https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 06 May 2026 13:19:46 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-family-suv/page/2#post-2699558 Sat, 18 Feb 2017 08:48:13 +0000 catgirl 2699558@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Things to look out for:<br /> Overlapping seat belts. Depending on the severity you can still install seats next to each other but some cars are so bad you can't. </p> <p>Inflatable seat belts. Newer ford models have these as an option but very few car seats can be installed with them. </p> <p>Number of tethers - all forward facing seats should be installed with the tether anchor (in addition to seatbelt or lower anchors). If you are planning on a lot of kids make sure there are enough and in good locations. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-family-suv/page/2#post-2699551 Sat, 18 Feb 2017 08:02:25 +0000 Foodnerd81 2699551@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Littlebit7: I have wished we had a third row a handful of times. We have had the rx350 for a little more than 2 years, and our second kid is 14 months. The times when mil visits and stays with us it would be nice to have a little more room for her to sit, but an average sized woman can sit between the car seats in the back. So for us, it wouldn't be worth having the third row for those rare times it would be handy. We lived in the city when we got it and I just couldn't imagine trying to park anything bigger. Now we've got plenty of space in the burbs but I still prefer the smaller. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-family-suv/page/2#post-2699477 Fri, 17 Feb 2017 19:51:52 +0000 skipra 2699477@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How many kids are you planning to have and do you need to drive with more than just your immediate family?<br /> We had a Rav4 and it was fine with 2 kids but impossible to have 3 so we did a major search last summer. If we had bought either a Honda CR-V or Subaru Outback instead of the Rav4 we would have stuck with that - better gas mileage and has 4wd or AWD for winter. If you need a third row, we narrowed it down to the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Mazda CX9. I wish we could've afforded the Highlander Hybrid. They are not as good for 3 car seats across but if that's not an issue it would've been my first choice. We ended up going with the Pilot because we found a good deal but it is huge and the gas mileage sucks. If you can go smaller, do it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-family-suv#post-2699379 Fri, 17 Feb 2017 15:41:17 +0000 MrsSRS 2699379@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Love our Flex! We live at the top of a steep and curvy hill that never gets plowed and it is totally reliable in the snow and ice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-family-suv#post-2699303 Fri, 17 Feb 2017 14:33:57 +0000 Littlebit7 2699303@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>does anyone who commented above wish that they had a third row? We are debating getting a larger car; we have a VW GTI (which we loooove) but its a little small. We are debating just getting a larger SUV 2 row with more cargo space (plus more narrow car seat(s)), or one with a third row. We only have one car, we don't drive a ton, but when we do we occasionally carry my (very tall) brother in law, and we also are trying to have a second kid. We take a lot of road trips.</p> <p>I'm leaning towards a third row but we also live in NYC so I cannot imagine driving a school-bus sized vehicle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-family-suv#post-2699120 Fri, 17 Feb 2017 07:18:48 +0000 BSB 2699120@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love my CRV with AWD and DH loves his Highlander. His car drives like a car so I could drive it. The 4 Runner is built on a truck frame so it definitely drives like a truck, which I didn't like. His car does have a third row but it's always folded down because we need the trunk space more. </p> <p>I don't like bigger cars so I'm hoping to keep my CRV forever. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-family-suv#post-2699095 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 21:32:49 +0000 Mrs. Pen 2699095@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a Ford Edge and adore it! It's been great in snow this winter (just bought it last spring).<br /> It's so spacious. It doesn't have a third row, but I could see fitting three car seats across if I needed to. The trunk is huge.<br /> We road tripped for 20+ hours one way in this thing and it was fantastic, and so comfortable.<br /> My only complaint is the gas mileage (about 17-20mpg). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-family-suv#post-2699081 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 20:32:11 +0000 ladybee 2699081@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Charm54: @Mrs. Yoyo: I love our Pathfinder and it's great for our Cleveland winters! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-family-suv#post-2699076 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 20:24:57 +0000 Meowkers 2699076@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have an Audi Q5 and we absolutely love it. It has enough space like an SUV but drives like a car so you don't feel like you're in a huge tank. We have the 3T Quatro which gives the car amazing power and pickup. