Can you help re: Vehicle for Family of 5 plus......

[OctoberPrincess]

We, eventually, plan to have 3 children about 2-3 years apart so that at some point all 3 will be in car/booster seats. I currently have a Mazda Tribute but we have decided something bigger will be in order for a growing family. I am open to minivan recommendations though I'm not sure I'm ready to be a minivan mom. I would really like an SUV again. I have tried searching because I thought I saw this subject months ago but have had no luck trying to find the thread.

Requirements are, must fit 7 passengers (5 at all times). Must have 3 rows of seats with a roomy second row. Must have optional Navigation system and not drive "like a truck".

Thanks for any and all advice/opinions.

[hmbay]

subscribing......

I can't say for sure since I don't own/haven't driven them but I'm in the same thought of being an SUV mom over a mini-van mom--I just don't care for minivans although all their neat storage things tempt me. If we have a 3rd I told DH we MUST have a 3rd row SUV. The three we're considering are the Chevy Suburban (DH's pick since he's self employed and its weight category fits it into some self-employment law where he can deduct it as a business expense), a Dodge Durago and a Honda Pilot (my first choice).

My parents have a Suburban so I've ridden in one but I haven't ridden in a Durango or Pilot (and haven't driven any of the three).

I'd be interested to see what everyone recommends. :)

[mia's mama]

I have the Acura MDX, and I LOVE it...we only have one child so far, so we rarely use the 3rd row (it folds down), but it does hold 7, you can get a navigation system, and it drives beautifully. I like the fact that it's not huge, but big enough to hold all that we need. I may feel differntly if we end up with 3 children...maybe I will want something much bigger...not sure.

[Bloomwood]

We have the Volvo SUV with the 3rd row that folds up/down. It doesn't have a navigation system, though.

[MrsSki]

I have no recommendations either but wanted to pass on some heresay:

On the Durango, a woman I work with had one and got rid of it because the cost of repairs was ridiculous. She bought it brand new and it was constantly in the shop and was costing her about $1,000 each time. Maybe she got a lemon, who knows?

Another woman I work with is also wanting a 7-passenger. She said that Audi is coming out with one in the spring. They have the Audi AllRoad and that rides like a dream, so I can only imagine this one will as well.

Good luck in your search!!

[MrsSki]

I also saw the commercial that Chevy Tahoe is coming out with a new model with the rear camera's. I don't recall if it's got the third seat or not.

[Cali_Katy]

My sister had three kids in the span of five years and needed a bigger vehicle to transport everyone around all the time. She dreaded, DREADED becoming a minivan mom, but eventually came to the conclusion that that's what she needed to get. She got the Honda Odyssey last year and you know what? She loves it. So even if you are against the minivan in theory, check that one out. Her brother- and sister-in-law who have also have three small kids also got one and love it, too.

[BTB]

A few months ago, I was in your shoes; undecided on SUV vs. minivan. For a variety of reasons, we're going to go with minivan. I love Hondas and Toyotas, I liked the Sienna a bit better than the Odyssey, but have to wait to actually buy it until I go back to work. :)

A minivan is on a sedan chassis, an SUV on a truck chassis (I think now there's one exception) so if you want a car-like drive, I think that's the way to go.

[maggieb]

We're getting the Honda Pilot sometime in the future. After extensive research I think it's the best deal for what you get. It fits 7, can come with a navigation system and most importantly to us, isn't a minivan.

[lawyerwifemom]

We have the Sequoia and love it. The third row is roomy and has a decent return for adult legs. The Pilot does not (we test drove and almost bought the Pilot). The Pilot was alot like a minivan in feel and drive. The Sequoia has more cargo space and is a little wider in the body. The Sequoia's drive is very smooth and comfortable(much more so than the 4Runner which we replaced) but it is a big vehicle.

[EJH]

We have the Chrysler Pacifica which seats 7 -- captains chairs in the middle and a full row in the back. We mostly like the car, although it does have blind spots that take some getting used to. It's a minivan crossed with an SUV -- I love the safety of it -- lower to the ground so unlike other SUVs has a very low rollover rate.

Of those you listed I've driven the Pilot and the Durango. I would definitely choose the Pilot...felt like I was driving a car when I was behind that wheel, not a big SUV. It was a bit out of our price range at the time we were looking, otherwise we would have purchased the Pilot.

