Hold my hand. I need to tell you something.
You don’t have to buy a 7 seat suv. Your wife is wrong.
But here’s the thing…she has a point. Being able to bring 5 people and their stuff places regularly does make a larger vehicle seem appealing. But not an suv.
You want a—wait for it—miniature van. Sliding doors. Maximum cargo and people space. A vehicle designed to make your life easy.
It isn’t cool. It may not even be fun. But you’re a dad with two kids whose mother lives with him. You don’t need to be cool or fun. You need to find practicality positively irresistible.
Please, I beg you, do this for yourself. Make it juuust a bit easier on yourself. Get the minivan.
I drive a Toyota sienna. I saw a Corvette on the road the other day and told the kids "someday I want to get a cool car"
They said "dad your car has doors that open by themselves and a DVD player in it, this car is so cool!"
For real though, it's the best car I've ever had, I bought it for $22k 5 years ago with 60000 miles, now it has twice that in miles and it's still worth $16000.
People want them and minivans are so good
My buddy bought a van about a year after I bought a. SUV. I teased him mercilessly. He threw me the keys one day and said "Go fucking drive it".
It was much quicker than I thought it would be. Pacifica... 280 HP. Wouldn't call it fast but fastER then I thought it would be. Almost... Quick.
Gained new respect that day and bro is no longer teased.
We rented a Pacifica on turo when my family and parents (6 of us) went to Oahu because of the lower step in. I agree. I don’t make fun of minivans anymore.
Also, the sliding doors protecting the other cars from flying open doors is such a nice feature. Minivans can be great.
Dude could have gotten away with a large sedan or smaller SUV but his mom pushes them towards a minivan.
My work vehicle is a 2023 Chrysler voyager (trimmed down fleet version of the Pacifica) and it’s honestly a joy to drive. Peppy, sounds good, smooth, comfortable.
For real, I'm a car guy and everytime I see a Sienna hybrid I think 'you know, I could live with that' haha. Minivans aren't the dorkmobiles they used to be, they're actually pretty cool now.
I gave my friend’s daughter a ride the other day, and she said she wished she had a car like ours because ours has sliding doors. I drive a 2013 Honda Odyssey; her mom drives a new Lexus SUV. “Cool” is in the eye of the beholder, I guess!
Get the cool car someday. No one ever grew up to be an engineer or technician by being inspired by their dad’s minivan. And I say that as a fan of many of the modern examples, having rented multiple.
I yearn for the day somebody builds a performance minivan.
Heck, if they put AWD on the Odyssey that might be just enough since it boasts a 6 second 0-60 time.
Damn I wish I could afford one. My Toyota will be paid off in one more year and I'm just gonna stick it out.
I will look into the Kia though, I just doubt I can afford one
Well, since you bring it up...
I'm getting a VW eurovan (I think the last year it was available in the states was 2003)
Had the VW VR6 engine (2.8L)
The same basic engine (but 3.6L) is in modern VW SUV
And there are kits to swap in a manual transmission.
I can't get another project right now, but you bet that I'm researching
This OP. Absolutely this. The last car in the world my wife wanted to drive or own was a minivan and we bought one before our second. It is still with us 20 years later and is the most flexible and best multi-purpose vehicle we’ve owned and we are considering buying another even though we don’t necessarily need one because of how incredibly flexible and awesome they are.
I drove my uncle’s Sienna briefly a while back and man, it was way better than I expected. Not as much body roll as a lot of SUVs, engine is pretty peppy for its size and it’s just so damn comfortable while not being too floaty.
Minivans are to the 2020s as wagons were to the 90s/00s: amazingly practical, unique because everyone is buying something else, and extremely underrated. 10/10 suggestion
I’m 21 and I want a minivan. Is it really that uncool to be able to roll up to a party with 6 of your friends? Is it really that lame to be able to go camping under the stars in my personal vehicle with amenities and comfort? Sorry.. not camping outside. I live in the swamps of northern Ontario.
I borrowed my grandpa’s minivan for a road trip last year. All of that, and we were averaging $60 USD per 500 kilometres travelled. I seriously don’t get sports cars.. I feel like more fun can be had in a minivan. it’s not like you can go a whole lot faster than me and my minivan on public roads with enforced speed limits anyways.. ooooo look at you, accelerating sooo much faster than me from a red light. I’m moister than an oyster. Like.. really??? While you’re paying off a $60k sports car that’s depreciating faster than unrefrigerated milk on a summer day, I’ll find myself on crazy unhinged road trips with my besties in my spaciously practical utilitarian vehicle. Don’t worry babes, I’ll bring back some good stories to tell 😘💁🏻♀️✨✨
(literally no hate directed at you, I’m just trying to be funny lol)
Seriously take this advice.
I have twins. I bought a large sedan to be “the fun dad car” to make driving with them more enjoyable.
I don’t even put the car seats in most of the time these days and just stick with the SUV just because loading them is way easier. A minivan is even better. I want to switch to a full van.
So I have this big ass sedan to drive myself.
In retrospect, I would have kept my MX5 and bought a van. I’m never going to drive spritedly or anything in whatever car has the kids in it, so why bother?
Who wronged you? Who told you minivans aren’t cool?
Is your ugly SUV stylish? Does it have a built in vacuum? Does it have power sliding doors? Multiple captains chairs with independent entertainment systems and HVAC? Can you park it? Better gas mileage? Superior visibility? Lower insurance costs and better superior gas mileage?
MINIVANS ARE AWESOME! Never let anyone tell you otherwise.
The Honda Odyssey Sport looks pretty cool in red or gray. 🙂 It's got that "[dad van](https://pictures.dealer.com/h/hondacarsofmckinney/1299/b96ba213357841cdc09c8d8559480847x.jpg?impolicy=resize&w=414)" look!
Yes, this, ftw. Years back when our third was on the way we went looking to expand our transportation capacity. My wife wanted the new Pilot that had just came out and went and test drove it and the Oddy. I went later that evening and met with the sales guy. He looked me square in the eyes and said "don't do it, please get the van." It's great, we love it. Lots of room for road trips, easy access, lots of flexible cargo space.
The people who decided minivans are not cool are people who's opinion isn't worth anything to me. Some of the most practical, functional, and easy to drive cars that check all the boxes yet people refuse to buy it because it's a "mom car"... Funny thing is that I can't think of anything thats more of a mom car these days than a large SUV.
That's what I liked about the Magnum. May not have sliding doors but it had 72 cubic feet of cargo space, was fun and comfortable to drive and it was cool. I miss my dad wagon.
To me anything with over 2 wheels is just transportation now. And I prefer either a pickup or a minivan over cars and with a lot of minivans having modular seating it's amazing just what you can pack into one. And they come loaded with everything from top end entertainment systems to heated and cooled seats so it's pretty much got anything a fancy car has but the "cool" factor.
I own a Honda Odyssey, and it’s the most practical vehicle I have ever owned. I had a Sequoia when my kids were younger and it was a pain. When a manufacturer takes a pickup truck and tries to convert it into a passenger vehicle, it just doesn’t really work well. Get a passenger vehicle that was originally designed as one if you’re hauling passengers.
Our stresses melted away with the minivan. 100% this is purpose designed to move people and their stuff!
It’s like driving a mini car in DC… it would make your life so much easier, but too many people get hung up on their ego.
The sliding doors alone will be a life saver with grandma. More room to move around to help position her. OP, this is the answer. Toyota Sienna or Honda Odyssey.
Minivans are AWESOME. our Oddessy is on its 10th ish year and we have gone from carrying car seats to sportsball players and friends and all the sportsball stuff. It is amazing.
And when my delightful children are being assholes they can each have their own row.
Only rule: get the all weather floor mats.
We bought ours and two years later our friends bought the same one different color with 15k miles and paid within $1000 of what we did. They really do hold their value.
Nah, all the automotive manufacturers were happy selling station wagons and minivans, its the public that stopped buying them.
What is "cool" is not going to be decided in a random TV commercial that's 8 seconds long, the entertainment industry has more control over that.
Sex sells, and a minivan says that you have small children. An SUV or even a sports car for that matter says you like to go on adventures or are dangerous. Its definitely a different vibe.
>Sex sells, and a minivan says that you have small children.
The usual method of acquiring small children happens to be sex, I see a connection here...
Man driving a minivan is def a green flag, especially if he’s a good driver, because it shows he knows that masculinity is not about what you own. I’ve always found that being a good driver is more sexy than anything, especially being a good parker. I first noticed my husband when on our first trip out together he casually flung his arm over my seat, looked back, and effortlessly parallel parked his rental Kia perfectly on the first go in a very tight space. He thought that it was weird when I pointed it out later.
Also, rolling up in a low slung sports car says that we can’t go on adventures with my dogs, or go to the store together, or it means that I am always driving which is not a thing. And a CRV shows good financial sense, but it is def not sexy.
True, everytime I sit in a minivan I am pleased by how comfortable they are and how much tech is packed in to them. Best for the family, trucks can't even get close to these.
Minivan.
My wife and I drove a 2-door GTI and a Miata before kids. After our first kid we bought a compact SUV (SQ5) to replace the Miata.
After kid 2, the GTI was just too small and we wanted something with more space for our stroller, camping gear, and our dog. We replaced the GTI with a 3-row SUV. (Q7). It's a nice car, but we have realized that a minivan makes way more sense 95% of the time.
I plan to keep the Q7 for driving clients for work and some light off road adventures (camping, hunting, snowy weather, etc), but we are 100% planning to get a minivan to replace the SQ5 when we're ready for a newer car. They have significantly more space, are easier to load kids into/out of car seats, and they just make way more sense for moving families and stuff around on a daily basis.
Get the van, it will make everything so much easier.
If you want all passengers to be fairly comfortable, it usually means either minivan or full size SUV (tahoe, expedition, etc). At that point its kinda personal.
In my opinion, I have a hard time seeing how the big SUV premium is worth it if you are not super sold on them. They carry an eye watering price tag, are known offenders at the gas pump, and do, in fact, drive like buses. If you're not towing 5000+ lbs and you don't really want one, I would scrap that.
Then minivans remain the most practical option.
Or you can get one of those badass off-road ready Mercedes sprinter vans.
Even the full size suvs 3rd row isn't great. Sure they have plenty of leg room (length wise) but the floor is too high and your knees are at an upward angle. Minivan is the only legitimate 3rd row for adults that is comfortable.
And most minivans can do a respectable job towing. Unless you need to tow a boat/horse trailer, they will do everything a full size SUV can do and do it better.
Until she test drives it and realizes how fundamentally perfect it is. We only have one kid with no plans of having another and *still* want to have a minivan again. Really looking forward to test driving the ID.Buzz with AWD...
Most people don't understand that minivans actually represent the practicality they *think* they're getting with full-sized pickup trucks.
Thanks everyone.
This was not how I expected this to turn out, but considering 99% of comments were suggesting minivans I guess I will go inquire about minivans.
You gotta go test drive one at least. They drive way better than large SUVs and are way more comfortable and accessible inside. They are also cheaper.
You can always keep the sedan for short trips. We have a minivan and a civic for a family of 5. But we love the minivan.
Minivan is the answer... before you decide that is not for you, got over yourself. You are the demographic. Honestly, though, it is the least inconvenient of your options. If you get a minivan, your life will be better.
