Anyone have suggestions on safe, reliable cars with AWD and easy access for 3 or more children in car seats?
Our growing family is about to contend with the SUV vs. Minivan vs. ??? question. We've got three small children (4.5 yrs, 2 yrs, 7 mos) that we've been able to fit safely in one row of our wagon; however, the baby is quickly outgrowing the bucket infant seat, and I'm at a loss to find three car seats that will fit in one row.
For us, stability control and all-wheel drive are requirements, which means many more SUV options than minivan options. But, access to the third row in anything but a minivan is problematic. Plus, we might not be done with the whole baby making thing (where do they come from?).
We've already got an AWD Sienna that my wife loves, but the mileage is abysmal. I love the ease of access (we put two in the 3rd row and keep one second row seat flipped up all the time), but I can't help thinking we'll get a better deal on a large SUV (Pilot, Tahoe, etc.). (For a variety of reasons, we need two cars that can accommodate all the children).
You're going to have to go gigantic SUV to fit 3 car seats in one row...which translates to "abysmal" gas mileage. To me the Ford Expedition had easy third row access.
Did you look at the Ford Freestyle. The MPG is in the mid-20s hwy and you can put two carseats in the 3rd row and one in either the 2nd row bench or 2nd row captain chairs. Like your Sienna, you can leave one of the 2nd row seats flipped forward all the time if you want, or put the 7 year old in the 3rd row and he can walk between the 2nd row captain chairs if you get those instead of the 2nd row bench. You can get an AWD Freestyle for around $27K. There more legroom in the Freestyle then either Pilot or Tahoe, plus good space behind the 3rd row. It's easier to get in/out than most SUVs too.
On the other hand, the Pilot is wider than the Freestyle, so you could put all three carseats in the 2nd row, but it would be tight. I have put 3 carseats (infant, & two boosters) in the 2nd row of the Freestyle and it was really tight, but they fit.
We're getting about 14mpg with the Sienna (so much for Toyota being "green") ... I can't believe an AWD SUV is going to be worse.
I've looked at the Freestyle, but the lack of stability control is a problem for me. Frankly, I'm surprised they didn't include it.
The flippable 2nd row seats are definitely a plus, which is why I was interested in it. The Tahoe has a similar apapproach.It's too bad the Pilot and other SUVs don't do the same thing.
I have 3 kids in the second row of my Pilot right now. I don't think it qualifies as a "gigantic" SUV. Sometimes I put one kid in the 3rd row (40% side) and that leaves either the middle empty or the pass. side 2nd row (which flips and folds) empty. My 5 yr old easily gets in the 3rd row.
Of course, if you are thinking about four than you might be staring squarely at a minivan.
We're getting about 14mpg with the Sienna (so much for Toyota being "green") ... I can't believe an AWD SUV is going to be worse.
More weight, bigger engine tuned for torque and worse aerodynamics. If you have a big shortfall from EPA with your Sienna, it's a reasonable bet you'd get a similar shortfall from the lower EPA on a big 4WD SUV.
How about an AWD Highlander Hybrid? The third row is small, but fine for a child in a booster or an older kid out of a booster. Other than the small third row, it's a very nice vehicle for the same price as a high end Sienna or an entry level full size SUV. Ease of 3rd row access isn't great for an adult, but kids can manage. It has good safety ratings and stability control is standard.
The Mazda5 comes to mind also, but it doesn't yet have complete NHTSA/IIHS crash test results and no stability control. The crash results in Japan and Europe are good, though. Maybe for 2007...
I've heard bad things about access to the third row of the hybrid Highlander, and that's what it comes down to for us (once we get past the AWD and ESC) ... ease of getting three small children into and out of the vehicle. So far, the best non-van for access appears to be the Freestyle (I've seen the M5, and it's just too difficult for me to lift a child into the third row).
I'm afraid I'm destined for another AWD Sienna. I've heard that a hybrid version is in the works for 2007, so perhaps I'll just have to hold out a little longer. Thanks for all the advice!
I've heard bad things about access to the third row of the hybrid Highlander, and that's what it comes down to for us (once we get past the AWD and ESC) ... ease of getting three small children into and out of the vehicle. So far, the best non-van for access appears to be the Freestyle (I've seen the M5, and it's just too difficult for me to lift a child into the third row).
