Recommend your 6+ seater vehicle

[vanillacourage]

We'd planned on getting a new car this time next year, but I got rear-ended today and there's a real possibility they'll total my car out. I am considering the following cars:

Kia Sorrento
Mazda CX-9
Mazda 5
Toyota RAV-4
Chevrolet Traverse
Toyota Sienna (ugh, a minivan...but may be the best bet for the $)

Anyone have these cars and can speak to them, or have others I should look at? Price range is $25-$35k

[mmmomof2]

I don't have one, but I've been looking at the GMC Acadia. It's a good size, without being huge. I didn't think the RAV-4 has a third row, but maybe it does.

[Pom]

I love my Acadia. We have had 7 total in ours. The ride is pretty good and it handles well.

[dutchgirl678]

We have a Toyota Highlander Hybrid. We considered the RAV4 but DH couldn't fit behind the wheel. Even in the HH which has a 3rd row seat it's pretty hard to get into the 3rd row so if you would need it constantly I'm sorry to say I would go for the Sienna.

[vanillacourage]

We would not need the third row often, but would like the option when our kids are older and we may be transporting their friends or my nephew.

[Deleted]

I am looking for the same. The Sienna may be my best bet for the room.

[vegas]

We were looking for the same but ended up getting something more expensive than we expected (Lexus GX470). We test drove the GMC Acadia and the Buick Enclave and I think both were in your price range. Both were very nice and the Acadia got great gas mileage.

[SusanBAnthony]

We are considering the mazda5. I wish it had a bench seat with 3 seats across the middle, though. If the Prius wagon had a fold up seat I would be all over it.

My sil has a dodge journey. It is a little too suv-ish for me. I don't want an suv, I want a wagon or van.

Someone recommended a Mitsubishi outlander? Maybe. I can't remember the name.

My top concern is fuel economy, and they all suck. We may end up with a larger sedan (we have a civic now) with a roof rack for camping, bc I just can't stomach halving my fuel economy. But I would rather have a folding third row,mic such a thing exists with decent fuel economy, which for me means over 25mph for city and highway combined.

[orangeblossom]

It's not all that in the looks dept, but my friend has a Ford Flex. I rode in it the other day and really liked it. Very roomy. It actually can hold seven, but they have the six-seater.

[Redpoppy]

I test drive a Mazda 5 last weekend. I don't know if an adult could sit in the third row. The third row head rests also blocked a lot of the rear view when up.

[sarahbear]

We just bought a used Traverse. I think it's an 08 or 09.... Anyways, we love it! It was 25k and loaded with all the features. We are so happy with the performance, and comfort. Only hard thing getting used to is that it's larger than any other car we've had.

[Deleted]

No Toyota highlander?

[chia]

We went and sat in the 3rd row seats of the Mazda 5, the CX-9, and the RAV-4... As far as room, the CX-9 was probably the best. The interior also felt a little more luxurious than the others (but, maybe it was just the models we sat in?)

During that trip, we also sat in a Toyota Highlander and a Honda Pilot. When we're ready to buy, we'll probably go for one of these, depending on what we think of a test drive.

I've heard great things about the Traverse. Our neighbors have one, and they LOVE it. I think my parents have an Acadia, which they really like.

[Deleted]

My secretary has a Honda Pilot and raves about it. I have ridden in it and it was comfortable but don't have any additional input on it beyond that.

[pugz]

we've had the Mazda 5 for the last year and really like it. The back row folds down but you can just fold down one seat, you don't have to fold down both. Those back seats aren't super comfy though, MIL was complaining after the 30 minute drive last weekend but she has a bad back.

I like the way it drives, it's really a wagon, not an SUV. Gets great gas mileage. We have the 2012 base model and got it for 18k!

[pugz]

oh and I LOVE that there are sliding doors on both side, make getting the baby in and out very easy.

[mollybrown]

I actually did see a Rav 4 with a 3rd row seat, and the salesman actually talked me out of test driving it. It is really poorly designed. There wasn't any room for legs...the last row was almost flush with the 2nd. Not sure if they redesigned it since 2010 though.

[jena]

How many people do you need to fit on a daily basis and how many car seats?