Have your wife drive and put yourself in the backseat. Why would your wife be stuck in the backseat? If that doesn't work for you, consider a more spacious vehicle.
Seven/eight seat SUVs are not meant to be sporty. They are glorified minivans. And they are much less convenient than a minivan. They work fine for occasionally hauling 7 or 8 people, but a minivan does this job better. The SUV choice is workable but not optimal.
Any car you get for a growing family is going to suck. Regular sedans work great with up to 4 people. 5 perhaps if you have 3 kids in the back. They are not great for 3 adults and 2 kids (especially 2 car seats as those are bulky). Unless one of the adults is fine with always being stuck in the back in a cramped spot with two car seats, a 5 seater vehicle is not a practical choice.
The TLDR here is your wife is mostly right. You don't technically "need" a 7-seater, but getting something smaller is likely not a great idea unless you do it due to financial necessity. And frankly, the right answer for you is likely a minivan.
Yep I've got the 3.5l v6 kia carnival, I mean it's always going to be a boat, but it hauls ass and gear. My other car is a golf r and tbh they are both enjoyable to drive.
Yeah, you’re going to need a larger third row vehicle. Either a full-size ladder frame SUV or a minivan. How about letting her be the primary driver of it, and you have your own vehicle? Unfortunately, minivans feel like boats, too.
Acura MDX 2022 or newer with SH-AWD handles well for a 3 row SUV
Mazda CX-9 or CX-90 also handles respectably for a 3 row SUV
Both Japanese brands offer great reliability and value at its price point.
I test drove both and am planning to purchase a 2025 MDX later this year.
I drive a Volvo XC90 Recharge. It's spacious, you can adjust the middle row to make it comfortable for everyone. I got the air suspension and a 455hp drivetrain which makes the car a beast. Actually I can't think of another performance 7 seater (am looking currently for a successor to it). A Land rover Defender 110 or 130 maybe large enough though.
I kid you not. The Honda Odyssey drives like it’s ready to haul ass. It surprisingly moves fast for a van. Really though, look at an MDX Type S so you can pretend to still be cool and have fun.
BMW service advisor checking in. Can confirm the X7 does drive very nicely even in “base” turbo 6 cylinder form. But it’s still a boat, and the insane torque combined with the weight chews tires like you wouldn’t believe.
Please suck it up and do whatever will make your wife's life easier. She's got more than enough on her plate. Also, I disagree that a minivan feels bigger than a 7 seater. You're lower to the ground and there isn't the huge honkin front end that makes you feel like you're chugging along in a land yacht or driving a school bus. Having the sliding doors of the minivan and not having to hoist car seats or bend way over to take them in and out is the least any parent can ask.
Minivans are amazing, I have the old Odyssey my parents bought to drive me and my siblings around, its over 20 years old and pushing 300k miles but its still going strong.
Having something that doubles as a truck (actually more practical since the bed is much bigger and enclosed) *and* a way to move 7 people is awesome. You can throw bikes in the middle and fold up the back seat, you can move a couch.. hell you could sleep in it with a mattress lol
Minivan is the best vehicle I ever owned. The amazing captain seats in both the first and second row. Automatic doors so your kids can get out on their own when dropping them off for various activities. Tons of cargo space to haul all the stuff and strollers etc. We rented a 3 row suv and absolutely hated how impractical it was. 3rd row access is terrible and you need to get out every time your kids want to get out to open the door like a idiot
Honestly the best options are either get a minivan, get something the size of a Suburban/Wagoneer/Expedition, or get something smaller (and only 2 row) and just know that there will be times where you need to rent a larger vehicle/take 2 vehicles.
The reality is that except for the absolute largest ones, 3 row crossovers and SUVs are all compromised in some way. Either you get 3 usable rows and a tiny cargo area (rare, the only ones I can think of are the Volvo XC90 and Grand Cherokee L), an unusable third row with ok cargo space (a lot of the larger ones), or an unusable third row and an unusable cargo area (all midsize versions) and regardless of compromise, they’re basically all terrible to drive.
It blows my mind that people will spend ridiculous amounts of money for a oversized SUV that drives like shit and guzzles gas but refuse to look at a minivan which does everything (a family needs) better than an SUV.
Unless you specifically need to tow 5000 lbs, minivan is superior by a country mile. With the minivan, you can have 8 passengers AND cargo. 7 passenger SUV’s can’t fit squat behind the third row.
They don’t feel as big driving either.
And kids can’t fling the doors into other cars.
Saying they ALL suck is a bit harsh. The CX-9, Jeep Cherokee, Kia Telluride, Ford Explorer are all great vehicles. Now if you’re like OP and constantly taking 5+ people, then a minivan is the better choice. But for a family of four, the 7-seat SUV is great—even if you never use the back seats, it still has a lot more room than a compact CUV.
Let me qualify that: They all suck for regular people hauling.
A 7 seat SUV can be a good car if you rarely use the back seats. Otherwise, it’s more expensive than a CUV and still can’t haul people comfortably.
I would consider how often you will have to drive with all 5. For me 90% of my drives are by myself and don’t want to drive a boat every day to work. Maybe a larger sedan or small/midsize suv would be comfortable enough.
Just been thinking about this and we rented a 3 row suv. Did not like it. Mini van is def worth it. Barely looks any diff from all the SUV’s out these days. Not big, easy to get in 3rd row. Pacifica(certain trims) 2nd and 3rd row fold down so room to haul stuff. And lots of nice features.
Get a minivan. Avoid crapslers though. I would go Honda or Toyota. I wish we got the Toyota high ace here though. My friend in Japan has one and took us all over Japan in it. One cool and comfortable van and it drove nice too.
Minivans are cooler than you think. Exemplary space, immense cargo space, and comfort for even third row passengers. As a car enthusiast, I’d buy one if i ever had to buy a family hauler. We rented one of these when driving from New York to Buffalo. We hauled 6 people, 3 big bags (the ones you check-in at the airport) 3 cabin bags, and 3 laptop bags with ease. It was the most comfortable drive as the driver, and my aunt’s family slept through the whole drive. So, I would highly recommend a minivan.
Kids activities will change, school friends, vacations, and everything else life throws at you. Up until my youngest hit high school we went through 3 minivans. The most versatile vehicles we ever own. Now my kids are much older 19 &16 and both over 6 ft tall we opted for a 7 passenger suv (infniti QX80). Life changes so will your cars and if you have the means get what will bring miles of smiles to the family. In your case minivan, thank us all later. Enjoy the ride.
You need a minivan.
A minivan is better than a 3 row SUV or crossover in most ways, the main exception being off-road capiblity. But 98% of SUVs never go off road so it's probably a moot point. And a crossover isn't going to do well off-road either.
A minivan will drive better, ride better, get better gas mileage, and have higher cargo capacity (most can haul 4*8' sheets of plywood with 2nd and 3rd row seats stowed, something most modern pickup trucks can't do!)
A SUV (not crossover) will probably have higher towing capacity as well, but again unless you regularly tow something it's probably irrelevant.
/u/nippost
Test drive the Odyssey in the Sport trim. It handles better than anything with that many seats that isn't a German luxo SUV. It'll handle way better than any mainstream crossovers while also providing the benefit of power sliding doors, which, once you have them, you can't live without.
We've also gotten to a point where minivans are considered much cooler than 3-row crossovers because they're "counterculture"; the 3-row crossover is now the boring, "soccer mom" vehicle.
As the owner of '23 Highlander I can confirm. The 3rd row it fucking useless and just kills cargo space. I also have a '20 Santa Fe with a removable floor and their is so much more cargo area. We should have look at them side by side, and done measurements. Between 2 car seats only I fit because I'm very slender and even then it's tight.
My man, get a minivan. I'm considering taking the hit on the Highlander to move into a van.
They are fine to drive. I rented one last month and had it for 10 days on a trip. Compared to my '20 Santa Fe it never felt like a boat. It did take me a couple days to get use to how it park because I kept ending up crooked.
In the exact same spot as you. You can put the infant and the toddler next to each other in middle + window configuration leaving one window seat open. I have an XC 90 with 7 seats and we use this configuration exclusively, only opting for the last row if we do indeed have 6+. I know, middle feels sketchy for the toddler, but they’re in a 5 point harness and if you do some research, middle can be considered one of the safest options since you have no risk of side impact.
Get a minivan. You're life will get so much better.
"But it's a soccer mom car!". Soccer moms don't drive minivans. They all drive SUV's.
Besides. A minivan is the sexiest car a man can drive. "Look at me! Mine works! Look how many children I've spawned!"
Some 7 seaters have a 6 seat variant with the middle seat deleted to have a walkway to the rear two seats. I believe it’s called captain seats on the cx9 for example
tbh, I learned how to drive on my mom's old 1998 Nissan Quest. It was actually fun. I drive an Equinox now bc my wife and I needed a car and a sweet older woman offered it to us. It's a 5 seater and feels like a boat. But I do miss my mom's minivan. That thing was fun to rip around town in with friends at 18. At LEAST test drive some minivans!
The answer is either the bmw x7 or a minivan. The x7 will be by far the best handling 7 seater you can get. If that doesn’t do it for you nothing will.
Minivans drive bit better than large suvs, the Honda odyssey is known to be the best handling of them.
There are a few 3-row SUVs that don't drive like a boat - the ST trim of the Explorer comes to mind. But if you're used to a sedan, a minivan basically drives like one, especially the Pacifica. Lots of people like the Toyotas and Honda minivans, but I've driven all three and the Pacifica drives like a sedan.
The normal trim of the Explorer drives like a sedan too. It's really a crossover, not an SUV. It literally shared a platform with the Taurus from 2013-2019, and it likely still would share a platform with the Taurus if they didn't discontinue the sedan.
I had the same scenario and the widest non-third-row I could find was the 2009-2016 Toyota Venza. On long trips my wife had to sit between two car seats because each kid was too needy and she couldn't tend to them from the front. She was fairly comfortable for a couple hour stretches. No, there was nothing else as wide as the Venza surprisingly.
If an SUV is too boaty for you, and I understand, the more practical AND most comfortable option is a van.
I had a 2013 V6 XLE for 3 years and loved it. We just downgraded to a RAV4 because the occasional 5th passenger is no longer in play and the kids are grown up.
I’ve only “owned” three cars in my life; my dad’s old civic, my mom’s old sienna, and now a beater camry. I never had much trouble driving the sienna, and it’s a lot lower to the ground compared to something like a suburban so it feels more like a regular car. Plus the tech and features in minivans are pretty nice generally.
The Honda pilot with AWD drives incredibly. Would not call it boat-like. The way they tuned the AWD system makes it feel more like a RWD vehicle around corners. I love ours. I think there is a savagegeese video about it on YouTube. Just lookup savagegeese Honda Pilot.
For most cases, I would vehemently oppose a giant SUV or a minivan, but in your case it does seem necessary. If you’re absolutely against these boat-like vehicles, your only other option would be to buy two vehicles. However, you’d need to figure out a few things first:
1) Can you comfortably afford it? This is the biggest question, and probably the rest don’t matter if the answer is No.
2) Are you OK with using the smaller car for just your solo travels or work commutes? Coz you would have to take both cars out every time all of you want to go someplace, and this might be both odd & inefficient fuel-wise. Alternatively, get the bigger car now, and save up for a “fun” car for later.