I still can't understand the fascination with stability control that everyone seems to "need". The Freetsyle has one of the highest ratings as far as rollover and impact. Has the Volvo AWD system with traction control. Is a large family vehicle that should never need to be driven at high rates of speed around corners.....and yet....the "need" for stability control.
The Freetsyle has a seating option for individual seats in the second row, and a walk though to the third row. I might add that the third row is considered one of the best in the industry as far as roominess goes.
"One of the most comprehensive studies on electronic stability control to date has found that the relatively new technology can reduce the odds of fatal rollovers by 73 percent in SUVs and 40 percent in passenger cars."
"Many single-vehicle crashes involve rolling over, and ESC effectiveness in preventing rollovers is even more dramatic. It reduces the risk of fatal single-vehicle rollovers of SUVs by 80 percent, 77 percent for cars."
I wonder how much it would add to the Freestyle price if they included stability control. Personally, I think that all of the safety features should be standard, although I do own a Freestyle, considering it's one of the safest vehicles on the road, I choose to buy it even though it didn't have stability control. Now if I was going to buy a vehicle with poorer safety ratings, then I'd make sure it had stability control. But everyone looks at these things differently.
That Woman Motorist link says "As a stand-alone option, ESC costs from about $300 to $800, but it can cost more than $2,000 on some models when packaged with other equipment."
$300 is tolerable; when you start pushing $800, I think most people would rather have NAV or a DVD system installed instead. :shades:
Stability control isn't just about safety at excessive speeds. It significantly enhances safety in an avoidance maneuver (e.g., watch out for the deer!).
Is it necessary? No. Does it improve safety? Many studies show it significantly reduces accidents.
Of course, just having it as a feature isn't enough; as others have pointed out, a car with a poor safety rating and stability control probably isn't safer than a car without stability control but with an excellent safety rating.
But who says those are the only choices? I'll take a car with both stability control AND an excellent safety rating. These days, you can find plenty of cars with both, and the price adder for stability control should drop quickly as ESC is adopted in more platforms.
"One of the most comprehensive studies on electronic stability control to date has found that the relatively new technology can reduce the odds of fatal rollovers by 73 percent in SUVs and 40 percent in passenger cars."
hmmm...anything will improve an SUVs rollover statistic. :-)
40 percent passenger cars? I wonder what percentage of those "cars" are family cars? Aren't Corvettes, Mustangs, and Porches, all "cars"?
I agree that it would be nice to have it as a feature, and I'm not sure why Ford didn't just offer it...maybe it has something to do with not being able to package it into the current system before roll-out time.
Tons of things aren't necessities. DVD systems, 300hp engines, leather seats, alloy wheels, you name it. For those concerned about safety, things like stability control and side curtain airbags are as close to a necessity as you can get. If you're more concerned about acceleration and cornering ability, then your necessities are going to be much different compared to those mostly concerned about keeping their families safe.
For those concerned about safety, things like stability control and side curtain airbags are as close to a necessity as you can get. If you're more concerned about acceleration and cornering ability, then your necessities are going to be much different compared to those mostly concerned about keeping their families safe.
I wanted full air bags, stability control and excellent acceleration, handling and braking all for safety reasons. Sometimes you need to accelerate to avoid an accident, sometimes you need to stop and sometimes you need to dodge. Sometimes it may be beyond your control. For all of these reasons I chose an Odyssey EX-L. Having the best mileage does not hurt either.
I am looking for an AWD SUV that has seating as follows - 2 front (captains), 2 middle (captians or similar) and 3 back. Does anyone know of any new vehicles with that configuration? I know I can get it with a minivan, but since there are so few AWD minivans out there I want to check out my options with an SUV.
Hard to beat the Sienna AWD for the configuration you want. As you've probably found, most midsize SUVs have the 3-across in the middle row. The Honda Pilot is one of the safer midsize models that also seats 8 in a 2/3/3 configuration.
The Freestyle can be had in that configuration...although it's not an SUV. I consider an SUV as being able to tow large objects...Do you need to tow greater than 2000 lbs? If not than perhaps you could consider the Freestyle.
I don't believe there are too many selections to choose from if you want only 2 seats in the middle row. It is more efficent to seat 2 middle & 3 back in most vehicles. So I agree with the other person who says the Honda Pilot is a good choice. Almost bought it myself but it was a little bland for me. Also looked at Pathfinder but Nissan Canada didn't offer curtain air bags as standard equip. What ever you buy be sure to take advantage of the latest technology offered, and get stability control which is the most effective safety device since the seat belt-- which most of us Canadians use all the time. Also, curtain airbags prevent more serious injuries than side bags so go for them too. My final choice offered this and more as standard equipment, and seating for 7 people ( 5 ADULTS and 2 rug rats).
