Please recommend your favorite 7 passenger vehicle
August 7, 2015 1:38 PM Subscribe
I'm in the market for a used 7 seater vehicle. I'm trying to avoid a minivan because, well, it's a minivan, but worst case scenario i will settle for a minivan. The model i have my eye on is a Mercedes R350. Unfortunately for me they have been discontinued so finding a decent used one with relatively low miles at a decent price point $20k or below is proving quite hard in the Seattle area. As such i'm open to any other recommendations. Please tell me why you like your 7 seater or suggest to me any other options to ferry around 3 kids and an occasional straggler or 2.
Thanks
Toyota Highlander SUV will seat 7 (it has fold-up seats in the back). Ours is new, so I can't really comment on how well the used ones hold up (but: Toyota). We are very happy with it.
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 1:45 PM on August 7, 2015
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 1:45 PM on August 7, 2015
Another highlander vote. My boss and one of my friends have them, and they're noticeably nicer to drive than other 7-people-capable vehicles i've driven(ford expedition, various vans). It drives more like something much smaller like a forester than a huge peoplemover.
They're both the older mid-2000s generation too, i bet the new ones are even nicer. And yea, toyota. A merc will be REALLY expensive to work on and they aren't even all that reliable anymore. A toyota is, well, a toyota.
posted by emptythought at 1:48 PM on August 7, 2015
They're both the older mid-2000s generation too, i bet the new ones are even nicer. And yea, toyota. A merc will be REALLY expensive to work on and they aren't even all that reliable anymore. A toyota is, well, a toyota.
posted by emptythought at 1:48 PM on August 7, 2015
My brother, in this exact same dilemma, bought a used (early 2000s) Volvo V70 station wagon about a seven years ago. My SIL coaches ringette for her daughter's team, and, occasionally needs to move a passel of pre-teen girls around. It's still going strong. It seats five, with an additional two in a rear-facing foldout seat in the cargo area. They're pretty happy with it.
posted by bonehead at 1:54 PM on August 7, 2015
posted by bonehead at 1:54 PM on August 7, 2015
Don't completely discount the minivan. We had a Honda Odyssey - seats 8 comfortably and safely. We never worried about having enough space - and could always take a few extra kids if needed.
We now have a 7 seater SUV - after testing them all, and I hate to carry more than 5. In almost all cases 3rd row seats in SUVs are too small for even small kids and/or they are in the rear crumple zone and just seem unsafe.
posted by NoDef at 2:05 PM on August 7, 2015 [4 favorites]
We now have a 7 seater SUV - after testing them all, and I hate to carry more than 5. In almost all cases 3rd row seats in SUVs are too small for even small kids and/or they are in the rear crumple zone and just seem unsafe.
posted by NoDef at 2:05 PM on August 7, 2015 [4 favorites]
Depending on why you don't want a minivan, the Flex is a really nice drive and seats 7. Low floor, great cargo capacity with seats folded. It's basically a minivan form factor but more boxy and the doors open out rather than sliding.
posted by ftm at 2:09 PM on August 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by ftm at 2:09 PM on August 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
My mom & her husband LOVE their Acura MDX. It's made multiple trips across the country. Midwest to FL, several times. Midwest to Texas. Midwest to Seattle & Portland. Midwest through Colorado & Wyoming to SF. Midwest to New England. They like to take their road trips, 2-3 a year. They had a Lexus that they liked, but are super happy with the Acura. It's comfortable for short & long trips. They can ferry a group of their friends to whatever local outing they are taking and the 60+ crowd doesn't seem to have much difficulty getting in and out, unlike some 7 passenger cars, so kids (and parents struggling with kids) shouldn't have much of one. The big plus, it's taken all the miles (short & long trips) with ease.
Can't speak to the kid abuse, but they aren't the easiest on the car and the travel to & from FL seems to involve half a house worth of stuff jammed into it. It's held up well and still looks great.
posted by imbri at 2:36 PM on August 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
Can't speak to the kid abuse, but they aren't the easiest on the car and the travel to & from FL seems to involve half a house worth of stuff jammed into it. It's held up well and still looks great.
posted by imbri at 2:36 PM on August 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
How about the Mercedes E-Class Wagon? They have two occasional rear-facing seats in the boot that will take compact adults (5'8" or so) at a pinch. If European prices are anything to go by you would get a lot of car for around $20k (post 2007 W211 cars are best and most reliable, but be prepared for Mercedes service pricing...).
posted by srednivashtar at 2:41 PM on August 7, 2015
posted by srednivashtar at 2:41 PM on August 7, 2015
I have a minivan - I don't like it enough to recommend it though but one thing I love love about it - and other similar minivans - is that there is A/C and heat control for the back 5 seats - with plenty of vents throughout the vehicle. My father has a Nissan Pathfinder - fits 7 but no back A/C / heat controls and only one little vent to heat/cool the entire back (5 seat) section. I think that's such lousy forethought. It's miserable. While the driver and passenger are freezing with the a/c blasting, everyone else is dying from the heat because that one piddly output vent hardly makes a dent.
So - whatever the vehicle - get one with vents at each seat and controls for the output of each sections heating and cooling.
posted by Sassyfras at 2:55 PM on August 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
So - whatever the vehicle - get one with vents at each seat and controls for the output of each sections heating and cooling.
posted by Sassyfras at 2:55 PM on August 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
My opinion is that carrying people is what minivans are good at, so it seems less likely that non-minivans will be as convenient or practical to deal with as minivans. Is there any particular reason you're resistant to the idea, or is it just the stigma of having a minivan?
