Looking for new 7-seater SUV, any opinions?

#26
#26
I agree with kiddiedoc and burntorange... the pure benefits of a mini-van far exceed those of an SUV when young kids/infants are involved. Check around and you'll find that this is the typical view of most parents who are in your position. I know some parents who went the SUV path and ended up regretting the decision every time they took a family trip.

jmo... but I would buy whatever you and the wife feel is best for you (and the family). Screw what anyone else might think.
 
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#27
#27
eff you both. Prius is paid off and I can still go 400 miles on 30 bucks of gas.

Same here, brutha.

The Sienna was a slap back to reality. $50 last less than 2 weeks vs the $30 for close to 4 we get in the Prius.
 
#29
#29
For every booster or car seat that you have to make room for, go ahead and reduce passenger capacity by .5 persons for each booster or car seat. They just eat up more space than a person sitting in the seat. Figure in everything else you have to haul along with the kids and most SUVs, regardless of size, are going to get cramped. A few months back, my beater '90 Accord bit the dust and I was going to get a new Civic for driving to work and around town. We wound up getting a new Odyssey, I took over our '09 Accord, and we couldn't be happier, other than the new monthly payment. We've only got two kids, 8 and 3, and even just with two kids, things get crowded. The Pilot is a fine vehicle, my mother-in-law has one with the third row seating, but that third row is cramped and then you lose luggage/storage space as well.
 
#31
#31
Thanks for all the comments. I'll give the Odyssey/Sienna a shot and test drive them and see.
 
#33
#33
Last one on the lot....hurry, great financing too.

images
 
#37
#37
This!

I know the OP can't fathom getting a minivan but the Odyssey is legit.

We packed 7 grown adults into that thing and the 3rd row is very comfortable even for a 6 foot tall man.

I've had 2 Odysseys. It took me a couple of months to get over it, but it's hard to beat it for pure utility. Plus, they're not those awful looking miniature UPS trucks that they used to be.
 
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#38
#38
Thanks everyone for your tips & suggestions.

Ended up leasing a 2013 Mazda CX-9 Touring w/Tech Package. After test driving numerous mini vans and SUV's over the past few weeks the CX-9 was on the lowest end price wise with leather seats + navigation since it was a 2013 model. Plus, it just seemed to drive better then the rest. Got one of the last ones on the lot. I liked the Odessey, and will definitely consider one of those in the future. Sales price came out to be roughly $31,400 with monthly lease being $384.
 
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#39
#39
Thanks everyone for your tips & suggestions.

Ended up leasing a 2013 Mazda CX-9 Touring w/Tech Package. After test driving numerous mini vans and SUV's over the past few weeks the CX-9 was on the lowest end price wise with leather seats + navigation since it was a 2013 model. Plus, it just seemed to drive better then the rest. Got one of the last ones on the lot. I liked the Odessey, and will definitely consider one of those in the future. Sales price came out to be roughly $31,400 with monthly lease being $384.

Sounds like you made an informed decision based and your needs and wants.
 
#40
#40
I was in the same dilemma almost two years ago. We looked at everything: Tahoe, Acadia, Navigator, Explorer...

After some serious thought, they were all either way too big and expensive with terrible gas mileage, or not big enough with absolutely minimal cargo space for travel.

It was tough, but we looked at vans. Hated the Sienna. Loved the Odyssey. I can tell you that purchase was one of the best we've ever made. With three kids, two dogs, and a couple of space-eating hobbies (golf and guitar), we can still vacation on the road. It drives great, is easy to park, is super-convenient with the back gate and sliding doors, gets decent mileage, and has been extremely reliable. The nav and other electronics are well-appointed.

At the end of the day, do you want functionality or do you care about how cool you look getting kids out of the car at school, the grocery store, or the soccer field?

Seriously OP, you can either get a van, have all your needs taken care of comfortably and with reasonable fuel economy, or you can look like an idiot trying to park your 30-ft long Excursion in a 20 ft parking space.

If you're not comfortable in your masculinity, then get the oversized SUV, I guess. The only guys judging you for driving a van are insecure people that you shouldn't be worrying about anyway. Get the vehicle that makes sense. I can't wait to have kids so I can get a minivan with the stow 'n' go seats and flip down DVD player for my dogs.
 
#41
#41
Seriously OP, you can either get a van, have all your needs taken care of comfortably and with reasonable fuel economy, or you can look like an idiot trying to park your 30-ft long Excursion in a 20 ft parking space.

If you're not comfortable in your masculinity, then get the oversized SUV, I guess. The only guys judging you for driving a van are insecure people that you shouldn't be worrying about anyway. Get the vehicle that makes sense. I can't wait to have kids so I can get a minivan with the stow 'n' go seats and flip down DVD player for my dogs.

I bet you wear women's underwear too
 
#42
#42
Seriously OP, you can either get a van, have all your needs taken care of comfortably and with reasonable fuel economy, or you can look like an idiot trying to park your 30-ft long Excursion in a 20 ft parking space.

If you're not comfortable in your masculinity, then get the oversized SUV, I guess. The only guys judging you for driving a van are insecure people that you shouldn't be worrying about anyway. Get the vehicle that makes sense. I can't wait to have kids so I can get a minivan with the stow 'n' go seats and flip down DVD player for my dogs.

We skipped the DVD package. What's the point in the world of mobile tablets?
 
#45
#45
We skipped the DVD package. What's the point in the world of mobile tablets?

I've never understood the built in DVD option in a time where everybody either uses phones or tablets and when for $100 you can get a portable, dual screen DVD player that takes about 5 minutes to install on a headrest. Same thing goes for built in navigation.
 
#46
#46
Fyp


I feel sorry for every man I see driving one.

That's why you let the wife drive it most of the time. They are so much easier to deal with than an SUV though. We didn't want to get a minivan but an SUV just made no sense for little kids after we drove a van.
 
#48
#48
I've never understood the built in DVD option in a time where everybody either uses phones or tablets and when for $100 you can get a portable, dual screen DVD player that takes about 5 minutes to install on a headrest. Same thing goes for built in navigation.

My sister has four kids. She said it was cheaper to buy 4 iPads than get the entertainment package. Plus they can be taken out of the car and everyone gets to watch their own thing reducing the bickering over what to watch.
 
#49
#49
I've never understood the built in DVD option in a time where everybody either uses phones or tablets and when for $100 you can get a portable, dual screen DVD player that takes about 5 minutes to install on a headrest. Same thing goes for built in navigation.

If I'm ever in the market for a new vehicle, I will make sure it is one that does not come with SatNav or any other type of infotainment system.

I also won't buy a vehicle with a CVT, but that's another topic entirely.
 
#50
#50
If I'm ever in the market for a new vehicle, I will make sure it is one that does not come with SatNav or any other type of infotainment system.

I also won't buy a vehicle with a CVT, but that's another topic entirely.

what's the issue with those transmissions
 
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