Does 3 kids = SUV?

MrsJillian · September 2013

I am due with my 3rd child in a few months, and my current car will not accommodate 3 car seats/booster seats. Do most parents of 3 have an SUV? I was originally thinking of a Toyota Camry, but now I am wondering if I should go for an SUV. Any recommendations from parents of 3?

meaglamillion · September 2013

I have a friend with three kids in an Elantra. They seem to have enough room.

nanabanana06 · September 2013

I have 2 kids and a dog. My enormous Concorde is now too small. I'm looking at a van now.

azzyberry · September 2013

I am pregnant with #3 and we needed a bigger car. We just bought the 2014 Honda Odyssey and its amazing. None of the SUV's I saw could compare to the space, convenience, comfort, or features of the Odyssey.

nanabanana06 · September 2013

azzyberry said:
I am pregnant with #3 and we needed a bigger car. We just bought the 2014 Honda Odyssey and its amazing. None of the SUV's I saw could compare to the space, convenience, comfort, or features of the Odyssey.

I'm glad you like it. I like 99% positive is my next car.

MintBerryCrunch · September 2013

I have 2 so I have an SUV (Mazda CX-9). If I had 3, I'd get a minivan fo.sho.

flyingsaucer · September 2013

I have 3 kids (incl SS) and refuseto get a mini van :P That said, when I was pg with DD, I knew we needed to get a car with a 3rd row. I would love to have gotten a Tahie, but gas and parking would have even a nightmare. We ended up with a Mercedes GL 450. I also looked at the Enclave, Traverse, Acadia and Pilot. We have found that it is important that at times, we can make it so that the kids can't touch/reach each other

Princess_Lily · September 2013

I grew up in Volvo Station Wagons which had a ton of room. Now, the room in any station wagon is sub par - I think they shrunk the back to give more room to the areas where people sit.

I'm in the middle of a lease of a sedan. a family of 4 plus two family pets. We will be really tight when the baby gets here.

I would like my next car to be a van or a large station wagon. I love the Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Town and Country, and VW Routan (which were discontinued last year). Honda has a wonderful reputable track record on their cars - very reliable.

LoveActually4 · September 2013

We had 3 kids and a Corolla. It was tight and I only had 1 in a carseat, my SKs are older but they come with their share of "stuff" (backpacks, scooters, tennis racquets, etc.).

We needed to buy a van or we'd have to leave one kid behind! Although I seriously considered that as an option.....

thetheisens · September 2013

There is probably some cars that are big enough for three in back, but our car is definitely not either. We have been looking at third row vehicles. My dh is 6'7" so his seat has to go all the way back so that is it almost touching the back seat and my eleven year old is already 5'3" and 130ish lbs and is squished with one car seat rear facing in the back already. We were looking at SUVs because I can't get over the minivan mental block. I know they are convenient, but damnit, I don't want too! Getting three into their seats in the back seat of a small car seems like some kind of hell,

OhSewCrafty · September 2013

Honestly, getting an SUV is pointless IMO. You're paying more money for the same 5 seats with a little bit more cargo space. We only have 2 kids, but when we were car shopping we looked several SUV/cross over type vehicles and it just wasn't worth the small increase in space and if we did get one that had more seats it was like $40K and a tank!

We went with a certified used 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan and I LOVE IT. The sliding doors make it super easy to get kids in and out of car seats and pack things away, they are also remote so I can close them with a button when my arms are full. The stow and go seats make it easy to transport baby gear and pets. I freaking love this thing.

shadypines · September 2013

Nope

RayRay007 · September 2013

People got away with 3 kids in a car all the time before suvs and mini vans were around. But if you want to go up in size, go with a mini van. Way more space, sliding doors are way easier to get kids and car seats in and out, and they are generally less expensive.

cedenton · September 2013

I drove a rental car recently that looked small, but was crazy roomy inside. Had fold down third row. I just looked up my receipt and it was a Mazda 5 Sport 2S. 6 people fit in it comfortably.

Libby1978 · September 2013

IDK how old your children are, but I have 3 kids and a Camry. My 2 oldest are about to be 15. We rarely all ride together as a family, so when I have the kids the teens take turns riding in the front. If we are all together they both sit in the back with the 3 year old. It works for us.

catycate · September 2013

I just don't get the mini van hate. I'm lusting after one and it will be a few years before we can swing it. The doors open by themselves, y'all. With more than one kid, I don't see a downside.

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