Crossover SUV Comparison

loach

It sounds like a minivan might be the right vehicle for you. It was the right vehicle for us when we had small kids - you can't beat the sliding doors for ease of access to kids in car seats. It's interesting that the Odyssey seemed to address all your major concerns, but you're still not going to go with it?

hardhawk

I agree totally. We loved our Town & Country when we bought it back in 1997 and the kids were little and in car seats. We sold it when we no longer needed it. Lots of room, practicality, room for the car seats and all the other "stuff" you have to carry, and good MPG.

bobw3

With our Freestyle, we've put two carseats (one forward, one rearward facing) in the "60" part of the 60/40 2nd row bench, and then the smaller half of the 2nd row can be flipped and folded forward to allow two adults to access the 3rd row. With the Outlook/Acadia being wider, I'd think it would be even easier in this configuration. We put the infant seat in the middle of the 2nd row, which didn't need a tether.

carcom2

Check this out (tjw68 Andretti] & freealfas

http://www.unconfirmedsources.com/?itemid=2087

explorerx4

that story had to be released on april 1st.

barnstormer64

A Ferrari minivan? Hahahaha, now THAT'S funny!

carcom2

If you look closely at the picture, you'll notice no sliding doors but still referred to as a minivan.

palmerd

Check this out. when I check their respective websites, it says that the VC has more legroom in the first row but in actuality the Outlook has much more room. How is this calculated??? The outlook seat goes back MUCH farther than the Veracruz...

help

jcorn20

I read in another discussion about difficulty installing forward facing car seats in the Acadia/Outlook because the headrests don't move...any thoughts?

Is there a tether loop in the middle of the second row in the Acadia/Outlook/CX9?

I have 2 forward facing car seats and need room for a third, rear facing car seat. Will I have enough room in the second row of these vehicles, since the third row cannot be easily accessed? I am soooooooooo opposed to a minivan!

freealfas

Why wouldn't you go to the dealer to find out your specific needs as opposed to relying on the dubious opinions of a forum to verify this.

joe97

Has these been posted yet?

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FirstDrives/articleId=120318

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/05/AR2007040500695.- html

stever

Check it out:

KarenS, "Article Comments - 2007 Hyundai Veracruz First Drive" #1, 9 Apr 2007 8:47 am

(freealfas, finding out stuff from other owners in a discussion beats wasting a couple of hours driving to a dealer and putting up with the sales pitch just to see if a tether loop is available, especially when you are tire kicking several models. If you don't want to read about it, please scroll on down to the next message).

freealfas

My point was that their needs were very specific and the various sizes of the different car seats available make such general answers a bit hazardous. They were asking for more than whether a tether was available.

"Will I have enough room in the second row of these vehicles, since the third row cannot be easily accessed"

They can only aswer that question as to whether his seats I assume he already has will fit in a specific situation and the ONLY way to be sure is "wasting a couple of hours driving to a dealer" because his 3 "britax" products may fit in the car he is interested as opposed to the 3 "graco" products I have that may not due to their design/size. Seems reasonable before signing on the dotted line for a $30k vehicle I would think. When I answer no they won't fit to the general question he may indeed find the space is adequate for them/their needs.

There is a time and a place for forum opinion and this wasn't one of them as the OP would be better served by doing the homework required to answer their specifc needs relative to their wants and car seats owned. I would not rely on this or any forum to answer such specific needs, period.

bobw3

Legroom is measured more than just how far back the seat goes. If the seat is higher up, you get more legroom without having to slide it back so far. For example, I rode in a Toyota Sequoia and the seat was almost as low as in a Camry, versus my Freestyle whose seat is pretty high up even in the lowest position..

jg6

The average entry-level and premium compact car has more front-seat legroom than the average full-size SUV, full-size pickup and full-size minivan.

Maximum front legroom and headroom is measured by putting the driver's seat in its lowest and farthest back position, says Steve Ezar, manager of government and industry standards for the Society of Automotive Engineers.