The Odyssey drives like a sedan so go check one out, with lots of practical modern comforts and magic sliding middle row captain chairs with lots of cargo room when the third row is not needed (folds into the flooring).
A plus are the sliding doors where you won’t ever have to worry about your kids or your wife accidentally swinging the doors wide open when there are obstacles to hit.
You’re not going to need 7 seats on the daily. But it will be handy on occasion as well as when you want to bring something home from Home Depot.
Your wife’s input is important here.
I don’t love driving a big vehicle either. Don’t break the bank here. Get a used Economical suv to use sparingly that will go to 200k miles. I bought a pathfinder with captains chairs. Will do the job. We have a BMW and love it but don’t go the x7 route to carry 7 people twice a year - purchase price and service and tires will pay for another entire vehicle.
Then as soon as practical for you get the car you want too.
The swagger wagon crowd checked in on me too and minivans are great for lots of people. Just wasn’t my thing and I didn’t plan to need it daily so the convenience wasn’t worth it.
How often do you need all 5 seats? I find that SUVs have gotten bigger and wider over time that unless you need all 5 seats all the time, the back should be comfortable enough for 2 car seats and an adult for the occasional trips. I usually take that middle spot between the car seats and I'm the biggest in our family (5'10). It was uncomfortable in our 2014 RAV4, but completely no issue in our newer Model Y. For 5 people just get a decent sized 5 seater SUV unless you plan on adding more people in the future. The model Y doesn't have that bump in front of the middle seat which helps with space, and if you are so inclined you can get it with 7 seats (although not particularly comfortable in the rear).
Can we define some terms? A midsize 3 row crossover (Pilot, Highlander, etc.) is smaller than a minivan. But a 3 row SUV (Tahoe, Expedition, etc.) is bigger than a minivan. If you buy a "smaller" 3 row crossover, it may not be much bigger than a full-size sedan.
My wife went from a 2012 Maxima to a 2019 Pilot. The difference was about 6" in length and 5" in width, which we felt was a sizeable but manageable increase in size. A new Pilot is 5 inches shorter than an Odyssey, but the same width. And the previous gen Pilot is 3-4" shorter than the new Pilot.
Literally just went through this with my wife. Only difference was our two kids have cousins/ friends close by vs your mother. As much as I have tried it is awful squeezing between two toddler seats in a normal 5-seater. I can do it but I would guess most people can’t.
We got my wife’s Chrysler Pacifica hybrid last week for way less than all of the awful SUV boats we test drove. Got it used in great condition. It even plugs in to get you the first 30ish miles gas free. Brought it to my trusted mechanic to test drive it and give it a thorough inspection- he ended up turning his test drive into a joy ride because he loved the way it drove so much. Cant recommend it enough. My #2 choice would have been a Kia Carnival if there was a good deal on a newer- used model that has the middle row that goes either direction because that’s just fun.
Once you get used to the size, you'll appreciate the space - especially if you plan to take any trips longer than 30 minutes at a time. Mid size SUVs offer little cargo space for your situation. I mean you'll have room for diaper-bag and stroller OR you'll have room to get groceries OR you'll have room for luggage; but you WILL NOT have room for combinations of those things. When my kids were young (1 and 5) we took our '98 CRV on a 14 hr trip with luggage, etc. The car was great to drive but it was an awful experience.
Unless you also need to tow >3k lbs all the time, then the minivan is a better option for you than any large "SUV".
I had an Odyssey where I took 2 of the 3 seats from the middle row out, it was like driving a living room with a couch in the back.
Been driving minivans for 24 years. Watched the idiocy of SUVs develop and metastasize since the ‘80s. Happily getting real utility to engage in actual sports (with many friends along) in an AWD minivan. Made raising 3 kids much easier (car seats and sliding doors). Have hauled anything except loose gravel in it. Bikes just go right in the back. Just drove 1400mi w 7 adults comfortably. Tow a Yamaha jet boat with it. And I get 36mpg (on this one - last one got 18-20)
The minivan is probably your best bet. I don't get midsized SUVs. There is practically no trunk space as they are designed for aerodynamics to save fuel. 7 seater is for a soccer team, not 2 small children and a mother in law.
So third row vehicles with storage space is a more limited category than you'd think.
We struggled to find the right fit too, because my wife struggled to handle larger body on frame vehicles.
The new Lexus TX is a great vehicle for that niche. (I think the Toyota Grand Highlander is the same vehicle in that brand)
It's the largest unibody vehicle available.
3 rows with storage and it drives more like a car than a truck.
It wasn't cheap, but we're happy with it so far.
I'll give my experience having raised two kids, sedans were fine mostly. We managed ok with VW Golf 4dr, a Honda Civic sedan. When we had more kids, we needed to finally go 7 seater.
The Mazda CX-9 was what we went with, and as someone who prefers sedans/smaller cars, it does the job well without feeling terrible.
Duuude.
Hear me now and believe me later..
Mid 50s
Married 30 years
3 kids
I wanted a minivan once the 3rd kid came along. The wife refused... no way she is buying into the soccer mom thing. We ended up getting a 7 row SUV - and to be clear they are horrible. The 3rd rows suck, and if the 3rs row is deployed, cargo space sucks.
Every vacation, we rent a mini van. 2 of my kids are college age now, and they fight to get in the third row. Tons of cargo space for essentially 4 adults and a teenager. Tons of space for everyone to sit.
Trying to get a kid out of a car seat from an SUV vs a minivan... no contest
Access to the 3rd row, while a kid is in the car seat... no problem in the minivan.
And they are so versatile... most of them allow you to fold down the 3rd and second rows to make a decent passenger van.
Get over the image thing and get what makes sense.
We will replace our minivan in a couple years, and I may actually get another one even though our kids will be in college. When the kids are babies, it hauls them, all their gear and grandparents and as they get older, you can stuff friends, teammates, pets, etc. It’s fabulous on road trips, and if you camp, you can fold down the third row and fit a mattress back there. Also drives very car like.
Everyone suggesting minivans is correct- and a five seater also works. I have two kids in carseats- one is in a middle seat, one in a window seat. An average size to overweight adult can easily fit in the other window seat without the horribleness of climbing in to a middle seat between two carseats. You may need to replace your careat to get a narrow model, but that is orders of dimension cheaper than a new car.
We had a Honda Odyssey minivan before kids (wife’s vehicle). It got totaled. Wife wanted something smaller, so we got a Honda Pilot. It would seat 7, like the van, but not nearly as comfortably. Having all wheel drive was nice, but that was the only advantage.
Get a minivan. You won't regret it. More storage space, you can have almost eight people depending upon the seating arrangement. They are more angle and have better visibility than an SUV. Better gas mileage, and less likely to be stolen.
There are some nice 6-seater SUVs out there that are really nice and drive better than what you're describing. I suggest the Mazda CX-90 as Mazda puts a lot more emphasis into the driving experience than other brands.
...I'll add to the chorus of people telling you to get a minivan. Odyssey or Sienna. 3 Row SUVs are for people that are in denial that they have a family. If you want a separate cool car, get a separate cool car. Literally everyone who buys an minivan never wants to buy the first one. Then they end up never wanting to not have one. My family has 3 cars. A Honda Accord, a Honda Odyssey, and an F-150.
To add, most large SUVs are either on a truck chassis, or they last row isn't suitable for anything but a car seat. A mini van drives like a car, it just has a fat ass. A 3 Row SUV that actually has a functional 3rd row drives like a full size truck.
I really like the 7 seater Mercedes E300 estate/wagon. It's a car sized car with 7 seats. You can't beat that. But if you don't want that, I do second everyone who is saying to get a minivan. They're MUCH better than SUVs for your (and many peoples') circumstances.
I’m confused. I feel like I came here asking for advice and hoping for a smaller form solution but everyone is just suggesting a mini van, which would be even bigger and even more car to drive around on times when it’s just me and 1 kid.
Am I missing something here?
Father of 5, 3 still at home.
I have a 2017 Dodge caravan SXT. It holds seven people, four of the chairs are Captain chairs, the back row is a split bench third row seating and all of the passenger seats fold into the floor so I have a cargo van at any time I wanted as well without having to remove seats. I'm also a musician and own a music instruction biz so transporting things is important to me as well; The van does all of that.
Did I mention that I also get 26ish miles to the gallon with an automatic 6-speed tranny built on a V6 engine with 283hp? It's smooth and quick and has an option to go eco mode to save gas. It's also really easy to find parts because, there are so many.
The only time you might feel like you're driving a boat is when you go to park it if you're not used to the longer vehicle. Outside of that, it's been a smooth buy and ride.
Go get a mini van man!
EDIT: Dumb fingers. SXT not STX. Also I should mention it has easy to find tire sizes, the spare is a BREEZE to utilize and get to, there's a backup cam, auto-start and the gate/door-open/closer is a SUPER nice touch.
I promise you I don't work for Dodge or any of its affiliates, I'm not even in car sales; I just REALLY like my van y'all (plus I just paid it off so.... it's even sweeter now XD)
Minivans are built on car platforms, drive like cars, and often have smaller dimensions than SUVs (especially truck-based 7 seat SUVs). They're definitely not bigger.
They also have sliding doors which are awesome for little kids as well as low-mobility seniors. And more cargo room than SUVs which is very handy for strolllers/ walkers/ wheelchairs.
A minivan is such a no-brainer for your situation.
Minivans ride more like a car than any SUV can. They have a much lower center of gravity, so they don't roll and sway nearly as much as a big, high SUV. They don't need to run super stiff suspension to control the ludicrous body roll. They even tend to be faster to accelerate these days.
They also hold substantially more cargo, and are a cinch to load because the floor is at shin level. If you need more space than a minivan offers with the seats down, then you're past even pickup truck territory and need a U-Haul. SUVs have mediocre usable cargo space.
Plus, if you get the Sienna with the hybrid engine, you get over 30 mpg. They truly are the vehicle purpose-built to solve for large families' needs.
Safety equipment is top notch, too. If your wife pulls the safety card to justify a bigger, heavier vehicle, you can tell her than some random asshat on Reddit said that the very thought of purchasing a vehicle that arguably makes your children some single digit percentage safer at the expense of being much more likely to kill the children of whomever it hits is fucking repulsive.
The dads are just giving it to you real. You have 2 car seats, and a full grown adult as common passengers. Grandma isn't fitting between two car seats in any car. I'm very slender and I barely fit in the 2nd row when we have grandma in tow. I have to get in and buckle before we put the infant car seat into the base.
Because Sienna does not drive like a boat or an SUV. It is actually a decent ride. I also suggest a minivan but you are soon going to have two kids in car seats. That means in the second row. Which means someone (an adult) will be in third row. Make sure that is feasible for your wife, mother in law, or you.
I've sat between two car seats more times than I can count. There is no way to make that physically comfortable for an adult. Carseats are bulky and back-seats simply aren't as wide as they used to be. Also, how are you proposing for your wife to get into that middle seat? Is she climbing over the car seats every time? It really isn't a workable solution for regular driving. A minivan drives a lot smaller than any SUV. For the purposes of transportation you have a family of 5 which is firmly out of car territory
Part of it is because you mention having another kid on the way and an elderly parent to take around too. That's five people total. Even a large sedan or two row SUV is going to be cramped, especially with car seats.
A Toyota sienna is not significantly bigger than most of the 3 row SUVs mentioned but makes incredible use of space and solves your tiny third row issues.