You couldn't be more correct! There is nothing like deep grooves to hold your vehicle on the road. Regular rotation of your tires and frequent air pressure checks is the best way to keep good tread.ps--Have a safe and happy 4th of July.
My current vehicle is a '97 Dodge Gr. Caravan. It's been a good car for us, but my wife wants 4WD or AWD in her next vehicle. We've got 3 kids ages 15, 12 and 7 that aren't getting any smaller, therefore 3 rows of usable seats are wanted. I'd like another minivan since they seem to use space most efficiently and actually have some decent cargo room behind the 3rd row. Wife doesn't want a "monster" Suburban and neither do I. My top alternatives seem to be: Toyota Sienna AWD - What about the "fast-wearing" run-flat tires that Consumer Reports bags on? Are AWD models hard to locate and negotiate on? Honda Pilot - Concerned about usability of 3rd row and marginal cargo space behind it Chevy Tahoe - Ditto the Pilot concerns and add gas mileage and reliability of redesigned model as concerns. Ford Freestyle - Weak engine and reliability concerns. Durango/Explorer/Expedition, etc - not at the top of my list due to reliability and fuel economy concerns.
Tell you what...take one for a test drive. Take it on the highway and gte up to about 60 mph and then drop the hammer. :-)
Besides that, the 0-60 times are in the mid 8 seconds....better than vehicles that have much larger and more powerful engines.
As far as reliability, that could be a viable concern with the Freestyle, but for the most part, the majority of the problematice cars were the early release models.
The big problem you might have with the Freestyle is the pathetic technical support of the Ford dealerships. It seems the technicians are clueless when it comes to the Freestyle. Although I think some of that stems from the early assumptions that the Freestyle was being considered to be dropped....perhaps Ford dragged their feet when considering training their technicians. Now that the Freetsyles future is solidified, you should see better technician training.
If you need max space & can pay the higher cost, then go for the Sienna AWD. Otherwise, I'd go for the AWD Freestyle with the 2nd row bench. You can easily access the 3rd row with the flip and fold split 2nd row, and if you need lots of cargo space, you can put all three in the 2nd row. The Freestyle has a good amount of cargo space behind the 3rd row, and if you get the split 3rd row, you'll have even more space if you only have one pass in the 3rd row. So far I have 33K miles and zero problems on mine, and never had an issue with power. And I do like getting 26mpg on highway road trips, but then I do have the FWD.
I am curious on what people think of the comfort between the Odyessy and Pilot? I have a lot of lower back issues and NEED something that is has good support and comfortable. I had a 2001 Odyessy and the the comfort was so-so. Now I need to either go back to a minivan or a smaller SUV than I have right now. Everytime I have driven both I have found that the Pilot is a little more comfy for my back than Odyessy but I have 3 kids oldest being 12. They are only going to get bigger too. Then I guess I could also go to the back store and get a cushion if I got the Odyessy.
Freestyle production rumors have been all over the map; it looks like it'll get refreshed for 2008 and continue to stick around. Ford seems to be advertising it more too.
Comfort on both is really the same. I find the Odyssey a bit more comfortable. But, the Odyssey is quieter than the Pilot. Honestly, I wouldn't let this make it your decision maker - the comfort is really not much different in those like I said before.
If you want to know which I would recommend - it would be the Odyssey SINCE you have three kids. I HIGHLY recommend NOT putting kids in the third row of a Pilot. Again, I highly recommend NOT putting kids in the third row of a Pilot. Besides it not being comfortable, it isn't safe. Many members will probably dis-agree with me saying the third row in a Pilot is not comfortable. But my opinion is that it is, and that the third row seat is hardly useable and balony for LONGER trips, particulary.
The Odyssey is safe in third row, as well as much more comfortable.
