SUV Vs. CAR Opinion

I drive a 1998 Toyota Camry. I bought it used a few years ago for $8,000. It has 80,000 miles but runs great. It gets great gas mileage and has a huge trunk for storage. It can hold a stroller and all my groceries. Toyotas and Hondas are the way to go as they have great mileage and are very reliable cars.

We have a Subaru Forester and we think it's great. We get 23 mpg (city) and we have the saftey of an SUV but don't feel guilty about hogging the road. The cargo space is excellent - we have fit a stroller, pack-n-play, portable high-chair, two duffle bags, toys and a small cooler with room to spare. But I have to admit that the backseat is a little smaller than we would have liked. It's actually fine for me, but my husband is 6' and when he puts the driver's seat how he likes it, the backseat loses a lot of legroom. But we'll be able to fit two carseats back there easily so that's all we care about.

As far as what is a good mpg for an SUV, my dad just bought a GMC Yukon Denali and he's happy that he gets 16 mpg, if that tells you anything. Yikes.

Regardless, Subarus are awesome. Have fun car shopping!

On a related topic, can anyone tell me what a good mile per gallon rate is? I am looking for an SUV as well, and one website lists the city driving MPG and the highway driving MPG. Thanks!!

I upgraded from a tiny Saturn to a CRV, and I LOVE it! It has enough cargo room for all of baby's stuff. It's tight in the back seat with a car seat, but great on gas and handles beautifully. And it's fun! Last May, we bought it new-it was a year old, though. We got a great deal! The one thing, though, is that we got a stick and only have two cup holders!!
The one thing about the Pilot is that it's very wide! Maybe look into a bigger Toyota? I recommend looking to Consumer Reports.

Good luck-fun stuff!

I have to chime in and vote for the CAR option here, but only if what you say is true and you do not do a lot of driving that requires a ton of cargo space. I have two boys, ages 2 and 4, and I am a city dweller so we do not spend a lot of time in the car. I looked at SUVs, minivans and sedans last year. I could not bring myself to buy a van, even though I agree with most of the responses here that they are SUPER-convenient and probably the best practical solution. Between SUVs and sedans, I was more concerned with leg-room and space for my kids than I was with cargo space. The only cargo I carry is a double stroller, and it fits fine with room to spare in the trunk of my sedan. And the back seat leg room in almost every sedan I looked at was way more than in any SUV. My kids can't even reach my seat to kick it! For city driving and in my case, where I only do Costco runs WITHOUT my kids or stroller in tow, I have found the sedan to be just fine. If you plan to drive for family vacations to WI or MI though, and only have one car, or if you plan to have more than 2 children, you may want the bigger SUV or van. Good luck with your decision.

Depending on how long you plan to keep whatever you get, really consider the number of seats. In about 2-3 years you will be driving around your older kid's playdates sometimes and it's very nice to have space for 1-2 extra car seats.

I have a Honda Odyssey minivan and would choose that, or maybe something like a subaru forester or Volvo wagon if I didn't need the cargo space for the frequent long drives we make. I personally don't like the feel or truck-like handling of the full-size SUVs (not to mention the mileage) so I wouldn't choose one.

J.,

I had a Dodge Durango up until a few yrs ago, and we bought a Isuzu Rodeo. It is nice because it is better on gas, but if I could go back, I think I would buy a minivan. My daughters are getting older and sometimes it would be nice to have room for some of there friemds.

About two years ago my husband and I made the switch from our SUV to our car. I love the car and the gas mileage is a million times better but I honestly do miss the cargo space. It is difficult to buy anything large, etc. My advice if you are not doing an incredible amount of driving is to go for a small SUV like the type you mentioned. Hope that helps! Good Luck.

Like Jen said below, in a couple of years you will NEED space for other kids- carpooling, playdates, etc. not to mention if you have another child. I personally think that having a SUV with three rows is ideal when you have kids. I have three kids and ALWAYS have extras in my car. We have the option too, to take out the third row for cargo space (but when the seats are in, I can fit my large stroller in there). I have a Toyota Sequoia and I love it. We also had a Toyola Seinna mini-van and loved that too.