Automakers design the front seat to accommodate a person as tall as 5 feet, 11 inches.

About 95% of U.S. drivers are that height or shorter.

But that means that drivers over 6 feet tall often can't get the seat to slide back far enough to feel comfortable.

thegraduate

Automakers design the front seat to accommodate a person as tall as 5 feet, 11 inches.

About 95% of U.S. drivers are that height or shorter.

But that means that drivers over 6 feet tall often can't get the seat to slide back far enough to feel comfortable.

At 6'4", I wholeheartedly agree with that statement. I've learned to live with splaying my legs. The only vehicles I've found that I'm fully comfortable with are full size trucks/suvs, and I just can't afford to put fuel in them.

albook

The "only 10 more cuft of cargo" statement doesn't stand because it's incorrect. Where did you get this number? If there is 24CuFt more cargo space behind the 3rd row in the EL model, where do you get that there is only 10?
Understand the stated fact: the expedition has 130 cuft of cargo space. The Acadia has 118. That's a little over 10- understand. THat's the power of unibody!

albook

Seeing the new Flex, I think Ford finally did something bold. But is bold good? Flex just doesn't fill the image they need. It looks like a station wagon (Taurus X?) and a lot like an SUV! People don't want SUV's. THey want smooth curvy tall wagons. Flex has none of this. Does seem to have a lot of toys. But why would Ford make this thing that is just like the Freestyle? THey already have a Freestyle, and this doesn't look like enough innovation. If I need a minivan replacement, but don't want a minvan, I'm still going with the Acadia. At this point, I don't care if the Flex has more legroom. No one on this forum really wants a box. Boxes are okay for tuners (Scion XB/ Element), NOT minvans. I like the Acadia styling way better!

[Deleted User]

Terrific. You like smooth curvy tall wagons. And I like the Flex styling best. No one will wonder what it is, it looks expensive, and the shape allows for more room than any of them. Just wish it was available in less than an eternity.

arumage

The only thing that keeps the Acadia from being a minivan, styling wise, is a slightly longer nose and lack of sliding doors. I'll take the wagon look FTW. When I look at all the innovations offered in the way of passenger comfort and the bold styling, it really impresses me. It's definitely not going to get overlooked on the road, whereas the Acadia will fall into the "just another crossover" category as far as styling goes.

stevedebi

"You can't put a forward facing toddler seat in the third
row of the CX-9 because there are no TETHER connections on that row."

Did you look under the 3rd row seat? My 2002 Odyssey attached the tether under the seat.

My 2003 CR-V had tether points at the very rear of the vehicle, right below the rear door.

jcorn20

Just to chat...I obviously would go to a dealer to verify important info. Sometimes you forget to check certain things when you visit the dealer. People in these forums sometimes bring up excellent points and are very knowledgeable through their ownership experiences.

freealfas

I'm not arguing with that point but I have seen as much misinformation touted as fact vs. valid facts here and other forums. Your stated need/circumstance was very specific in nature and to rely on opinion around a forum I do not think would serve you well.

zplnfan

Might I suggest that those needing to see if the Outlook or Acadia can handle the carseats on a day to day basis, go rent one for the day. Alamo has them. You can do it in your own time without an anxious salesperson looking over your shoulder. You can find out about a lot of day to day uses in the cars by renting one first. You can drive it to the places you would want to drive.

