If you have 3LO under 4y and drive a Crossover SUV or Minivan please give your input!!!

littlebabyV

A little about us: I have 3 kids 3.5y, 2y, and 1month old. we dont have pets and we dont have family near by. My parents come to visit once a year and Dh family rarely ever.  

If you drive a crossover:                                                                                    We are trading our Honda CRV since we dont have room with our latest addition. I want a cross over SUV ( Looking at buick Enclave, GMC Ardadia, and Chevrolet Traverse) but dh is not convinced with the storage/trunk space. Id love to hear which cross over you drive, how much you like it, how do you have the seating configured; when you go out of town, can you fit all your stuffs (suitcases, strollers etc..)..Do you regret not having bought a Minivan (husband first choice)??? Any other input would be great, i need to make a decision this week.

If you drive a Minivan: Which one you drive? How much you like it? Pros/Cons.  This is not my first choice, but definitely i would do what it is best for us.  My husband thinks this is the way to go.  Any input would be great!

Thanks a MILLION!!!!

virginiamorse

My kids are 5, 4 and 1.  We have a Chrysler Town & COuntry.  I LOVE it, cannot imagine trying to squish everything into a suv.  My older 2 sit in the 3rd row, baby sits in the captains chair behind driver, passenger captains chair is folded down (stow n go) and I have a mat there.  I can easily do diaper changes in that spot and climb in (and close the door behind me when it's cold) to buckle everyone in.  We travel to see family a few times a year and all our stuff just fits, we have been thinking about getting a pod thing for the top of the car when we travel just to not be so packed in (we always wind up with lots more on our way home b/c MIL loads us up).

HTH!

boo-bitz

We have a Dodge Journey and it rocks. We do only have one wee one for now, but we have fit 4 adults, 1 3 year old in a car seat, full camping gear (8 person tent, sleeping bags for all) lus food, plus everything for said 3 year old and had a bit of room to spare...

pricklepants

I drive a nissan rouge and I can fit 3 britax seats in the back. I am pretty sure I could get all 3 rear facing even. I know I can 2 1 RF and 2 FF though. Dh is over 6' and I am 5'11" It is a pretty roomy car.

JENandJEH

We just got a Toyota Sienna and I LOVE it.  I was totally against a van and we test drove the Acadia, Enclave and Highlander since they all have the captains chairs with 3rd row option.  I was in love with the Acadia but not the price for everything we wanted options-wise. 

 

DH insisted we test drive a van and once we drove it, I was sold.  The cargo space in the Acadia didn't compare at all to the van.  I've had it a little over 2 months and love love love it.  We just took a 10 hour road trip and everyone was comfy, even with all of our luggage in the back.  It was also much less expensive with all of the same options than the Acadia.  Once I saw the price difference for all of the same options (DVD, navigation, blue tooth, leather, heated seats, backup camera, roof rack/crossbars, automatic liftgate) I just couldn't deny that the van was the better financial option. 

 

Good luck!

FutureMrsCaesar

I have a 3 yr old and a 7 mo old and a teenage step daugher.  We have a Volvo XC90 and a GMC Acadia.  I drive the Volvo and love it, but it would be most practical for you once one of your kids can sit in a booster.  It has a built-in booster in the middle row, center seat.

The Acadia is nice, captains chairs make it really easy for my step daugher to get into the back row, but I agree with the previous poster, it is expensive.  The loaded Acadia cost more than my husbands Mercedes!  Kinda lame.   It has a good amount of cargo room in the back, with the 3rd row up.  Not enough for an entire familys luggage for a vacation but enough for a double stroller + diaper bag, etc.

I probably won't ever own a minivan just because I refuse to, however I totally see why they would be nice to have.  I'd love to have doors that don't swing open and that will open with the click of a button. 

webMistress0609

I have a Sienna & love it. I really was anti-minivan, but with a teenage SD that needs access to the 3rd seat, captains chairs was a must. We also have a 90 lb greyhound & felt like the crossovers weren't going to give us enough space. 

Power doors & liftgate will also change your life! 

benkari

I have 4 two year olds and a Toyota Sienna that I love, love, love!  I love having sliding doors that open with the touch of a button on my key ring.  I love that it drives like my old car (Toyota Camry) and I love all the space.  I can truly pack for the 6 of us for a 3 day weekend away  in just the truck space.  I also love that I can fit 3 car seats across the 3rd row leaving room for additional passengers or a diaper changing area in the 2nd row!