Hi, I am so happy to find this thread. I am a middle aged woman planning a trip cross country from Kentucky to California driving highways and b-ways, visiting family and Internet friends and taking hundreds of pictures. I plan to make it a month long trip. I am not a minivan person BUT, I will go that direction if it seems most reasonable to you. I drive a 1998 Mazda Millenia and plan to sell it and go into debt for either a used Pilot or an Odyssey. My plan is to sleep in it. It will be like my mini-camper. I also want it to haul picture framing materials, my bike, my grand child, a golden retriever. I know either vehicle has the cargo space. Gas mileage is VERY important to me. I don't know if 4WD or 2WD is or not. Please advise me. Thanks a million. :shades:
I do not know the roads in Kentucky area but I have lived in California all my 45 years of life and know the west coast quite well. I am in the process of deciding on whether to buy a Pilot or Odyessy as we speak and just had some questions. (I do agree I don't think that kids should go in the 3rd row of pilot, if you get rear ended by someone hard that would not be good. However it does not sound like you have 3 kids to bring. If you are going to sleep in it, bring a dog (I have a labrador myself) and all this other stuff I would go with the Odyessy. I had a 2001 and it had sooo much cargo room. Now if you are doing this trip and going in the winter months the Odyessy will not have 4WD and that could be an issue, though you can use chains if need be.
I'll be leaving the first week of October and I anticipate making my way across the more northerly route going and the southerly route coming back. I'm sure I'll get into some chilly weather but I'm not going that far north. Kentucky has lots of rolling hills and temps are moderate. We do have freezing here but a couple heavy snowfalls a year is about all we get. I saw that 2WD means lower gas consumption..but I'm wondering if I found a Pilot SUV with 2WD would that make it a little more difficult to resell than 4WD? I estimate I could put up to 7,000 miles on whatever vehicle I purchase. That's a lot of gas. And I need a dependable safe vehicle. Its a difficult decision isn't it?Thanks for your reply. :shades:
The Silverado is not really an SUV, but close in many respects. I just drove a 2006 Chevy Silverado LT immediately after driving my 2006 Odyssey EX-L.
I thought that I had left the parking brake on in the truck. The "pick up" (no pun intended) of the pick up vs. the van bore no comparison. The van is eager to go and jumps off the line. The truck was a total dog. I am sure that a similarly powered Suburban, Tahoe, Yukon etc. would be even worse than this truck. This experience was a real eye opener to the performance of the Odyssey vs. V8 powered American vehicles. Something else to think about when comparing SUV's and Vans in addition to the gas mileage and handling.
Very good point. I love "pick up" I missed it terribly after my son totaled my brand new Accord and I could only afford to replace it with the Mazda. I wonder is there a difference in pick up between the Pilot and the Odyssey? :shades:
not much. Its the same v6. The AWD pilot isn't as good mpg wise.
Pilot Vs Odyssey
I'd recommend the Pilot. The 3rd row is safe. Its actually one of the only SUV's to be recommended in terms of safety. Also the second row slides fore and aft as well as reclines so comfort is a +. In the 3rd row, a crash of 40 mph shouldn't even intrude into the 3rd row. Also new for 2006 are the side curtain airbags. The 3row is 60/40 and reclines so find ing passenger hauling or cargo hauling should be no problem. Also but Pilot and Odyssey have VDM (deactivates extra cylinders to increase MPG during cruising and moderate acceleration). There are 16 cubic feet of storage in the pilot behind the 3rd row so family towing shouldn't be a problem.
Pilot traveling tip
For families with 3 kids, i say have two share the middle and one sit in the 3rd. While in the 3rd you can fold down either the 60 or 40 (personally i say keep the 60 so they can stretch out by laying across the 60 when tired) and you'll have plenty of suitcase space. And with 8 headrests, you'll have plenty of protection if crash happens. The +1 seat in the odyssey isn't very comfortable. The same can be said about sitting on the pilots armrest. I'd say both vehicles are good for families of 6 or 7 but not 8 .
ps, when driving, you barely notice the pilots seatbelts that dangle from the roof .
verdict: tall families, Odyssey. Families that need AWD, Pilot. Its an equal tie; a toss up!?
Thanks for the info. You've answered two inquiries. I guess my biggest concern is the gas milage however, the van seems so big. Other than for being able to sleep comfortably in it and actually live in it when the weather is too bad to pitch a tent or go hiking. My other concern is being able to ever resell either vehicle especially an SUV if gas prices do reach $5/gal and stay in that area. And how important is AWD or 2WD in a moderate temp state like Kentucky? Surely there is a difinitive answer that I am unable to understand. Thanks again. :confuse:
A minivan is my vehicle of choice for road trips. With either rig you may find it easier just to pitch the tent instead of trying to pack all your stuff in the front seats or on the roof to make room on the floor every night.
