3rd row recommendation vehicles?

A

amalik

Senior Member
We just had kid #2. First is still 2 years old, so not in a booster yet. Thus, that makes two car seats as it stands now.

My 2 rides are:

1) 3rd gen 4runner

2) Civic sedan

Looking at getting a 3rd row vehicle. Highlander caught our eye, but any other suggestions from people who have lived the two or more car seat life? Only really willing to consider a Japanese vehicle, so no GM/Ford/etc suggestions please.

Wife doesn't want a mini-van. And also, we don't plan to use the 3rd row for actual car seats (maybe a booster when kid is older, but I heard they are not safe for car seats), but just looking for more or similar room as the 4runner size.

Just in case anyone asks, yes the 4runner does pretty well with the 2 car seats, but that's my DD so looking for a wife-DD, and no -- not another 3rd gen, I'm already drowning in the to-do list on my own 3rd gen as they get older and older now.
 
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Timely, my wife and I are having similar discussions about another vehicle. We have a similar set up to you- compact SUV and a high MPG commuter.

We're looking at the Highlander and Nissan Pathfinder. I own an Xterra right now and have been impressed with Nissan overall. I've had issues with every domestic brand and think I'm done with them for good now, so I understand you there. Toyota and Nissan have become my default starting places. The new generation Honda Pilot is (or at least was) having some growing pains with their redesign. I'm not sure if they have it sorted out yet, but I scratched it off the list. Might be worth digging deeper though.

We own a Subaru Outback which is a great car too, but Subaru doesn't really have anything to compete in the 3 row market.

I'd at least look into the Pathfinder before making a decision. My research so far has been promising. Good luck.
 
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[MENTION=177934]TFin04[/MENTION], yeah -- I was telling the wife the new Pathfinder is 3-row. I was a bit surprised by that growing up around normal 2-row Pathfinders myself.

The problem is, I've never bought a 'new' car, so that'll play a role in my purchase decision here as well.

'17 Highlander and '17 Pathfinder are both $30k.

Pilot may also be a good choice for us, I have an awesome Honda mechanic I met through owning my Civic.

FYI in case you don't know about it, www.carcomplaints.com is a great resource while doing research.
 
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amalik said:
[MENTION=177934]TFin04[/MENTION], yeah -- I was telling the wife the new Pathfinder is 3-row. I was a bit surprised by that growing up around normal 2-row Pathfinders myself.

The problem is, I've never bought a 'new' car, so that'll play a role in my purchase decision here as well.

'17 Highlander and '17 Pathfinder are both $30k.

Pilot may also be a good choice for us, I have an awesome Honda mechanic I met through owning my Civic.

FYI in case you don't know about it, www.carcomplaints.com is a great resource while doing research.
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Are you set on new? I have a hard time eating that depreciation right up front. The Pathfinder has had 3 rows since 2013, so there should be quite a few lightly used options out there.
 
TFin04 said:
Are you set on new? I have a hard time eating that depreciation right up front. The Pathfinder has had 3 rows since 2013, so there should be quite a few lightly used options out there.
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Nope. Considering CPO though. I've only done Craigslist buys in the past, so this would be a step up. Thanks for the tip.
 
Senorlechero said:
maybe I missed the reasoning, but how about a 4runner with third row?

It's been great for us with 4 kids
Click to expand...

I did consider it. I will include that in my search, but I will tell you there's a pretty big Colorado premium slapped on when buying Toyota SUVs.

Does your family put car seats in 3rd row?

Sent from my LGMS428 using Tapatalk
 
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amalik said:
I did consider it. I will include that in my search, but I will tell you there's a pretty big Colorado premium slapped on when buying Toyota SUVs.

Does your family put car seats in 3rd row?

Sent from my LGMS428 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I'm in SoCal, Toyota SUV premium capitol of the US LOL.

True car shows $242 off MSRP as a great deal on a 4runner where I'm at lol

We have a car seat in the 2nd row only, we were relegated to *cough* minivan *cough* use for a while when we had 3 kids in car seats all at the same time.

2 car seats in the 4runner would make it tight for sure, but if you love the vehicle like we do it's worth it.

The Highlander is also an excellent vehicle with a bit more interior space.
 
On of my bosses has a 3rd row Highlander. I love that thing When 3 or more of us go somewhere in it grown adults fight over the middle row. It’s super comfortable. I can’t wait for the day I replace my wife’s Expedition with a Highlander. You might look at those
 
I have a sienna and a 3 row runner.

