Family Car Recommendations?

Heatherlowry9 · September 2014

We are expecting baby #2 and need to buy a bigger car. I'm leaning towards a small SUV of some kind probably in the price range of $20,000-$27,000 (new or practically new). My husband keeps asking what cars I want to look at but I really don't know. We're talking Hyundai Santa Fe, Ford Escape, Ford Edge, Subaru Forester.

My husband is on the tall side (6'3") and the problem with our current car is he couldn't drive when the infant seat was positioned backwards and in the middle seat of the backseat. Does anyone have a recommendation for a car that has a roomy backseat to hopefully accommodate an infant seat and a toddler seat?

Thanks!

sfgiantsgamerbabe · September 2014

My brother and SIL have a Hyundai Santa Fe and it's alright. The engine takes forever to shift to the next gear so the trans isn't too great. My parents have a Ford Edge and they love it!

NatureLovers · September 2014

If budget was no object right now I'd probably get a loaded Honda Pilot.

southernyankeegirl · September 2014

Toyota RAV4, or for that budget the Highlander. DH is over 6'3" and loves the leg room and head room on my car. I love the safety ratings, high MPG, smoothness of ride, reliability, and the massive amount of storage space. I also love that the trunk opens sideways like a door so if my hands are full I can use my hip to close it, unlike the pull down doors.

winecastle14 · September 2014

Not in the budget you listed but a used one may be... We love our Chevy Traverse.

caitylady12 · September 2014

I have a GMC terrain and I love it! Plenty of room and the back seat slides back and forth for a little more room. Good luck in your search!

houseofthree · September 2014

I have a Ford Escape and i love it. It's the perfect size! DH works for dodge so i also love the Durango but its a lot bigger.

Stargirlb · September 2014

I think the new highlanders and 4runners are super hot

jmcmoe · September 2014

I have a 2008 Rav4 Sport model and my husband who is only 6' hates it because there is no leg room or head room...we are looking at possibly getting an Acadia, we have heard they have lots of room, but it's a bigger SUV with 7 seats.

honeybeee3 · September 2014

I have a Honda CRV and it's a pretty good family car. But if I were to get a new car, I would most likely get a Subaru Forester or a Volkswagen Toureg (spelling?)

Maries1987 · September 2014

We have a Ford escape and love it. My DH is also tall (6'2") and it does seem a little cramped when he is driving, but it works!

id012 · September 2014

I just got the 2014 nissan rouge. Not the select the new one.
I love it.. I think its big enough. I can fit ds the carrier and my nieces booster in the back. Also I like that the back seat can recline and slide back so that might be nice for your husband to have more room upfront. Also like that the truck part can be moved to different levels and configurations. It drives great. The steering wheel telescopes and moves up and down. The blue tooth works great and is super easy.
Dh is a big guy and we have plenty of room together up front.
The only thing I wish It had was like some kind of button to close the truck when my hands are full and a remote starter which you can get if you want.
I leased mine.

Also wanted to add I test drove the jeep cheeroke and it was great but expensive. And the kia sportage is so small! And the rav4 seems smaller too.

2000cougar · September 2014

I have a forester. I has great head room. My Dad is 6'3" and has plenty of room.

caitylady12 · September 2014

@jmcmoe‌ I work for a GMC dealership as a warranty admin and in my personal opinion I would stay far away from the GMC Acadia and the Buick Enclave. They both are constantly in the shop for work. Once they are out of warranty they cost easily over 500 bucks every time you have to bring it in. If you do get one do yourself the biggest favor ever and get the extended warranty! Then get rid of it before that expires. Best of luck to everyone trying to find a new family vehicle!

Milagros315 · September 2014

southernyankeegirl said:
Toyota RAV4, or for that budget the Highlander. DH is over 6'3" and loves the leg room and head room on my car. I love the safety ratings, high MPG, smoothness of ride, reliability, and the massive amount of storage space. I also love that the trunk opens sideways like a door so if my hands are full I can use my hip to close it, unlike the pull down doors.

The Rav4 or Highlander would be my recommendation as well, for all of the same reasons. My H is about 6'2" and he loves driving my Rav4. The backseat is very roomy so there will not be any issues with his seat and the infant seat hitting each other. Although, I believe using the infant seat in the middle is not recommended in the Rav4 anyway.

jmcmoe · September 2014

caitylady12 said:
@jmcmoe‌ I work for a GMC dealership as a warranty admin and in my personal opinion I would stay far away from the GMC Acadia and the Buick Enclave. They both are constantly in the shop for work. Once they are out of warranty they cost easily over 500 bucks every time you have to bring it in. If you do get one do yourself the biggest favor ever and get the extended warranty! Then get rid of it before that expires. Best of luck to everyone trying to find a new family vehicle!

Thanks! I will definitely take note and look at other options!