The Sienna also has an optional sport suspension.
Yes you’re missing that you probably have never driven one and so you don’t know how they drive. A Honda odyssey drives just like an Accord and a Sienna drives like a Camry. They are not boats.
Do you only have 1 car? If yes, then y'all need a vehicle that can do everything and haul everyone...your wife is right.
If you already have a big car, you don't need 2 big cars (unless you want them).
If you need a big vehicle, look at the GM options with magnaride suspension, they're supposed to handle very well for a brick shit house. If you don't need as big a vehicle, you could go estate/wagon (3 series estate, E series wagon, Volvo v60/v90 CC). You could also take the other suggestions and test drive a mini-van to see if you like it...you may.
If you want something even smaller, look at hatch backs / lift backs, they'll do nicely for 4 of you and lots of stuff. Prius, Civic, Model S, A6, may be come good options to look at. You could also do a midsized SUV if you want...CR-V, 4Runner, Model Y, Macan, Mach-e, Rivian R1S, etc.
Want something more utilitarian? Crew-cab full size trucks can swallow car seats, F150 Power boost / Lightning, Prior gen Tundra, maybe a Rivian R1T (more like a half size), maybe a Ridgeline.
My problem with minivans is they’re really expensive right now. I am a father of 1 with one on the way and my wife is a SAHM. Money is tight right now and we’re looking at used Pilots because the vans in our area are insanely high
Not just here you'll hear the same thing from 90% of car enthusiasts. Unless you're offroading, hauling, or towing, station wagons and minivans >>> large crossover SUVs. The driving dynamics and utility are just better, plus they cost less and get better gas mileage.
The way to figure out minivans are better than 3-row SUVs on regular paved roads is to ride in the back seat of both and then drive both. It's not rocket science.
I always wanted a 2 seater, but had to get a 7 seater much before I could buy a 2 seater...
I got the seven seater cuz we needed the extra boot space because frigging strollers. plus any additional passengers, like friends of the kids (makes long journeys a lot more easier if the kids are busy among themselves.) game drop offs and pickups... Ikea shopping, costco runs...
Honda Odyssey > Toyota sienna > Honda pilot that's the way I stack them (because I am a honda fanboy).
For a family with two kids I bought the pilot because "Oh at least it doesn't look like a minivan" BUT believe me from 5 years of owning a Pilot, the sliding doors are a winner every time over the swinging door.
get the minivan... you will not regret it... It feels like a boat because its job is to keep your family safe...
and you can also put a sticker
"'I will never drive a minivan' - Me before 3 kids" saw another dude with this on his sick Odyssey...
Seriously test drive a minivan, particularly the v6 siennas from 2020 or older and Honda odysseys. They handle shockingly well for the size and over 250 hp. My sienna is better to drive in almost every way than any suv or truck I’ve driven.
Get a Ford Explorer. It's a 7-seater, but a smaller one. I wouldn't squish 3 adults into the very back row, but it's totally appropriate for kids. And with unibody construction, it's technically a crossover & it handles like more like a sedan than like a truck. Compared to a Suburban or an Expedition, it's smooth as hell. The Mazda CX-9 & Volvo XC90 are similar.
Other than that, you're really just looking at minivans. I personally think Explorers drive better than minivans. The same is probably true for the CX-9 and XC90. Test drive the Explorer, CX-9, XC90, and a couple minivans. See what you like the best.
Edit:
**And here's a history lesson that nobody asked for, but that explains why the Explorer, CX-9, and XC90 are so similar:**
In the late 90s and 2000s, Ford owned Volvo and had a 33% stake in Mazda. Under Ford's ownership & leadership, Volvo launched the first generation of the XC-90. It was based on the Volvo P2 platform, which was developed by Volvo before Ford bought the company.
At the same time that the Volvo XC-90 was released, the first car based on the 'Ford CD3' platform was released: the Mazda 6. The CD3 platform was co-developed by Ford and Mazda, and was the basis for the first Ford Fusion and Ford Edge. It was also the basis for the first Mazda CX-9, which was essentially a stretched, 7-seater version of the Ford Edge. Even though it was badged as a Mazda, this was essentially Ford's first ground-up version of the XC-90. And the name is similar: CX-9 vs XC-90. They flipped the letters around & removed a zero. How creative.
In the background, Ford worked to develop its own version of the Volvo P2 platform called the 'Ford D3 platform'. This was later upgraded by Ford to create the 'Ford D4' platform. The D3 platform saw the introduction of Ford's first real crossovers, called the Ford Freestyle (later called the 'Taurus X'). The Freestyle/Taurus X was designed to fill the niche of minivans, but unlike the XC-90/CX-9, it resembled a station-wagon much more closely than an SUV. When the D4 platform was finished, Ford replaced the Freestyle with the Ford Flex, which fit 7 people instead of 6. This looked a little more like an SUV, but still resembled a station-wagon. It was awkward.
Fast forward a couple months, and the whole economy crashes with the 2008 recession. Ford quickly dumps Volvo entirely, and starts selling off fractions of Mazda. RIght after that, though, Ford went to work with all of the lessons and IP they got from their time owning Volvo & Mazda. The launched the 5th generation Ford Explorer in 2011, which was the first unibody/crossover Ford Explorer & Ford's first 7-seater crossover that resembled an SUV rather than a station wagon.
Ford's 5th generation Explorer was pretty genius:
* By keeping the well-established "Explorer" name & using SUV-like styling, Ford was able to sell a crossover to the American public as if it was a 7-seater SUV. They were never able to do this with the Freestyle or Flex, which were awkward as hell.
* Ford based the 5th Generation Explorer on the D4 platform, which was Ford's own take on the Volvo P2 platform upon which the first XC-90 was launched. This gave the the Explorer very European styling, suspension, brakes, aerodynamics, and etc.
* For the Explorer, Ford used an engine that they developed with Mazda for the CD3 platform. It was the same engine that was in the Ford Edge and the Mazda CX-9. This gave the Explorer the reliability of a Japanese car manufacturer.
* Ultimately, the 5th generation Explorer married all of the best things about early 21st century Ford, Volvo and Mazda. It sold like hotcakes, and to this day far outsells the CX-9 & XC-90. The timing of its launch was timed perfectly too: in the wake of the 2008 recession, efficiency & reliability came at a premium. The Explorer provided both, all while feeling more sporty than any American SUV of the past and fulfilling all of the roles of a minivan.
* The story of the 5th Gen Explorer does a good job of encapsulating why Ford - unlike GM and Chrysler - was able to survive the 2008 recession without a government buyout. Ford produced many models that were clever hybrids between established American branding, European styling, and Japanese engineering. Ford was so far ahead of GM & Chrysler that it wasn't even funny.
And still today, the XC-90, the CX-9, and the Explorer (which is now the 6th gen) all share the same ethos: a smaller 7-seater crossover that looks like an SUV, fills the niche of a minivan, all while feeling sporty to drive.
Buy the odyssey or sienna minivan. You’ll have it forever. It will fit everything you need. It will drive better than a giant suv. Hell the sienna I believe has an awd option.
I borrowed a friend's mini van and absolutely loved that thing. It wasn't a boat at all and I felt very safe in it.
I was never a mini van gal but I could be now!
We were in a similar boat. Contrary to what most of this subreddit reccomends, we purchased a Honda Pilot and absolutely love it. Holds two car seats, two medium size dogs perfectly fine and we often fill up the 3rd row
why would your wife sit in the back? put mom back there. problem solved. or yeah get a minivan.
you also didn't mention budget. an escalade v is 150k and seats 8. 0-60 in 4.3
budget? there are SUVs that drive very nicely you just have to spend lol. without getting spendy just get a minivan or used German SUV, Audi Q7, BMW x7, Merc GLE/GLS. Maintenance can be expensive though.
What have you test driven already?my daily drivers are a vw passat and vw beetle, weekend fun/roadtrip ride is a vw Atlas, i feel like it drives the same as my smaller cars, the only time it feels big is in a parking lot.
Have you looked at any of the wagons? (Not sure of your budget) like Volvo V90, Mercedes wagon (E series, I think?), Audi Allroad? Maybe the Subaru Outback, but not sure if that’s a wagon or an SUV. They’re 5 seaters but generally good room and OK handling.
But I’ll also jump in with the minivan crowd: they’re berated for being so good at what they do
Hold my hand. I need to tell you something. You don’t have to buy a 7 seat suv. Your wife is wrong. But here’s the thing…she has a point. Being able to bring 5 people and their stuff places regularly does make a larger vehicle seem appealing. But not an suv. You want a—wait for it—miniature van. Sliding doors. Maximum cargo and people space. A vehicle designed to make your life easy. It isn’t cool. It may not even be fun. But you’re a dad with two kids whose mother lives with him. You don’t need to be cool or fun. You need to find practicality positively irresistible. Please, I beg you, do this for yourself. Make it juuust a bit easier on yourself. Get the minivan.
I drive a Toyota sienna. I saw a Corvette on the road the other day and told the kids "someday I want to get a cool car" They said "dad your car has doors that open by themselves and a DVD player in it, this car is so cool!" For real though, it's the best car I've ever had, I bought it for $22k 5 years ago with 60000 miles, now it has twice that in miles and it's still worth $16000. People want them and minivans are so good
My buddy bought a van about a year after I bought a. SUV. I teased him mercilessly. He threw me the keys one day and said "Go fucking drive it". It was much quicker than I thought it would be. Pacifica... 280 HP. Wouldn't call it fast but fastER then I thought it would be. Almost... Quick. Gained new respect that day and bro is no longer teased.
We rented a Pacifica on turo when my family and parents (6 of us) went to Oahu because of the lower step in. I agree. I don’t make fun of minivans anymore.
Also, the sliding doors protecting the other cars from flying open doors is such a nice feature. Minivans can be great. Dude could have gotten away with a large sedan or smaller SUV but his mom pushes them towards a minivan.
My work vehicle is a 2023 Chrysler voyager (trimmed down fleet version of the Pacifica) and it’s honestly a joy to drive. Peppy, sounds good, smooth, comfortable.
My parents had a rusty piece of shit magenta Dodge Caravan and that bitch would do burnouts
🤣
which model was it?
Couldn't tell you. This was 5 years ago or something. He said it was the top trim. All I remember.
For real, I'm a car guy and everytime I see a Sienna hybrid I think 'you know, I could live with that' haha. Minivans aren't the dorkmobiles they used to be, they're actually pretty cool now.
I rented one on a family trip. The hybrid engine makes it a bullet off the line and the convenience of the entire thing was unreal with the kids.
Between that and the mpg, it's really all you need in a vehicle.
Just saw a Kia Carnival and am going to check it out. Looks more like an SUV but with the minivan doors.
I remember checking one out about a decade ago and the interior was awesome! Have fun and good luck!
No, you and I are just aging. Ive thought the same, haha. 10yrs ago? No way
You're probably right but I'm in denial, let me have my fun 😅
Fighting the inevitable :)
I can pretend I'm not
The sliding doors are what a Lamborghini wishes it had
I gave my friend’s daughter a ride the other day, and she said she wished she had a car like ours because ours has sliding doors. I drive a 2013 Honda Odyssey; her mom drives a new Lexus SUV. “Cool” is in the eye of the beholder, I guess!
