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2nd Trimester
4WD/AWD small/medium SUV recommendations?
We are looking to buy a new car and we definitely want 4WD/AWD. We are also expecting our first baby and want something bigger to cart around strollers, baby gear, but nothing too huge. We have a list of about 10 different small/medium SUVs/crossovers we are planning to look at. Tell me what you love or hate about your car or if you have any recommendations or warnings. Are there any features or extra considerations that I should take into account for making life easier with a baby? TIA!
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Re: 4WD/AWD small/medium SUV recommendations?
I have a Ford Escape and I can't say enough good things about it. I can fit my huge Graco Quattro tour stroller in the trunk and still have room for groceries and other stuff. I can fit three car seats across the back seat no problem. I have tried a Britax Marathoon, Graco Snugride and a booster seat. I currently have just the Britax Marathon in there though.
It is not too bad on gas for an SUV. It gets about 18-20 MPG highway.
Emily 8.8.08
Madeline 1.2.11
William 8.5.12
i have a 2010 ford escape and LOVED it until a few weeks ago. its the perfect size, not too big, not too small - drives very smooth and has cool stuff in it like sync bluetooth.
well about 2 months ago i got a letter about a recall on the transmission and was advised to bring it in so they could reprogram the computer. i did. they did. then a week later im driving along and when i went to accelerate the car bucked and the engine revved and the car wouldnt move wheni stepped on the gas. so i brought it in and they told me they couldnt find anything wrong with it and it was probably a glitch in the computer and they would reprogram it again. so they did. about two weeks ago the car did it again. so i brought it back - i wa sthen told it was completely unsafe to drive and they are now replacing the transmission (under warranty thank god).
so yeah, i love my car but this was scary and frustrating. if you did want to get a ford escape - i would recommend getting a 2011 and making sure that they fixed all engine problems with the 2010 recall.
I've had a Jeep Liberty, Kia Sorento and a Kia Sportage. We downsized to the Sportage to save money and now I wish we had kept the Sorento. With one baby you have plenty of room in a Sportage but with another one on the way DS1 not yet driving yet its going to be a squeeze. We've been in the Sportage 5 years and never had a problem in the SW Ohio winters. The Jeep handled better but it wasn't a smoother ride as either Kias. The Sorento was the smoothest having the longer wheel base. I will probably trade in and get a newer Sorento this time. I am staying with Kia for their warranty. Jeep went out on me right after the Warranty period was up and we were out $1000 just like that, the most I have ever spent on service or maintenance on the Kias is a $500 major service which is every 60000 miles.
HTH
We're car shopping soon, too. My lease is up on my 2008 Mariner (essentially the same thing as the Escape). I'll probably move into the Escape. I have FWD and it handles beautifully in the crazy Cleveland winter. My sister also has the FWD and says the same about Detroit's winter.
I also have the v4 which, combined with the FWD instead of 4WD, gets me great gas mileage. I get about 25 mpg.
And I love the size. It's totally roomy on the inside, but doesn't feel like I'm driving some huge SUV.
I drive a Volvo XC60 and love it. It has a ton of strage space for a smaller SUV and is also a very safe vehicle.
You might also want to look at the new model Ford Explorer that is coming out, looks pretty sharp! Also a fan of the new Jeep Grand Cherokee body style.
We have a Jeep Grand Cherokee and I LOVE this truck. Has soooo much room. I have not had one thing so far that I cannto fit in there. Now, packing the truck has become a sort of game for DH and I to see how much we can fit. (we are geeks... I know)
We had a liberty and I like that truck but there never seemed to be enough room. If I had something in the trunk like my nephews stroller, I didn't have much room for anything else. We traded up with the baby on the way since I drive about 20 miles to work and will have to drop the LO off to my moms house. I wanted the extra room for all the baby's stuff. PLus, we have two dogs and they take up some room as well.
Good luck picking your truck!
