the Panhandle, stopping in to look through the lot is a natural end to the drive. The Bay Cars team can walk you through what is available across all of these segments, help you compare service records, and connect you with financing options that fit your situation.