Good luck!!

Erin

[nancy drew]

we have a honda pilot and love it. i seriously have no complaints about my car. it drives great, has plenty of room, and is in great shape. love Love LOVE the pilot.

[OctoberPrincess]

Wow, so glad to have all these helpful women around! So far the Pilot is a top contender (I just wish the back seat had a bit more legroom), as is the Ford Explorer (because it has more headroom). I love the Acura MDX, my friend just got one, but it's a bit out of our price range. We looked at the Toyata Sequoia yesterday and I love it looks but am intimidated by its size, it too is a bit out of our price range at the moment.

I guess I will have to give the Pilot a better look and a test drive! BTW, of the minivans we did see, we liked the Odessey best, Sienna almost as much, and hated the Nissan Quest.

[tinkerbelljenny]

I guess I will have to give the Pilot a better look and a test drive!
I am going to check them out. Does anyone know around what price range they start at?

[Kingdono]

I have an SUV a 4 runner and I thought we would have so much more room. While it is more room then the car it still feels cramped when we do big shopping or I want to bring along some people. The other consideration is gas the bigger the SUV the more is sucks it back. I get about 20 miles ot a gallon. It costs about 45 to fill up and I fill up every three days.

I don't want to but I might be looking into a mini van when we look at new cars.

[ezl247]

We have a Honda Pilot as well - it really is the best deal on the market. I test drove the Toyata Sequoia but it was way too big for me and it drove like a truck IMO.

[ejs]

Have you looked into the new "crossover" vehicles, such as the Ford Freestyle?

Re: SUVs. Many are built on truck chassis' so they are going to drive like a truck. If you want a smoother ride, look for the ones that are built on a car chassis.

Someone mentioned the new Audi Q7 SUV that will be coming out in the spring. DH and I have been researching it and it appears that it will cost at least $50K for the base model.

[daphne]

We LOVE our Honda Pilot. I think they start at around $32K....

[Renrel]

I am useless for any infor on actual SUVs and/or Minivans, I don't even know how to define one from the other. But I thought I would just post this wee bit of information for anyone researching SUV's. I realize to OP's main concideration is passanger room not safety so this is really an aside.

I heard a report on NPR this morning that SUV's are no safer for children than cars. If I understood it correctly a study found that the extra weight does not result in fewer or less severe injuries in an accident. The roll over factor was a consideration in the seriousness of the injuries though, and that problem is supposed to be less of an issue with newer models.

I don't know who did the research or if there was some hidden agenda. I personally love the idea of that luxury - all the room and folding chairs and all but have an issue clogging the roads with this big gas guzzlers that I can not see around when I am driving. For now, with one kid I am driving a Accura and it is enough.

[Phen]

OctoberPrincess, I also drive a Mazda Tribute and I just wanted to let you know that we're finding it absolutely perfect for two kids in full-size carseats (plus enormous stroller in the way back). In other words, you might not want to get the extra car (and car payment and big gas bills) until you need it, until you're looking at that Kid #3 actually en route. :)

~ phen

[chandy]

I too was leary about becoming a minivan mom, but I now drive a Toyota Sienna and I LOVE it!!

The sliding door opens with a click of a button on my remote...It is lower to the ground than an SUV, so it is easier to lift babies, strollers, etc. in to the car...The third row is easily accessible and just as comfortable as the front seats...Tons of cargo space...Better gas mileage than an SUV...

I might not be the hippest mom in town anymore, but my mini sure is practical and a pleasure to drive!

[Jenyfer9]

I had an SUV when ds#1 was born (needed the room for my dogs!), and then we went on vacation right before I was preggo w/#2 and decided that there would be no way that we would have enough room in an SUV for kid/kid stuff/dogs/our stuff. So we looked around at minivans (yes, GASP!) and ended up with the Mazda MPV. I really like it. There's enough room for us and our stuff. Eventually, we'd like to have a third kid, so there's no way that we could get anything smaller, although I'd like to have a zippy "around town" car to hold onto my younger, childless days :p .

[MtySheera]

Last Sept. we started looking at cars, since my DS was almost 1 year. We plan on having more children, plus we have 2 big dogs, so we wanted a larger vehicle than our Jeep Grand Cherokee. We thought about a mini van, and even looked at them, but like others here, I just wasn't ready to go with a mini van, although we looked at the Toyota Sienna and I was almost hooked! It had everything and was very family friendly. Little things like window shades built in were very tempting.