I have a Pilot and I love it. I would say go with the SUV so you can have the cargo space. The Pilot has a 3rd seat and you will lose almost all of your cargo space if you need to use the 3rd seat, but we rarely need to use it. The DVD also keeps my 2 year old occupied. Good luck

HI J.,
I have a Honda CR-V and it's great! It's a small SUV but it's built on a car platform, so it's actually pretty fuel-efficient compared to other SUV's. And I have never had a problem fitting anything in--even last month, I bought a big dresser at Pier 1 and the guy looked at it and said, "Um, there is no way this is gonna fit in there!" but we took out the carseat (the baby wasn't with me, ha ha) and folded down the seat and it did! As far as everyday stuff, we put the stroller and all sorts of miscellaneous items in the back, plus get groceries, etc, and we've never run out of room. You can even fit a bicycle in the back. However, as your family grows (those two kids will get bigger and have sports equipment) you never know, so when we bought ours I got the roof rack too so you can tie things on up there if you need to. Oh, and my Cr-V is the EX, with side-impact airbags and a sunroof. I agree, the backseat seems a little tight with the big honkin' carseat in the middle, but that would be even more true for a car. THe only way to rectify THAT woudl be to keep your Durango, which you relaly don;t want to do. Cr-V is a great choice. I have also heard the Toyota Rav-4 is comparable.

J.,

Upon getting pregnant with baby #2 in the fall. We realized that the VW Jetta wasn't really going to work out too well. My husband was VERY happy to get into something bigger. We found a Chevy Trailblazer with the 3rd row seating and we love it...except for the gas mileage. I had a Jeep Liberty and the lease came up in April. I found myself a Nissan Murano and it's great with gas and the cargo space is more than acceptable. It rides smooth and has some pep to it. I'm so so happy with it (so far).

T.

We have a Toyota Matrix and I love it! I guess they're calling them "cross overs" or sports wagons. They still have back cargo space and the rear seats fold flat for bigger items but they have better gas millage and are available in 2 or 4wd. It also is built on a car suspension so it is not as high. It fits in our garage the same as our old corolla did but has so much more space inside that its almost unbelievable!

I have a 2007 Honda Pilot w/ navigation and love it! We purchased it because of all the cargo space and the expandability of seats if we have more passengers. It's more of a minivan on an SUV body. There are lot of outlets and one located in the back of the console that is ideal for portable DVD players and IPOD's for the kids. Additionally if you get the navigation you get the rear facing camera so you check directly behind you for that added safety check. I used to have an AUDI Quattro and I find the gas mileage comparable.

We have been researching this for a few months. If you have kids SUV is a better option than a car. We have a Dodge Grand Caravan and love it.

The Honda Pilot is nice and so is the Hyndai Santa Fe they have third row seating which can be up or down. You need to test drive the vehicles to see what you like. We also like the Hyundai Entorage...which is a minivan.

Make sure you are happy with your decision and test drive them all so you get a feeling of what you like and don't like.
Good Luck

I would go for another SUV for the space. If you go with a car, make sure it has huge trunk space for the stroller, playpen, etc. Once you get those car seats in the back seat of a car...that's it!!! We had a mini van, which I hated driving, but as far as space, it was wonderful!!

Even if your driving is local, remember you have more than just the kids to tote around.

M.

I got a Toyota Highlander mainly because I hated stooping to get my daughter in and out of the sedan we owned. I really love it because it is built on a car axis, but it does not have a ton of cargo room. I know the Pilot is larger so you might look at that.

We came from a Mini Cooper and still have our Toyota Corolla. We just got a Saturn VUE. I still think we need MORE seating room but it'll have to do for now but the cargo room really helps out ... plus the additional space in front-seat area (which we really needed). So my recommendation would be a 5 seater SUV or a larger sedan if you really want to go for the car option. :) We really like our VUE a lot. Good luck!