I recently did that for the Acadia before ordering it - I'm so glad I did - it cinched the deal, ordered it the next day. I would never purchase another car without renting one first.

albook

Yes- I understand styling is all oppinion. I like the bold look of the Acadia-I think it sticks out. I think the Hyundai Veracruz looks like a not totally succesful Lexus RX copy. THe Pilot and Freestyle look plain (though I think FS looks better than this!). But cars aren't built to apeal to few. They are built to apeal to many, even though some can't afford cerain ones. To me, the Flex styling won't apeal to many. A lot of the posters on this forum say the Acadia looks like a brick. What will they think of this?! Space wise- I don't know. Nothing holds more than a box, But look at the FS. Though leg room is good, cargo space is disapointing. And expensive? to me it looks like ford threw chrome on a box. In a case like this, you know it doesn't look great when you have to load it with chrome. Chrome Accents the chrysler 300. It overloads the Taurus. This is a taurus situation

albook

It's definitely not going to get overlooked on the road, whereas the Acadia will fall into the "just another crossover" category as far as styling goes.
I think the Acadia looks a little to bold and stylish to be "just another crossover". And they all look basically like minivans. At least Acadia isn't copying anyone. But then again, that sells. The old MDX was just another crossover in it's later years. It sold its butt off. the flex styling is too contriversial and not everyone wil want to buy it-causing Ford to think they flopped and do something else wierd. Why do many go for CUVs? They don't like SUVs, and don't want minivans. But your right. The Flex will turn heads. That might not be in a good way though. Could you ignore the Aztec?

albook

I would never purchase another car without renting one first.
I doubt Alamo has any spare S classes! I'm totally suprised they carry Acadias/ Outlooks.

zplnfan

I don't think I limited the selection of cars I'd buy to those carried at Alamo...oh my, no. My guess is that you can find most any car you want to buy (even if not the same trim level) at a rental car agent somewhere. How lucky for me that I found the one I wanted close to home.

kalh

I was the one who had problems installing the car seat in the third row of the Acadia. We could get it in the middle of the third row, just not the sides where the headrests were. We have a Britax Marathon (a big carseat) so if you have a smaller one, it might work for you. The carseat hung off the seat by three or so inches. I didn't have a problem installing it in the CX-9.

The dealerships allowed me to take both cars for 24 hrs. It is the only way to buy a car, in my opinion. I do love the captains chairs in the Acadia.

bobw3

expedition has 130 cuft of cargo space. The Acadia has 118

Okay, I'll give you that. If you're interested in folding all of the seats and filling up the entire back area to the ceiling, than the Expedition doesn't give you much for the 6" of extra length as compared to the Acadia...on the other hand, for that 6" of length, you will get twice the cargo space behind the 3rd and 4" more 3rd row legroom. I'm not saying to get an Expedition, just that you ARE getting something for that extra 6".

Yes, unibody makes the best use of interior space, but if that's your goal, then get an Odyssey or Sienna.

[Deleted User]

The Flex will turn heads. That might not be in a good way though. Could you ignore the Aztec?

Spare me. I get that you don't like the Flex styling. But comparing it to the Aztec is a bit much. And yes, I did ignore it at first. It catches my eye only now, because it is so rare. I've never heard anyone who thought the Aztec was really sharp. I mean, it didn't even follow its own lines! :P

BTW, chrome is back in now, whether a person likes it or not. Like anything else, it goes in and out of fashion.

Regardless, Ford needs some polarizing designs--ones that will make you or me not like them. They already have some careful ones. The careful 500 and Freestyle have done poorly. The Edge has done better, and mostly because it is not as plain as the other two I mentioned. Ford will soon have the Taurus X, the Edge (which I think may eventually acquire a third seat option), the CX-9, and the very different-looking Flex.

Polarizing means not designed by a committee or a focus group. (But you can bet your bippie that Ford focus-grouped the Flex anyway, and it must have tested ok.)

The Chrysler 300, Hummer, the Mini, Scion xB, Honda Element, Caddy CTS were all controversial on introduction. Some are niche and some are mainsteam. All have sold enough to justify their existence.

And the Flex will look just fine in chromeless body color trim. It has good proportions and a love-it-or-hate-it presence like a Land Rover (I don't especially care for the Range Rover's lines, but I concede there are many people who do). Ford will have more bases covered by the time the Flex appears. No, I don't think the Flex should be its only CUV offering. But it definitely can be one of them.