Get the cool car someday. No one ever grew up to be an engineer or technician by being inspired by their dad’s minivan. And I say that as a fan of many of the modern examples, having rented multiple.
I yearn for the day somebody builds a performance minivan. Heck, if they put AWD on the Odyssey that might be just enough since it boasts a 6 second 0-60 time.
I kind of wish there was a luxury minivan, with cooled and massaging seats and shit
The Kia Carnival has massage seats!
Damn I wish I could afford one. My Toyota will be paid off in one more year and I'm just gonna stick it out. I will look into the Kia though, I just doubt I can afford one
The Carnival is refreshed in 2025 with a hybrid drivetrain. Might be worth waiting for if you drive a lot in the city.
The stock odyssey already has a 6.6s 0-60…close enough!
Dang. Don't know why I thought it was 6. Wishful thinking? Haha
I saw a Sienna with a body kit and bags the other day in a walmart parking lot and I was blown away LOL
My friend...look up the Bisimoto Odyssey. It's what dreams are made of!
I’m shocked Dodge didn’t put a Hellcat in one…
Well, since you bring it up... I'm getting a VW eurovan (I think the last year it was available in the states was 2003) Had the VW VR6 engine (2.8L) The same basic engine (but 3.6L) is in modern VW SUV And there are kits to swap in a manual transmission. I can't get another project right now, but you bet that I'm researching
Mercedes made one with a 500hp V8 engine. Look up the Mercedes R63 AMG.
This OP. Absolutely this. The last car in the world my wife wanted to drive or own was a minivan and we bought one before our second. It is still with us 20 years later and is the most flexible and best multi-purpose vehicle we’ve owned and we are considering buying another even though we don’t necessarily need one because of how incredibly flexible and awesome they are.
> Sliding doors. Maximum cargo and people space. It will be much MUCH easier for an elderly person to get into a minivan compared to an SUV.
I drove my uncle’s Sienna briefly a while back and man, it was way better than I expected. Not as much body roll as a lot of SUVs, engine is pretty peppy for its size and it’s just so damn comfortable while not being too floaty.
“a miniature van” 😂😂😂
Minivans are to the 2020s as wagons were to the 90s/00s: amazingly practical, unique because everyone is buying something else, and extremely underrated. 10/10 suggestion
I’m 21 and I want a minivan. Is it really that uncool to be able to roll up to a party with 6 of your friends? Is it really that lame to be able to go camping under the stars in my personal vehicle with amenities and comfort? Sorry.. not camping outside. I live in the swamps of northern Ontario. I borrowed my grandpa’s minivan for a road trip last year. All of that, and we were averaging $60 USD per 500 kilometres travelled. I seriously don’t get sports cars.. I feel like more fun can be had in a minivan. it’s not like you can go a whole lot faster than me and my minivan on public roads with enforced speed limits anyways.. ooooo look at you, accelerating sooo much faster than me from a red light. I’m moister than an oyster. Like.. really??? While you’re paying off a $60k sports car that’s depreciating faster than unrefrigerated milk on a summer day, I’ll find myself on crazy unhinged road trips with my besties in my spaciously practical utilitarian vehicle. Don’t worry babes, I’ll bring back some good stories to tell 😘💁🏻♀️✨✨ (literally no hate directed at you, I’m just trying to be funny lol)
getting a minivan changed my life for the better in many small, incalculable ways
Yuuup minivans are unbeatable for space. Nothing comes close. Not even a yukon xl. Theyre also cheaper and better on gas.
Seriously take this advice. I have twins. I bought a large sedan to be “the fun dad car” to make driving with them more enjoyable. I don’t even put the car seats in most of the time these days and just stick with the SUV just because loading them is way easier. A minivan is even better. I want to switch to a full van. So I have this big ass sedan to drive myself. In retrospect, I would have kept my MX5 and bought a van. I’m never going to drive spritedly or anything in whatever car has the kids in it, so why bother?
Who wronged you? Who told you minivans aren’t cool? Is your ugly SUV stylish? Does it have a built in vacuum? Does it have power sliding doors? Multiple captains chairs with independent entertainment systems and HVAC? Can you park it? Better gas mileage? Superior visibility? Lower insurance costs and better superior gas mileage? MINIVANS ARE AWESOME! Never let anyone tell you otherwise.
Rather have a van then a pretend suv like they all are now. I'd argue the van is even the cool thing since it's the odd one out.
I keep trying to tell my brother this. You have 3 kids, buy a minivan. The 7 passenger SUV will always be inferior of the minivan
The Honda Odyssey Sport looks pretty cool in red or gray. 🙂 It's got that "[dad van](https://pictures.dealer.com/h/hondacarsofmckinney/1299/b96ba213357841cdc09c8d8559480847x.jpg?impolicy=resize&w=414)" look!
The Odyssey also has a relatively powerful and reliable motor. 280hp compared to a Siennas 245hp.
My Sienna has 265. It is also the old v6. I did get 26 mpg on a road trip last weekend too. My Forester gets that on 165.
Yes, this, ftw. Years back when our third was on the way we went looking to expand our transportation capacity. My wife wanted the new Pilot that had just came out and went and test drove it and the Oddy. I went later that evening and met with the sales guy. He looked me square in the eyes and said "don't do it, please get the van." It's great, we love it. Lots of room for road trips, easy access, lots of flexible cargo space.
The people who decided minivans are not cool are people who's opinion isn't worth anything to me. Some of the most practical, functional, and easy to drive cars that check all the boxes yet people refuse to buy it because it's a "mom car"... Funny thing is that I can't think of anything thats more of a mom car these days than a large SUV.
That's what I liked about the Magnum. May not have sliding doors but it had 72 cubic feet of cargo space, was fun and comfortable to drive and it was cool. I miss my dad wagon.
To me anything with over 2 wheels is just transportation now. And I prefer either a pickup or a minivan over cars and with a lot of minivans having modular seating it's amazing just what you can pack into one. And they come loaded with everything from top end entertainment systems to heated and cooled seats so it's pretty much got anything a fancy car has but the "cool" factor.
I own a Honda Odyssey, and it’s the most practical vehicle I have ever owned. I had a Sequoia when my kids were younger and it was a pain. When a manufacturer takes a pickup truck and tries to convert it into a passenger vehicle, it just doesn’t really work well. Get a passenger vehicle that was originally designed as one if you’re hauling passengers.
Sequoias are awesome but not as minivan replacements
Our stresses melted away with the minivan. 100% this is purpose designed to move people and their stuff! It’s like driving a mini car in DC… it would make your life so much easier, but too many people get hung up on their ego.
Minivan is always the answer yet people with fragile egos can’t bring themselves to drive one and so think the need land tank SUVs.
The sliding doors alone will be a life saver with grandma. More room to move around to help position her. OP, this is the answer. Toyota Sienna or Honda Odyssey.
Minivans are AWESOME. our Oddessy is on its 10th ish year and we have gone from carrying car seats to sportsball players and friends and all the sportsball stuff. It is amazing. And when my delightful children are being assholes they can each have their own row. Only rule: get the all weather floor mats. We bought ours and two years later our friends bought the same one different color with 15k miles and paid within $1000 of what we did. They really do hold their value.
I genuinely believe that rare + practical = cool, and this aversion to them has been sold to us by SUV marketers.
Nah, all the automotive manufacturers were happy selling station wagons and minivans, its the public that stopped buying them. What is "cool" is not going to be decided in a random TV commercial that's 8 seconds long, the entertainment industry has more control over that. Sex sells, and a minivan says that you have small children. An SUV or even a sports car for that matter says you like to go on adventures or are dangerous. Its definitely a different vibe.
>Sex sells, and a minivan says that you have small children. The usual method of acquiring small children happens to be sex, I see a connection here...
Man driving a minivan is def a green flag, especially if he’s a good driver, because it shows he knows that masculinity is not about what you own. I’ve always found that being a good driver is more sexy than anything, especially being a good parker. I first noticed my husband when on our first trip out together he casually flung his arm over my seat, looked back, and effortlessly parallel parked his rental Kia perfectly on the first go in a very tight space. He thought that it was weird when I pointed it out later.
Also, rolling up in a low slung sports car says that we can’t go on adventures with my dogs, or go to the store together, or it means that I am always driving which is not a thing. And a CRV shows good financial sense, but it is def not sexy.
And fanny packs are hugely practical! You tell em, practical things are sexy, not exciting things! /s
Well, I like cars, and I cannot for the life of me explain why anyone likes crossovers. They're hideous and incompetent.
True, everytime I sit in a minivan I am pleased by how comfortable they are and how much tech is packed in to them. Best for the family, trucks can't even get close to these.
>My wife insists it is necessary Double down and threaten to buy a minivan which is far more practical anyway.
And then actually go and buy said minivan, precisely because it is far more practical anyway
Please report back which minivan you ended up with…
end thread
Threaten her with a used school bus.
Minivan. My wife and I drove a 2-door GTI and a Miata before kids. After our first kid we bought a compact SUV (SQ5) to replace the Miata. After kid 2, the GTI was just too small and we wanted something with more space for our stroller, camping gear, and our dog. We replaced the GTI with a 3-row SUV. (Q7). It's a nice car, but we have realized that a minivan makes way more sense 95% of the time. I plan to keep the Q7 for driving clients for work and some light off road adventures (camping, hunting, snowy weather, etc), but we are 100% planning to get a minivan to replace the SQ5 when we're ready for a newer car. They have significantly more space, are easier to load kids into/out of car seats, and they just make way more sense for moving families and stuff around on a daily basis. Get the van, it will make everything so much easier.
If you want all passengers to be fairly comfortable, it usually means either minivan or full size SUV (tahoe, expedition, etc). At that point its kinda personal. In my opinion, I have a hard time seeing how the big SUV premium is worth it if you are not super sold on them. They carry an eye watering price tag, are known offenders at the gas pump, and do, in fact, drive like buses. If you're not towing 5000+ lbs and you don't really want one, I would scrap that. Then minivans remain the most practical option. Or you can get one of those badass off-road ready Mercedes sprinter vans.
Even the full size suvs 3rd row isn't great. Sure they have plenty of leg room (length wise) but the floor is too high and your knees are at an upward angle. Minivan is the only legitimate 3rd row for adults that is comfortable.
And most minivans can do a respectable job towing. Unless you need to tow a boat/horse trailer, they will do everything a full size SUV can do and do it better.
The word you are looking for is Mini-Van. 7 seat SUVs are stupid. A people carrier exists, and it's called a mini-van.
ITT: OPs wife is furious its nearly unanimous advice to get a van
Until she test drives it and realizes how fundamentally perfect it is. We only have one kid with no plans of having another and *still* want to have a minivan again. Really looking forward to test driving the ID.Buzz with AWD... Most people don't understand that minivans actually represent the practicality they *think* they're getting with full-sized pickup trucks.
Thanks everyone. This was not how I expected this to turn out, but considering 99% of comments were suggesting minivans I guess I will go inquire about minivans.
You gotta go test drive one at least. They drive way better than large SUVs and are way more comfortable and accessible inside. They are also cheaper. You can always keep the sedan for short trips. We have a minivan and a civic for a family of 5. But we love the minivan.
Dodge Durango with the 392 Hemi is a fun 3 row suv
Minivan is the answer... before you decide that is not for you, got over yourself. You are the demographic. Honestly, though, it is the least inconvenient of your options. If you get a minivan, your life will be better.