I have a 2006 Honda CR-V and absolutely love it. The gas mileage is decent and the room inside is great. I'm hopeful they'll have a similar model in the next few years that's a hybred or other energy efficient option. Our second car is a Honda Hybred Civic and it's great (but small for kids and their stuff). I guess I'd try to buy the most energy efficient vehicle with the cargo room you can get by with.

We have a Durango as well and, while the mileage really is about the worst out there (we have the 5.9 L engine - SO horrible), we've gone around and around and decided to keep it for a couple more years since my husband drives it and he doesn't go that far to/from work. When we do trade it and my Escape in, we'll probably go for an Envoy XL or possibly a Mountaineer, for both the larger space (I want 3 actual rows of seating) and the fact that both those vehicles came out with displacement on demand engines in the current model year. That means the engines run much more efficiently and don't waste gas, and the mileage on them is in the mid to upper 20s for hwy, which is really good for large SUVs.

We have neighbors who have a family of 7 and they all fit in a Honda Pilot and like it, plus it gets about 30 mpg hwy, so it's a really good option. I just don't like that with the 3rd row you basically have no cargo/trunk room at all.

I'm a big fan of SUV vs car b/c I like having the open back to pile stuff in and also because I'm short, so it's much easier for me to see in an SUV since I'm higher.

We just upgraded cars too. We ended up the the Mazda cx-9. It has a 3rd row with easy access (2nd row slides forward). If that is too big they have a CX-7 which is on the same catagory as a Toyota Highlander. Our second choice was the Saturn VUE, but we opted to go a little bigger.

Hi J.,

I had a 4 door passat; loved it for 2 kids (when they were babies). However, when we decided to add a 3rd we knew it was time for an SUV. I am not a mini van momma. We started looking at the Honda Pilot which is great on gas and a reliable vehicle. We thought it would be a great size for a family of 4 but not for 5; especially if we wanted to go camping, etc. We bought a used Toyota Sequoia and love it. It has plenty of room. We can even haul the grandparents with us.

Hope this helps! Good luck!

C.
SAHM of 3 kids (4yr boy; 2 1/2yr girl and 8mo girl)

I always cringe when I fill up our Toyota Sequoia but I wouldn't trade it for the world. We also own a Lexus sedan and I just don't like the cramped feeling I get when the kids are in the backseat and all I can rely on is the trunk for storage. I wish you the best of luck.

A.

I have a Toyota Matrix and I love it. I only have one child, but I think it would be fine with two, unless you haul largo amounts of cargo on a regular basis. It gets about 30 mi/gallon. They also have a Toyota Highlander Hybrid which could give you the gas mileage and space you want. I have heard the new RAV4s also have lots lots lots more interior space than they used to.

Another car I looked at when we bought the Matrix was a Subaru Outback. They are VERY nice and have a great track record. It is a V6 so has much more pick up. They are more expensive, but also have very nice space inside and most have AWD which can be great in snowy weather. In the end though reliability was most important to us and the Subaru was older and had more miles and was slightly more expensive.

Toyotas hold their value and are incredibly reliable. I love how the Matrix is sporty and a little different than your average car, and you can fold the back seat down and the entire back becomes a lined cargo space.

I have heard a lot of good things about Hondas too....but at the time when I looked for the Matrix (about 2 years ago) Consumer Reports also rated the Matrix at the top so I started looking at them. Good luck!

We have a dodge caravan and love it. As a friend of mine said about her recent Nissan Quest purchase, "If my 20-year old self could see me now, I'd kick my a**". They're not cool, but they work.

Honestly, we're in the market for a new car and are considering something small and efficient. We're actually looking at Honda Fit or a Nissan Vestra, but if those are too small for you, consider a Honda CRV or a Toyota Rav4 too.

