Mommy car

[sarahsas]

I'm probably going to want to get a new car pretty soon. I currently drive a fairly small car (Hyundai Accent). With a baby on the way, I know I'm going to outgrow it quickly (plus it's almost 8 years old).

I'm considering a small SUV. I hate big cars/sedan type. Being short (under 5'), I find it hard to see the hood and trunk and it's not comfortable. Back when I was first driving, my dad had a SUV (GMC Jimmy) and I loved driving it.

But gas mileage is important to me - I don't want a guzzler.

Are there any vehicles that are MM, gas efficient, and small SUV-ish? I would love recommendations! Bonus if you can tell me the ballpark price and/or gas mileage.

[curbsideprophet]

I love our Prius v. Not sure it would be considered MM but it is fuel efficient and has a decent amount of room. We typically get at least 40 mpg.

Are you looking to buy new or used? How much do you want to spend?

[Deleted]

I totaled my CR-V in June and have a Prius V now. I like the Prius much better. It's as roomy as the CR-V was on the interior, but it's more compact and gets much MUCH better gas mileage. You can slide the rear seats forward and back which is super useful, and it's got a lot of features I love like backup camera, built in nav, Bluetooth etc (though to be fair a lot of these come standard nowadays... my CR-V was a 2008).

We paid about $30k (edit: including TTL) for the highest trim level (Five) and I get a little under 40 MPG driving almost exclusively in shitty LA traffic. We got the highest trim because leather interior was a non-negotiable for me and that was the only trim that offered it, which is sort of a negative, but not uncommon for cars in this price range I think.

[jackie011]

I have a Mazda CX-5, a small SUV. It gets excellent mileage, but IMO, it's pretty small. We're just waiting for DH's car to bite the dust so we can get a minivan. He'll take the CX-5. Were not small people, so I know that's part of the issue.

It's pretty zippy and fun to drive, though.

[elocrates]

If you plan to have more than two kids, I would strongly suggest thinking ahead to what you'll need to comfortably fit three carseats/ boosters. The more kids you put in it (and all their stuff), the more you realize how small a vehicle feels.

As for small SUVs, a Chevy Trailblazer drives pretty well for a short person. Gas mileage might not be as good as you want, though. Just get out there and test drive a bunch across a variety of brands. We found that too much pre-planning pigeon-holed us into being less open to other options that were a good fit. Do it sooner than later as you're body positioning will change as your belly gets bigger and what is comfortable to drive now when you're pregnant may not fit the same when you're not pregnant.

[sarahsas]

I am open to new and used. Budget, definitely under 30k but prefer closer to 20 if possible.

We don't plan on having more than 2 kids.

I don't like the Prius. My mom has one and.. meh. I like the inside but don't enjoy driving it.

[Deleted]

We have a regular Prius now. We get 48-50 mpg and spent about $22,000 in 2011. I have no complaints, it holds a ton if stuff for its size and is comfortable. No mechanical issues so far.

[ginkgoleaf]

Maybe a Subaru Forester? I have an outback but forester is smaller.

Before that I had a Toyota RAV4, that was a great car too.

[jewel]

Another CRV lover.

[redpenmama]

We've been really happy with our Ford Edge.

[arebee]

We have a Toyota Rav4.

[waterchurch]

Mazda 5! The size of a small suv but with sliding doors. I love mine.

[bowies]

Hyundai has a small SUV I believe. You'd get a loyalty discount and the 10 year warranty.

[cjeanette]

We bought a crv new last August. No regrets. I love that car. We also own a 13 year old civic that runs great (knock wood) so we hope this can last 10 years until E needs a car.

[july]

I have a Chevy equinox. I get around 25 mpg average, city and highway. I think the price was less than 24.5k after incentives and before trade in. I got the package with rear camera (love) and remote start. We looked at other small SUVs and thought it was the best value. At the time, some of the other SUVs had really dated interiors/ ugly seats and the Equinox looked more stylish to me. We also like the Edge, but the mileage was worse and it was more expensive. As a short person, I didn't like the high center console in the Edge, but it was a nice car. It drove a little more refine than the Equinox.

[CloudBee]

Another CR-V lover checking in.

[thejen626]

I drove a 97 CRV for two years, and a 2007 CRV for 5 years, and loved both of them very very much.

[teatimefor2]

My dad has a Kia explorer (I think that it's 'name' and loves it.

[toutsuite]

Another fan of the crv here!

[VillainV]

I loved my CR-V (now have a pilot). Also the Ford Escape is comfy inside and has some nice features.

[stealthmom]

Mazda 5. It is a great small car with kids. I love it.

[kordanegirl]

Honda Element. Loved it.

[ryry]

Another CRV lover here. I also have a 2008, and it has about 135k miles on it. We've had to do nothing but routine maintenance on it, and it fits two car seats easily. We're heading towards baby 3, and I plan to keep the crv around for a bit longer because it can fit 3 seats. Plus, the cargo space is great.

[sh10]

I love our Nissan Rogue. It gets about 27 highway and 22 city but that's a 2008. We bought it for $22k in 2010. I personally feel it's getting small with DS, especially when we travel, but I think that's just because we pack a lot, I don't think that's the car itself.

[bunnymendelbaum]

I drive a used bmw wagon and like it. My brother has the Mazda CX-5 and really likes it. Mazda is coming out with a smaller version this spring cx-3? And it looks really great. (Saw it at the Detroit auto show) mileage should be very good.

A Ford C-Max is a little fugly, but very roomy inside and great mileage. The edge and flex are nice, but mileage is not great. Focus sucks for rear facing carseat.
My mom has a small gmc suv (Arcadia?) and it sucks, the engine option to get good gas mileage makes it feel like you are driving a lawnmower. My FIL has the traverse and it is nice (3rd row), not sure on mileage.
A good friend has a crv and likes it.

[Velar Fricative]

We've had our Equinox since 2008 and it's been great! DH drives a ton and it has held up very well.

[lulu21]

I had a Kia Sorento and loved it. Never had any problems! I traded it in because we travel too often and it was cramped for 2 adults, a baby and 2 dogs. We do plan on having more kids.

[rugbywife]

We bought a Kia Sorento this fall and it won out because it and the Hyundai Santa Fe had the best mileage stats compared to the rest of the field. We preferred the interior on the Sorento because we only liked the interior on the nicest package of the Santa Fe and all the Kias have the same interiors regardless of package. We chose to go 5 seater and take extra storage space in the back as opposed to 7 seater. We also went V4 not V6 to help with mileage.

We love it.

[Poeticxpassion]

Love our 2013 CRV!

[mae141]

We used to be a Hyundai family, but I recently got rid of my Elantra and got a CRV. It costs a little more than the Tuscon, but I think Hondas are much better quality for not a whole lot more. I've been very happy with it.