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-family-suv#post-2699075 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 20:22:45 +0000 LemonJack 2699075@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a Rav 4 and like it, but it wouldn't work with more than two kids. I recently rode with friends in a Honda Pilot, and it fit six grown adults (including 3 tall men) in it with room to spare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-family-suv#post-2699062 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 19:31:20 +0000 matador84 2699062@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@birdofafeather: Seriously love our outback too! It is amazing in snow and ice and I feel so safe in it with my 2. We are expecting a 3rd and I don't think I will get rid of it if I don't have to! I will just get 3 new car seats to make it work in the back row. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-family-suv#post-2699060 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 19:30:36 +0000 Foodnerd81 2699060@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with everything @yoursilverlining: said about the Lexus rx350. It drives really well, I think handles pretty well in the snow, and we have never had an issue fitting everything in the trunk. But now that we have two car seats in the back it's really tight to squeeze in another passenger. And it's decent with leg room but we couldn't fit a rear facing car seat comfortably behind the drivers seat for my average tall DH to drive comfortably. I do really like driving it though and it's easy to get the kids in and out and car seats install easily. If you want more than two kids or frequently drive another passenger keep looking. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-family-suv#post-2699013 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 16:45:43 +0000 gingerbebe 2699013@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The day we unloaded our Jeep Grand Cherokee was one of the happiest days of my life. Ugh that car is so expensive to maintain and has terrible mileage. It IS sturdy in the snow and has a very powerful drive, but we aren't in it often enough to warrant it. Hated it.</p> <p>We were totally set on the Highlander until we rented one for a vacation and it was not our favorite. The cargo space with the 3rd row up is a joke (it wouldn't fit our Costco pumpkin pie) and I was SO cramped in that third row on a 2.5 hour drive. I feel like 4 adults and a toddler in a car seat should be able to go away for a long weekend easily in a car that big/expensive and we BARELY fit ourselves and our hoard into the vehicle. </p> <p>We went looking at minivans soon after and we (even my Jeep loving husband) are madly in love with our Sienna. DH actually drives it like allll the time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-family-suv#post-2698987 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 15:48:02 +0000 skinnycow 2698987@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a Jeep Grand Cherokee and really like it. It works well with one child and feel like it would be comfortable with two also! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-family-suv#post-2698977 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 15:33:09 +0000 agold 2698977@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <br /><p><i>This comment has been deleted by the original poster.</i></p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-family-suv#post-2698975 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 15:31:46 +0000 mrs.shinerbock 2698975@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a 2016 Honda Pilot and like it a lot, but I can't comment on how it handles in snow since we never get it here. We have 2 pretty bulky carseats and can still fit an adult in between them if needed. I've sat in the back row an it's not bad (I'm 5'11".) I wouldn't want to do it for a long trip, but to get us around town when we had guests, it was fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-family-suv#post-2698968 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 15:27:10 +0000 Mrsbells 2698968@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrskansas: how is it on gas? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-family-suv#post-2698959 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 15:17:52 +0000 LindsayLou 2698959@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not an SUV per say, but I love my Subaru Forester. It wouldn't be ideal for more than two kids though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-family-suv#post-2698946 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 15:01:52 +0000 codeitall 2698946@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've being doing lots of research on this for the past two years as I know we'll have a big family and I keep expecting my 16 year old car to go kaput (somehow still going strong!). I seriously have a spreadsheet with Consumer Reports reliability ratings, car seat install details, seating options, cargo space and MPG estimates. Yes, I'm crazy :silly: </p> <p>Here are some great links<br /> <a href="http://www.thecarcrashdetective.com/3-across-car-seat-guide-html/" rel="nofollow">http://www.thecarcrashdetective.com/3-across-car-seat-guide-html/</a><br /> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdmWqCdsjCu50RxrEOlPZJLi8E-xolDWJ" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdmWqCdsjCu50RxrEOlPZJLi8E-xolDWJ</a> (I loooove this series because he actually puts the carseats in, looks at the latch locations and shows you the cargo space in each of his reviews.)