I drive a Pilot with 2 carseats in the second row and find that the cargo space is great, except for when I need to use the full 3rd row seating - then cargo space gets a little tight (a double stroller can still fit, but that's about it). I love the Pilot, though, and think it makes a great family car. The main downside is that it is a bit of a gas guzzler - I don't know what the gas mileage on your Durango is, but the Pilot isn't great either in that respect.

I love my small SUVs!
I cannot give up my SUVs as I have 2 big dogs that travel cross country with us...dogs are too tall for a wagon and I REFUSE to ever drive a minivan LOL
I had a 2004 CR-V. The middle seats move forward and also fold forward, so there is HUGE cargo space should you need it. Currently have a 2006 X3. It's a bit lower than the CR-V, but has roughly the same cargo space.
Both are built on car chassis, so drive very carlike. The CR-V I got about 25mpg when I lived in the city and only drove in cruddy city traffic. The X3 gets about 18mpg out here in the burbs.
The CR-V had sooo many nice cubbies and cupholders and all that good stuff. The X3...not so much, apparently the Germans do not think you should be doing anything but driving in a car :)
Both are fantastic cars...I will say that Honda's hold their value and hold up amazingly well over time. I testdrove the Pilot and liked it, but we were in the city at the time and it was a bit too big. The new CR-V is much cuter this year.

I am a SAHM of 3 boys. I drive a GMC Safari and I love it. It is a "mini van " but it is on a truck chassis so if you put on a hitch you can tow things. My boys are 11,8,and 4. They can all 3 fit on one seat if needed. The seats can be removed for added storage(they can be a pain to remove since they are heavy but it is worth it to have options). I have to drive a distance to my shopping so I only go shopping once every 4-6 weeks. I can go to Target, Aldi's and Jewel and fit everything in the van! I also like the fact that I ride a little higher than a standard mini van so I can see better. We liked it so much that when my husband needed a work vehicle we got a second one. They are the same thing as a Chevy Astro Van. Good Luck.

J.,

Advice to me from someone else says that minivans are difficult to work on the engine... which can be why it costs more to fix.
I had a jeep but now am driving a suburban, for the space. A friend of mine has a Honda suv and wishes she had something bigger. She has two younger kids still in carseats. A Honda will hold it's value well if you go that route. There is a kia suv that is really similar to the honda. They have 100,000 mile warranty new, or 5yrs/60k for the second owner.

I had a bonneville, and it had a very roomy trunk. I would say it had as much cargo space as my jeep, minus some headroom. If I had to go back to a car, I definitely choose that over most cars available now. It wasn't the new style that's out now though. I'm thinking it was around a 95. I think 98 or 99 or older would have the same body style. Not sure how old of a vehicle you are willing to buy.

There is the infinity wagon, FX something?, and there is another like it, not sure of the make/model.. not sure about their gas mileage, costs, etc.

I would not recommend buying a saturn anything. They appear to have lots of problems with their computers. But that is just an experience of someone I know.

If you can, be sure your car seats will fit into what you buy. Carseats are cheaper than cars, but it would be a nice thing not to have to buy those too.

We have a Ford Expedition and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I too do not work so my travel is pretty much only local, thats why I don't mind the gas that much, I don't fill up that often!

We just traded in my Saturn SL1 and got a Chrysler Pacifica. LOVE IT! Not as big as a true SUV but more room than a car, with a 3rd row. Ok on gas, but I have a short commute to work. I love it.

I own a 2007 Pilot and wouldn't consider it a "small SUV"...that would be a CRX or Ford Escape. I LOVE my Pilot. You can't beat Honda on safety and it's plenty roomy for our family of 3....we are undergoing IVF and it would still work should we have 1 (or 2) more.

They come standard with a 3rd row which is much roomier than on some SUVs. Gas mileage isn't stellar, but it's an SUV. The 3rd row of course folds down and makes for a ton of storage space. Even with the 3rd row in use, you've got ample storage.