Used SUVs generally sell better with 4WD. Neither vehicle style is selling all that well these days although the compact SUVs are doing ok. The Odyssey has always enjoyed great resale (relative to most other cars). It is big though.
I lived in snow country for 20 years without 4WD or AWD and managed fine (it's the tires :shades:) so that feature wouldn't be too important to me. You're going to be on vacation, so if the weather turns flaky, just take a layover day and enjoy the storm.
Maybe I should be looking at compact SUV's with great gas mileage. Man, that ougth to open up another can of worms for me. I figure I'm going to spend around $1050. in gas for this trip. I appreciate your info. So far I only know I want a Honda and it's looking like a minivan. Debbie
I'd get the Ody. Better gas mileage 20/28 mpg EPA, more interior room & less expensive to buy. Unless you are petite, as is your dog, I wouldnt try sleeping in a compact SUV.
If you sleep in the Odyssey, is there enough room to sleep by just folding down the 3rd row, or are you planning on removing the 2nd row seats before heading off on your road trip?
If you sleep in the Odyssey, is there enough room to sleep by just folding down the 3rd row, or are you planning on removing the 2nd row seats before heading off on your road trip? Remember that even if you do remove the middle seats in the Odyssey for an extended trip, you still have the rear seats folded out of the way if you need them, so it is still a five seater. I would certainly suggest removing the middle seats if you intend to sleep in the van. When these seats are removed the space remaining is 8' long and 4' wide which is the same as in my 1995 Suburban with the rear seat removed and the middle seat folded down.
Just to follow up - where do people get the idea that the Pilot third row isn't safe but the Ody's is? There actually is NOT that much difference in distance between the rear of the Ody to the 3rd row vs. the rear of the Pilot and its 3rd row. Obviously the Ody had more cargo room behind the 3rd row but that is more due to lower floor and less to do with more horizontal distance.
I suppose that the Ody's seats might have more support in them but is that really the deciding factor here? No doubt that the Ody has more legroom in the 3rd row but I think the safety aspect is overblown by some. Just my opinion.
Then I'd go for the Odyssey for the better space in the back for "camping" as there would be a whole lot more headroom in the back of the Odyssey with the 2nd row removed and the 3rd row folded. Just look at the two yourself and see.
Comments
Our growing family is about to contend with the SUV vs. Minivan vs. ??? question. We've got three small children (4.5 yrs, 2 yrs, 7 mos) that we've been able to fit safely in one row of our wagon; however, the baby is quickly outgrowing the bucket infant seat, and I'm at a loss to find three car seats that will fit in one row.
For us, stability control and all-wheel drive are requirements, which means many more SUV options than minivan options. But, access to the third row in anything but a minivan is problematic. Plus, we might not be done with the whole baby making thing (where do they come from?).
We've already got an AWD Sienna that my wife loves, but the mileage is abysmal. I love the ease of access (we put two in the 3rd row and keep one second row seat flipped up all the time), but I can't help thinking we'll get a better deal on a large SUV (Pilot, Tahoe, etc.). (For a variety of reasons, we need two cars that can accommodate all the children).
Thoughts? Suggestions?
To me the Ford Expedition had easy third row access.
On the other hand, the Pilot is wider than the Freestyle, so you could put all three carseats in the 2nd row, but it would be tight. I have put 3 carseats (infant, & two boosters) in the 2nd row of the Freestyle and it was really tight, but they fit.
I've looked at the Freestyle, but the lack of stability control is a problem for me. Frankly, I'm surprised they didn't include it.
The flippable 2nd row seats are definitely a plus, which is why I was interested in it. The Tahoe has a similar apapproach.It's too bad the Pilot and other SUVs don't do the same thing.
http://www.automotive.com/2006/12/ford/freestyle/safety/index.html
Freestyle:
5 star rating: Driver's & Passenger's Side, Front & Rear occupant
4 star rating: Rollover Resistance
http://www.automotive.com/2006/12/chevrolet/tahoe/safety/index.html
Tahoe:
4 Star rating: Drivers & Passenger's Side (Front & Rear not tested)
3 Star rating: Rollover Resistance
Of course, if you are thinking about four than you might be staring squarely at a minivan.
