|
|
Post by beaglemom on Aug 2, 2015 3:01:46 GMT
We are in need of a car with more seats. We live on a "mountain" (2,500 feet up from the rest of the area) and I drive up and down the mountain at least once, if not twice a day. So I need something that handles well on two lane windy roads. We currently have two kids in carseats, hoping to add another in the near future. Ideally we would have good storage space in the back. We but we okay with getting a rocket launcher for the roof. We would also like to be able to fit the double Bob stroller or a triple in the back, okay with having to put down part of the third row if necessary.
Currently our list of cars to try is:
Chevy Traverse
GMC Acadia
Ford Explorer
Ford Flex
Honda Pilot
Dodge Durango
Mazda CX-9
Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid
Infinity QX60
Chevy Tahoe
GMC Yukon
Acura MDX
Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Hyundai Santa Fe
Kia Sorento
Audi Q7
Volvo XC90
Anything else you can recommend or give thumbs up or down on ones on the list?
Thanks!
|
|
my3freaks
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,206 
Location: NH girl living in Colorado
|
Post by my3freaks on Aug 2, 2015 3:10:05 GMT
I can give a thumbs up on the Hyundai Santa Fe. They are a great vehicle, with great warranties. I don't have experience with the 3rd row Santa Fe's, only the 5 seater, but I loved it.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sorrel on Aug 2, 2015 3:12:20 GMT
We just bought a Toyota 4Runner Limited. 3 rows of seats, great off-road "mountain" vehicle- really nice interior with the Limited. Love it!
|
|
nylene
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,466
|
Post by nylene on Aug 2, 2015 3:12:41 GMT
I have a GMC Acadia. I have loved it. I can load it with my Cub Scouts for going into the mountains for Day Camp. It's tight for 3 big people in the back, but fine for kids.
|
|
caangel
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,458
Location: So Cal
|
Post by caangel on Aug 2, 2015 3:39:46 GMT
If you will be having 3 kids in carseat/boosters at the same time really consider accessibility to that 3rd row. There are a few SUVS that have an option for captain's chairs in the second row, including the 2016 Pilot, although only at the highest trim level.
If you plan to have them all in the 2nd row you will also need to make sure 3 seats (including an infant bucket, which tend to be wider) will fit.
|
|
pinseeker11
Shy Member
Posts: 41
|
Post by pinseeker11 on Aug 2, 2015 3:40:00 GMT
I just got a Chevy Suburban and I love it!! Tons of room with the 3rd row up and even more with the 3rd row down!
|
|
|
|
Post by seikashaven on Aug 2, 2015 3:43:28 GMT
I adore my Mazda CX-9. Wonderful to drive and easy to flip seats up and down as needed
|
|
stittsygirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,580
Location: In the leaves and rain.
|
Post by stittsygirl on Aug 2, 2015 3:45:06 GMT
Love my 2014 Durango. We're currently traveling from Texas to Washington with five people and a cat, and everyone has been very comfortable so far. We have captains chairs in the center, making it easier to get to the back seats, but that only leaves seats for six. There's lots of room in the back with one or both third seats down.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 15, 2024 19:50:28 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2015 3:49:34 GMT
We have a Hyundai Sante Fe that seats 7, and it's a great vehicle. We do have two in car seats, and it's not ideal, and I doubt you could make three work. It's a huge stretch to get to the third row to buckle up the car seat, and if you have a car seat in the second row you won't be able to reach into the third row on that side to get at another car seat back there. There is also not a lot of storage back there. We can fit our stroller in there, but it's tight, and leaves little/no room for anything else.
|
|
YooHoot
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,417
|
Post by YooHoot on Aug 2, 2015 3:54:09 GMT
Explorer followed by the Acadia.
|
|
|
|
Post by ingrid6 on Aug 2, 2015 3:57:53 GMT
Love our Honda Pilot! Smooth ride, lots of room (seats 8) and has always been reliable. We have 3 other vehicles, but the Pilot is my 'go to' car
|
|
|
|
Post by smokeynspike on Aug 2, 2015 4:25:03 GMT
I have a 2014 Sorento and I love my car! I only have two rows, but you can get the V6 that comes with three rows too.
