Mom Car Poll - Do you prefer large SUV or Minivan?

~iLoVeHiM~ · June 2009

I can't believe I even typed the words minivan, aack! I swore I would never own/drive one but now that I have two kids, a ginormous dog, a double stroller and diaper bags galore, a spacious vehicle doesn't sound so bad. Of course, this is contradicting b/c we just passed down our Chevy Tahoe to my MIL and we are currently sharing a Honda Civic hyrbid. I can fit everything into it but it is soo not condusive to our lifestyle and now I'm thinking of trading it in for yet again, something bigger.

Talk me out of it it this is dumb! But if not, which do you prefer and why? Oh, and which make/model of either do you recommend or drive?

Honestly, I was noticing that I hardly see any minivans on the road anymore and I live in the 4th largest city! All I know is when my husband's family came down for our wedding 4 years ago, they had rented a Nissan Quest and it was the comfiest ride ever and the whole damn family fit in that thing!

Brewster · June 2009

I'm currently trying to talk MH into a minivan as well. I never ever thought I would see the day when I wanted one. Ever.

samanthony · June 2009

I prefer an suv. I drive a volvo xc-90 with the third row option and love it!

joseysbride · June 2009

I like a lot of the smaller suv's. We have a Toyota 4Runner, and I love it. It isn't huge, so I can actually drive the thing, and while it doesn't get quite as good of gas milage as my car did, it isn't horrible either.

I don't have two kids yet, but the only thing I'm worried about as far as space goes is how the second car seat will fit rear facing. I'm hoping we can get it in the middle. I think we're going to get it installed tonight.

I also loved the Highlander when we were looking, but we wanted to get a V8 so that we could use it to go to the lake with our boat, so the Highlander was out. I actually felt like that was roomier than the 4Runner.

MichelleWP · June 2009

Minivan - the sliding doors have been so convenient too many times to ever look back.

xbrooklyngrl · June 2009

We just bought a Nissan Pathfinder, it has seating for 7. I'm in love with this car!

mollynpatrick · June 2009

I absolutely love my Toyota Sienna. Love. IMO, automatic doors are so clutch when you have little kids. When we aren't traveling or driving anyone else around we keep the third row folded down and I don't even fold my P&T. I never thought I would drive a minivan either but given the way I feel about my Sienna, I don't know if I can ever go back to a car (an SUV someday maybe)!

mlm1128 · June 2009

I had a minivan and it was great when dd was a bay. Now that she is 3.5, I prefer and SUV. I actually have an HHR that we are getting rid of and I am taking DH's Envoy. It has third row seating so it fits 8 and i love it.

luckyluvr · June 2009

I love our Expedition. I grew up w/ a minivan & will never own one. The large SUV's are more spacious, comfy, and easier w/ kids. We recently took a 20+ hour trip (40 hours total) in our's and it was perfect.

cmw&tdm · June 2009

I'm glad you asked this. We need to get a new vehicle as well. Love the new sigs!!

kittycarr · June 2009

SUV

CleoKitty · June 2009

Minivan.

It's too hard to get kids who are still in carseats in and out of the third row of SUVs, IMO. Plus, in many of the SUVs there is pretty much zero trunk space when you have the third row seating up. My mom has a Honda Pilot (I think, that's the big one, right?) and there's no room for the stroller, diaper bag, groceries, etc in the rear when the seat is in use.

And the double automatic sliding doors on my van are awesome- love, love, love them.

stacynikki · June 2009

I just can't see myself ever driving a minivan. I prefer an SUV.

hikerbeth · June 2009

We drive a Subaru Outback Wagon and it is perfect for us (one kid, hopefully one more someday, 2 medium-large dogs). We do have a pod on the top to carry stuff when we go on longer trips.

However, we drove a Mazda 5 on our vacation last week and it was great. It was about the same size as my Subaru except it had sliding side doors like a minivan which were AWESOME (no more worrying about clunking the door into someone elses car while helping DD in). It also had a 3rd row of seating that could be really useful even though it's not something we need every day. I don't even know if it's classified as a small-minivan or a wagon.

I'm a big proponent of not driving more car than you need and that Mazda 5 seemed like the perfect solution. Too bad we aren't in the market for a car yet.

