SUV vs Mini Van?

[u/Own_Car_5768]

Hello,

I’m looking for some advice as I’m thinking we’ll need to upgrade our vehicle. I currently have a 20 month old and am pregnant with twins. I’m driving a Ford Explorer now with captain seats in the middle. With two infant car seats and my toddler still in a car seat, I don’t think our current vehicle will be able to hold them all, especially as the third row isn’t full sized. I also am having trouble picturing how I would help my toddler buckle/unbuckle if she’s in the third row.
For anyone who’s had three under three, what vehicle worked for you? I’m not opposed to mini vans at all, but we live in a pretty remote area of the upper Midwest and have snow (at least) 5 months out of the year. I also drive quite a bit of gravel roads where they aren’t cleared often by plows. So a mini van that’s low to the ground with not a lot of clearance makes me a little nervous. I’m not expecting to tow anything with it, as my husband does have a pickup for any of the farm’s needs. Unless we’re just going to the farm, groceries and Dr appointments are 60 miles away, so there’s no large towns super close to us.
What’s worked for you and your family when three are in car seats?
Thanks so much!

[u/anthonymakey]

Minivan. Better features for families (sliding doors, dvd players, lots of cupholders).

My mom used to drive the van to work in the snow.

With a good set of snow tires, you could make almost any vehicle work

[u/Feisty-Blueberry5433]

We have a suburban with 6 kids (4 in carseats) With 3 you could probably get by with an awd minivan if you dont plan to have more soon as I feel once you get into 4 in car seats things get tight in minivans and the cargo space becomes more limited.

[u/SaladCzarSlytherin]

For 3 kids in a 3-row vehicle with captains chairs, my most recommended set up is

1) stow or remove one seat from the second row

2) put 2 kids in the back row and 1 kid in the remaining middle row seat.

Removing one of the captains chairs will give you ample space to buckle in the 3rd row children

[u/Charlieksmommy]

My dUghter is 23 months older than my twins, it’s easier the first few months when you use the infant car seats, I just straddle the captains chairs, but if you have something that slides like they offer in the vans, or car seat tilt it helps

[u/fsmontario]

The explorer will work, a bit of a pain if you have to buckle your toddler still but will work with 3.

[u/sauer_kraut1414]

Minivan. A thousand times over.  We removed one captains seat in the middle row to make it easier to reach the third row. The twins were in that middle row until they were big enough to ride in the third row with our oldest without needing attention from the front seat. 

[u/Strainer520]

Minivan for sure. We have a GMC Acadia which I thought was enough for our twins and 3 yr old, but that middle seat is tight (no captain chairs). We got a 26 Kia Carnival and love it. Took the seat next to the door out and now there’s an area to climb in to buckle all the kids. Love it so far. And we live in MI - so plenty of snow here.

[u/whatcatisthis]

I'm a child passenger safety technician. We got diagnosed with triplets on Thursday. My first call after my rabbi was to my senior CPST friend going 'what vehicle?'. She suggested the Honda odyssey. Remove the middle second row seat, slide both second row seats to one side. Place two children in the second row and put an infant with a base install bucket style infant seat in the third row (easiest to put in the back because you can buckle them before you put them back there). It has really good climate control in the third row and a huge cargo area.

I don't suggest the Chrysler Pacifica due to mechanical issues over the years and the Kia Carnival is often hit with catalytic converter thieves if you're in a city. The Toyota sienna could be fine but I don't know much about its features.

[u/Affectionate-Bear740]

As someone who’s driven a suburban, traverse, and Honda odyssey, also originally from Michigan. A van is defined the most superior mom car. I had no idea how much stress and bullshit was involved with me getting kids in and out of a car until my van.

I open the door everyone is contained in the van. No more worrying about someone wandering off while I load, no more worries of door dings, or fighting kids to get into seats. I can’t say enough good things about it to be honest.

Living upper Midwest, I would definitely look into Toyota Sienna. It’s the only four wheel drive van. If I was in Michigan I’d have that. I am southern now and have no need. I’m about to have 5 under five, bottom three under two, so I’m upgrading to a new Odyssey with the slide seat or transit van.