We have a 2010 Honda CRV EX. We absolutely love it. It is roomy and ours currently gets approx 24mpg with a mix of city/highway driving. The EX has a shelf in the back that can fold out or be taken out. It is really convenient and will be great when traveling as it provides two levels of storage (stroller and luggage on bottom/pack & play on top shelf, etc.). We decided on the CRV based on Consumer reports, people's recommendations, test drive, and personal experience with Hondas.
I love my '08 Escape...not too big, not too small. Now granted, I haven't tried packing any baby gear in it yet, but we travel all the time, and it handles and German Shepherd and all our stuff just fine. I only have the FWD--not a huge need for 4WD in MD (except for this past winter), but even without, it does great in the snow, slush and ice we do get. It wasn't going to get through 3 ft of snow last winter, but it did fine on the roads once they'd gotten them plowed down to 12" or so. I have the V6, which is great---and get about 24 highway/21 city mpg. The only thing I'm annoyed with about it baby-wise so far is that the top latch for the car seat is at the rear of the trunk ceiling, by the trunk door. Don't think this would be a problem otherwise, but I'm a little worried about the dog riding back there and getting tangled up. Then again, this may be a problem with other SUV's too...I haven't looked.
We don't have any children yet, so I can't comment on that side of things, but we do have 2 SUVs.
I have a Vibe that I love. I don't think they're making them anymore (the Pontiac line was discontinued), but you can still get them as a Toyota Matrix -- they're the same car). You can get a used AWD version. Mine is just FWD, but it still handles well in the WNY winters. I love the versatility and the cargo room. The back seats fold down and I've been able to fit an upright freezer in the back (laying down, of course). It rides more like a car, so it's lower to the ground, and also has higher gas mileage.
DH drives a Honda Element. I've always hated the look of them, but it is very versatile and has a lot of nice features and tons of cargo space, so it's growing on me. The back seats can either fold up along the sides or be removed completely. Note that it only seats 4 -- there is no middle seat in the back, but the two seats that are there are wide and comfy. Plenty big enough for adults. It has clamshell doors, though, so I am a little concerned about trying to get a car seat out of the back in a parking lot.
Emily 8.8.08
Madeline 1.2.11
William 8.5.12
i second this!! we have a 2008 and love it!!!! my 4 year old's booster seat and the new baby's car seat will fit great in the back seat,. and to add something, im not sure if they are all this way but mine is a semi automatic. it can be driven as an automatic or a manual.
we were driving on a trip and DH noticed we were almost out of gas..... so he put it in 6th gear to save gas and we made it just fine. also, when wanting to pass on the highway or up a hill, it's great to pop it into manual and drop a gear and fly by!! i love it!!
the handling is great, almost like a small car. can turn on a dime, and still has all the accomodations of a larger SUV.
i vote for the patriot!!
We have a Mazda CX-7 and it's great. It's only AWD not 4wd but it did just fine last winter here in CO. We shopped it against the CRV & Nissan and it won hands down. It's just a way nicer car for the same cost.
The only drawback is that it requires premium gas because of the turbo - but for me the turbo was worth it. Plus, Mazda was offering better incentives and a better intrest rate than Honda so the total monthly cost (gas + insurance + payment) are still lower than the CRV.
DD #1 passed away in January 2011 at 14 days old due to congenital heart disease
DD#2 lost in January 2012 at 23 weeks due to anhydramnios caused by a placental abruption
I have a Hyundai Sante Fe and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. (It seems like all of us love our cars doesn't it!). I have the AWD version and it is so awesome. It drives fabulously in the winter, with the Canadian driving, that is necessary. It has a HUGE cargo space, with extra storage in the floor. If you opt for third row seating, your cargo space is decreased, which we did not opt for. I can fit all kinds of stuff in my car that my sister can not fit in the back of her mini van.
Good luck on your car shopping!
My last two vehicles have been Jeep Grand Cherokees- looking at the new body style now, but considering sticking with my current one until LO is a few years old. I love it- but the back seat in the 05-09s are "short". Grown people in the back have their knees up under them. I'm sure it would fine for kids, though!
I also REALLY love the Subaru Outbacks and Tribecas. They are reasonable, have AWD, and there are tons of different trim levels.