BTW, I also think the Enclave looks "a little too bold and stylish to be just another crossover." You think that of the Acadia. Well then, when you drive it, it will make you feel good. I feel good there are more choices out there now than there has ever been. Tells me lots of people have lots of different opinions, and we all have some great choices available.

nifty56

ever try and put something in a roof top cargo box on a tall vehicle. If you are short you may need to carry a ladder or a stool. But a good thought anyways

nifty56

Correct me if I am wrong. But when I sat in the second row seat with the driver seat positioned where I would have it if I was driving I could not put my feet under the front seat to stretch out. I felt cramped, I am 6'1" I would not want to sit there for any length of time.

explorerx4

actually i do it pretty often. lend it to my neighbors too. just sold the one i had, so i can buy a larger one.
i was just trying to help. :sick:

aaron_t

I've got a 2 year old and another child coming in 6 month so I can relate a little. Oh, and I'm 6'4" tall, so finding a 2nd row seat large enough for a reverse facing infant carrier or convertible seat is tough.

We leased a 2005 Town & Country with Stow N Go. We just leased a 2007 model 2 weeks ago in preparation for the 2nd kid. With Stow N go, you could put one 2nd row seat down in the floor, the other 2nd row captain seat for infant carrier. The older child goes in the 3rd row with easy access with one middle seat being down. I think only the middle position hof the 3rd row as the three latch anchors, so space on each side of the 3rd row seat may be tight. I've never put our child in the 3rd row center, only on the side using the van's shoulder belt.

Another thing with the DCX vans, the 2nd row seats tilt forward for access to the 3rd row. So, that could still tilt out of the way with a smaller convertible car seat or the infant carrier (of course, before you put the children in the seats!). We use a relatively large Britax Marathon in now and it doesn't allow the seat to tilt out of the way as much since it is tall and hits the front seat.

Our other vehicle is a full sized crew cab pickup with plenty of room for two car seats forward or reverse facing. Just hard to get the kids in/out being so high (4x4). We're using day care with me dropping off and my wife picking up so we need 2 car seats per child per vehicle.

We had a Pacifica for about 6 months before my daughter was born. While it would work fine for 1 or 2 kids or for older kids out of car seats (maybe boosters), minivans are cheaper to buy, insure, and have more family convieniences. While crossovers are cheaper and sometimes larger than the dying mid & large SUV's people are replacing, minivans are still king for young families. They also still hold more cargo which is great for strollers, pack N plays, toys, diaper bags, and the kitchen sink you take with you on day/weekend trips.

thegraduate

I've never put our child in the 3rd row center, only on the side using the van's shoulder belt.

Doesn't the Chrysler have 3-point seatbelts at all seating positions? I know our old 2000 Odyssey did; surely the DCX vans do!

aaron_t

Middle 3rd row of 2005-2007 DCX vans do not have 3-point seatbelt. Only lap belt and LATCH anchors. Other 6 places have shoulder belts.

thegraduate

WOW. Talk about behind the times. The Accord had a middle-seat shoulder belt nearly 10 years ago, as did the 1999 Odyssey. Let's hope DCX doesn't make this mistake for 2008.

billfrye

Does anyone know if the 2008 model will have a navigation system? I loved the vehicle, but miss a nav. system.

Thanks,

Bill

arumage

Chances are very good that it will. There is alot of talk that there will be an LG/Hyundai colaboration to get in-dash nav available for the Sonata, Azera, Santa Fe, and Veracruz. The below link is a information sheet from the company who designed the software for the unit.

LG/Hyundai Infotainment System

On the longer term, I know for sure that for 2010 there will be technology codesigned with Intel and Infineon available for Hyundai and BMW vehicles.

