The Best Nissan Models for Plainfield Families

Plainfield is one of the most desirable places to live in Illinois. It’s nestled only an hour away, approximately 38 miles outside one of the country’s most essential passenger and freight hubs with plenty of employment opportunities. Plainfield is the go-to Chicago suburb with great school systems, low crime, a historic downtown, diverse culture, and plenty of parks to bring you closer to nature than you thought imaginable being so close to the Windy City.

When it’s time for your family to upgrade to a new vehicle, depending on your driving needs, Nissan has a full lineup of cars, trucks, and SUVs to choose from, some of which are perfect contenders for busy suburban families. Whether you’re looking to commute into Chicago every day for work with enough room to accommodate the whole family on the weekend, or if you just need a vehicle for local driving to get the kids to school and food from the grocery store, as your Plainfield Nissan dealer, located conveniently in Joliet, IL, we here at Thomas Nissan are confident there’s a Nissan perfect for your family.

Family-Friendly 2022 Nissan Cars

Sometimes it’s nice to fall back on the type of vehicle you grew up in the back seat of. Many brands are doing away with sedans; however, Nissan is one of the few that understands the demand for them is still very much alive. They’re ideal for keeping you and your kids satisfied on the road without breaking the bank on fuel costs since they are built for passenger comfort and fuel efficiency. This is especially important if your commute consists of almost 80 miles per day to and from Chicago during the work week.

While many cars seat up to five people, you’ll want to focus on the amount of space they provide rather than just the number of seats because the more space, the better it will be for passenger comfort. This is why we’d recommend a midsize sedan over smaller models. Although it may not be as thrilling as the sporty Maxima with its peppy V6 engine, the equally handsome 2022 Nissan Altima offers best-in-class fuel economy with more cargo room; plus, it’s available with AWD for more confidence on the road in the unfavorable winter months, here in Illinois. The Altima is estimated to get a combined 32 miles per gallon (MPG) with its 2.5-liter 4-cylinder front-wheel drive (FWD) powertrain and 30 MPG in AWD (all-wheel drive). Its more powerful and efficient 2.0-liter Variable Compression Turbo 4-cylinder engine, only available in FWD, is just as efficient, estimated to produce a combined 29 MPG, which brings it closer to the performance of the Maxima.

If you prefer a smaller car for better maneuverability in the city or to get better gas mileage, we recommend the 2022 Nissan Sentra. The subcompact Versa might offer a little more fuel economy at a slightly lower price with a similarly sized trunk, but since the Sentra is larger overall, it is much more accommodating for your rear-seat passengers. Plus, you won’t miss out on too much efficiency since the Sentra doesn’t fall that much behind the Versa with an estimated combined 33 MPG versus the 35 MPG you could see with the automatic Versa. But for the maximum fuel efficiency, the all-electric compact hatch 2022 Nissan LEAF is the way to go with its estimated range of 149 to 226 miles depending on the engine you choose.

2022 Nissan SUVs Perfect for Families With Children

Sports utility vehicles have been on the rise in popularity for quite some time, and we think it’s safe to say that they aren’t going anywhere. Their versatility is undeniably convenient. Their size is perfect for both solo travelers and families, all the same. And more importantly, their efficiency is remarkable with the capabilities they have. Since Nissan has a line of SUVs of all shapes and sizes, it’s tough to choose just one that’s perfect for our Plainfield families, but we think we have narrowed down our recommendations for you.

If you’re looking to seat seven to eight people, the full-size Armada is the largest SUV in Nissan’s pack, with the more practical three-row Pathfinder following close behind at a lower price and better fuel economy. Sizing down to the midsize Murano, you’ll lose seating and power, but you’ll find it might just maneuver easier in congested traffic and small parking areas. Dropping to the smallest SUVs Nissan has to offer brings you to the subcompact Rogue Sport, followed by the smallest of the group, the Nissan Kicks. Both are small and mighty in their own ways, but in our opinion, the compact 2022 Nissan Rogue is the best SUV for suburban families.

We recommend the Rogue over the latter Rogue Sport and Kicks since it is larger, can tow, has similar fuel economy as the Kicks, and is available in AWD like the Rogue Sport. The midsize Murano is a close second, being similarly sized and the ability to tow up to 1,500 lbs like the Rogue, but with its slightly larger size, the Murano is more expensive and is estimated to get a combined rating of 10 MPG less than the Rogue.

Believe it or not, the Murano also offers less cargo space and passenger leg room. Sure, with a larger 6-cylinder engine, the Murano can handle off-road terrains better than the Rogue’s VC-Turbo 3-cylinder, but if taking to the rough terrain is where you’re headed, opt for a Nissan truck for more versatility with a minimal price jump. If you’re looking for a perfectly sized and flexible SUV for your family, you’ll get the best value with the 2022 Nissan Rogue, perfect for those picnics at Settler’s Park or a family bowling night at Plainfield Lanes.

Practical 2022 Nissan Pickups for Your Family

Although pickups might not be the most desirable vehicle for families living in the suburbs, they are a great option for homeowners who prefer to do their own landscaping and home improvements. Trucks have come a long way to qualify as practical family vehicles with fuel efficiency and providing spacious and accommodating interiors. Unlike the aforementioned car and SUV lineups, Nissan’s truck selection has fewer models, with two full-size Titans and a midsize Frontier to choose between.

We’re going to start by taking the heavy-duty Titan XD right out of the mix since it’s a little extreme for a suburban family vehicle. This leaves the Titan and its smaller sibling, the Frontier. Since the Frontier carries a 6-cylinder under the hood versus the 8-cylinder Titan, it does see better fuel economy numbers, estimated at a combined 20 MPG with RWD (rear-wheel drive) and 19 MPG with 4WD. However, the Titan isn’t too far behind, with an estimated combined 18 MPG for both drivetrains. With a more powerful engine, the Titan is a better workhorse capable of towing up to 9,320 lbs versus the Frontier’s 6,720 lbs.

While the truck’s power might be essential to your decision, what will matter most for the rest of your family is what the cabin has to offer. No matter which pickup piques your interest, you’ll want to opt for the larger crew cab configuration, which seats more people. For the most space, you’ll want to choose the 2022 Nissan Titan. Personal space is critical to the comfort of your passengers on the road and is the determining factor for choosing to recommend the Titan to our Plainfield families. It not only seats up to six versus the five people that the Frontier’s crew cab accommodates, but it also provides a more spacious cabin for everyone’s enjoyment. For the outdoorsy family looking to haul a few jet skis to Whalon Lake, we can’t think of a more ideal truck.

A Nissan for Every Type of Family

Suburban life offers prime living for both families and business folk alike. You’re close enough to the big city for both work and social activities, but you’re also far enough away to enjoy a little privacy and quiet time at home in the yard or the park. With so many places to visit that are local to your suburban home, you will want to find a suitable vehicle that can keep up with your family’s flexible lifestyle. Nissan’s diverse lineup of cars, trucks, and SUVs of every size is a great place to start your search. If you’re struggling to decide which of our recommended Nissans will be perfect for you and your family, remember that Thomas Nissan is here to help.