What's a good alternative to a minivan (for 2-3 kids + dog)?

babypuplove

We are buying a new car this summer, and have pretty much decided on a minivan.  Baby #2 is due in July, we are pretty sure we want #3 in the next 2-3 years, and we often need room for our large dog as well.  We aren't huge SUV people.  I hate how horrible they are on gas mileage and the environment.  However, we'd be willing to look at a small or mid-size SUV with decent gas mileage and third row seating.  Does this even exist, or are we better off with a minivan?  

Mrs.Hizzo

You're better off with a minivan. We've been looking at SUVs in case we get pg again sometime soon. The smaller ones with third row seating have absolutely no cargo space. So, nowhere to put a stroller or groceries or whatever. I can't see myself ever driving a minivan, but there is no denying their practicality.

MainelyFoolish

You can look at something like the Mazda CX-9.  But with 3 little kids I think a minivan is the most practical choice.

MrsPreK

We have an Envoy, plus 2 kids (will be adding a 3rd eventually) and a dog. I have a car kennel that I bought off Ebay for the dog in the back (she's med. size GSP)

 

DarcyLongfellow

You're definitely better off with the minivan -- they're designed for kids!! You'll love the sliding doors when you're getting kids out of carseats in tight parking spaces.

jessmess0105

Chevrolet makes a Tahoe hybrid but I'm sure it will cost you.  I have an extended Trailblazer with the 8 cyl. and we love it but it is on the steeper side for gas.  The Durango also comes in a 6 cyl and that has 3rd row.  I had a Durango with the Hemi and we LOVED that car.  DH totaled it last year

HarrietNJMommy

You're better off with a minivan. A small SUV is going to do nothing for the amount of humans/pet you're putting into your vehicle........

Unless you're going to get a LARGE SUV (think Denali, Suburban, Escalade, etc.) your best bet is the minivan. The minivan is also more "family friendly" for small kids.

Jerseygirl16

Mrs.Hizzo:

You're better off with a minivan. We've been looking at SUVs in case we get pg again sometime soon. The smaller ones with third row seating have absolutely no cargo space. So, nowhere to put a stroller or groceries or whatever. I can't see myself ever driving a minivan, but there is no denying their practicality.

This!  We have a Buick Rendevous and while I love, love, love it it isn't as great with the back row down.  We can fit the kids just fine but the dog would never fit. In fact the back cargo space can now just barely fit  an umbrella stroller.  If you planning a third child before you would buy a new car I'd go with a minivan.  We are fine now but as the kids get older we'll get a minivan so we can cart things with us.  Our plan is when DH's car dies we'll get a minivan to replace it. 

cactus5

Have you looked into a GMC Acadia?

bubbles46219

We just bought a Mazda 5 back in December. We had a Mazda 3, with 2 kids and one on the way, so we needed something a bit bigger. It has 6 seats, 2 in each row which I don't really like, I wanted at least one row with 3 seats but its ok. I have grown to like my mini-soccer-mom van . I am able to go grocery shopping in it and still have room for our 1 year old puppy who insists on licking my milk jugs every time I take him with us, but I imagine you'd need a wee bit more room with a larger dog. It does have sliding doors on both sides and nice looking. It's not as bad on gas as a full SUV but it's not great either. It works for us, especially the amazing deal we scored on it. A minivan may be the best route to go, I was looking at the town and country van before the Mazda 5.

babypuplove

Thanks for all of the responses.  We definitely don't want a large SUV, and DH is pretty set on a minivan for the practicality of it.  We'll be paying cash to avoid having a car payment, so we aren't looking to spend $40 or 50,000.  It sounds like a minivan is our best option.  I just don't feel quite at the "minivan point" in my life.  LOL  I guess I have to get over it!

emathis2

My DH has a durango and it has a third row of seats that pops up.  We usually have them down but its great when you need the extra seats.  Has a decent trunk also.  I dont know about gas milage since we have company gas cards we dont really pay much attention to the gas.

mandymack

I have an SUV that gets 22 mpg (Nissan Xterra) and have loved it for the past 6 years, I can't imagine giving it up but alas, it does NOT have a third row of seats and we need it desperately as we always have friends/family in town and we plan to add kids and a dog to our family! 

There are several great Hybrid larger SUVs like the Tahoe, Equinox, Escalade, AcuraRDX, Dodge Durango, Lexus RX400h, Ford Escape, Saturn VUE, GMC Yukon, BMWX5, Toyota Hylander and several others that get excellent gas mileage and have the space we are looking for.  Most are in your budget if you don't trick them out too much.    I personally will not be going the minivan route myself but do have minivan-envy at times when I ride with friends that have one as they have so many comfy ammenities!

Good luck choosing!

EaglesGirl65

I refuse to be a mini-van family. We had one growing up and I hated every moment of being carted around in a loser cruiser. I won't put my children through the embarrassment.

And don't be fooled about the gas consumption - mini vans don't exactly have the greatest gas mileage either. I would look at a lot of the options other posts have given (I really want a Saturn Outlook - its a big SUV without being huge) and do some research.

safy

I drive a Honda Pilot with 2 kids and 2 large dogs and absolutely LOVE it. We test drove a Honda Odyssey at the same time too and there wasn't much space between the 2 with the 3rd row up.  3 car seats fits in the middle row of the Pilot and the mpg on it isn't horrible..22 highway, 17 city. I love the way it handles on the road a lot better than the Odyssey, the Pilot has a lot more grip and stability.   My kids are able to get in and out of the Pilot just fine (we brought DD with us to shop for it when she was 18 mos old.)  I'm not a fan of the minivan but I was open minded to it which was why we test drove the Odyssey and gave it some serious thought, but it just didn't have enough over the Pilot to win us over. The amount we've been able to haul with the Pilot has more than impressed us on numerous occasions. I've managed to get a train table into the Pilot with the kids and their car seats along with DH in it. We've also hauled beds, TVs, a freezer. It's been a fantastic vehicle for us.

hokies94

I am not a minivan person either and have never really liked SUVs but since we have 3 kids we had no choice but to get one.  We have an Acura MDX.  It's a smaller SUV and has third row seating.  After having it for about a year and a half I really like it.  It's a great car-it handles really well.  The third row is small but for the kids it's fine.  We haven't had a storage problem yet.  I keep a stroller in there all the time.  I like that you can split the third row and still have someone sit back there and have lots of storage space.  

mnparks@gmail.com

We have the Chrysler Pacifica...3 rows - we love it. But not sure about the dog...we don't have one.