We ended up buying a 2005 Dodge Durango. The main reason we bought that over any other was the $$ incentives. We bought the top of the line, Limited, DVD player, Navigation system, Hemi, etc, and was out the door for $37k. When we started adding all of those options to the Sienna, it was getting very pricey.

I love our Durango so far. It doesn't feel any bigger to me than our Grand Cherokee did.

I'm not sure if you've done this yet, but I suggest going to a site like carsdirect.com and comparing the vehicles you are looking at. You can see the differences in leg room, head room, etc. Sometimes two cars may seem similar in size, but when you see the actual numbers, they are quite different.

[Koala_Gurl]

Hi there!

We have a family of "5" right now (well, if you count 2 80 lb golden retrievers!)

We HAD a regular sized GMC Yukon (same as Tahoe), and had to upgrade to a larger size (went w/ the Cadillac Escalade ESV during those great GM sales a few months ago!)

One thing I would consider is not just passenger room but cargo room. This is what got us. The Yukon/Tahoe and any others around that size (Durangos, Volvo, etc) may have the actual seating for 7/8, but not seating for that many WITH any room for stuff (and w/ babies, the stuff seems to be huge...pack & plays, etc.)

We LOVE our ESV...it has navigation, and does not ride at all like a truck (it actually has a better turning radius than my Volvo sedan). Makes it maneuverable in a parking lot. :)

ETA - The new 2007 models (which are coming out REALLY soon) are supposed to have the power fold down rear seat (since to actually take out that 3rd row bench is a joke.)

[hmbay]

safety--the main reason I will eventually buy an SUV over a mini-van is safety and not a fear of being labeled a soccer-mom or whatever. I know they are more prone to roll-overs but I've heard of too many local accidents here in the Minneapolis area where a SUV and a mini-van collided and the SUV drivers/passengers walked away with minimal injuries and the mini-vans included fatalities. An SUV is a heavier vehicle and other than rollovers SHOULD be safer than a minivan in that respect but I haven't studied any crash test data to prove that--just a decision I made based on news clips I've read/seen. I had looked at stats on the Honda Odyssey before deciding I just really didn't want a mini-van and liked what I saw.

[Renrel]

hmbay - you may want to see if you can find out anything about the study I posted about earlier in this thread regarding safty of SUVs. As I stated in the post, this study indicates the assumtion that the heavier SUV are safer has been called into question when number of injuries and seriousness of injuries are added up, but I have not read the study and only know what was reported in this NPR piece I listened to while getting dressed this morning.

[nancy drew]

oh, since you mentioned the back seat, one tihng i loved about the pilot was that the back seat is adjustable, so you can move it closer to the front seat if you have kids (short legs) in the back seat, but move it back if you have adults back there. kinda a nice feature on an suv. :)

[lawyerwifemom]

Renrel, the study was written up in my local paper today. The gist is that if you factor in roll-overs, SUVs are no safer than cars. However, in non roll over accidents, SUVs are safer or as safe as cars. The paper did not break down by SUV and was pretty general in the discussion of the study (that or the study was very general). Our SUV (the Sequoia (which does drive like a truck compared to the Pilot which drives like a minivan:D )) has a great roll over record and also, most driving we do is not high rollover risk situations. So overall, the study doesn't change my educated opinion that my vehicle is very very safe for my family.

[OctoberPrincess]

Phen can a third person fit with the 2nd carseat? I am worried that I may not be able to hop in the back when we are driving and the infant decides to throw a fit.... I have thought about leaving things be as I am not finding anything in our price range that really wows me. I like the Pilot best but am annoyed with the leg room in the 3rd row and the amount of space available for a stroller once that 3rd row is in use. We will be getting a new car regardless since DH feels is will drastically cut down on the amound of time he spends commuting to work each day (new job), I just figured it might be better to get the bigger car now and let DH keep the Tribute.

ejs I test drove the Freestyle yesterday, it drove just like a car. It just bothered me that the cross ends up looking like a huge station wagon, though it fit our needs perfectly. I haven't crossed it off the list yet, I do like the look of it better than the minivan.

