SUV Recommendations??

I love my Hyundai Santa Fe Limited :) I had a Mazda Tribute (it was good till the doors didn't lock anymore and Mazda wouldn't fix it). I've had my Santa Fe for 3 years now and it's great. It has the tv for the kids when we take long trips. It rides nice too. I don't like the leather seats. It's awful with kids so you might want to ask for cloth seats. Good luck finding the SUV that will work for you.

If you like the Aspen, have you considered the Dodge Durango? We've had one since 2004 and LOVE it. We have to get rid of it because we don't have room for 4 kids AND enough room behind the 3rd row to travel.
We have a V6 and get about 18 mpg, which for an SUV it's size is awesome! If you get a vehicle from a dealer, DON'T negotiate monthly payments. They're good at making the price higher and they disguise it by giving you a low payment.
Also you can get one without 3 rows for a cheaper price!

buy a used car and send $450 to someone in need each month!

It really depends on what you're looking for and how much you're willing to spend.

Your Saab (and your MDX previously) probably didn't have 3rd rows at the time.

Few SUVs have good gas mileage. We've had a Honda pilot for almost 3 years (just got a 2011), and I'm really worried about the gas mileage.

Getting kids in and out of car seats is another issue (plus how many you may need to get across the back). We'd had a few Nissan Pathfinders before switching to the Pilot because it was difficult for us with car seats.

Check out Edmunds, Car and Driver, MotorTrend, Consumer Reports to see what their experts and consumers have to say. Surprisingly, the Pilot was middle of the pack. Ford Flex, Traverse, etc. were much higher in terms of quality.

Hyundai has really made a name for themselves through this rough economy and is emerging as a leader in the industry ahead of Toyota, Honda, etc. because of their focus on warranties, customer service, etc.

Good luck.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE our Caddilac SRX..... Just got it a month ago it is amazing!! It drives soooo smooth... does not feel like an SUV... Good luck in your search!

A friend of mine just got the new SUV from Kia, the Boredo (spelling may be off) and she loves it! It has an optional third row, but you would never know by the size.

Love, LOVE, my Subaru Tribeca. I was never an SUV driver (I think they call it a "crossover"), and drove an Audi Allroad wagon before this. I like wagons, so was looking at the Subaru Outback but then we had another baby coming, so bumped up in size to the Tribeca. We also looked at the Acura MDX, but this was so much cheaper, and seemed just as safe and roomie. Just not quite so luxurious. But we got the package with the TV for the kids :) It has an optional 3rd row we rarely use, but it's good if you have to take your kid's buddies around! Good luck on your decision.

I have a Chevy Suburban and LOVE it (but I have a gazillion kids and need all that space) but my in-laws and my boss have newer Chevy Trailblazers and they are VERY nice and small...might be worth a look?

My sister has a Durango and loves it...

I love, love, love my Audi Q7 - I'm also not a minivan mom (no offense to those who are). The Audi drives like a dream. You can get one that seats 5, or with an extra row to seat 7. The seats are very easy to manipulate & configure the seating arrangement however you want. The BEST feature of the Q7 is the backup camera (your nav screen becomes a TV & you can see EVERYTHING, so you wouldn't run over toys or hit a little person in a busy parking lot); it also has parking sensors on the front & rear bumpers - again to warn you of something that is lower than your line of sight & mirrors allow. I feel very safe driving this car. Previously I had a Nissan Pathfinder, which also sat up to 7. I loved that SUV too, but my husband felt it drove a little "trucky". I didn't mind it. It did not have the sensors/backup camera but definitely had a superior nav system to the Audi. You don't need 3 rows, but I find every once in awhile you do! We've brought home 2 friends from school, a few nieces & nephews fit in the back, or several family members (grandparents, aunts, uncles). Hope you find "the one"!

I have a Hyundai Santa Fe, actually it is my second one and I love them. The price should fit what you are looking for with nice features. Can't beat the warranty either.

I have a Honda Pilot and I love it. It does have 3rd row seating but I never use it. I keep it folded down so the trunk is big enough for a stroller and all our other stuff. It's definitely in your price range. When I bought mine in 2006, it was the most fuel efficient SUV for the money at the time. I've owned several Honda's and loved them all. I am also not a mini-van Mom so I understand. This is very roomy and comfortable.

We love our Hyundai Tuscon but in hindsight I wish we would have gone up a size and got the Santa Fe. We bought the Tuscon right before getting pregnant with our first and I don't see how to double stroller will fit in the back (should the need arise). The Santa Fe is nice and you would be able to buy one for payments around or less than 450. Before the Tuscon I had a Hyundai Accent (my college car) It is a tiny little two door and I got rearended on the highway going about 75 (but slowing) I was fine and I drove away I needed a new muffler and new bumper and that is all. The car that hit me was wrecked. Ever since then I have been a loyal Hyundai client. They have had great customer service and you can't beat the warranty.
My parents have always been loyal Ford customers and my mom loves her Freestyle. It's a crossover so not quite an SUV.

I had a Ford Explorer for YEARS and loved it. My step mom drove the heck out of her expedition it was a great car and she now has an Edge and it's really awesome. My mom has a Buick SUV , cant remember the name of it but she has trouble with it.

Also out of principle I'd stay away from the companies that took bail out money. IE anything GM.