Melissa
|
|
seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,423
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
|
Post by seaexplore on Aug 2, 2015 4:26:17 GMT
We have a Toyota Sequoia. LOVE LOVE LOVE it! We can fit 3 car seats comfortably across the middle row. You can take out the back seats to make it a 5 seater with more storage space. The middle seat is a 60/40 split. Ours is a 2004 so I'm sure it's got WAY more amenities since then! Ours was top of the line at the time!
|
|
cajuncandy
Shy Member
Posts: 11
|
Post by cajuncandy on Aug 2, 2015 5:07:17 GMT
We love our Dodge Durango, in fact we are on our second one! The back seats are really spacious and it's comfortable for long rides. My first Durango has over 300,000 miles on it so DH wasn't feeling comfortable with me going on long trips in it anymore so we bought a newer model.
|
|
|
|
Post by betty on Aug 2, 2015 5:47:44 GMT
We have a GMC Yukon currently and it is plenty of room for the kids to keep the fighting to a minimum and we just used it to carry a stove recently so it has plenty of cargo space.
It is close to 200,000 miles and still a reliable vehicle for long distance road trips. LOVE it for road trips (camping gear!).
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 15, 2024 19:50:28 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2015 5:52:12 GMT
The chevy traverse is a $40,000 piece of junk. Read the the review boards and complaint boards. The Acadia is the gmc version. It is having the same problems. The pos traverse we have is in the chevy repair shop waiting for decisions whether to repair or not, to the tune of $8,000. A six year old car throws a rod?  ?? I just bought a used Santa Fe , and it is great car to drive but I see some very bad problems. The transmission at 100, 000 miles seems to be giving out. |
|
|
|
Post by monicad on Aug 2, 2015 6:34:15 GMT
I love the Highlander! I would have bought one myself, but it was a little too big. The Santa Fe's are great, but there is a major shortage around here (of the sport size, not sure about the standard size).
|
|
Kerri W
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,769
Location: Kentucky
|
Post by Kerri W on Aug 2, 2015 9:34:02 GMT
I drive a Chevy Tahoe and really like it. It's very roomy inside. Our "kids" are older 9, 16 and 24 and it's comfortable for the most part. It gets tight with three adults in the third row but doable for shorter rides. We have done long road trips but it's not preferable. Plenty of room for car seats. It drives really well, especially in the snow.
There is plenty of cargo room with the seats up (or out-super easy to take seats out) but not so much if you're using the third row. With the third row in use we have enough room for one row of suitcases standing up...maybe 12".
|
|
|
|
Post by Patter on Aug 2, 2015 10:32:11 GMT
I had the Volvo XC90 for my triplets several years ago. Loved it, and the 3rd row worked great. My sister now has it for her twins plus a singleton. I then moved to the BMW X5 but by that time I did not need the 3rd row. Loved it too. My neighbor has the new BMW X5 with the 3rd row and she loves it. I sold my BMW X5 in March but it would also be another suggestion. Handles curves and roads great.
|
|
moonmomma
Shy Member
Posts: 22
|
Post by moonmomma on Aug 2, 2015 11:36:09 GMT
Live on mountain too drive winding gravel dirt roads. Honda Pilot 4WD. Is awesome. Sometimes carry for car seats
|
|
sandym
Shy Member
Posts: 16
|
Post by sandym on Aug 2, 2015 12:13:16 GMT
I used to drive an Acadia! It was big but I loved it!
|
|
|
|
Post by shanniebananie on Aug 2, 2015 12:17:33 GMT
We have the Infiniti! We call it the "beast". It is huge and it will have the room you want. Make sure it will fit in your garage. This clears our garage door by mere inches.