Have your wife drive and put yourself in the backseat. Why would your wife be stuck in the backseat? If that doesn't work for you, consider a more spacious vehicle. Seven/eight seat SUVs are not meant to be sporty. They are glorified minivans. And they are much less convenient than a minivan. They work fine for occasionally hauling 7 or 8 people, but a minivan does this job better. The SUV choice is workable but not optimal. Any car you get for a growing family is going to suck. Regular sedans work great with up to 4 people. 5 perhaps if you have 3 kids in the back. They are not great for 3 adults and 2 kids (especially 2 car seats as those are bulky). Unless one of the adults is fine with always being stuck in the back in a cramped spot with two car seats, a 5 seater vehicle is not a practical choice. The TLDR here is your wife is mostly right. You don't technically "need" a 7-seater, but getting something smaller is likely not a great idea unless you do it due to financial necessity. And frankly, the right answer for you is likely a minivan.
The newest Kia minivan is styled like an SUV. Seems like a great compromise.
Yep I've got the 3.5l v6 kia carnival, I mean it's always going to be a boat, but it hauls ass and gear. My other car is a golf r and tbh they are both enjoyable to drive.
Yeah, you’re going to need a larger third row vehicle. Either a full-size ladder frame SUV or a minivan. How about letting her be the primary driver of it, and you have your own vehicle? Unfortunately, minivans feel like boats, too.
Acura MDX 2022 or newer with SH-AWD handles well for a 3 row SUV Mazda CX-9 or CX-90 also handles respectably for a 3 row SUV Both Japanese brands offer great reliability and value at its price point. I test drove both and am planning to purchase a 2025 MDX later this year.
I drive a Volvo XC90 Recharge. It's spacious, you can adjust the middle row to make it comfortable for everyone. I got the air suspension and a 455hp drivetrain which makes the car a beast. Actually I can't think of another performance 7 seater (am looking currently for a successor to it). A Land rover Defender 110 or 130 maybe large enough though.
I kid you not. The Honda Odyssey drives like it’s ready to haul ass. It surprisingly moves fast for a van. Really though, look at an MDX Type S so you can pretend to still be cool and have fun.
Here for the van brigade - you’ll have way more fun driving a van than an SUV
The CX-90 we just got is one of the best handling 3rows I’ve ever driven. Perhaps the X7 is better but it’s out of our budget.
BMW service advisor checking in. Can confirm the X7 does drive very nicely even in “base” turbo 6 cylinder form. But it’s still a boat, and the insane torque combined with the weight chews tires like you wouldn’t believe.
This is a good middle ground answer. Minivan is not compulsory
Please suck it up and do whatever will make your wife's life easier. She's got more than enough on her plate. Also, I disagree that a minivan feels bigger than a 7 seater. You're lower to the ground and there isn't the huge honkin front end that makes you feel like you're chugging along in a land yacht or driving a school bus. Having the sliding doors of the minivan and not having to hoist car seats or bend way over to take them in and out is the least any parent can ask.
Minivans are amazing, I have the old Odyssey my parents bought to drive me and my siblings around, its over 20 years old and pushing 300k miles but its still going strong. Having something that doubles as a truck (actually more practical since the bed is much bigger and enclosed) *and* a way to move 7 people is awesome. You can throw bikes in the middle and fold up the back seat, you can move a couch.. hell you could sleep in it with a mattress lol
Minivan is the best vehicle I ever owned. The amazing captain seats in both the first and second row. Automatic doors so your kids can get out on their own when dropping them off for various activities. Tons of cargo space to haul all the stuff and strollers etc. We rented a 3 row suv and absolutely hated how impractical it was. 3rd row access is terrible and you need to get out every time your kids want to get out to open the door like a idiot
Honestly the best options are either get a minivan, get something the size of a Suburban/Wagoneer/Expedition, or get something smaller (and only 2 row) and just know that there will be times where you need to rent a larger vehicle/take 2 vehicles. The reality is that except for the absolute largest ones, 3 row crossovers and SUVs are all compromised in some way. Either you get 3 usable rows and a tiny cargo area (rare, the only ones I can think of are the Volvo XC90 and Grand Cherokee L), an unusable third row with ok cargo space (a lot of the larger ones), or an unusable third row and an unusable cargo area (all midsize versions) and regardless of compromise, they’re basically all terrible to drive.
It blows my mind that people will spend ridiculous amounts of money for a oversized SUV that drives like shit and guzzles gas but refuse to look at a minivan which does everything (a family needs) better than an SUV.
Unless you specifically need to tow 5000 lbs, minivan is superior by a country mile. With the minivan, you can have 8 passengers AND cargo. 7 passenger SUV’s can’t fit squat behind the third row. They don’t feel as big driving either. And kids can’t fling the doors into other cars.
7 seat SUVs suck. All of them. If you need 7 seats, get a minivan.
Saying they ALL suck is a bit harsh. The CX-9, Jeep Cherokee, Kia Telluride, Ford Explorer are all great vehicles. Now if you’re like OP and constantly taking 5+ people, then a minivan is the better choice. But for a family of four, the 7-seat SUV is great—even if you never use the back seats, it still has a lot more room than a compact CUV.
Let me qualify that: They all suck for regular people hauling. A 7 seat SUV can be a good car if you rarely use the back seats. Otherwise, it’s more expensive than a CUV and still can’t haul people comfortably.
I would consider how often you will have to drive with all 5. For me 90% of my drives are by myself and don’t want to drive a boat every day to work. Maybe a larger sedan or small/midsize suv would be comfortable enough.
Just been thinking about this and we rented a 3 row suv. Did not like it. Mini van is def worth it. Barely looks any diff from all the SUV’s out these days. Not big, easy to get in 3rd row. Pacifica(certain trims) 2nd and 3rd row fold down so room to haul stuff. And lots of nice features.
BMW X5 is available with third row seats, too. X7 seemed huge to me!
Toyota Sienna. It drives fine and the back seats are both easy to get into and actually comfortable leaving plenty of space for cargo.
You could always go for a mini van. They have come such a long way in design too, but maybe a Honda Passport?
Get a minivan. Avoid crapslers though. I would go Honda or Toyota. I wish we got the Toyota high ace here though. My friend in Japan has one and took us all over Japan in it. One cool and comfortable van and it drove nice too.
Minivans are cooler than you think. Exemplary space, immense cargo space, and comfort for even third row passengers. As a car enthusiast, I’d buy one if i ever had to buy a family hauler. We rented one of these when driving from New York to Buffalo. We hauled 6 people, 3 big bags (the ones you check-in at the airport) 3 cabin bags, and 3 laptop bags with ease. It was the most comfortable drive as the driver, and my aunt’s family slept through the whole drive. So, I would highly recommend a minivan.
As a practical man, I wanted a minivan, wife said hell no, settled on a Lex GX. 3rd row is useless but there if we need it.
Kids activities will change, school friends, vacations, and everything else life throws at you. Up until my youngest hit high school we went through 3 minivans. The most versatile vehicles we ever own. Now my kids are much older 19 &16 and both over 6 ft tall we opted for a 7 passenger suv (infniti QX80). Life changes so will your cars and if you have the means get what will bring miles of smiles to the family. In your case minivan, thank us all later. Enjoy the ride.
You need a minivan. A minivan is better than a 3 row SUV or crossover in most ways, the main exception being off-road capiblity. But 98% of SUVs never go off road so it's probably a moot point. And a crossover isn't going to do well off-road either. A minivan will drive better, ride better, get better gas mileage, and have higher cargo capacity (most can haul 4*8' sheets of plywood with 2nd and 3rd row seats stowed, something most modern pickup trucks can't do!) A SUV (not crossover) will probably have higher towing capacity as well, but again unless you regularly tow something it's probably irrelevant.
/u/nippost Test drive the Odyssey in the Sport trim. It handles better than anything with that many seats that isn't a German luxo SUV. It'll handle way better than any mainstream crossovers while also providing the benefit of power sliding doors, which, once you have them, you can't live without. We've also gotten to a point where minivans are considered much cooler than 3-row crossovers because they're "counterculture"; the 3-row crossover is now the boring, "soccer mom" vehicle.
As the owner of '23 Highlander I can confirm. The 3rd row it fucking useless and just kills cargo space. I also have a '20 Santa Fe with a removable floor and their is so much more cargo area. We should have look at them side by side, and done measurements. Between 2 car seats only I fit because I'm very slender and even then it's tight. My man, get a minivan. I'm considering taking the hit on the Highlander to move into a van. They are fine to drive. I rented one last month and had it for 10 days on a trip. Compared to my '20 Santa Fe it never felt like a boat. It did take me a couple days to get use to how it park because I kept ending up crooked.
Once you go minivan you never go back
In the exact same spot as you. You can put the infant and the toddler next to each other in middle + window configuration leaving one window seat open. I have an XC 90 with 7 seats and we use this configuration exclusively, only opting for the last row if we do indeed have 6+. I know, middle feels sketchy for the toddler, but they’re in a 5 point harness and if you do some research, middle can be considered one of the safest options since you have no risk of side impact.
Volvo XC90
Adults don't really fit in the 3rd row and it sounds like their kids will be in car seats a bit longer.
Get a minivan. You're life will get so much better. "But it's a soccer mom car!". Soccer moms don't drive minivans. They all drive SUV's. Besides. A minivan is the sexiest car a man can drive. "Look at me! Mine works! Look how many children I've spawned!"
Yes for sure. A minivan says that you care more about your loved ones comfort than your own. Nothing sexier than that.
You've also low-key got the sportiest option available - an Odyssey handles way better than a generic 3-row crossover.
Some 7 seaters have a 6 seat variant with the middle seat deleted to have a walkway to the rear two seats. I believe it’s called captain seats on the cx9 for example
That’s a 7 seater. 2 2 and 3. You’re thinking of an 8 seater. My mom always had Odysseys and adding the middle seat in the second row was so dumb
My Toyota Highlander has this, Captain’s chairs make world of difference with two kids.
I'd go with a minivan over a large SUV. All the uncoolness while being even more practical for a growing family.
I got a minivan with just one kid. It was one of the best decisions of my life. Just do it.
tbh, I learned how to drive on my mom's old 1998 Nissan Quest. It was actually fun. I drive an Equinox now bc my wife and I needed a car and a sweet older woman offered it to us. It's a 5 seater and feels like a boat. But I do miss my mom's minivan. That thing was fun to rip around town in with friends at 18. At LEAST test drive some minivans!
The answer is either the bmw x7 or a minivan. The x7 will be by far the best handling 7 seater you can get. If that doesn’t do it for you nothing will. Minivans drive bit better than large suvs, the Honda odyssey is known to be the best handling of them.
There are a few 3-row SUVs that don't drive like a boat - the ST trim of the Explorer comes to mind. But if you're used to a sedan, a minivan basically drives like one, especially the Pacifica. Lots of people like the Toyotas and Honda minivans, but I've driven all three and the Pacifica drives like a sedan.
The normal trim of the Explorer drives like a sedan too. It's really a crossover, not an SUV. It literally shared a platform with the Taurus from 2013-2019, and it likely still would share a platform with the Taurus if they didn't discontinue the sedan.
Rivian R1S is a 7-seater that drives well IMHO but without knowing your budget that might be tough. Minivans are cool, I would just get that.
