Looking to purchase a new vehicle (requirements: 30 cubic feet cargo, 30 mpg minimum)

[MPGranger]

So the wife and I are planning for another kid and apparently the Mini Clubman isn't big enough for our expanding family. She wants to be able to put the dog and a stroller in the back; so I set the guidline as 30 cubic feet in a bluff body vehicle. And I successfully mandated that we need to buy a vehicle that gets at least 30 MPG.

So I have basically narrowed it down to three options so far; 2013 Ford Escape with the 1.6L ecoboost, a 2013 Mazda CX-5, or a new/used VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI. I have heard rumors that Mazda might be releasing a 2.2L diesel for 2013, but haven't seen more than smoke and mirrors for a US diesel. My wife hates wagons, so the VW is the Ron Paul of this race.

Anybody have some good input about which would be better? Have a missed a vehicle in my search?

[MetroMPG]

How much interior volume in the Prius V?

[A.J.]

According to Toyota, the Prius v has 34.3 cubic feet of cargo volume seats up, and 67.3 seats folded. That's comparable to the 2013 Escape's 34.3/68.1, the 2012 CR-V's 37.2/70.9 and the 2013 CX-5's 34.1 / 65.4.

And the 42 MPG combined of the Prius v is nice.

Another thing, I think, is that the Prius v or any wagon is more practical because the cargo volume is similar but the cargo floor area is larger (you don't have to pile stuff up to use up the volume).

[drmiller100]

i don't like volkswagons. expensive to fix, and not really any better built then the rest IMO.

[MetroMPG]

AJ - thanks for digging that up.

Given the requirements of MPGranger, I think that's where I would put my money if I were in his shoes.

[NachtRitter]

I like Volkswagon TDIs, and I like wagons... so a used VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI would be my choice!

[MPGranger]

Thanks for all the replies.

AJ- I love wagons, my wife's Mini Clubman is the third I've owned in a decade worth of driving, but the car is for my wife so she can shoot anything down and she HATES wagons.
But she's okay with Hatchbacks/Crossovers/SUV?? I don't understand it either, but I did use your cargo space argument on her.

As for the Prius V, it would be on the top half of what we wish to spend on a new vehicle. I didn't post the $20k to $30k price range and so far nobody has violated it by suggesting an impractical luxury hybrid. But my wife considers it a wagon plus the higher price makes it an uphill battle for it.

Of course, I might just make her test drive one and try to put the stroller in it and imagine our dog (fully grown) next to it. That might be better persuader than my words.

Also, I know that the US Government has a $7.5k rebate for electric vehicles, does anybody know what, if any, the rebate for a hybrid would be? I know that Hummers got a rebate as Farm Equipment! (like any self respecting actual farmer would drive that crap!)

[morphector]

Best in-class cargo&mpg from cr

Best in cargo capacity & fuel economy: Fuel economy, cargo, haul

It's so disgusting too see that there's no other option than buying a gas pig if you want some kind of cargo room in north america.

[Daox]

I'd definitely have her at least try out the Prius V. It dominates everything else in the MPG department, even the VW by a fair amount.

[Ryland]

Power Search is a pretty good tool for searching based of vehicle type, no input for cargo space but you can search by body style.