|
|
amom23
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,331
Member is Online
|
Post by amom23 on Aug 2, 2015 12:50:29 GMT
We are on our 2nd Yukon XL. Love all the space. We'll probably downsize in a few years, but only because our kids are growing up and leaving home.
|
|
iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,133
|
Post by iowgirl on Aug 2, 2015 13:17:15 GMT
I have a Ford Explorer and love it. It rides nice and it is great in the snow and mud (I have 4wd). I live in a very rural area and we farm/ranch -so not only is it my grocery getter - it also goes off-road a lot. Through frozen stalk fields to the tractor. Up big hills on grass, coming out of the river bottom. It gets me down the road before the plows get out in the winter. It will go anywhere my DH's F250 will go.
It can haul an entire dorm room too.
|
|
The Great Carpezio
Pearl Clutcher
Something profound goes here.
Posts: 2,930
|
Post by The Great Carpezio on Aug 2, 2015 13:32:32 GMT
My parents have the Acura MDX. It is a beautiful vehicle. Six of us (my parents, my DH and me and my seven year olds in boosters), ride in it weekly and on vacation. On vacation we used a pod, but we've been really happy with it. Two adults and three kids should be very comfortable.
It's drives beautifully. Of course, I only have a minivan and older Highlander to compare, but it's a pleasure to drive.
|
|
caro
Drama Llama
Refupea 1130
Posts: 5,222
|
Post by caro on Aug 2, 2015 13:45:27 GMT
I have an Expedition, it's my third one since 1999. I love it. Very roomy and three car seats can fit in the middle seat. The 3rd seat folds down flush and would hold a double or triple stroller easily and groceries too. I have family members who have large families and each bought the Expedition XL. They love it.
My DD just got a new Explorer with 3rd row seating and captain chairs for the second row. No car seats needed, just boosters, the kids are older. She lives in CO and says it's perfect for all weather conditions and mountain roads.
|
|
|
|
Post by anxiousmom on Aug 2, 2015 13:50:19 GMT
I just got a Chevy Suburban and I love it!! Tons of room with the 3rd row up and even more with the 3rd row down! I am still driving mine 15 years later. With the captains seats in the second row, it is pretty easy to navigate around the inside. There is plenty of leg room even in the way back, lots of cargo room and a pretty hardy car all the way around. |
|
pridemom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,843
|
Post by pridemom on Aug 2, 2015 14:12:02 GMT
We have a 2005 Expedition. It's big and seats 8. I would go with the XL, though. We can't fit luggage for our family of six in it like we could our van. We have to use a rack on the back and a bag on top for trips.
ETA: It does have the bigger engine. We have driven through the Ozarks, Smokies, and the Rockies with no problems. It has plenty of horsepower to handle inclines. The third row has plenty of leg room for adults. My uncle's new Tahoe was cruel to force anyone over 8 to sit for more than a few miles.
|
|
|
|
Post by delila on Aug 2, 2015 14:23:53 GMT
I have an Infinity QX80, 2015. It cost a fortune but it's amazing! The 2nd row seats lift up easy to get to the 3rd row seats.
delila
|
|
emptyskullz
Full Member
Posts: 121
Jun 26, 2014 18:09:38 GMT
|
Post by emptyskullz on Aug 2, 2015 14:30:18 GMT
I have a three row Kia Sorento. Although its a good car, lots of pick up and go. I wouldn't recommend it for a family. If you have kids in all the back seats there is NO storage place. No room for groceries, luggage or room for sports supplies. They say putting all the bells and whistles on the steering wheel makes it safer, so you don't have to take your eyes off the wheel, but I have trouble turning the wheel with all the crap on there.
There is also no room. No little storage cubbies, no leg room front or back. Its also difficult for the kids to get out of the very back, they need my help so they don't fall on their faces.
I would not buy this car again, if I had the money to choose something different.
Cynthia
|
|
?? 