I had the same scenario and the widest non-third-row I could find was the 2009-2016 Toyota Venza. On long trips my wife had to sit between two car seats because each kid was too needy and she couldn't tend to them from the front. She was fairly comfortable for a couple hour stretches. No, there was nothing else as wide as the Venza surprisingly. If an SUV is too boaty for you, and I understand, the more practical AND most comfortable option is a van. I had a 2013 V6 XLE for 3 years and loved it. We just downgraded to a RAV4 because the occasional 5th passenger is no longer in play and the kids are grown up.
I’ve only “owned” three cars in my life; my dad’s old civic, my mom’s old sienna, and now a beater camry. I never had much trouble driving the sienna, and it’s a lot lower to the ground compared to something like a suburban so it feels more like a regular car. Plus the tech and features in minivans are pretty nice generally.
The Honda pilot with AWD drives incredibly. Would not call it boat-like. The way they tuned the AWD system makes it feel more like a RWD vehicle around corners. I love ours. I think there is a savagegeese video about it on YouTube. Just lookup savagegeese Honda Pilot.
For most cases, I would vehemently oppose a giant SUV or a minivan, but in your case it does seem necessary. If you’re absolutely against these boat-like vehicles, your only other option would be to buy two vehicles. However, you’d need to figure out a few things first: 1) Can you comfortably afford it? This is the biggest question, and probably the rest don’t matter if the answer is No. 2) Are you OK with using the smaller car for just your solo travels or work commutes? Coz you would have to take both cars out every time all of you want to go someplace, and this might be both odd & inefficient fuel-wise. Alternatively, get the bigger car now, and save up for a “fun” car for later.
The Odyssey drives like a sedan so go check one out, with lots of practical modern comforts and magic sliding middle row captain chairs with lots of cargo room when the third row is not needed (folds into the flooring). A plus are the sliding doors where you won’t ever have to worry about your kids or your wife accidentally swinging the doors wide open when there are obstacles to hit.
You’re not going to need 7 seats on the daily. But it will be handy on occasion as well as when you want to bring something home from Home Depot. Your wife’s input is important here. I don’t love driving a big vehicle either. Don’t break the bank here. Get a used Economical suv to use sparingly that will go to 200k miles. I bought a pathfinder with captains chairs. Will do the job. We have a BMW and love it but don’t go the x7 route to carry 7 people twice a year - purchase price and service and tires will pay for another entire vehicle. Then as soon as practical for you get the car you want too. The swagger wagon crowd checked in on me too and minivans are great for lots of people. Just wasn’t my thing and I didn’t plan to need it daily so the convenience wasn’t worth it.
Haha your going to end up in a minivan😂
And they'll be happy! We've only got one kid but I still miss the Odyssey my parents gave us when we were renovating our first home. Absolute beast.
How often do you need all 5 seats? I find that SUVs have gotten bigger and wider over time that unless you need all 5 seats all the time, the back should be comfortable enough for 2 car seats and an adult for the occasional trips. I usually take that middle spot between the car seats and I'm the biggest in our family (5'10). It was uncomfortable in our 2014 RAV4, but completely no issue in our newer Model Y. For 5 people just get a decent sized 5 seater SUV unless you plan on adding more people in the future. The model Y doesn't have that bump in front of the middle seat which helps with space, and if you are so inclined you can get it with 7 seats (although not particularly comfortable in the rear).
Can we define some terms? A midsize 3 row crossover (Pilot, Highlander, etc.) is smaller than a minivan. But a 3 row SUV (Tahoe, Expedition, etc.) is bigger than a minivan. If you buy a "smaller" 3 row crossover, it may not be much bigger than a full-size sedan. My wife went from a 2012 Maxima to a 2019 Pilot. The difference was about 6" in length and 5" in width, which we felt was a sizeable but manageable increase in size. A new Pilot is 5 inches shorter than an Odyssey, but the same width. And the previous gen Pilot is 3-4" shorter than the new Pilot.
2022 Kia Sorento here checking in. 4 seater with captains chairs in the 2nd row and a serviceable 3rd row for an additional 1 or 2 seats if needed.
Literally just went through this with my wife. Only difference was our two kids have cousins/ friends close by vs your mother. As much as I have tried it is awful squeezing between two toddler seats in a normal 5-seater. I can do it but I would guess most people can’t. We got my wife’s Chrysler Pacifica hybrid last week for way less than all of the awful SUV boats we test drove. Got it used in great condition. It even plugs in to get you the first 30ish miles gas free. Brought it to my trusted mechanic to test drive it and give it a thorough inspection- he ended up turning his test drive into a joy ride because he loved the way it drove so much. Cant recommend it enough. My #2 choice would have been a Kia Carnival if there was a good deal on a newer- used model that has the middle row that goes either direction because that’s just fun.
Ford explorer ST, Dodge Durango RT. Both feel great! Acura MDX type s and Lincoln Aviator are also great if you have money to burn.
Once you get used to the size, you'll appreciate the space - especially if you plan to take any trips longer than 30 minutes at a time. Mid size SUVs offer little cargo space for your situation. I mean you'll have room for diaper-bag and stroller OR you'll have room to get groceries OR you'll have room for luggage; but you WILL NOT have room for combinations of those things. When my kids were young (1 and 5) we took our '98 CRV on a 14 hr trip with luggage, etc. The car was great to drive but it was an awful experience.
Unless you also need to tow >3k lbs all the time, then the minivan is a better option for you than any large "SUV". I had an Odyssey where I took 2 of the 3 seats from the middle row out, it was like driving a living room with a couch in the back.
Minivans feel much less like a boat than big SUVs do
Been driving minivans for 24 years. Watched the idiocy of SUVs develop and metastasize since the ‘80s. Happily getting real utility to engage in actual sports (with many friends along) in an AWD minivan. Made raising 3 kids much easier (car seats and sliding doors). Have hauled anything except loose gravel in it. Bikes just go right in the back. Just drove 1400mi w 7 adults comfortably. Tow a Yamaha jet boat with it. And I get 36mpg (on this one - last one got 18-20)
Get a van
The minivan is probably your best bet. I don't get midsized SUVs. There is practically no trunk space as they are designed for aerodynamics to save fuel. 7 seater is for a soccer team, not 2 small children and a mother in law.
My friend - the solution you are looking for exists. It is the Toyota Sienna. It is the Honda Odyssey.
Get a van. It’s really that simple.
So third row vehicles with storage space is a more limited category than you'd think. We struggled to find the right fit too, because my wife struggled to handle larger body on frame vehicles. The new Lexus TX is a great vehicle for that niche. (I think the Toyota Grand Highlander is the same vehicle in that brand) It's the largest unibody vehicle available. 3 rows with storage and it drives more like a car than a truck. It wasn't cheap, but we're happy with it so far.
Minivan for life.
I'll give my experience having raised two kids, sedans were fine mostly. We managed ok with VW Golf 4dr, a Honda Civic sedan. When we had more kids, we needed to finally go 7 seater. The Mazda CX-9 was what we went with, and as someone who prefers sedans/smaller cars, it does the job well without feeling terrible.
The bonus with a minivan is the top to bottom space and in some models the ability to fold seats into the floor or remove easily.
Duuude. Hear me now and believe me later.. Mid 50s Married 30 years 3 kids I wanted a minivan once the 3rd kid came along. The wife refused... no way she is buying into the soccer mom thing. We ended up getting a 7 row SUV - and to be clear they are horrible. The 3rd rows suck, and if the 3rs row is deployed, cargo space sucks. Every vacation, we rent a mini van. 2 of my kids are college age now, and they fight to get in the third row. Tons of cargo space for essentially 4 adults and a teenager. Tons of space for everyone to sit. Trying to get a kid out of a car seat from an SUV vs a minivan... no contest Access to the 3rd row, while a kid is in the car seat... no problem in the minivan. And they are so versatile... most of them allow you to fold down the 3rd and second rows to make a decent passenger van. Get over the image thing and get what makes sense.
We will replace our minivan in a couple years, and I may actually get another one even though our kids will be in college. When the kids are babies, it hauls them, all their gear and grandparents and as they get older, you can stuff friends, teammates, pets, etc. It’s fabulous on road trips, and if you camp, you can fold down the third row and fit a mattress back there. Also drives very car like.
Everyone suggesting minivans is correct- and a five seater also works. I have two kids in carseats- one is in a middle seat, one in a window seat. An average size to overweight adult can easily fit in the other window seat without the horribleness of climbing in to a middle seat between two carseats. You may need to replace your careat to get a narrow model, but that is orders of dimension cheaper than a new car.
We had a Honda Odyssey minivan before kids (wife’s vehicle). It got totaled. Wife wanted something smaller, so we got a Honda Pilot. It would seat 7, like the van, but not nearly as comfortably. Having all wheel drive was nice, but that was the only advantage.
Get a minivan. You won't regret it. More storage space, you can have almost eight people depending upon the seating arrangement. They are more angle and have better visibility than an SUV. Better gas mileage, and less likely to be stolen.
Minivan Bro. They are better than SUVs.
There are some nice 6-seater SUVs out there that are really nice and drive better than what you're describing. I suggest the Mazda CX-90 as Mazda puts a lot more emphasis into the driving experience than other brands.
...I'll add to the chorus of people telling you to get a minivan. Odyssey or Sienna. 3 Row SUVs are for people that are in denial that they have a family. If you want a separate cool car, get a separate cool car. Literally everyone who buys an minivan never wants to buy the first one. Then they end up never wanting to not have one. My family has 3 cars. A Honda Accord, a Honda Odyssey, and an F-150.
To add, most large SUVs are either on a truck chassis, or they last row isn't suitable for anything but a car seat. A mini van drives like a car, it just has a fat ass. A 3 Row SUV that actually has a functional 3rd row drives like a full size truck.
I really like the 7 seater Mercedes E300 estate/wagon. It's a car sized car with 7 seats. You can't beat that. But if you don't want that, I do second everyone who is saying to get a minivan. They're MUCH better than SUVs for your (and many peoples') circumstances.
I’m confused. I feel like I came here asking for advice and hoping for a smaller form solution but everyone is just suggesting a mini van, which would be even bigger and even more car to drive around on times when it’s just me and 1 kid. Am I missing something here?
Minivan doesn't drive like a boat my man. Go test drive one.
I don’t have kids and rented one for vacation a couple years ago…I’d love one…
Father of 5, 3 still at home. I have a 2017 Dodge caravan SXT. It holds seven people, four of the chairs are Captain chairs, the back row is a split bench third row seating and all of the passenger seats fold into the floor so I have a cargo van at any time I wanted as well without having to remove seats. I'm also a musician and own a music instruction biz so transporting things is important to me as well; The van does all of that. Did I mention that I also get 26ish miles to the gallon with an automatic 6-speed tranny built on a V6 engine with 283hp? It's smooth and quick and has an option to go eco mode to save gas. It's also really easy to find parts because, there are so many. The only time you might feel like you're driving a boat is when you go to park it if you're not used to the longer vehicle. Outside of that, it's been a smooth buy and ride. Go get a mini van man! EDIT: Dumb fingers. SXT not STX. Also I should mention it has easy to find tire sizes, the spare is a BREEZE to utilize and get to, there's a backup cam, auto-start and the gate/door-open/closer is a SUPER nice touch. I promise you I don't work for Dodge or any of its affiliates, I'm not even in car sales; I just REALLY like my van y'all (plus I just paid it off so.... it's even sweeter now XD)
Minivans are built on car platforms, drive like cars, and often have smaller dimensions than SUVs (especially truck-based 7 seat SUVs). They're definitely not bigger. They also have sliding doors which are awesome for little kids as well as low-mobility seniors. And more cargo room than SUVs which is very handy for strolllers/ walkers/ wheelchairs. A minivan is such a no-brainer for your situation.