[ejs]

OctoberPrincess, there are quite a few crossovers on the market. I just can't think of them off of the top of my head. I can ask DH if you need me to.

Here's a link to the new article on SUV safety: http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/01/03/suv_rollover/index.html

[Phen]

I have lost track of the number of times that we've fit five people into the Tribute (with the fifth person squeezed in-between the two carseats). Granted, that fifth person isn't excessively comfortable ;) but there's still room to use a seatbelt, etc. There's no hope that my DH or a big guy could fit in that space, but several of my friends, one of our babysitters, and I have all fit in there at different times.

~ Phen

[jesseybell]

I will hopefully be replacing my Grand Cherokee this spring. I really, really want a Sequoia, but I think it may be out of our price range this time around. I was thinking I would have to settle for a Highlander (I like Toyotas) but to me they don't look big enoug. A friend asked me to consider the Pilot (yes he is a Honda salesguy but from out of state so its not like he would be getting any thing out of it) because sizewise it is between the Highlander and Sequoia. I looked on line and I think I will be checking it out as well. I've had a Honda before and really like them.

(My friends have a Sienna which I do love...I am just not going to be a minivan mom!)

But one thing it doesn't have that the Sequoia does have is the dual heat zones - me and DH really need that!

[BooeyJ2]

We have a 2005 Ford Freestyle SEL and love it. It's basically a cross between a SUV and a station wagon (ours also has a rear back-up sensor which we LOVE and a DVD player). It gets good gas mileage, has 5 star safety ratings and seats 7 comfortably.
http://www.fordvehicles.com/cars/freestyle/?section=CAR

Ours looks similar to this one.....
http://www.pscarreviews.com/blog-seren/uploads/Freestyle.main.jpg

[OctoberPrincess]

Thanks for the info Phen, if I can't make up my mind, it's nice to know that I can fit in the back with the 2 carseats (if I needed to) while DH is driving.

ejs thanks for the info, I would love to know what other crosses are available if you wouldn't mind asking your DH. I was aware that SUV's were not safer than cars, but it's always nice to have more info on the subject.

Booeyj2 it's nice to hear that you are happy with your Freestyle. I loved the inside of the Freestyle, and it drove nicely, I just am not that in to the station wagon look. I do like it enough to keep it on my list though.

Nancydrew I didn't know that you can adjust the back seat, do you mean the second or 3rd row? I'm thinking you mean the second row so that if you have car seats in it the people in the 3rd row would have more legroom??

[SingleWhiteFemale]

I drive a 2000 Explorer :) Quite often, it is me and the dog, or me hauling, so the extra space is appreciated. I didn't have much choice in this car, but as I've driven it more and more, the more I like it. It does fit 5 comfortably (I don't have 3rd row seating), and does fit a lot of junk/my purchases ;) I know people rant that SUVs are monsters and gas guzzlers. Reality is, I drove a small (1996 Tacoma), lightweight pick-up truck prior to this vehicle, and I'm getting the same, if not better, gas milage in the Explorer! Most people are shocked to hear that, but there are passenger cars out there getting the same and even worse gas milage. I do a combo of city and highway driving, and get at minimum 18 mpg, and have almost hit 23 mpg on numerous occassions (did 4 hours of stop-and-go on 95 over Christmas, and just fell shy of 25 mpg). My truck averaged just under 20 mpg. It didn't take much time to get used to, and I had not been driving at all for some time before getting the Explorer. As to visibility, there is always someone on the road bigger than you, regardless of the type of vehicle. I'm comfortable driving behind a car, semi or Hummer, although I attempt to make sure I'm not cutting people off and avoid braking at the last moment possible. While I did not have any say in this vehicle, I'm generally happy with it and am looking to have it for a nice long time :)

A big suggestion I was given by several of my favorite mechanics was to get the extended warranty from the dealer (mention it more last moment when closing the deal when purchasing, they will discount it greatly or even throw it in free). In SUVs, the ball joints are more likely to need replacement, in addition to a few other repairs that aren't really common on cars (or needed at a much later interval). The reason I was given is that SUVs are built differently than standard cars, and a whole bunch of other reasons that just flew right over my head ;) I was also told to keep up maintanence, the average SUV can't take the abuse that many cars can. I admit, I rarely changed the air filter on my truck, put off oil changes, put off maintanence... and started to do the same to my Explorer. It didn't make a difference to the truck, but on my Explorer I feel a difference in how the car accelerates, in gas mileage, in how it generally drives. Also, find a dealer that you really trust--there are some really horrid Ford service departments out there, and its enough to drive you nuts and hurt in the pocketbook.

