CAR~SUV~MINI VAN 3 Kids

We are looking at getting a Mazda5 they are like a mini mini-van, I LOATHE mini vans because most that I've been around have so many mechanical issues!! But the Mazda is more like a car, and I love the idea of the sliding doors so that my 7 year old doesn't bash other doors in when getting in and out!! The windows roll down and it even has a rear AC vent to cool the car down faster on those hot days!! It also has amazing crash ratings, which is #1 priority in my book!!

Right now I drive a Ford freestyle it has a third row and we love it, but we are going smaller for gas mileage!! Hope this helps!!

I love my GMC Acadia. I have three kids, although they are well beyond the carseat phase. However, there is plenty of room and carseats would be easily managed.

Don't knock it until you try it. We have two children, one carseat, one booster but already carpool so we have an extra booster for our "rider". I have a Toyota Sienna which I love, love, love. It is a dream to drive and I love having enough room for anything - plus room for diaper changing, changing clothes for pool/beach. I also have plenty of room for pumping:)

Until I got my van 4 years ago, I drove sports cars! That's right, two door, fast sports cars. Swore I would never own a van until I got sick of having no place to change a diaper and my last car got totalled. I will drive a van until my boys go to college. Maybe when they are in college too, it would be great for tailgating at a football game:)

Good luck! C.

i never wanted to me a minivan driving mom either. I also have 3 kids. 2 in carseats at one time but now we have moved to 2 boosters. I drive an extended cab pickup truck. Plenty of room in the back for 3 kids. Booster seats and all. I did at one time put 3 carseats back there when keeping friends kids too. Our family of 5 plus large Rottweiler and little bitty shorkie fit nicely. However when it is time for the grocery store and have all 3 kids that is a bit of a pain.
My husband drives a crown victoria. So that is a full sized car too that fits -us nicely as well :) Love the car for grocery days as well huge trunk!
I loved taking a minivan on vaca with us because of all the stuff but wouldnt want to drive one everyday.
However gas is a problem these days on our truck and car. I would go to smaller car now only because my son is old enough to ride in front now and the girls are both in boosters so if it is just mom and kids we could fit into a smaller car like cavalier or jetta easily. Would love it for gas mileage :)

I checked out the safety tests before I bought and at that time mini vans were safer, I havent checked recently

Go test drive both! Bring a car seat and try to put it in... look for SUVs with bucket seats so you can walk through the middle row. Think about parking and opening doors and reaching in.... Consider gas mileage and price.... but drive them both.... vans have come a long way... but they are still vans.... I couldn't make up my mind until I drove both - then the choice was CRYSTAL clear.... good luck!

A van, they are made for kids! I have an suv and really want a van.

I currently have a Toyota Corolla (sigh) - I have 2 kids of my own and a new step daughter. I would LOOOOOVE a Hondai Santa Fe!!!!! I had one as a rental and it was GREAT! Has the perfect amount of room for adults and kids. I took it to San Antonio with my mom, dad and two of my daughters. It was very comfortable, the back seats can actually recline back for comfort while traveling. I loved it. It also had this secret compartment in the back to hide bags after shopping etc... I really would love to get it. Oops, this post is not about me! LOL Check it out. Not too big, not too small. 29MPG, variable engine (goes from 4cyl to 6 to help with gas)

I love my mid-size SUV. I have three kids myself and it has worked just fine with the booster seats and car seat...Go for it. I've avoided buying a mini van like the plague...Sorry they're not for me :)

I like SUVs better than a van because the windows on the back doors open and you can get a little fresh air if you need it. I don't like running the AC all the time.
I have a RAV4 and love it enough space and comfortable. My Daughter has a Rendevous, some models have a third seat for extra passengers. If you don't need the third seat if folds down and you don't even know it's there. One cool thing about the Buick Rendevous is since Buick is considered an older person model her insurance was less then other SUVs.

I have 3 kids--all in car seats. I have a GMC Acadia and LOVE it! I just couldn't do the mini-van route. My SUV has captain's chairs in the middle row, which gives us easy access to the 3rd row. Similar vehicles are the Chevy Traverse and Buick Enclave.

We have an 07 Tahoe with the split middle row (so you can walk through) and the 3rd row seat. 3 kids - 1 booster, 1 carseat, 1 old enough to get herself in and out. Plenty of leg room and space for us + 2 guests. BUT, when you get that many people in our car, room for 'cargo' is gone. Even with just the 5 of us in the car, there is definitely NOT enough room for a full-sized stroller and groceries. We have to take out or fold up 1/2 of the back seat to make room for groceries (I guess that depends on how many groceries you get in a trip- LOL). We have used our luggage rack on the roof for many trips.

We like our car, but wish we had more space for the diaper bag, toys, stroller, and groceries. As the kids get bigger, I know we're going to wish we had something bigger (imagine that!).

Ford FLEX....they either seat 6 or 7 depending on the configuration you choose. Built on a car chassy, so low to the ground. Tons of space for hauling things. You can get a basic model or upgrade. If you want a used car, the Ford Freestyle is excellent. The FLEX replaced it, but I still loved mine. Whatever, buy American!

Love, love, love my gmc Acadia! I have 3 full size carseats and usually a booster for friends and everyone has plenty of room.

Two months after buying a loaded Accord with everything I wanted on it I found out I was preggo with twins (already had 18 month old). Had to trade in and we decided to go with Odyssey over Suburban. Took a while for me to accept it but now we are so happy with it and it is so much easier than an SUV would have been. Really is made for families. When our kids are out of booste seats we'll likely get an SUV, according to my DH.

Don't rule out a mini van. I was like you and did not want a mini van, but once the third kid came along we decided to go for it, and I'm so glad we did. I will never drive anything else with 3 kids again. We bought a Dodge Grand Caravan, and I love it. The ease of getting 3 kids in the car is so much nicer, and there is so much space, lots of nice features. It's the perfect fit for our family.

Hi there! We have 3 kiddos - 1, 3, & 5 and have a "stuff" mover - a honda odyssey and a "people" mover - a honda pilot. We like both.....in the pilot, I can get 7 people (even with 3 car seats)...when we go to boosters, I'll be able to get 8 in the car. It's also nice because the kids can't touch each other as easily :)

A minivan is nice to be able to have enough space for things....I can do the grocery shopping and have room for it in the pilot, just not everything fits in the trunk space, so it goes in the middle area of seats (which is fine, my 1 yr old sits in the middle of the middle seat). My 2 boys sit in the last row.

Good luck and happy shopping!

I switched vehicles with my hubby to save on gas, and I started driving his Dodge Ram Mega Cab pick up. I love it, and I don't think he's getting it back. I can easily fit three car seats in the back, plus climb in the back to put them all in too. The front still has room for two adults and a hump seat in the front (your feet are up higher, but an adult still fits).

I never thought I'd be driving a pick up truck with kids, but it's roomier than my Jeep Liberty is.