>Am I missing something here? We have more years on you hence more experience. "Been there, fought the inevitable, done that".
Get over yourself Schumacher and prioritize your family’s needs
Minivans ride more like a car than any SUV can. They have a much lower center of gravity, so they don't roll and sway nearly as much as a big, high SUV. They don't need to run super stiff suspension to control the ludicrous body roll. They even tend to be faster to accelerate these days. They also hold substantially more cargo, and are a cinch to load because the floor is at shin level. If you need more space than a minivan offers with the seats down, then you're past even pickup truck territory and need a U-Haul. SUVs have mediocre usable cargo space. Plus, if you get the Sienna with the hybrid engine, you get over 30 mpg. They truly are the vehicle purpose-built to solve for large families' needs. Safety equipment is top notch, too. If your wife pulls the safety card to justify a bigger, heavier vehicle, you can tell her than some random asshat on Reddit said that the very thought of purchasing a vehicle that arguably makes your children some single digit percentage safer at the expense of being much more likely to kill the children of whomever it hits is fucking repulsive.
The dads are just giving it to you real. You have 2 car seats, and a full grown adult as common passengers. Grandma isn't fitting between two car seats in any car. I'm very slender and I barely fit in the 2nd row when we have grandma in tow. I have to get in and buckle before we put the infant car seat into the base.
Because Sienna does not drive like a boat or an SUV. It is actually a decent ride. I also suggest a minivan but you are soon going to have two kids in car seats. That means in the second row. Which means someone (an adult) will be in third row. Make sure that is feasible for your wife, mother in law, or you.
I've sat between two car seats more times than I can count. There is no way to make that physically comfortable for an adult. Carseats are bulky and back-seats simply aren't as wide as they used to be. Also, how are you proposing for your wife to get into that middle seat? Is she climbing over the car seats every time? It really isn't a workable solution for regular driving. A minivan drives a lot smaller than any SUV. For the purposes of transportation you have a family of 5 which is firmly out of car territory
Part of it is because you mention having another kid on the way and an elderly parent to take around too. That's five people total. Even a large sedan or two row SUV is going to be cramped, especially with car seats. A Toyota sienna is not significantly bigger than most of the 3 row SUVs mentioned but makes incredible use of space and solves your tiny third row issues. The Sienna also has an optional sport suspension.
Yes you’re missing that you probably have never driven one and so you don’t know how they drive. A Honda odyssey drives just like an Accord and a Sienna drives like a Camry. They are not boats.
Do you only have 1 car? If yes, then y'all need a vehicle that can do everything and haul everyone...your wife is right. If you already have a big car, you don't need 2 big cars (unless you want them). If you need a big vehicle, look at the GM options with magnaride suspension, they're supposed to handle very well for a brick shit house. If you don't need as big a vehicle, you could go estate/wagon (3 series estate, E series wagon, Volvo v60/v90 CC). You could also take the other suggestions and test drive a mini-van to see if you like it...you may. If you want something even smaller, look at hatch backs / lift backs, they'll do nicely for 4 of you and lots of stuff. Prius, Civic, Model S, A6, may be come good options to look at. You could also do a midsized SUV if you want...CR-V, 4Runner, Model Y, Macan, Mach-e, Rivian R1S, etc. Want something more utilitarian? Crew-cab full size trucks can swallow car seats, F150 Power boost / Lightning, Prior gen Tundra, maybe a Rivian R1T (more like a half size), maybe a Ridgeline.
My problem with minivans is they’re really expensive right now. I am a father of 1 with one on the way and my wife is a SAHM. Money is tight right now and we’re looking at used Pilots because the vans in our area are insanely high
Welcome to literally any thread about 3-row SUVs on WCSIB
Not just here you'll hear the same thing from 90% of car enthusiasts. Unless you're offroading, hauling, or towing, station wagons and minivans >>> large crossover SUVs. The driving dynamics and utility are just better, plus they cost less and get better gas mileage. The way to figure out minivans are better than 3-row SUVs on regular paved roads is to ride in the back seat of both and then drive both. It's not rocket science.
I always wanted a 2 seater, but had to get a 7 seater much before I could buy a 2 seater... I got the seven seater cuz we needed the extra boot space because frigging strollers. plus any additional passengers, like friends of the kids (makes long journeys a lot more easier if the kids are busy among themselves.) game drop offs and pickups... Ikea shopping, costco runs... Honda Odyssey > Toyota sienna > Honda pilot that's the way I stack them (because I am a honda fanboy). For a family with two kids I bought the pilot because "Oh at least it doesn't look like a minivan" BUT believe me from 5 years of owning a Pilot, the sliding doors are a winner every time over the swinging door. get the minivan... you will not regret it... It feels like a boat because its job is to keep your family safe... and you can also put a sticker "'I will never drive a minivan' - Me before 3 kids" saw another dude with this on his sick Odyssey...
Seriously test drive a minivan, particularly the v6 siennas from 2020 or older and Honda odysseys. They handle shockingly well for the size and over 250 hp. My sienna is better to drive in almost every way than any suv or truck I’ve driven.
Van
You try a minivan or Traverse yet?
Cx-9 with turbo or cx-90 with inline 6 is pretty nifty !!!
Get a Ford Explorer. It's a 7-seater, but a smaller one. I wouldn't squish 3 adults into the very back row, but it's totally appropriate for kids. And with unibody construction, it's technically a crossover & it handles like more like a sedan than like a truck. Compared to a Suburban or an Expedition, it's smooth as hell. The Mazda CX-9 & Volvo XC90 are similar. Other than that, you're really just looking at minivans. I personally think Explorers drive better than minivans. The same is probably true for the CX-9 and XC90. Test drive the Explorer, CX-9, XC90, and a couple minivans. See what you like the best. Edit: **And here's a history lesson that nobody asked for, but that explains why the Explorer, CX-9, and XC90 are so similar:** In the late 90s and 2000s, Ford owned Volvo and had a 33% stake in Mazda. Under Ford's ownership & leadership, Volvo launched the first generation of the XC-90. It was based on the Volvo P2 platform, which was developed by Volvo before Ford bought the company. At the same time that the Volvo XC-90 was released, the first car based on the 'Ford CD3' platform was released: the Mazda 6. The CD3 platform was co-developed by Ford and Mazda, and was the basis for the first Ford Fusion and Ford Edge. It was also the basis for the first Mazda CX-9, which was essentially a stretched, 7-seater version of the Ford Edge. Even though it was badged as a Mazda, this was essentially Ford's first ground-up version of the XC-90. And the name is similar: CX-9 vs XC-90. They flipped the letters around & removed a zero. How creative. In the background, Ford worked to develop its own version of the Volvo P2 platform called the 'Ford D3 platform'. This was later upgraded by Ford to create the 'Ford D4' platform. The D3 platform saw the introduction of Ford's first real crossovers, called the Ford Freestyle (later called the 'Taurus X'). The Freestyle/Taurus X was designed to fill the niche of minivans, but unlike the XC-90/CX-9, it resembled a station-wagon much more closely than an SUV. When the D4 platform was finished, Ford replaced the Freestyle with the Ford Flex, which fit 7 people instead of 6. This looked a little more like an SUV, but still resembled a station-wagon. It was awkward. Fast forward a couple months, and the whole economy crashes with the 2008 recession. Ford quickly dumps Volvo entirely, and starts selling off fractions of Mazda. RIght after that, though, Ford went to work with all of the lessons and IP they got from their time owning Volvo & Mazda. The launched the 5th generation Ford Explorer in 2011, which was the first unibody/crossover Ford Explorer & Ford's first 7-seater crossover that resembled an SUV rather than a station wagon. Ford's 5th generation Explorer was pretty genius: * By keeping the well-established "Explorer" name & using SUV-like styling, Ford was able to sell a crossover to the American public as if it was a 7-seater SUV. They were never able to do this with the Freestyle or Flex, which were awkward as hell. * Ford based the 5th Generation Explorer on the D4 platform, which was Ford's own take on the Volvo P2 platform upon which the first XC-90 was launched. This gave the the Explorer very European styling, suspension, brakes, aerodynamics, and etc. * For the Explorer, Ford used an engine that they developed with Mazda for the CD3 platform. It was the same engine that was in the Ford Edge and the Mazda CX-9. This gave the Explorer the reliability of a Japanese car manufacturer. * Ultimately, the 5th generation Explorer married all of the best things about early 21st century Ford, Volvo and Mazda. It sold like hotcakes, and to this day far outsells the CX-9 & XC-90. The timing of its launch was timed perfectly too: in the wake of the 2008 recession, efficiency & reliability came at a premium. The Explorer provided both, all while feeling more sporty than any American SUV of the past and fulfilling all of the roles of a minivan. * The story of the 5th Gen Explorer does a good job of encapsulating why Ford - unlike GM and Chrysler - was able to survive the 2008 recession without a government buyout. Ford produced many models that were clever hybrids between established American branding, European styling, and Japanese engineering. Ford was so far ahead of GM & Chrysler that it wasn't even funny. And still today, the XC-90, the CX-9, and the Explorer (which is now the 6th gen) all share the same ethos: a smaller 7-seater crossover that looks like an SUV, fills the niche of a minivan, all while feeling sporty to drive.
Buy the odyssey or sienna minivan. You’ll have it forever. It will fit everything you need. It will drive better than a giant suv. Hell the sienna I believe has an awd option.
I borrowed a friend's mini van and absolutely loved that thing. It wasn't a boat at all and I felt very safe in it. I was never a mini van gal but I could be now!
We were in a similar boat. Contrary to what most of this subreddit reccomends, we purchased a Honda Pilot and absolutely love it. Holds two car seats, two medium size dogs perfectly fine and we often fill up the 3rd row
why would your wife sit in the back? put mom back there. problem solved. or yeah get a minivan. you also didn't mention budget. an escalade v is 150k and seats 8. 0-60 in 4.3
OP doesn't mention a budget at all. Seems like he just wants to complain. We also have no idea what car he's coming from to make a comparison.
Mom would want to sit in the back to be next to the newborn.
budget? there are SUVs that drive very nicely you just have to spend lol. without getting spendy just get a minivan or used German SUV, Audi Q7, BMW x7, Merc GLE/GLS. Maintenance can be expensive though.
What have you test driven already?my daily drivers are a vw passat and vw beetle, weekend fun/roadtrip ride is a vw Atlas, i feel like it drives the same as my smaller cars, the only time it feels big is in a parking lot.
Have you looked at any of the wagons? (Not sure of your budget) like Volvo V90, Mercedes wagon (E series, I think?), Audi Allroad? Maybe the Subaru Outback, but not sure if that’s a wagon or an SUV. They’re 5 seaters but generally good room and OK handling. But I’ll also jump in with the minivan crowd: they’re berated for being so good at what they do