I did not want the mini van, but it is so useful I can’t live without it now. Getting lumber is much simpler with it compared to the runner!
 
Honda

Wife has a Honda Pilot. Very comfortable and has a lot of room. We test drove a Highlander and we liked the Pilot a lot more. Reliable and holds its value well.


Ruff
 
I have a 4th gen with 3rd row and two kids aged 3 and 5. It's a good set up for us. The 4th gen 3rd row is easily and fully removable when you don't want it, so there's no permanent loss of cargo room. Most of the time my car seats are in the 2nd row, but when I need more passenger seats, I drop in the 3rd row and move the car seats back there. However, the rear facing car seats only just fit and are not easy to get to, so I wouldn't recommend putting them back there. My 5yo is in a highback booster and it fits perfectly, she loves sitting back there.
I decided to get a 3rd row equipped vehicle so I could transport the kids and occasionally the grandparents. I probably only use it 4-5 times a year, but it's very convenient then. The rest of the time the seats are removed and stored in a box in the garage. I also upgraded from a 3rd gen. The cargo space is almost the same, but the interior width of the 1st and 2nd row is greater and I've even squeezed two adults and one car seat in the 2nd row without major issue.

When I was buying, I wanted good offroad performance in my vehicle, so I narrowed my choice to 06-09 4Runners, Lexus GX 470 and the Land Rover LR3. The GX and LR3's are all factory equipped with 3rd row seating and are roomier, but the cost of ownership was calculated to be higher over time, and the LR3 would only fit in my garage if the suspension was at the lowest setting, so the 4Runner won out and I couldn't be happier.
 
I am/ just was in a similar boat too. My older one will be 6 and my younger one just turned 3. We both have sedans (Corolla and Infiniti Q50), and it was tight in the car, especially in the back seat. We could not take our parents if we ever needed it. We needed a larger vehicle with more seats. I did some research online and looked at the Highlander, Pilot, MDX and the 4Runner.

For the Pilot/MDX, I'm not convinced on the 9 speed transmission.
For the Highlander, the Limited gasoline trim level in Canada, they have captain chairs in the middle row. I prefer bench seating for 3 across for the middle row. With all 3 rows up, the Highlander looks like it's more spacious and has a larger trunk space. I would also prefer the 4WD vs the AWD.

We decided to go with the 7 passenger Limited trim on the 4Runner.
 
I see nobody has recommended the Sequoia...

Toyo product, same engine as the tundra and Land cruiser...solid body on frame as well. Solid TRUE 4WD system. gas mileage is for crap, but hey, you cant have everything.

while at the dealership waiting on my T4R to get serviced, i sat in one just to check it out...oh my was it pretty nice. Land-Yacht-ish even. i could see, if my wife and i had 3 kids instead of 2, i surely would have gotten one instead of a Runner. i shopped those before i bought my rig, but deemed them more than we needed.
 
Save yourself the trouble and just get a Highlander. My wife has a 2016 XLE with leather, nav, 3rd row and she loves it.
 
Yeah don't get a 4Runner with 2 car seats. Too tight and not enough seat pitch in the 2nd row. Unibody cross-overs are boring but it sounds like a Highlander is the way to go. I wouldn't buy a Sequoia just because of how old that platform is but, if you did, you may as well get one like 5+ years old to save cash. It's not like there is much benefit to getting a new one unless you really think the lipstick they put on the 2018 is worth it.
 
Ive got 3 car seats in both my 3ed and 5th gen (no 3ed row). We found car seats that fit our vehicles rather than buy vehicles that fit car seats.
 
I had a 2010 and a 2013 Sequoia, both have 3rd row as standard equipment. Those rigs had room to spare! Could fit 3 car seats side by side, all with space in between!
 
My 4R has 2 car seats in it for my 6 and 2 year old. Plenty of space. I don't see how someone else is complaining of the space. There is lots. Anyway, If I had the money, I would totally get a Pilot. I've been comparing it to the Highlander and feel it is superior to the HL. I love Toyota, but I really love Honda. My DD, 2007 EX sedan has 235,000miles on it and continues to drive/feel/look like a new car. I have no reason to get rid of it. The 4R has been my favorite SUV since I was 16 years old and continues to be. BUT, in all honesty, its not the best family hauler. The BOF design intrudes on interior space and economy, but I don't care. It is a TANK, a reliable TANK that will continue to haul my kids around (until I gather the scratch for a Pilot, LOL).

Highlander? Solid vehicle, hands down. Pilot is better. Check it out and decide for yourself.

peace out
 
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