https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 05 Apr 2026 01:31:51 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suv-recs-needed-with-second-row-captain-seats#post-2556749 Thu, 26 May 2016 07:38:58 +0000 Modern Daisy 2556749@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am waiting for the 2017 GMC Acadia to be released and we will likely trade in one of our cars for it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suv-recs-needed-with-second-row-captain-seats#post-2556568 Wed, 25 May 2016 17:57:45 +0000 SweetCaroline 2556568@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rainbow Sprinkles: TBH, we took the 3rd row out. I would say for a 3rd kid in the middle of the 3rd row, you'd be fine. If you had to help that kid get buckled though, it'd be a hassle.</p> <p>If we had 3 kids, I would get the Yukon XL. It's sort of a boat, but I drove one in my nanny days and it was super nice and roomy. Not terrible to drive at all! Lots more room in the 3rd row. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suv-recs-needed-with-second-row-captain-seats#post-2556500 Wed, 25 May 2016 16:31:16 +0000 kodybear 2556500@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we have the 2016 pilot but no captains chairs. i couldn't justify paying $10000 more for just those chairs. i love the pilot otherwise tho. so spacious! the highlander is nice but the 3rd row is tighter than the pilot. altho i think the new highlander is coming out soon so i'm curious about the changes! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suv-recs-needed-with-second-row-captain-seats#post-2556484 Wed, 25 May 2016 16:11:37 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 2556484@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetCaroline: we are looking into a yukon Denali for our next car. How much space is in the third row? We have 3 kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suv-recs-needed-with-second-row-captain-seats#post-2556420 Wed, 25 May 2016 14:59:29 +0000 petunia354 2556420@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My Acadia has captains chairs..We love it!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suv-recs-needed-with-second-row-captain-seats#post-2556399 Wed, 25 May 2016 14:48:09 +0000 JMOM 2556399@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LatteLove: Yeah, it's not for everyone. We had a mini cooper years ago so it reminded us of that car. Good luck finding your next car. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suv-recs-needed-with-second-row-captain-seats#post-2556376 Wed, 25 May 2016 14:24:10 +0000 LatteLove 2556376@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: that's helpful to know, thanks! We go on trips now with a toddler and a black lab and all our stuff crammed in our '96 honda accord! So anything is going to feel giant, but i can see that space gets tight quickly. The reality is that we will primarily use this car for day to day - daycare drop offs and family weekend outings - not to carpool others, take the dog out too much, or go on road trips. But it sounds like it works well for the day-to-day? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suv-recs-needed-with-second-row-captain-seats#post-2556368 Wed, 25 May 2016 14:18:58 +0000 LatteLove 2556368@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@skipra: Yes, that's exactly why we are looking for the captain seats! Thanks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suv-recs-needed-with-second-row-captain-seats#post-2556366 Wed, 25 May 2016 14:17:43 +0000 LatteLove 2556366@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@youboots: @MrsA: @JMOM: It looks nice on the inside! But I don't think I could drive it. The style is a big commitment. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suv-recs-needed-with-second-row-captain-seats#post-2556220 Wed, 25 May 2016 12:36:07 +0000 skipra 2556220@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LatteLove: my sister has 3 kids ranging from 6-13 so probably older than yours and she says the captains seats are so much easier with them because they climb all over and drive her crazy when there is a bench row. They also have a dog and wanted her to be able to go in between the seats. Just wanted to mention that because it sounds like your long term scennario. Happy car shopping! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suv-recs-needed-with-second-row-captain-seats#post-2556211 Wed, 25 May 2016 12:28:26 +0000 BSB 2556211@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LatteLove: We have a 2013 Highlander fully loaded. Anything newer was a bit more than we wanted to spend. It's DH's car and he loves it. I like it and I feel comfortable driving it if I have to (It drives like a car! Try the 4Runner and you'll see it drives like a truck). The 2013 doesn't come with captain chairs but we like the Highlander because the second row slides. This was good for DH who is taller. </p> <p>We have two dogs and they go in the back near the lift gate or in the second row area foot area. They want to be close so they don't necessarily like being all the way in the back in the luggage. In reality though, our road trips with the twins and the dogs have gone down. We just can't handle two car seats, the bags and two dogs. I think road trips with the twins (excluding the dogs) is hard enough. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suv-recs-needed-with-second-row-captain-seats#post-2556209 Wed, 25 May 2016 12:27:12 +0000 snowjewelz 2556209@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LatteLove: oh yeah, I forgot the dog, hah! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suv-recs-needed-with-second-row-captain-seats#post-2556203 Wed, 25 May 2016 12:17:38 +0000 LatteLove 2556203@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: ha. I'm open to to the minivan, but at this point Eric isn't! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suv-recs-needed-with-second-row-captain-seats#post-2556201 Wed, 25 May 2016 12:15:49 +0000 LatteLove 2556201@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: we will likely have a third someday, and we plan to keep this car for 7-10 years if possible. Also we have a dog and I want him to be able to lay or sit on the ground in between the captain seats! