Wagon-like family hauler

[Hokiefyd]

If you are going to use the 3rd row often, I highly suggest a minivan. We had two minivans, and when we did use the 3rd row a lot, it was very handy to have. They have good cargo room and are pretty efficient for their size. Most of them don't handle or drive all that great, but they do have lots of room.

Our family has now matured a bit (kids are 7 and 3) and we have a 3-row SUV as our primary family vehicle. The 3rd row is surprisingly roomy (I can sit back there with my 7 year old for short trips, and I am 6'/230#). We don't use it every day, and the point is valid that if you are using it every day, and have two dedicated child seats in the second row, somebody's going to have to be a jumper. Our 7 year old is now in a booster seat that just sits on the seat cushion...so it's easily removed to fold the second row forward. It's actually fairly easy also, if not a bit unconventional, to access the 3rd row through via the rear liftgate. Again, I agree that it would not be convenient if using it all the time, but for occasional uses, it works well.

And our SUV is far more responsive and engaging to drive than our minivans were. And nearly the same MPG as well. I'll take the MPG hit as a trade for a better drive, but you may not want to, so be sure to test drive everything out there.

 

[Hokiefyd]

One other option, if you like SUVs, is a 3-row SUV with captain's chairs in the 2nd row, much like a minivan. Traditionally, this was only available in a full-size like a Tahoe or Suburban. But GM's Lambda SUVs (Acadia, Enclave, Traverse, etc) are very roomy inside with the 2nd row bucket seats, with easy stand-up access to the 3rd row, much like a minivan.

In fact, when we traded our 2003 Grand Caravan for our 2007 Town & Country, I tried to convince my wife to look at the Acadia, but she insisted on the sliding doors (which are quite helpful with infants I must say).

 

[M1Accord]

I like Honda so I think Honda Pilot would be great for everything beside a commute vehicle of long distace. Acoord or Subaru Outback or Forester are better if you guys are skinny people. For us, a Honda Fit can be a vacation vehicle for 5 if it has roof rack. The last vacation we had was with my Bronco and everyone had plenty of room but it is a gas hog though.

Wi
Though knowing age range, size, and vacation types, it is hard to recommend anything since AWD and 4WD are a must for me as a do-it-all vehicle as I like beach driving and it snow a lot here sometime. But for folks in warm climate that pay for every service like beach umbrella, 4x4 adventure, and does have to deal with snow or heavy rain then a Mazda 5 may be perfect; it gets 30mpg highway.

 

[badtlc]

The Mazda5 is the coolest, most practical utilitarian vehicle sold in the USA, IMO. If you got 4 people, it is super comfy and tons of cargo room. If you need to haul 6 people around town, it can do that too. The 3rd row is surprising comfortable for people under 6' but probably not for a 6 hour road trip.

If you put down all the seats, the cargo room is fantastic.

 

[itguy08]

Surprised nobody mentioned the Ford Flex. Been around 2009, very reliable and is extremely roomy and, IMHO cool looking. The 3rd row is surprisingly roomy. I'm 6"2' and while I wouldn't want to spend 8 hours back there I fit surprisingly well.

It's the successor to the Freestyle/ Taurus X. Definitely worth a look.

 

[mpvue]

I'll be like the 4th or 5th person to suggest a Mazda5; I have an '09 5 speed. 28-30mpg hwy.
the 3rd row is adult-usable, I'm 5'9" and I've sat back there. you have to get creative w/ fore-aft adjustment of the middle and front if kids start complaining (like my 12yo w/ long legs)
our next car would be a ford flex, way more room and can seat 3 in the middle (mazda5 is only 2 in the middle)
for road trips, we borrow a roof box.

 

[Stewart Fan]

Originally Posted By: mpvue
I'll be like the 4th or 5th person to suggest a Mazda5;


My wife and kids really liked the Mazda5. Looking back I can't remember what it was that steered us away from it when we bought the Outback.

 

[kkreit01]

New? Used? Price range? For new, I'd pick Durango V6. Used, your options are plenty. It sounds like you want 3rd row?

 

[AuthorEditor]

Maybe this doesn't apply to you, but when our kids were young and our friends had kids too there were lots of minivans and big SUVs in the group. Some of the kids just could not ride any distance in that third row without getting car sick--seriously car sick! My wife feels the same way back there. I think it's something about the claustrophobia, combined with a poor view of the outside, and the fact you're right over the rear wheels--lots of up and down with a full load.

 

[jorton]

I don't remember how much gas was last October but reliability/maintenance costs should still be #1. Does that eliminate foreign makes?

For a family man or woman who's tired of Ford Focus size cars this post is a great reference.

 

[jdawg89]

Get an old suburban and enjoy your 8-10 mpg!! I love it. Lol

 

[meep]

even the fullsize utes are deceiving. tahoe and expi have raised floors beneath that third row. we needed a family vehicle to carry six. we have an mdx with 3rd row. //when you actually sit in it//, the 3rd row of a tahoe/expi was nearly the same as the acura. they were wider.... but knee room, leg extension, back angle, the same.

the good-ole minivan won hands down. and gets better mpg. just not as fashionable to be seen in. no regrets on buying the van. it's what they are designed to do.

 

[scurvy]

I'll also suggest the Mazda 5. Ours has been fantastic. Good fuel economy and AFAIK the only three-row vehicle available new in the US with a manual transmission.

If you've got any specific questions about one, please let me know. But seeing as you're also in Chicago, if you want to see one in person...

 

[Smokescreen]

We still have the suburban for now for towing but we recently moved to a 2005 Buick LeSabre 6 seater for passenger duty and trips not requiring the tow. The area behind the suburban's 3rd row is seriously rivalled by the cavernous trunk space in the LeSabre. The fuel economy in the LeSabre is staggering for a car its size, power and comfort..... I can easily get 42mpgUS and have done it many times. For that kind of fuel economy over the suburban I can afford to stop every now and then to stretch and have a snack with the family.

 

[Smokescreen]

...I meant 42mpg Imp...or 35mpgUS...sorry

 

[cptbarkey]

the stigma against minivans is just that, a fad which supports the wasteful purchasing of crossovers and 4 door pickups. buy a minivan and enjoy the benefits.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: cptbarkey
the stigma against minivans is just that, a fad which supports the wasteful purchasing of crossovers and 4 door pickups. buy a minivan and enjoy the benefits.



+1. With less space and utility. That said, some of the vans seem too wide and even more bulky than SUVs.

I really wish there was something a bit more like an SUV in body style, but with sliding side doors. Makes tight spot entry and exit better.

Todays SUVs and minivans are all just cars.

 

[The_Jeff]

Originally Posted By: AuthorEditor
Maybe this doesn't apply to you, but when our kids were young and our friends had kids too there were lots of minivans and big SUVs in the group. Some of the kids just could not ride any distance in that third row without getting car sick--seriously car sick! My wife feels the same way back there. I think it's something about the claustrophobia, combined with a poor view of the outside, and the fact you're right over the rear wheels--lots of up and down with a full load.


All that and most vans have tinted windows in the way-back but bright light coming in the windshield. I rode over the rear axle of school busses and didn't get sick. Of course busses put function ahead of form and don't have all this swoopy metalwork taking up window space.