Best family vehicle?

Bridgetsuess

Hi Everyone,

Right now I am 11 weeks pregnant with twins, and have a 19 month old son. My husband and I are starting the conversation about a new (to us) family vehicle that would fit 3 kids under 25 months, but dont really know where to start! We don't have a lot of cash to spare right now, so it would have to be very reasonably priced. What do you suggest? I'm hoping to find a larger SUV, but am not completely opposed to a mini-van if you think it would be better for my handful of young children. 

Let me know your thoughts! 

LottaLattes

Minivan will always be your more practical option as a people mover!

xnbride

I have been looking at minivans. They make the most sense. Some of the bigger SUVs would be tricky to get in and out of with little ones. The kids would have to climb over the seats and buckle themselves in to make that situation work.   I like to check out carmax because they show tons and tons of pictures of all their vehicles available.

Bridgetsuess

Also, does anyone have any good suggestions for a make/model? 

LegalLadyBug

We will have the twins plus a 3 year old and have a PT Cruiser, it isn't going to cut it. We're going to upgrade after we get our tax return. We're leaning toward a minivan because it seems easier to get small kids in and out as opposed to having one in a third row that has to be buckled in and climb over the seats. We are ideally looking for a Toyota Sienna because we live in New England and its the only one on the market available with AWD. We're planning on just going and looking and bringing all the car seats so we can make sure they fit and are easily accessible.

Mrs.Guz

I really isn't want a minivan but the practicality of it won. I also have a 5yo. We got an odyssey the day after the twins were born and I love it! DH was the most resistant and even he quickly fell in love.

jennybean80

Another vote for the Honda Odyssey. Haven't bought one yet, but that's the plan.

rcnavywife

We will have 4 kids in carseats and are also looking at a Honda Odyssey. Seems the best fit for us in terms of storage and seating options.

badbridey

We looked all over for a non-minivan solution to having 3 under 2, but finally caved and got a Honda Odyssey.  This was the only option we saw that could fit the three carseats across and still allow us access to the back row.  Also, the storage on the minivans are much better than any suv that we looked at.  The Honda Pilot ALMOST worked, but I doubt we could have fit the double stroller and all the gear in the trunk.  I'm still not completely in love with driving a minivan yet, but maybe once the twins arrive, the convenience will win me over.  I do love that my 1.5 year old can climb into the van, onto the seat, and into her carseat on her own. 

cukimerrydoll

Minivan: I'd personally recommend a Chrysler T&C or a Dodge Caravan. They have better standard options and the best longevity in the minivan market. It does mean that you'll have at least one kid in the back row, but even the fold down options for the seats make this not diminish your cargo room. 480 sq. feet of cargo space (with all seats stowed) is best in class and would beat an SUV any day. The new safety features (starting in the 2012s) also decrease insurance costs in some states, and the mileage is unbeatable for what you get. Towing capacity (if you're thinking about that) is 3500 lbs on the newer T&Cs and Caravans.

carrotcake06

We have a 3.5yo and 5mo old twins and did not want a minivan. We had an old VW Jetta and a Subaru Outback. We traded in the Jetta for an Acura MDX.

The MDX is the "smallest" of the full size SUVs w third row option. It has 3 LATCH across the second row and fits all 3 car seats. It has some of the widest hip room in its class. We really like it. The Honda Pilot is built on the same chassis and has the same features.

LottaLattes

I have an Odyssey and love it. My husband now drives the pilot since one of our cars needed to be upgraded and the pilot wasn't working well with 4 kids. Like it works but was a total pita compared to the odyssey. I would test drive a few if you have time but I am kind of a Honda person in general so didn't bother.

