Summertime is a popular time for long road trips with the family or friends. Whether you’re heading to the beach or making your way to a campsite, it’s important you have a reliable vehicle to get you and your family where you need to go.

We know that not everyone is able to afford a brand new car, but that doesn’t mean you’re out of options. Many of the top makes and models out there are just as good used as they were new. This means you don’t need to shell out thousands of dollars more to get the most reliable vehicle. Your credit doesn’t always need to be in tip-top shape, either.

Top 7 Used Cars for Summer Road Trips

Here are the top seven vehicles to consider purchasing for your family this summer, based on Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) ratings of "Good," "Acceptable," "Marginal," and "Poor," the EPA's fuel economy information, and Consumer Reports' "Best Vehicle Choices for a Family Road Trip" from 2016:

  • 2011 Toyota Camry HybridToyota Camry Hybrid

    2009 average price: $11,678

    2011 (pictured) average price: $13,379

    IIHS average safety rating: Good

    Average EPA fuel economy: 33 city / 34 highway miles per gallon (mpg)

  • 2009 Honda Accord SedanHonda Accord Sedan

    2009 (pictured) average price: $10,526

    2011 average price: $12,153

    IIHS average safety rating: Good

    Average EPA fuel economy: 21 city / 31 highway mpg

  • 2009 Chevrolet ImpalaChevrolet Impala

    2009 (pictured) average price: $6,803

    2011 average price: $9,178

    IIHS average safety rating: Good

    Average EPA fuel economy: 17 city / 27 highway mpg

  • 2011 Subaru OutbackSubaru Outback

    2009 average price: $11,940

    2011 (pictured) average price: $13,789

    IIHS average safety rating: Good

    Average EPA fuel economy: 19 city / 25 highway mpg

  • 2011 Kia SorentoKia Sorento (4WD)

    2009 average price: $6,028 (body-on-frame SUV)

    2011 (pictured) average price: $10,812 (unibody crossover)

    IIHS average safety rating: Acceptable

    Average EPA fuel economy: 18 city / 24 highway mpg

  • 2009 Dodge DurangoDodge Durango (4WD)

    2009 (pictured) average price: $8,500

    2011 average price: $16,388

    IIHS average safety rating: Acceptable

    Average EPA fuel economy: 15 city / 21 highway mpg

  • 2009 Toyota SiennaToyota Sienna (4WD and AWD)

    2009 (pictured) average price: $8,775

    2011 average price: $15,058

    IIHS average safety rating: Good

    Average EPA fuel economy: 16 city / 21 highway mpg

Get the Car You Need this Summer

Finding the right vehicle for you and your family can be tough, especially if you’re dealing with bad credit. If you’re not sure where to start the car buying process, we want to help.

Here at Auto Credit Express, we’ll get you started by matching you with a dealer that has the lending resources and know how to handle consumers with credit challenges. If you’re ready to start the car buying process, take the first step and fill out our auto loan request form today.