</p> <p>I've also spent a lot of time browsing on these car enthusiast sites:<br /> <a href="http://www.truedelta.com/my-next-car" rel="nofollow">http://www.truedelta.com/my-next-car</a><br /> <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/whatcarshouldIbuy/" rel="nofollow">https://www.reddit.com/r/whatcarshouldIbuy/</a></p> <p>The general consensus is that AWD doesn't necessarily mean better in snow. You may be better off with decent snow tires.</p> <p>Top of my list right now:<br /> Toyota Sienna<br /> Kia Sorento<br /> Mazda CX-9<br /> Toyota Highlander </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-family-suv#post-2698935 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 14:44:31 +0000 birdofafeather 2698935@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love our outback! Great for our two kids and we'll most likely keep it for the foreseeable future even with planning on 3 kiddos. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-family-suv#post-2698930 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 14:40:53 +0000 Cole 2698930@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a Volvo XC60 and it's an awesome family car. The safety features are great, it drives really well in snow and it's great for car seats. Definitely look into car seat compatibility if you'll be having 2+kids in the car, usually it's not an issue with only one way but issues pop up in some cars if you add more (for example in some cars the buckles overlap so you can't have two seats next to each other.) We wanted to be able to have three across or two right next to each other so we could have another adult fit- this is really hard in a lot of Ford and Lincoln vehicles. Also pay attention to seat belts with built-in air bags, some car seats aren't compatible and you can't use latch past version weight limits. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-family-suv#post-2698928 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 14:37:41 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2698928@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a Nissan Pathfinder that DH uses that's relatively new. His handles fabulously in the snow.</p> <p>I have DH's 2003 Toyota Highlander. It handles fine in the snow, but I think because it's older, it's not as great as our Pathfinder is. </p> <p>Our neighbor has a Subaru Crosstrek and LOVES it. When it's time for me to ditch the Highlander, Subarus are at the top of my list. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-family-suv#post-2698920 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 14:22:31 +0000 mrskansas 2698920@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a Ford Explorer and love it </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-family-suv#post-2698908 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 14:00:17 +0000 Truth Bombs 2698908@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have the 2016 Honda Pilot and absolutely love everything about it. If you plan to have two kids, one of the best things is that the middle row as three sets of latch anchors, so you can latch two car seats next to each other, and leave an outboard seat open which is much more convenient than having the middle seat open. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-family-suv#post-2698879 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 13:28:07 +0000 Mrs D 2698879@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Loved my grand cherokee...I had two girls in it and it was great!</p> <p>Plus you cant beat the re-sale value! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-family-suv#post-2698874 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 13:25:35 +0000 ustechie 2698874@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Love our Nissan Pathfinder! We live in Utah (on top of a mountain!) and it's a beast with snow tires. Seriously, I never worry about getting anywhere! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-family-suv#post-2698872 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 13:21:41 +0000 PinkElephant 2698872@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love my Acura MDX, but am thinking I'll get something a bit larger this summer. It is fine for our immediate family (fits 3 carseats across the back seat no problem), but the third row is really hard to access with the carseats in, so I can't take more than one adult passenger without the second passenger needing to climb in through the trunk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-family-suv#post-2698862 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 13:01:02 +0000 MrsBrewer 2698862@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a Toyota RAV4, with 1 LO, and it definitely works for 1. We are going to be trading in our other vehicle for a minivan though, and using that as the main vehicle instead once LO2 arrives. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-family-suv#post-2698860 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 12:59:52 +0000 Boogs 2698860@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our top contenders right now are the new Honda Pilot and Toyota Sequoia. For us, a third row is important. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-family-suv#post-2698849 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 12:39:00 +0000 bushelandapeck 2698849@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not an SUV but we have two kids, live in New England, and we love our Subaru Outback! </p>