How to Compare 6 Passenger Vehicles

If there are several people in your family or you like to travel with a lot of friends, a 2-seater coupe won't make the grade when you buy a new car. Trucks and sedans are among your choices when you need a 6-passenger vehicle.

Dimensions

Examining measurements like head, shoulder, leg and hip room can help you see the differences between models. For example, back seat passengers get 45.4 inches of legroom in a 2011 Lincoln Town Car Signature L and 34.7 inches in the 2010 Dodge Ram 1500. Check the amount of cargo space offered by 6-passenger vehicles, too.

Safety

The nonprofit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates vehicles good, acceptable, marginal or poor for their protection of drivers and passengers. The 2010 Ford F-150 got a score of good for front and side crash protection, while the 2010 Mercury Grand Marquis got a good mark for frontal-crash safety and a marginal one for side-impact protection.

Prices

Prices among 6-passenger vehicles can start below $20,000 and exceed $50,000. Consider which features and body style are most important to you and whether you are willing to pay extra to get a luxury model.

References

• Chevrolet: 2011 Silverado Hybrid
• Mercury: Grand Marquis Features and Specs
• Ford: F-150 Specifications
• Mazda: Mazda5 Specifications
• Lincoln: 2011 Town Car
• Dodge: 2010 Ram 1500 Dimensions & Capacities

Resources

• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: Top Safety Picks 2010