Paradisemoon

I'm another Odyssey lover! I was so against a mini van. Now you'd have to pry my keys out of my cold dead fingers. I love that the seats in the middle row expand 2" on each side. 3 carseats in the middle row no problem.

birdy617

I had to give my mustang up for a mini van so i was definitely resistant on the idea of a mini van. I was also looking for something we could all ride in when my parents visit. I wanted an SUV but between the higher costs (as opposed to MV) and having to take a car seat out for people to get in third row, van it was. I have a dodge grand caravan and am (cough) loving it! The best feature is the sliding doors that you don't have to worry about bumping into another car as you're strapping them into car seats and its lower than most SUVs that they can climb in themselves now at 2.5 years. And lots of cargo room. I've gotten the double stroller and two large suitcases in the back with the seats up.

ceechie

I have 4 under 4. We got a Toyota Sienna and I love it. Like, LOVE IT.

bumpuser924057

I have the Honda Odyssey, which we chose over the Toyota Sienna because it has more seating flexibility - the Odyssey has anchors on every single seat for top tethers, and the Sienna only has one in the third row.  Right now the twins are still in infant buckets, and I have them both in the third row and my 2.5 year old son is RF in the 2nd row.  We removed one of the 2nd row captains chairs and are storing it in the garage for now so I can get everyone in and out easily.  When the twins need to go to convertibles, DS will turn FF and I'll probably put him in the third row and put one twin in the 3rd row and one in the 2nd.  Not sure yet, though - we'll have to play with it and see how that works.

Incrediblelife

Another Honda Odyssey vote here! Between the sliding doors (easy for tight parking spaces, but safety as all kids haul in so no one is running around a parking lot!), being able to get from drivers seat to back without going outside (in pouring rain, freezing winters - I did this more than I ever thought I would!), plus heaps of storage space for a big double stroller + a trip to Costco (self explanatory I assume? Haha). We had one in Canada and LOVED it, and now in Australia with twins on the way I am selling my brand new Toyota SUV as the Honda Oydssey (minivan version!) is coming to australia right when my twins are due! You will NOT regret buying one!!!

kgs0505

I have a Toyota Sienna minivan.  It's older, a 2002.  But it has the ability to remove all the mid-row and rear row seats.  So that works for us for arranging while everyone is in carseats, two of which are rear-facing.  I have the twins in the far back, with my 2yo in the middle behind the driver.  I'd have him on the other side, but the sliding door on his side only works sporadically.  The seat in the mid-row behind the passenger seat is currently out.  I get everyone in/out from the same door next to the empty space.  Having that one seat out is great for getting the infant seats into the back.  Not sure how we are going to reconfigure for putting the girls in rear-facing convertibles.  I think the 2yo will go in the far back behind the open space, then the girls will be behind each other, so I can reach in to belt whoever is in the far back better.  I can't imagine getting between the two rear-facing seats to belt them in.  There's not enough space to do that comfortably.

I love my Sienna, the newer models have more cargo room than my model, which would be awesome....someday!  I did rent a Caravan and it was nice, but it was pretty new and I hear they have to be repaired a lot, so iffy, but it does have some nice features.

ETA: Guess I should have just quoted @thecheshirekat ... great minds...

amy1007

I've been driving a honda accord with three across back for over 2 years. Not a minivan fan here. We plan to look at Infiniti qx60 next year!

bhendren

Definitely not a minivan fan. We had a Grand Prix and a Chevy Silverado. My husband traded in our Grand Prix and bought me a GMC Envoy Denali XL, it has 3rd seating and very spacious behind the third row for our double stroller and any other baby stuff we will take with us. We were very lucky to find this SUV and I LOVE it!! It's 4 wheel drive with leather, heated seats and a sunroof and has a flip down TV in the back.

angie637

We got the honda pilot. We love love it. We wanted something where u can get 3 seats across now but use the 3 rd row later once they start fighting lol. Not sure how we made it without it. The aw d is also perfect in this weather. And being able to haul items is nice to.

JAck5209

We have a Honda Pilot and love it! We can fit our DD's convertable car seat plus two infant seats across the second row and have plenty of room for our junk in the trunk.

1+tripsmom

We have 4 in car seats 3 rear facing. We have an Odyseey also. We had a Expadation el and the gas was killing us along with getting kids in and out was bad so much easier with the Odyseey