Intel/Infineon Collaboration

aaron_t

If middle 3rd row shoulder belt is important for someone, don't buy a -07 DCX minivan. I don't know about the '08 models. I think the middle row seats/storage has influenced more sales than the lack of shoulder belt has lost in sales, but there is always room for improvement. I will say that I've had three people in the 3rd roaw exactly once in 2 years. The middle 3rd seat shoulder belt is near the bottom of my values, but each one should rate their own requirements/values.

I recommened a solution to bonomojo where the shoulder belt wouldn't matter there, at least for several years. If a child seat were mounted in the middle of the 3rd row using LATCH, then the shoulder belt is just a potential safety hazard. A child could grab it and strangle himself.

albook

Still off. The 206 inch regular Expy has only 108 cuft cargo space. The EL has 130. The EL is 222 inches long. So you don't get any thing for 5 in, but for 20 in. But correct- the way to get the most cargo space is to get a minivan, or more than that- a real van.

albook

I retain all of my statements about styling, and about it's contriversiality, but I will take back one thing. After seeing some pics on Ford.com, I will say Flex looks nice. I'll even go as far as saying I like it a little. Is it my favorite? Absolutely not. But For something with looks that upped the FS in stationwagon (something I thought was impossible!) it has nice style. But an extended Edge-which will not happen (This takes the place of it) would go over a lot better with buyers. Choices are good.Expedition Flex?

bobw3

Actually mistr, it was you who said that the Expedition has 130CuFt in your post 1134...I was only quoting from you. I didn't realize you had your numbers wrong then, but you are correct in post 1159.

But again, while you might not get any additional cargo area with all of the seats folded in the Expedition, you are not correct in saying that you don't get anything for the extra 6" in length.

The headroom is about the same. You get an inch or so more hip and shoulder room, even though both vehicles have the same exterior width. The exception is the Acadia's 3rd row shoulder room, but it's hard to imagine how the difference between shoulder and hip room in the Acadia's 3rd row can be 9" different? Makes me wonder about that number. And in the legroom specs, the Exedition gets a couple inches more in the 2nd row and 4" more in the 3rd row.

So for that extra 6" in overall length, you're getting 6.7" more legroom in the 2nd & 3rd rows combined of the Expedition.

Seems like something to me.

Expedition (206" length version) Acadia
Head room (in.)
First row 39.6 40.4
Second row 39.8 39.3
Third row 38.3 38.4

Shoulder room (in.)
First row 63.2 61.9
Second row 63.7 61.9
Third row 51.9 57.8

Hip room (in.)
First row 60.2 57.8
Second row 59.9 57.9
Third row 50.2 48.3

Leg room (in.)
First row 41.1 41.3
Second row 39.1 36.9
Third row 37.7 33.2

http://www.fordvehicles.com/suvs/expedition/features/specs/
http://www.gmc.com/acadia/acadia/specsDimension.jsp

brickfrenzy

I'm 6'5" and have very long legs. I test-drove a CX9 GT AWD today, and I was surprised at how the parking brake pedal intruded into the driver's left footwell. In order to reach the dead-pedal, I had to tuck my foot under the parking brake pedal somewhat. Is this common in vehicles of this class?

albook

I meant cargo space. But all the the other dimensions are about the same- except for legroom in row 2/3. In this case, I can't feel the difference in the 2nd row, and the Acadia 3rd row doesn't seem much smaller to me. Not to mention better gas mileage and handling.

albook

Is the Enclave for sale yet? Built one on the web, and a great deal for a vehicle in this category. I've heard a lot of bad talk for badge engineering- but this is not an example- and even if it was, it would be a great one. I hand it to Buick for making someone under 60-even 40- want to drive one. I don't know how Lincoln could live up to this with a Flex version.

joe97

For those interested, it's been reported coming this summer.

albook

Actually mistr, it was you who said that the Expedition has 130CuFt in your post 1134...I was only quoting from you. I didn't realize you had your numbers wrong then, but you are correct in post 1159.
Well if you would have read correctly, it said in the sentence above Expedition EL.

bobw3

i did read YOURS correctly. nowhere did it say EL.