As to safety, a Red Cross instructor and car enthusiast (he races Porches, is a race driving instructor, in addition to driving motorcycles on the weekends) told em that whether you're driving a car or driving an SUV, the most important thing is seatbelts/proper installation of child safety seats. Many in rollovers get away with minor injuries and even unharmed, but in a rollover without a seatbelt, you'll be ejected from the vehicle. Reality is that yes SUVs do flip more often, but a large factor is many people in SUVs think they're invincible and engage in higher risk behaviors that lead to rollovers. Drive safely and like you've got sense, and you'll be okay (the majority of car accidents--I'm not sure if the stat is fatal or non-fatal crashes--are 1 vehicle accidents, so you are your own biggest danger on the road). In car vs SUV accidents, the person in the passenger car is the one more likely to be injured (usually because the sheer size difference). No car is 100% safe, but we need to be proactive regardless of what we drive.

[BTB]

Re: safety - I was surprised, when I looked at crash data, to see that bigger and heavier does not equate with safer. Take a look at the 10 best and 10 worst - it's not a collection of big SUVs (or even small ones) on the safest list, nor is it only cars on the worst list. There are many more factors that go into surviving a crash than weight. Drivers of small, nimble things are actually statistically remarkably safe compared to their bigger counterparts - because they don't get in nearly as many crashes in the first place as do larger, more cumbersome, less nimble vehicles. Counterintuitive, but important.

[ejs]

ejs thanks for the info, I would love to know what other crosses are available if you wouldn't mind asking your DH.

Here's what my DH said:
Chrysler Pacifica
Mercedes R-Class
Mazda 5

He says there are other things coming out, probably for 2007. I'll edit if he thinks of more.

[Orange]

We have one and it's great. It drives better than a car - the turning radius is way better than my sedan, plus you sit up slightly higher for better visibility. The 3rd row is not roomy, but it would be more than adequate for a toddler in a booster seat. The 2nd row is quite roomy (I think) and the seats move back and forth easily. It gets good gas mileage, has a DVD nav option and is very reasonable priced. Ours was about $21K fully loaded, including the nav system which is so cool!

[amygrrl]

mdx

[eponymous]

Re: safety - I was surprised, when I looked at crash data, to see that bigger and heavier does not equate with safer.

In fact, because of the way that SUVs are built, drivers are MUCH more likely to be injured in an SUV crash than a passenger car or minivan crash, and injured more severely. Check out this article (somewhat long, but VERY informative): SUV article (http://www.gladwell.com/2004/2004_01_12_a_suv.html).

I'm not a mother yet, but when we do have kids, I will not let them ride in an SUV, nevermind drive one myself, because of the difference in safety.

[hmbay]

interesting article. I think part of the issue with SUV's being safer is still driver-perception/error. People need to learn you have to drive an SUV differently thana car. I grew up on a farm driving my dad's big old Chevy 4x4 truck. I know I can't take corners fast. I know I can't stop quickly on ice or snow even if the 4wd got me going to 60 mph when everyone else is going 30--I'm heavier therefore it takes me longer to stop. I can also do more damage to everyone else on the road so I have to drive more cautiously. Also that line about "being able to see" isn't really true in all cases. DH has a Dodge ram 4x4 sport which sits up higher than a lot of trucks. Yes I can see in front of me when I'm driving it but a car right next to me is almost invisible because of my height--especially on the passenger side where I can't look down to double-check on before changing lanes. I have to be very attentive and make sure my mirrors are properly adjusted and even then I change lanes just praying I didn't miss a car I'm about to run off the road.

I loved comparing them to driving a sportscar. I used to have a sports car. I miss it terribly--I will agree with a light, nimble little car you can avoid a lot of accidents--however my carseats won't fit in one. ;)

I do think it's great to see the SUV risks in that article--they are all realities everyone considering an SUV should know about. That being said I'll still buy one over a minivan when the time comes to upgrade but I also have more use for an SUV for other things (pulling trailers, hauling stuff etc) so it would be more universally useful to my family than a mini-van would be but that's not the case for everyone.