Because some cars are good unless you need two car seats and then they suck because 3rd row access is blocked, like in the Mazda 5. Also, 6ft teens with size 12 shoes do not easily or comfortably fit in 3rd row of a Mazda 5. That said , we still might get one as dh's car. I have a Sienna which the teen can comfortably sit in for most rides.

Sent from my HTCEVOV4G using proboards

[vanillacourage]

We will have two in bulky carseats for another two years, then one full-size and one booster for several years after that. We do not haul boats, dogs, or camping gear. We would probably not use the third row much for a few years until our kid(s) get big enough for us to take their friends places, but we keep cars for a long time and don't want to regret getting a smaller crossover like the Ford Edge, Mazda CX-5, etc.

[ejpint]

I test drove all of those cars as we looked for ours except the Chevy and the Kia.
We ultimately chose the Honda Pilot - we loved how roomy it was, Honda reliability, lots of compartments and storage for road trips. I've had it for just over a year, and I still love it.
My first choice was actually the Acura MDX, but we went with the Honda since we could get more options for a little less money.

[savannah11]

We test drove the Highlander, CX-9, and Acadia. The Highlander was smaller than we wanted. I couldn't imagine squeezing an adult in the 3rd row. We really liked the Acadia but it did not seem worth the extra 10k over the CX-9.

We've had the CX-9 for 3 years now and love it. We've fit 3 kids in car seats, and 4 adults at one time. It's kind of a pain to access the 3rd row with two car seats in the 2nd row but that's temporary.

[jackie011]

Out of curiosity, what car would you be replacing? Is a newer version of that car an option? I know several friends who bought mini vans after swearing up and down they would never do it- and they all love their vans. There's a certain amount of space/ease that you're just not going to get in an SUV or similar vehicle.

We're just starting to price out and search for a new vehicle. I know the Traverse/Acadia is high on both of our lists. DH frequently drives an Acadia for work, and he's a big fan.

[Deleted]

I have several friends that love their Pilots. I have no personal experience with them though.

[jayhawkbecca]

we bought the sienna earlier this year and just love it. has so many features that are wonderful with a family and my expectation of trucking their friends around some day. a bit pricey, but so worth it!

[Deleted]

I had a Sienna (it got totaled wah) and loved it. Now I have an Odyssey and it is so much better!!! Its so easy to fold all the seats, theres an 8th seat you can use when necessary, and overall we just love it. I've always been pro minivan but having one tells me I was right to be so "pro" lol.

[Deleted]

We looked at almost all of those and more. Our finalists were the Toyota highlander and the ford explorer. We chose the explorer. If I still had 2 kids in Car seats I'd have chosen the highlander.

[orval]

I have a Buick Enclave which is the same as a Traverse and Acadia. It definitely seats 7 and adult can sit comfortably in the back row. It also has plenty of cargo space. Just as much room as my old Sienna, just not as tall in the cargo area. I love it!

[jinkies]

I bought a chevy equinox when my daughter was born, but now I regret not spending the extra money and getting the Traverse with captain's chairs in the 2nd row. I have a couple friends with GMC Acadias (which is essentially the same car as the Traverse, with a few more standard features), and I am totally jealous. Another friend has an older Pilot and loves it, but the 3rd row is cramped for an adult and difficult to access since the 2nd row is a bench seat (as opposed to captains chairs).

ETA: we did see a version of the RAV4 with the 3rd row when we were shopping for our equinox last year, and I agree that it is so cramped as to be virtually useless.

[penguingrrl]

We just bought an older Honda Pilot and are very happy with it. There's not a ton of storage if the back row is in use, but we don't envision ever needing to transport stuff and more than 5 of us at the same time, so it's perfect on that. Three carseats fit easily and comfortably across the middle row and with work you could get 3 carseats in the 3rd row. I could sit in the 3rd row, but I'm short (5'1"). Dh could get back there but wouldn't want to sit there for long. I'm glad we got a car with extra seating because we've already used the 3rd row quite a few times either with DD1 having a friend ride with us or moving the kids to the back so adults could ride in the middle.

[h]

We have a Highlander Hybrid and love it. We have two kids in carseats and can still fit two adults in the third row--my mom and I ride back there whenever we all go some where with my parents. It's tight but doable for short distances.

We need to replace our other car soon and will probably just cave and buy a Sienna or Odyssey for the space.