Our 2016 Pilot's transmission has died so we are looking to move on.
We started assuming we'd get a Highlander Hybrid. But my 12 year old climbed into the third row and her knees literally pushed her chin up the leg room was so bad. And if we moved the second row up enough she could barely sit, the leg room there became really squished.
So we tried a Sienna Hybrid, but the roof was too low for DH's head if he sat in the second or third row (while he isn't usually back there, we expect to be driving teens so someone his size needs to fit in that second row).
So far, the only car that has actually fit people in our family was the Acura MDX. (When we tried, we found the current Pilot has lost interior space compared to the 2016 model). We're tallish, but not by a lot (DD and I are both 5'7". A car should be able to fit someone 5'7" in any passenger seat.)
If you drive a 3rd row car, can a teen or adult actually sit in that third row (when driving for an hour - not just around the block or an emergency)?
"Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies-"God damn it, you've got to be kind.”
Post by DotAndBuzz on Oct 17, 2023 15:02:13 GMT -5
Welcome to the "Pilot's transmission died club." :/
I ditched mine for a subaru ascent. I use the 3rd row all the time for carpool, and no complaints. I wouldn't want to take a cross country road trip in it, but for shorter drives it's fine. My 5'1" 12 year old is usually the one back there, and she hasn't hit her growth spurt yet. No complaints.
I will say, H finds it VERY uncomfortable (he's 6'1"), both the driver and passenger seat. I love it, but he swears it's not "made for him." But I love love love it.
edit - I got the one with captains chairs in the middle row, which makes it MUCH easier to get to the back row, especially for bigger bodies
We have a VW Atlas, and yes, an adult can fit. I tend to get a little claustrophobic back there with not having a door or a window that rolls down, but I can do it. I'm 5'2" so that doesn't say much, but my 6'2" H rode back there for ~3 hours each way last Thanksgiving because we had extra people in the car, and he is less bothered than me back there.
We have a Honda Odyssey and at 6'0", I'm fine in our 3rd row. I've taken my 14 year old and a few of his friends out and about in the car, and his tall friends all seem to be fine in the 3rd row too.
I have a Buick Enclave but you'll also find the same amount of space in a Chevy Traverse. My oldest is 11 and 5'5, and he regularly sits in the third row for long car trips (we have 4 kids so 2 are always back there). I'm 5'8 and can fit just fine but it's not my favorite place to sit.
I might upgrade to something a little bigger next time (maybe a Tahoe), but not because of leg room. I need more trunk/storage space more than anything
Post by CrazyLucky on Oct 17, 2023 15:18:05 GMT -5
We have a Hyundai Palisade, which is basically the same as a Kia Telluride. Kids can definitely fit in the third row. I can sit in the third row for a regular trip, like an hour. But I wouldn't want to be back there for a long road trip.
My husband is just over 6ft and we have no issues when he is in the back of our sienna. It’s not a common occurrence at all and for teens on short drives I wouldn’t let that deter you from the car.
I don't currently have one, but in the past, I had a Buick Enclave (it was a 2010 or so model year) and a Honda Odyssey (I think it was a 2016). I'm about 5'8" and could fit in the back row of the Enclave, but I was not comfortable, but I could comfortably fit in the back row of the Odyssey. I also once had 7 adults in the Odyssey, and everyone was fine. One other thing is that there was very little cargo space in the back of the Enclave with the third row up, whereas there was a good amount in the Odyssey.
First was a honda pilot, and I could fit at 5'4, though it was not at all very comfortable.
Then we had a highlander, and that was my favorite car ever, but when we gave up our minivan (Town & Country used by our nanny, and third row not so roomy), the trunk space was just not enough for road trips with our family of 5. And because we are a family of 5 most of our trips are road trips, lol.
So now I'm in a traverse. I have sat back there and been comfortable before, but not for very long trips. Our 11 year old sits there when all 5 of us are in the car, and he has offered zero complaints about space, but he's not tall. My 6' foot husband wouldn't even dare to try it. The taller than me teenager and my 12 year old have also sat back there, but they like to complain for the art of it, so who knows if it's really unbearable for them.
When our 15 year old gets this car when he gets his license, I am leaning towards replacing it for me with a pathfinder. I think (*hope*) the new model may have a roomy third row.
Post by dancingirl21 on Oct 17, 2023 16:27:09 GMT -5
I have a Kia Telluride and am 5'8". I fit in the third row fine. I wouldn't want to be back there for a long road trip, but a shorter 1-2 hour trip would be fine. The second row is captain's chairs, so that helps that the third row can put feet in between if needed.
Post by arehopsveggies on Oct 17, 2023 16:28:32 GMT -5
We have a suburban and regularly have my parents in it. If possible I move the kids to the third row and put extra adults in the middle, but we have absolutely put adults in the third row for long drives
My grandpa has a Highlander and I was miserable in the third row for 45 minutes- but the big car seats I have would NOT install back there so it was my only choice
We have a 2023 Pilot and I can fit in the third row (5’4”) next to a similarly-sized woman. I wouldn’t want to do it for longer than about 30-45 minutes, but I fit. It would probably be doable for two people up to about 5’6” or 5’7”, or maybe one person up to about 5’10” if they sat kind of sideways.
I have a suburban and I sat in the 3rd row last week on a 2 hour car ride when my kid got car sick. It was completely comfortable. I absolutely love my suburban but hate the gas mileage.
Edited to add I’m over 5’9 and I had plenty of leg room.
I have a suburban and I sat in the 3rd row last week on a 2 hour car ride when my kid got car sick. It was completely comfortable. I absolutely love my suburban but hate the gas mileage.
My suburban does better than family members mid size SUV’s on long trips. If we are on state highways going 65 I swear it can go forever without the gas gauge moving at all.