Best option for a used vehicle with a 3rd row?

[CurseTheSky]

My wife and I are looking at options for the future. Her 2003 Malibu is sitting around 210k miles, and my Fusion is almost paid off. Later this year or next year we're going to look for a newer vehicle for her.

We have a 9 year old and a 5 month old, and we're planning on having another kid in the next couple of years, so a third row would be beneficial. We want something reliable. She's open to any type of vehicle, but something with 4WD / AWD would be beneficial. Other than that, half-way decent mileage would be the only other allure.

Any suggestions?

Short version; looking for:
- Used
- 3rd row of seats
- Reliable
- 4WD or AWD a plus
- Decent mileage (20+ MPG combined would be nice)
- Under $20k

 

[mvbighead]

In before the comments come flooding. What you'll most likely be hearing is a Mini-Van. Take it or leave it as the best option, but it likely is if you're looking at 3 kiddos.

Other options are just too difficult to get kids into and out of (especially with that 3rd one).

 

[LTC8K6]

2011-12 Durango? 18mpg combined for the 4X4 with the 3.6 V6.

 

[vi edit]

Reliable, efficent, AWD and easy for three kids, two of them younger than two?

Sienna with AWD.

/thread

SUVS with high load heights blow with infant carriers.

 

[jaedaliu]

The answer is minivan. But to give you another option:

full size van, Like the white side cargo van. You can configure the seats however you want, but you'll be getting mileage in the teens. The true down side is that you might get arrested every time you pick up your kid from school.

 

[michal1980]

ford flex.

 

[_Rick_]

I'm not sure you really need a third row.
A 3+3 would work just as well, especially since the third kid would only be born when the first is at the point of not really needing more than a compact booster.
And even the normal seats aren't that bulky for very young children, that you can't get a kid between two of them.

Hmm, I just checked, and it looks like the key 3+3s are the FR-V and the Multipla - both of which aren't exported state-side. From what I've seen MPVs are just too practical for the US.

Reference with regard to fit: I was the oldest brother of four siblings, any my parents never had more than seven seats in a car. LWB Chrysler Voyager/Caravan minivans for the most part, 740 with rear-facing child seats in the back while there were still less than 5 of us.

You might want to check whether some of the larger 5 seaters fit - V70 and the like. It's going to save you quite a bit of fuel, if you can keep the frontal area as low as possible. And the third row is mostly a management nightmare, especially on longer trips. Better to have everyone in close reach, so that the navigator can do some crowd control.

Otherwise, yeah, minivan it is.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Minivan FTW

By far the best people mover on the planet. Also great multifunction vehicle if you own a house/ have projects.

In general, Minivans are the best bang for the buck you get. WHOLE lot of materials for the money.

 

[_Rick_]

Minivan FTW
WHOLE lot of materials for the money.

Like an all you can eat at the porridge factory.

Driving two models of Grand Caravans myself, I think the one second thought I'll have before having more than 3 children will be - oh god, what if I actually have to drive one of these again? - the ones I drove were that bad.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

You can get a brand new Dodge Caravan for under $20K - 3.6L Pentastar V6 & 6spd Auto. MSPR $22K, Sales price $18K after discounts. Warranty, Reliable, Good Performance, Good fuel economy, spacious & roomy -

Spend the extra cash on snow tires & spare set of used wheels.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

You can get a brand new Dodge Caravan for under $20K - 3.6L Pentastar V6 & 6spd Auto. MSPR $22K, Sales price $18K after discounts. Warranty, Reliable, Good Performance, Good fuel economy, spacious & roomy -

Spend the extra cash on snow tires & spare set of used wheels.

+1

Don't like the Dodge? A CPO Honda oddy or Toyota Sienna will run you the same $$$

Another couple years older will get you an upscale ute like a Acura MDX or Lexus RX

 

[CurseTheSky]

AWD or 4WD would be nice to get in and out of the deep snow we occasionally get. We usually get at least two decent storms per winter, and every few years we get a crazy 2'+ storm that causes a bunch of chaos. The driveway is the biggest challenge, since it's decently long, uphill, and we don't always have a chance to break out the snow blower before we have to go somewhere.

Having battled with this driveway and the surrounding streets in several storms with both FWD and 4WD vehicles, 4WD wins, hands down. Snow tires or not.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Then AWD minivan

 

[LTC8K6]

Then AWD minivan

No ground clearance.

 

[vi edit]

No ground clearance.

I used to think I needed 4WD to get around. I've had SUV's and trucks in the past.

But then you realize that you are compromising gas milage, comfort, handling, ect for the ability to drive when you probably shouldn't even be driving 3 or 4 times a year.

I can understand different people have different jobs & obligations. I get it. My own wife is a critical care provider at a major medical center and it's crucial she makes it into work. She has a 20 mile drive through rural IL to get in and still manages to make it. If it's going to be a snowpocalpse her hospital will just book out a local hotel across the street and put people up there for the night so they don't have to drive in the next day.

It's just kind of silly how many people turn down a more appropriate vehicle for a few days a year that it might be more useful.

Just saying. Heck if it's that bad, school is probably closed anyway and I'm home with kids and not traveling

 

[LTC8K6]

I used to think I needed 4WD to get around. I've had SUV's and trucks in the past.

But then you realize that you are compromising gas milage, comfort, handling, ect for the ability to drive when you probably shouldn't even be driving 3 or 4 times a year.

I can understand different people have different jobs & obligations. I get it. My own wife is a critical care provider at a major medical center and it's crucial she makes it into work. She has a 20 mile drive through rural IL to get in and still manages to make it. If it's going to be a snowpocalpse her hospital will just book out a local hotel across the street and put people up there for the night so they don't have to drive in the next day.

It's just kind of silly how many people turn down a more appropriate vehicle for a few days a year that it might be more useful.

Just saying. Heck if it's that bad, school is probably closed anyway and I'm home with kids and not traveling

Except that the OP said he needed ground clearance. Long uncleared driveway.

Otherwise I agree.

 

[nerp]

Too bad not new. Then I'd say a 2013/14 Durango with the 8-speed and pentastar v6. Or a Grand Cherokee.

 

[dbcooper1]

Have you considered a Subaru?

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Have you considered a Subaru?

Subaru makes a vehicle with a 3rd row? Oh the worthless B9 Tribeca that if you use the 3rd row your cargo room shrinks to 0.

How about a Dodge Journey with the Pentastar V6? Ford Taurus X?

Aside from used Saturn Outlook's there is not much out there aside from body on frame SUV's with the ground clearance you want at your price point.

 

[Drako]

Ford Flex AWD

http://www.caranddriver.com/ford/flex#

 

[vi edit]

Flex has less ground clearance than a Sienna.

5.9" vs 6.7".

 

[jaedaliu]

whoops, double.

 

[jaedaliu]

Flex has less ground clearance than a Sienna.

5.9" vs 6.7".

Excellent point. How much ground clearance is needed? OP mentioned 2 feet of snow. that much? The wife drives a Malibu now, it's not like it has a lot of ground clearance.

Personally, if the Malibu is still going strong, I would worry about what to buy after the wife is pregnant with the 3rd child.

 

[Alienwho]

2011+ Kia Sorento. Bought mine with the V6 and convenience package with 30k miles for 18k. I love it.

 

[Elfear]

Minivan FTW. We have three kids and ingress and egress is so much easier with the big sliding doors. Plus you get the huge amount of hauling space for home projects. The newer minivans are getting around 20mpg combined IIRC.