Shipwreck Island Waterpark sits right off Hutchison Boulevard in Panama City Beach, about 10 miles from Panama City and a 16-minute run down US-98 over the Hathaway Bridge. Short drive, sure. The vehicle still matters plenty, because you're loading wet towels, a cooler full of snacks (remember, no outside food is allowed inside the park, so that cooler stays in the car), backup clothes for three kids, and maybe a grandparent or a friend who can't fold into a compact back seat. Our top pick on the lot for this specific trip is the used Kia Telluride. We'll walk through why, plus four other strong options if the Telluride isn't right for your situation.
The Rankings at a Glance
| Rank | Pick | Best For | Standout Spec |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kia Telluride (2022-2025) | Big families, comfort-first | 21 cu ft behind 3rd row; 3.8L V6 |
| 2 | Ford Explorer (2020-2025) | Cargo + fuel balance | 18.2 cu ft behind 3rd row; up to 28 mpg hwy |
| 3 | Ford Expedition (2018-2024) | Crews of 7-8 plus heavy gear | Full-size 3-row; 104+ cu ft max cargo |
| 4 | Buick Enclave (2018-2023) | Comfort on a midsize budget | Quiet cabin; 3-row; FWD standard |
| 5 | GMC Yukon (2020-2024) | Maximum passengers AND cargo | Full-size body-on-frame; 122+ cu ft max cargo |
1. Kia Telluride (2022-2025): The One We Reach For First
The used Telluride earns our top spot because it blends three rows, a composed highway ride, and real cargo room behind the third row, and that mix is harder to find in used inventory than you'd expect, as long as you stick to the right model years. Drop the earliest one from your list. The 2022-2025 Telluride carries a 3.8-liter naturally aspirated V6 and an eight-speed automatic throughout the entire generation (no powertrain swap to second-guess when buying used). The EPA rates the 2025 Telluride FWD at 20 city and 26 highway, which lands in solid mid-20s territory for a vehicle this size.
The big advantage on a waterpark day is that 21 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row. You can keep all three rows occupied AND still pack the bags. Plenty of rivals can't do that.
What to watch for: Stick to 2022 and newer. The 2020 model drew a documented 2020 NHTSA recall related to tow hitch wiring and a wave of early-ownership complaints around infotainment bugs. The 2022 model year resolved most of those first-generation growing pains, and the 2023 refresh added updated tech. A 2022 or newer Telluride with completed recalls is a genuinely solid used buy. A 2020 at a tempting number? Ask us to pull the recall history before you decide, and don't skip that step.
Browse used Kia Tellurides on our lot
2. Ford Explorer (2020-2025): The Sweet Spot for Most Families
The Ford Explorer is the one we'd steer a family of five toward before anything else, a two-row primary with an available third row that sounds like a downgrade from the Telluride until you count the usable cargo room per person and realize the layout works better for smaller crews. Ford quotes 18.2 cubic feet behind the third row and up to 87.8 cubic feet maximum when both rows fold flat. The EPA rates the base 2025 Explorer RWD at 20 city and 29 highway.
The tradeoff worth naming is real. The third row is quite tight for adults, and it works fine for kids. Put grown teenagers or adults back there for a 20-minute round trip on US-98 and it's fine. For an eight-hour road trip, it isn't. Know your passenger list before you decide between the Explorer and the Telluride.
The 2020-current Explorer generation is mechanically solid. The platform launched in 2019 with some early complaints around the power liftgate and rear HVAC, though 2021 and newer examples don't give owners much trouble. We like the 2021-2024 range as the used sweet spot.
3. Ford Expedition (2018-2024): When You Need a Bigger Box
The Ford Expedition earns its place here for the crews that simply have more people, more gear, and less tolerance for compromise, giving you a proper 3-row body-on-frame platform with cargo volume that stretches past 100 cubic feet when both rows fold. Maybe you're hauling the whole extended family, two inflatable tubes, a stroller, and the dog. When that's the load, a full-size SUV stops being overkill and starts being the answer. The 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 is proven across more than a decade of Expedition production.
The EcoBoost has a long production record. Parts and service knowledge for it aren't hard to come by.
The tradeoff is real and worth naming directly. Fuel economy isn't this truck's strength, and parking on Hutchison Boulevard in late August with every other family in Bay County doing the same trip feels noticeably different in a full-size versus a midsize. Manageable, sure. But it's a factor. Load seven or eight people regularly and the Expedition earns its footprint. Load five with some gear and the Explorer or Telluride will be easier to live with.
4. Buick Enclave (2018-2023): Quiet, Comfortable, Underrated
The Buick Enclave doesn't get enough credit on used-SUV lists, partly because it isn't as flashy as a Telluride or as well-known as an Explorer, and the payoff is a quiet cabin and a comfortable highway ride at a used-value price point that often undercuts comparable midsize three-row competitors. Standard front-wheel drive suits Panama City's flat coastal roads well.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Hushed cabin for a mellower drive | Smaller cargo footprint than full-size options |
| Smooth ride on flat Gulf Coast roads | Third row is tight for taller adults |
| Often priced below Telluride on used lot | Less name recognition (which can actually mean better deals) |
| Comfortable captain's chairs (mid trims) | AWD is optional, not standard |
Is the Enclave right for your crew? If you've got six adults who value a calm drive over raw cargo volume, yes, it belongs on your shortlist. When the Telluride's used-market asking number feels steep, we'd point a couple with four kids its way. It's a smart pivot.
5. GMC Yukon (2020-2024): For When You're Not Compromising on Space
The GMC Yukon is for the family that's done negotiating with cargo space, a full-size body-on-frame hauler with three genuine rows, adult-comfortable third-row headroom, and a maximum cargo volume that leaves the midsize segment well behind. The 2021 redesign moved the rear suspension to independent (from solid axle), and you can feel the improvement in ride quality. Target that generation in used inventory, since 2021 and newer Yukons ride and handle more like a midsize than their predecessors did.
The downside is the same one every full-size SUV carries. You feel the size at the pump and in parking lots. Hutchison Boulevard isn't a wide, forgiving suburban street in peak summer. If you're comfortable with the footprint, the Yukon is simply the most capable hauler on this list.