KrisBriMcBunny · June 2009

I prefer a minivan with automatic side doors. Its so much easier to just push a button on your keychain to open the door when you have an arm full of kids and groceries.

penguingrrl · June 2009

I'm going to be a Mom of two in a beetle and that's our only car!

knmommy · June 2009

Minivan. We have the Pontiac Montana and I will definatley be getting another minivan. (obviously not the Montana)

The plus about the minivan, you don't have to worry about kids opening the back doors and wacking another car.

amiamish · June 2009

I think I'd rather have an SUV... I don't like the look of a minivan-even a full size van.

mikeandmonica · June 2009

We have a Ford Explorer and love it. I will never ever ever for any reason have a station wagon or a minivan. Ever. I know that people like them a lot, but the mpg isn't much better than a normal SUV, so I will take my SUV any day. You could look into a hybrid tahoe though! I love that there is enough space for both kids, the dog, and all the stuff I pack when we go on trips!

DandelionMom · June 2009

I like the crossovers between minivan and station wagon. I have the Mazda 5 and I love it. The other "mom cars" are too big and I don't like how they drive, parallel park, or how much it costs to fill them up.

baby*love · June 2009

Strictly based on aesthetics, large SUV. We have a lexus gx470 that seats 8 w/ the 3rd row and I love all of the extra space w/ 2 kids in carseats, a double stroller, diaper bag and I can still get groceries and have plenty of room.

DH had a minivan as his company car at one point and although it wasn't our style personally it was so easy to get the girls in and out of, plenty of room and the sliding doors were nice when you had to park in a tight spot. My aunt w/ 4 kids has the honda odessey minivan and loves it as well. GL!

gracendantho26 · June 2009

I like my SUV. I was driving a Volvo sedan and it was hard to switch but I decided to take the leap into parent carness several months back. I decided on the Infiniti QX56 and I really like it!

Bellisimo · June 2009

I love my Toyota Sequoia. Like really love! It's so spacious and handles better than any car I've ever owned or driven. All of the kids and their gear fits perfectly and leaves enough room for groceries, etc. I have a slightly irrational fear of backing over a child so I love that it has rear camera and nav.

shopgirl78 · June 2009

Minivan, the reasons I choice it over a 3rd row SUV, I will have 3 carseats

1. I've read that boosters are unsafe in the 3rd of a SUV due to no cushion/ no trunk

2. I love that both my strollers fit in my minivan plus groceries and when we went out of town, luggage. My friend has NO SPACE in her Yukon!

3. My 21 mo old can climb in the van by himself.

4. I love the price difference, although in some cases its not much....

gracendantho26 · June 2009

Oh and ditto this

I have a slightly irrational fear of backing over a child so I love that it has rear camera and nav.

The back up camera rules!

Kelly Madonna · June 2009

I only have 1 DC (for now) but we just looked at the Saturn Outlook (which is the same model as the GMC Acadia). I really liked it. Just thought I'd mention it since no-one else has.

july05bride2 · June 2009

SUV....i had and was very happy with my 2007 4Runner, of course before it burned up in my driveway at night due to mechanical whatever....whole different story. i now drive a 2009 chevy tahoe. it was great for the beach and will be used more once baby #2 gets here in a few weeks.

Ciarrai · June 2009

I never thought I'd say this, but I love our minivan. All the SUVs that I looked at were (a) too expensive, (b) worse on gas and (c) impractical in terms of the third row of seats. A lot of them, you don't have any trunk space if the third row of seats is up. Plus I hate driving "big" cars, but somehow my van doesn't feel as big. I'm soooooo glad we got it and it makes life so much easier for us when we have OOT family come or even just want to carpool.

nettie · June 2009

SUV-I DRIVE AN ACADIA WITH 3RD ROW nD LOVE IT! PLENTY OF TRUNK SPACE!

hopefulmom · June 2009

I have had both. Personally I love a large SUV or any SUV if it has 4-wheel drive. On the other hand, the mini-van is nicer and easier to maneuver kids around. If I had to chose...I'd take the large SUV because there are no minivans with 4-wheel drive. I'd rather "deal" with any inconvenience of getting kids and out of carseats, etc. rather than carrying two kids up a 300 foot driveway in the winter! lol

jennieliz · June 2009

Large SUV. I have a Suburban and LOVE it.

Want a personalized experience?

Mom Car Poll - Do you prefer large SUV or Minivan?

Re: Mom Car Poll - Do you prefer large SUV or Minivan?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards