Military life puts a car through things most vehicles never have to handle: a cross-country station move with the whole household packed in, months of solo driving while a spouse is deployed, and a new base every few years with a completely different climate and commute.
The average used car now runs about $27,000, according to KBB - a tough number when you're also budgeting around a move. The good news: reliable, family-ready vehicles built for exactly this lifestyle are still out there for $15,000 or less.
Here are five worth putting on your list, and why each one earns its place in a military driveway specifically:
2015-17 Honda Odyssey: The PCS move itself (cargo space for a full household relocation)
2016-17 Honda Accord: Parts/service availability wherever the next duty station lands
2016-2019 Toyota Camry: Low-maintenance reliability for a spouse managing solo during deployment
2015-2017 Toyota Sienna: Larger families relocating with kids and gear, plus AWD for cold-weather postings
2017-2019 Mazda CX-5: Smaller households or empty-nester families needing something easier to navigate in a new town
Thanks for reading everybody!
-Paul