We are car shopping (for the first time literally ever - we have bought our parents cars for the past 10+ years until now)
My main criteria is that I'm looking for a 2013+ SUV that had second row captain seats (at least optional!)
So far we have on our list to test drive the 2014 Highlander and the 2016 Honda Pilot, but both of their second row captain seat options are the top model, not the base model. Any suggestions from personal experience? Thanks in advance!
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
My mom loves her new pilot but it's a touring not a touring elite. I think the elite only comes with the AWD engine and they didn't want that
pear / 1503 posts
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.).
apricot / 441 posts
@Astro Bee: @Mrs. Champagne: we will definitely look at the Sante Fe - thanks!
clementine / 854 posts
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"
cantaloupe / 6131 posts
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.
blogger / pomelo / 5400 posts
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.
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.
apricot / 444 posts
My sister loves her Ford Flex too! My parents even admit it is comfortable and they're hard to please 
apricot / 324 posts
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!
apricot / 287 posts
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.
kiwi / 706 posts
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!
apricot / 420 posts
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.
pomegranate / 3350 posts
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.
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts
@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.
clementine / 854 posts
@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.
apricot / 441 posts
@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!
apricot / 441 posts
@gingerbebe: ha. I'm open to to the minivan, but at this point Eric isn't!
hostess / wonderful apple seed / 16729 posts
@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.
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.
pomegranate / 3350 posts
@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!
apricot / 441 posts
@youboots: @MrsA: @JMOM: It looks nice on the inside! But I don't think I could drive it. The style is a big commitment.
apricot / 441 posts
@skipra: Yes, that's exactly why we are looking for the captain seats! Thanks.
apricot / 441 posts
@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?
apricot / 420 posts
@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.
eggplant / 11287 posts
@SweetCaroline: we are looking into a yukon Denali for our next car. How much space is in the third row? We have 3 kids.
pear / 1616 posts
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!
pear / 1718 posts
@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.
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.
grapefruit / 4187 posts
I am waiting for the 2017 GMC Acadia to be released and we will likely trade in one of our cars for it!
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