9513 · September 2014

I'm going to recommend edmunds.com for anything you may decide to look at. Also, if you come up with a few, I have a subscription to consumer reports and would be happy to screen shot the page on each of the vehicles you're thinking about and send them your way

WormyGo · September 2014

We also just got a 2015 Forester and really love it. It is really budget friendly if you go with the lower models and has lots of leg and head room. For us it was also about clearance because we get a lot of snow (it has ~2.5 more inches than the honda CRV our second choice), so combined with the standard AWD it went to the top of the list.

ECATX · September 2014

This wasn't on your list (and isn't an SUV), but we just got a Mazda5 and love it. It looks small from the outside, but it can fit 2 car seats rear facing (and issue for us because we'll have 2 under 2) and has a sizeable trunk when the 3rd row is folded down. I traded in my Jeep liberty for it, and I can't believe how much easier it is to get my daughter in and out of the car. It's a compact minivan, but it doesn't scream 'minivan' to me. It's also super affordable.

kbl13 · September 2014

Definitely checkout the Mazda5. I got one over a year ago and love it!

mc0113 · September 2014

We have a Ford Escape and LOVE it. It's the perfect size for us. We test drove every small SUV in the same class and the Escape by far was the best fit for us.

amiej1227 · September 2014

I love my ford escape. I got the Turbo and it is very zippy, I drive through mountains and hills and the extra power is very nice and it is only a 4 cylinder so it gets pretty good gas mileage depending on how you drive. On space I don't know as I don't have experience with car seats but I'm not too worried.

MoreThanSparrows08 · September 2014

We have a Mazda CX-9 and we love it! It might be a bit larger than what you're looking for though, in which case I recommend the CX-5. It's got all the zoom-zoom of the typical Mazda, but plenty of cargo room.

nfm12832 · September 2014

We have a 2010 ford edge and I absolutely LOVE it!!! Wouldn't trade it for any other car! We are expecting baby number 2 and there will be plenty of room for a number 3 if need be

my Husband has the new 2014 ford escape as his work vehicle it is MUCH smaller will still fit 2 car seats but has Mpg wise isn't much better than the edge. My mother in law and sister in law have older escapes (2012, 2009) they are a little better size wise. But go with the edge you won't be disappointed! Our 2yr daughter even says she prefers riding in mommies car (she likes the large sunroof) anyways hope this helps

tarynlphillips · September 2014

We have the Ford Escape as well. My husband is 6'7" and I'm 5'8". I am not sure the infant carrier would fit behind his seat, but hoping the middle isn't an issue. If we had two kids, I would think the toddler seat would fit behind him and the infant seat would fit behind the passenger seat.

My sister-in-law has had a Highlander through both my niece and nephew. She's 5'10" and my brother is 6'3"...they were able to fit infant seats, toddler seats, boosters, etc just fine.

Good luck!! We so don't need a car, but I do love the Chevy Traverse and the Mazda CX-9 for when we add more kids to the family:)

LaBellaVida · September 2014

I really really LOVE my Toyota 4 runner. I'm obsessed with it!

However; we're needing a bigger car too since the fam. Won't fit in it anymore once baby comes. I'm looking into the Toyota sequoia. I really prefer suv's, but I'm not opposed to the Toyota Sienna.

Tsuga76 · September 2014

We just recently got a Prius V - my 2 door Civic just wasn't going to cut it. So far we love it. Neither DH (5'10) nor I (5'7) are particularly tall but my dad is 6'2 and has a standard Prius and I've had no trouble fitting in the back seat with him driving. The V seems to have even more back seat room so I don't think we'll have any trouble with a car seat and there's lots of cargo space. And you can't beat the gas mileage for the size.

ellasmama18 · September 2014

On year 10 of our Highlander. It's been a great car!

JMcBick · September 2014

NatureLovers said:
If budget was no object right now I'd probably get a loaded Honda Pilot.

That's probably going to me my next car! FWIW, my dad sells Hondas and he said they run really great deals on leases for Pilots (and CRVS). And he is normally not one to recommend leasing over buying, so that's saying something!

cassied7 · September 2014

I just got the new Ford Escape in April. I wish I waited, because if I new I'd be pregnant then I would have gotten the Explorer. IMO, it's perfect with one kid, but I'm a little nervous about having two in it. The kids themselves will be fine in the backseat, but the truck space is TINY. Other than that, I love the car. DH drives a new Subaru STI, which is surprisingly big inside.

TXUltraRunner · September 2014

I have a honda pilot and I love it. They have different models in different price ranges

Samuelismomma · September 2014

We have ford flex! Lots of room and 6 seater! We fold seats and will hold two big strollers and we are getting good gas mileage for size.

drpayne · September 2014

Love my Santa Fe. We are about to outgrow it, though. We may try 3 across in the back but I think we have to get a minivan now.

sanbry · September 2014

We got a honda CR-V before my daughter was born and I'm obsessed with it lol. I love it. It is a smaller SUV though. If price wasn't an issue I'd want a Buick enclave. But we plan on keeping the CR-V as long as possible since it's roomy enough for two kids.

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