More weight, bigger engine tuned for torque and worse aerodynamics. If you have a big shortfall from EPA with your Sienna, it's a reasonable bet you'd get a similar shortfall from the lower EPA on a big 4WD SUV.
How about an AWD Highlander Hybrid? The third row is small, but fine for a child in a booster or an older kid out of a booster. Other than the small third row, it's a very nice vehicle for the same price as a high end Sienna or an entry level full size SUV. Ease of 3rd row access isn't great for an adult, but kids can manage. It has good safety ratings and stability control is standard.
The Mazda5 comes to mind also, but it doesn't yet have complete NHTSA/IIHS crash test results and no stability control. The crash results in Japan and Europe are good, though. Maybe for 2007...
I'm afraid I'm destined for another AWD Sienna. I've heard that a hybrid version is in the works for 2007, so perhaps I'll just have to hold out a little longer. Thanks for all the advice!
I still can't understand the fascination with stability control that everyone seems to "need". The Freetsyle has one of the highest ratings as far as rollover and impact. Has the Volvo AWD system with traction control.
Is a large family vehicle that should never need to be driven at high rates of speed around corners.....and yet....the "need" for stability control.
The Freetsyle has a seating option for individual seats in the second row, and a walk though to the third row. I might add that the third row is considered one of the best in the industry as far as roominess goes.
"One of the most comprehensive studies on electronic stability control to date has found that the relatively new technology can reduce the odds of fatal rollovers by 73 percent in SUVs and 40 percent in passenger cars."
Study: Electronic Stability Control Is a Lifesaver in Rollovers (Inside Line)
A slightly newer IIHS study says:
"Many single-vehicle crashes involve rolling over, and ESC effectiveness in preventing rollovers is even more dramatic. It reduces the risk of fatal single-vehicle rollovers of SUVs by 80 percent, 77 percent for cars."
Electronic Stability Control Could Prevent Nearly One-Third of all Fatal Crashes (The Woman Motorist)
Just so you won't feel like a voice in the wilderness: :shades:
Stability Control: Either Save My Life or Stay Out of the Way
Steve, Host
$300 is tolerable; when you start pushing $800, I think most people would rather have NAV or a DVD system installed instead. :shades:
Steve, Host
Is it necessary? No. Does it improve safety? Many studies show it significantly reduces accidents.
Of course, just having it as a feature isn't enough; as others have pointed out, a car with a poor safety rating and stability control probably isn't safer than a car without stability control but with an excellent safety rating.
But who says those are the only choices? I'll take a car with both stability control AND an excellent safety rating. These days, you can find plenty of cars with both, and the price adder for stability control should drop quickly as ESC is adopted in more platforms.
"One of the most comprehensive studies on electronic stability control to date has found that the relatively new technology can reduce the odds of fatal rollovers by 73 percent in SUVs and 40 percent in passenger cars."
hmmm...anything will improve an SUVs rollover statistic.
:-)
40 percent passenger cars? I wonder what percentage of those "cars" are family cars? Aren't Corvettes, Mustangs, and Porches, all "cars"?
:-)
Butto say that it's a necessity is hog wash. :-)
Tons of things aren't necessities. DVD systems, 300hp engines, leather seats, alloy wheels, you name it. For those concerned about safety, things like stability control and side curtain airbags are as close to a necessity as you can get. If you're more concerned about acceleration and cornering ability, then your necessities are going to be much different compared to those mostly concerned about keeping their families safe.
I wanted full air bags, stability control and excellent acceleration, handling and braking all for safety reasons. Sometimes you need to accelerate to avoid an accident, sometimes you need to stop and sometimes you need to dodge. Sometimes it may be beyond your control.
For all of these reasons I chose an Odyssey EX-L. Having the best mileage does not hurt either.
I consider an SUV as being able to tow large objects...Do you need to tow greater than 2000 lbs? If not than perhaps you could consider the Freestyle.
Actually you can get an Odyssey LX for $25K.
All Odysseys have the same powertrane (more or less) and the same safety features.
Toyota Sienna AWD - What about the "fast-wearing" run-flat tires that Consumer Reports bags on? Are AWD models hard to locate and negotiate on?
Honda Pilot - Concerned about usability of 3rd row and marginal cargo space behind it
Chevy Tahoe - Ditto the Pilot concerns and add gas mileage and reliability of redesigned model as concerns.
Ford Freestyle - Weak engine and reliability concerns.