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suv-recs-needed-with-second-row-captain-seats#post-2556166 Wed, 25 May 2016 11:42:07 +0000 futuremama 2556166@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: We really wanted captains seats when we were looking (and that's what we got), and now I think a bench might have been better. We only plan on 2 kids. #2 will be here in about 6 weeks. It would be nice if we could put a carseat on one side and one in the middle of the bench and still have a seat for a passenger without having to get to the back. Pushing the seats forward with car seats is kind of a pain. Theoretically, without car seats, it makes getting to the back a little easier, but I've found that people always move the seats anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suv-recs-needed-with-second-row-captain-seats#post-2556081 Wed, 25 May 2016 10:34:39 +0000 snowjewelz 2556081@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LatteLove: can you tell me what's drawing you to get captain seats? B/c you're planning on a 3rd, or it's easier still with 2? I'm pregnant w/ #2 also, and wonder what the benefits of having captain seats/3rd row will be even if we'll most likely stop at 2. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suv-recs-needed-with-second-row-captain-seats#post-2556079 Wed, 25 May 2016 10:32:57 +0000 skipra 2556079@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No personal experience with it but my sister just got a gmc Acadia and loves it. She bought it for the 2nd row captain seats specifically. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suv-recs-needed-with-second-row-captain-seats#post-2555992 Wed, 25 May 2016 08:40:06 +0000 JMOM 2555992@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Another vote for the Ford Flex. We don't have the captains seats because we wanted the capability to seat 7. It has a ton of room in the trunk area and it is really comfy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suv-recs-needed-with-second-row-captain-seats#post-2555947 Wed, 25 May 2016 06:55:09 +0000 charlotte 2555947@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I ended up with a 2013(I think?) Tahoe that was a dealer demo and had the captains chairs put in and many other higher end features despite not being LTZ (the higher end model). Worth checking out perhaps! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suv-recs-needed-with-second-row-captain-seats#post-2555946 Wed, 25 May 2016 06:52:26 +0000 sleepybear 2555946@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have any personal experience with SUVs, but I had a friend who bought a Traverse and had the second row replaced with captains seats. So that could be an option - sometimes I think it works out cheaper to have them installed, as opposed to buying the nicer model that comes with them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suv-recs-needed-with-second-row-captain-seats#post-2555909 Wed, 25 May 2016 00:49:59 +0000 CRGmama 2555909@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just looked at a 2016 Ford Explorer that had second row captain seats. It was the XLT, which is one model up from the base. I wanted it so bad! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suv-recs-needed-with-second-row-captain-seats#post-2555885 Tue, 24 May 2016 22:41:41 +0000 MrsA 2555885@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My sister loves her Ford Flex too! My parents even admit it is comfortable and they're hard to please ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suv-recs-needed-with-second-row-captain-seats#post-2555883 Tue, 24 May 2016 22:28:51 +0000 youboots 2555883@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We loooooove our Ford Flex with captains chairs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suv-recs-needed-with-second-row-captain-seats#post-2555879 Tue, 24 May 2016 22:20:02 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 2555879@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ha we just went through this. Just be aware that the pricey pilot with captains chairs still has a console between those seats that can't be moved. That and being forced to buy top trim made us look elsewhere. Highlander was ok but the third row was laughably tight.</p> <p>I was very tempted by the Ford Flex. If you like the styling (I know many don't) it is super roomy! Ultimately we went with a Nissan Pathfinder. It actually doesn't have captains chairs but you can slide the seat forward with a car seat attached to access the back -- we only wanted captains chairs for easier access. And we got a great deal compared to Honda/Toyota. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suv-recs-needed-with-second-row-captain-seats#post-2555833 Tue, 24 May 2016 20:51:18 +0000 gingerbebe 2555833@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Come over to the dark side and get a minivan. We bought a 2012 Sienna XLE last fall with 38,000 miles and all the bells and whistles (leather, moonroof, power trunk and power sliding doors), captains chairs with an insert to make it a second row bench seat, tons of storage and a zippy V6 drive for $26K. We rented a 2015 Highlander last year fully loaded and test drive the Pilot Touring and it didn't even compare in terms of room. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suv-recs-needed-with-second-row-captain-seats#post-2555779 Tue, 24 May 2016 19:02:48 +0000 futuremama 2555779@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have the '14 Highlander and love it. Most of the time, we have the back seats down for cargo (stroller, groceries, etc). We've used it for adults in the back every now and then. I wouldn't want to drive cross country back there, but it's not bad for short trips, and I'm 5'10" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suv-recs-needed-with-second-row-captain-seats#post-2555777 Tue, 24 May 2016 18:57:19 +0000 LatteLove 2555777@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Astro Bee: @Mrs. Champagne: we will definitely look at the Sante Fe - thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suv-recs-needed-with-second-row-captain-seats#post-2555775 Tue, 24 May 2016 18:53:02 +0000 SweetCaroline 2555775@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We love our GMC Yukon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suv-recs-needed-with-second-row-captain-seats#post-2555766 Tue, 24 May 2016 18:22:26 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2555766@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a Santa Fe XL with captain chairs! Love it so far. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/suv-recs-needed-with-second-row-captain-seats#post-2555761 Tue, 24 May 2016 18:13:47 +0000 Astro Bee 2555761@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have the 5 seat Santa Fe Sport Limited version, but it also comes in a 6 (2nd row captains seats) or 7 (2nd row bench) seat version. What I love about the Santa Fe is that even the base versions come with a lot of the nice safety features (ie backup camera, etc.). </p>