Recommend a family vehicle please

[The_Jeff]

Yeah you're not thinking about this now but in 5 years when your kid's helping him/herself in and out of the car, in parking lots, you'd like the sliding minivan door. Kids love slamming regular doors open into the next vehicle over.

 

[The Critic]

Congrats!

Since you like Honda, mid 30s gets you into Passport or Pilot territory. As stated above if you're considering more than 1 child it pays to plan ahead.

Passport and CR-V rear seat leg room are about the same, FYI.

Main advantage of the Passport is the cargo area.

 

[Gillsy]

I do not have experience with the Tiguan directly and don't intend to divert the direction of this thread if that's your primary goal.

But anytime I see a thread about a family vehicle with a budget in the $30k ballpark, I have to voice the opinion to check out Mazda. They're often overlooked and the CX-5 truly continues to be an excellent vehicle.

I had a 2014 CX-5 Touring, and loved it. I sat in a Toureg. I'm 6'1", and it was too small for me.

 

[wag123]

2GR-FKS is direct injection, Atkinson cycle. Torque is pushed higher and has very narrow torque band.

You are partially correct about the 2GR-FKS. It uses the dual port and direct D-4S injection system, and it uses the simulated on-demand Atkinson cycle. It is not a true Atkinson cycle engine as it operates in Otto cycle much of the time and it switches to the highly efficient simulated Atkinson cycle during light throttle steady-state cruising (where the closing of intake valves is delayed to effectively increase the expansion ratio to improve efficiency).

 

[edyvw]

I had a 2014 CX-5 Touring, and loved it. I sat in a Toureg. I'm 6'1", and it was too small for me.

Touareg? Maybe felt smaller. But, only one of those teo will be comfortable on long trips, and it is Touareg.

 

[edyvw]

You are partially correct about the 2GR-FKS. It uses the dual port and direct D-4S injection system, and it uses the simulated on-demand Atkinson cycle. It is not a true Atkinson cycle engine as it operates in Otto cycle much of the time and it uses the highly efficient simulated Atkinson cycle during light throttle steady-state cruising (where the closing of intake valves is delayed to effectively increase the expansion ratio to improve efficiency).

Really didn’t dwell into details. It is underwhelming engine and feels weaker than 2GR-FE.
I know it is dual injection though.

 

[measureman]

I've been down this road with 2 kids.mini van is your best bet.

 

[Gladtojoin88]

We have a 6 and 9 year old and I truly think In the 30k range the Accord is hard to beat. The Camry also but the Accord is a little more sporty but also louder ( less insulation)

 

[wag123]

Really didn’t dwell into details. It is underwhelming engine and feels weaker than 2GR-FE.
I know it is dual injection though.

You just like, and are used-to, turbocharged engines edy. Their very wide torque band can be addictive. The 2GR-FKS (and most other NA engines) can seem underwhelming by comparison. I get it.

 

[edyvw]

You just like, and are used-to, turbocharged engines edy. Their very wide torque band can be addictive. The 2GR-FKS (and most other NA engines) can seem underwhelming by comparison. I get it.

Nah. My BMW is NA, though torque is 2,750-5,000rpm.
It is underwhelming bcs. heavy vehicle, torque at 4,700rpm. It is better suited for 86 or Lexus IS350, not minivan. That is an issue. 2GR-FE has wider torque band although it is 20lb-ft less. In real world feels more dynamic.

 

[jstert]

when our two sons were little we had a nissan sentra station wagon. minivans seem bloated to me. it’s too bad that station wagons are dead. the buick envision looks decent if in this situation these days.

 

[wag123]

Nah. My BMW is NA, though torque is 2,750-5,000rpm.
It is underwhelming bcs. heavy vehicle, torque at 4,700rpm. It is better suited for 86 or Lexus IS350, not minivan. That is an issue. 2GR-FE has wider torque band although it is 20lb-ft less. In real world feels more dynamic.

But, your BMW has a manual transmission. It is much easier to keep the engine in it's optimal torque range with a manual. By comparison, the automatic in the Sienna is calibrated to upshift at the earliest opportunity, and to hold it in the higher gears longer to achieve the highest fuel mileage possible. This characteristic is pretty common now days. It can also be infuriating when you ask for power and it won't downshift unless you floor it. This kind of shift programing makes it seem like the vehicle is underpowered.

 

[edyvw]

But, your BMW has a manual transmission. It is much easier to keep the engine in it's optimal torque range with a manual. By comparison, the automatic in the Sienna is calibrated to upshift at the earliest opportunity, and to hold it in the higher gears longer to achieve the highest fuel mileage possible. This characteristic is pretty common now days. It can also be infuriating when you ask for power and it won't downshift unless you floor it. This kind of shift programing makes it seem like the vehicle is underpowered.

I am aware of all that. And BMW’s come with automatic.
I got Sienna before this BMW. I skipped purposely 2GR-FKS. It is dud. And yes, transmission programming doesn’t help. But then, 6 speed is also programmed to downshift at earliest opportunity. Atlas has same 8 speed transmission and yet VR6 pulls hard from basement of rpms.
99% of Sienna owners doesn’t care about this. It is just my observation.

 

[HemiBenny]

My vote goes to a Mazda CX5, as was mentioned by another member, for the price and reliability. In today's market, it's probably one of the best values.
You might even shop some CX9's. There's a 2022 Mazda CX9 Sport AWD in Little Rock for 36,505, which is a little above the low to mid 30k range that you mentioned, but it's possible to find them.

 

[edyvw]

when our two sons were little we had a nissan sentra station wagon. minivans seem bloated to me. it’s too bad that station wagons are dead. the buick envision looks decent if in this situation these days.

One big thing about minivans is utility too.
I transported that Costco playground (biggest one) with minivan in one attempt.

 

[Blueshound]

OP is keeping the Ranger for cargo and the Civic as a spare / beater (I presume). The name of the game is seating - I vote minivan, any minivan. We had a Chevy Venture with 7 captain chairs and it was amazing how often all seats were filled with kids. Around town and for road trips up and down the Eastern seaboard. We bought it used and put 100,000 more miles on it. Just do it. Any minivan.

 

[wag123]

I am aware of all that. And BMW’s come with automatic.
I got Sienna before this BMW. I skipped purposely 2GR-FKS. It is dud. And yes, transmission programming doesn’t help. But then, 6 speed is also programmed to downshift at earliest opportunity. Atlas has same 8 speed transmission and yet VR6 pulls hard from basement of rpms.
99% of Sienna owners doesn’t care about this. It is just my observation.

So, let me get this straight, you are commenting on the performance of an engine that you don't even have? That being the case, what makes you an authority on whether or not this engine is a dud?

 

[edyvw]

So, let me get this straight, you are commenting on the performance of an engine that you don't even have? That being the case, what makes you an authority on whether or not this engine is a dud?

It doesn’t. Same like it doesn’t make you how BMW drives.
You know very well I don’t own that engine. I own POS with different engine, but again, you already know all that.
So, I am not sure what are you trying to “straighten” here?

 

[Blueshound]

Edit: deleted

 

[Kuato]

Yeah you're not thinking about this now but in 5 years when your kid's helping him/herself in and out of the car, in parking lots, you'd like the sliding minivan door. Kids love slamming regular doors open into the next vehicle over.

Great point. Minivan FTW.