Durango/Explorer/Expedition, etc - not at the top of my list due to reliability and fuel economy concerns.
Your thoughts and other ideas are appreciated.
Weak engine in the Freestyle.....hee hee
Tell you what...take one for a test drive. Take it on the highway and gte up to about 60 mph and then drop the hammer. :-)
Besides that, the 0-60 times are in the mid 8 seconds....better than vehicles that have much larger and more powerful engines.
As far as reliability, that could be a viable concern with the Freestyle, but for the most part, the majority of the problematice cars were the early release models.
The big problem you might have with the Freestyle is the pathetic technical support of the Ford dealerships. It seems the technicians are clueless when it comes to the Freestyle. Although I think some of that stems from the early assumptions that the Freestyle was being considered to be dropped....perhaps Ford dragged their feet when considering training their technicians. Now that the Freetsyles future is solidified, you should see better technician training.
Any advice would be great
vicenac, "Ford Freestyle" #6293, 22 Jun 2006 10:51 am
Steve, Host
Honestly, I wouldn't let this make it your decision maker - the comfort is really not much different in those like I said before.
If you want to know which I would recommend - it would be the Odyssey SINCE you have three kids. I HIGHLY recommend NOT putting kids in the third row of a Pilot. Again, I highly recommend NOT putting kids in the third row of a Pilot. Besides it not being comfortable, it isn't safe. Many members will probably dis-agree with me saying the third row in a Pilot is not comfortable. But my opinion is that it is, and that the third row seat is hardly useable and balony for LONGER trips, particulary.
The Odyssey is safe in third row, as well as much more comfortable.
Think about it.
I thought that I had left the parking brake on in the truck. The "pick up" (no pun intended) of the pick up vs. the van bore no comparison. The van is eager to go and jumps off the line. The truck was a total dog. I am sure that a similarly powered Suburban, Tahoe, Yukon etc. would be even worse than this truck. This experience was a real eye opener to the performance of the Odyssey vs. V8 powered American vehicles. Something else to think about when comparing SUV's and Vans in addition to the gas mileage and handling.
Pilot Vs Odyssey
I'd recommend the Pilot. The 3rd row is safe. Its actually one of the only SUV's to be recommended in terms of safety. Also the second row slides fore and aft as well as reclines so comfort is a +. In the 3rd row, a crash of 40 mph shouldn't even intrude into the 3rd row. Also new for 2006 are the side curtain airbags. The 3row is 60/40 and reclines so find ing passenger hauling or cargo hauling should be no problem. Also but Pilot and Odyssey have VDM (deactivates extra cylinders to increase MPG during cruising and moderate acceleration). There are 16 cubic feet of storage in the pilot behind the 3rd row so family towing shouldn't be a problem.
Pilot traveling tip
For families with 3 kids, i say have two share the middle and one sit in the 3rd. While in the 3rd you can fold down either the 60 or 40 (personally i say keep the 60 so they can stretch out by laying across the 60 when tired) and you'll have plenty of suitcase space. And with 8 headrests, you'll have plenty of protection if crash happens. The +1 seat in the odyssey isn't very comfortable. The same can be said about sitting on the pilots armrest. I'd say both vehicles are good for families of 6 or 7 but not 8
ps, when driving, you barely notice the pilots seatbelts that dangle from the roof
verdict: tall families, Odyssey. Families that need AWD, Pilot. Its an equal tie; a toss up!?
-Cj
Used SUVs generally sell better with 4WD. Neither vehicle style is selling all that well these days although the compact SUVs are doing ok. The Odyssey has always enjoyed great resale (relative to most other cars). It is big though.
I lived in snow country for 20 years without 4WD or AWD and managed fine (it's the tires :shades:) so that feature wouldn't be too important to me. You're going to be on vacation, so if the weather turns flaky, just take a layover day and enjoy the storm.
Steve, Host
Debbie
Remember that even if you do remove the middle seats in the Odyssey for an extended trip, you still have the rear seats folded out of the way if you need them, so it is still a five seater. I would certainly suggest removing the middle seats if you intend to sleep in the van. When these seats are removed the space remaining is 8' long and 4' wide which is the same as in my 1995 Suburban with the rear seat removed and the middle seat folded down.
I suppose that the Ody's seats might have more support in them but is that really the deciding factor here? No doubt that the Ody has more legroom in the 3rd row but I think the safety aspect is overblown by some. Just my opinion.
Debbie