Speaking from personal experience, my parents have a recent model Dodge Caravan, and I've liked it so far. The model they have seats 7, has captains chairs in the middle, separate climate controls for the rear of the vehicle, automatic sliding doors, and all of the seats in the back and middle can be folded down for carrying cargo. It's a very practical vehicle.
posted by Aleyn at 4:10 PM on August 7, 2015
Speaking from personal experience, my parents have a recent model Dodge Caravan, and I've liked it so far. The model they have seats 7, has captains chairs in the middle, separate climate controls for the rear of the vehicle, automatic sliding doors, and all of the seats in the back and middle can be folded down for carrying cargo. It's a very practical vehicle.
posted by Aleyn at 4:10 PM on August 7, 2015
We just bought a Nissan Pathfinder and took it on a 3500 mile road trip in the first week, carrying 7 people. It is great so far.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 5:08 PM on August 7, 2015
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 5:08 PM on August 7, 2015
Don't have any specific recommendations, but I want to strongly second Sassyfras on climate controls --- remember that a lot of big vehicles don't have openable windows back by their third rows, so no or few vents in the rear can mean the third row passengers could be freezing or sweltering while the front row people think the heater/AC is •already• turned too high for comfort.
posted by easily confused at 5:19 PM on August 7, 2015
posted by easily confused at 5:19 PM on August 7, 2015
I opted for an AWD Toyota Sienna minivan after looking at a bunch of 7-seater crossover SUVs, and am so very, very glad I did. The usability of the third-row seating is just head and shoulders above that for even the biggest SUVs we tried (where you have to squirm your way through folded-down second-row seating to get to the third row, and you're sitting in the back with your knees at shoulder level because the floor is right under the seat). It's a wonderful relief to still have plenty of cargo space even when the third seat is engaged. The automatic sliding side doors are wonderful for wrangling kids in tight parking spaces. Etc.
I thought I would hate the handling and parking of a minivan vs. SUV, but it's really not that much physically bigger, and IME it handles pretty dreamily. Heartily recommended.
posted by Bardolph at 5:33 PM on August 7, 2015
I thought I would hate the handling and parking of a minivan vs. SUV, but it's really not that much physically bigger, and IME it handles pretty dreamily. Heartily recommended.
posted by Bardolph at 5:33 PM on August 7, 2015
We were contemplating a few different SUV options, but when we discovered we were pregnant with twins, we "gave up on life" and bought a van. We found a fully loaded VW Ryoutan, 2009, low miles, awesome price. Then we lost them at 20 weeks last month... and I'm keeping the van.
Being able to push buttons on the remote key and open either side door, and/or the back hatch... definitely amazing when we are shopping for groceries or letting friends into the vehicle. And people have pointed out that whereas a kid would have a hard time getting themselves into an SUV and into their own carseat, in a van that's much easier. Captain's seats for the back two, and a bench in the far back that folds down. DVD player for each of the back two rows. Leather seats all around. Lovely pull-up shades on the rear windows. I'm going to drive this thing into the ground.
posted by lizbunny at 5:39 PM on August 7, 2015
Being able to push buttons on the remote key and open either side door, and/or the back hatch... definitely amazing when we are shopping for groceries or letting friends into the vehicle. And people have pointed out that whereas a kid would have a hard time getting themselves into an SUV and into their own carseat, in a van that's much easier. Captain's seats for the back two, and a bench in the far back that folds down. DVD player for each of the back two rows. Leather seats all around. Lovely pull-up shades on the rear windows. I'm going to drive this thing into the ground.
posted by lizbunny at 5:39 PM on August 7, 2015
Wifey and I love our Chevy Traverse. Seats 7 adults semi-comfortably, should be great for a pack of kids.
posted by SquidLips at 5:58 PM on August 7, 2015
posted by SquidLips at 5:58 PM on August 7, 2015
The Buick Enclave is a surprisingly nice vehicle that would fit your needs. It's the Buick version of the Chevy that SquidLips vouched for above.
posted by whisk(e)y neat at 7:23 PM on August 7, 2015
posted by whisk(e)y neat at 7:23 PM on August 7, 2015
My mom just got an Enclave and loves it so much that she mentions it every time I speak to her. And I don't think she ever said anything to me about any other car she's had.
posted by ocherdraco at 8:07 PM on August 7, 2015
posted by ocherdraco at 8:07 PM on August 7, 2015
I have an Odyssey. I love it and it's thoughtfully designed for families. But since you don't want a van, I have another recommendation:
We recently rented a full-size Hyundai Santa Fe for a 1,200 mile trip through the Rocky Mountains. It has 2 rows of seats in back like a van, but the back seats fold completely flat for extra room. The Santa Fe was incredibly nimble and steady on all of the mountain roads. We owned a 2003 Santa Fe for 10 years before we got our van. They are fabulously reliable cars. Our previous Santa Fe only needed maintenance - nothing ever broke - in the 10 years we had it. If you're looking at used cars, you may look at the Hyundai Veracruz -- they turned it into the Santa Fe in recent model years.
posted by Ostara at 8:53 PM on August 7, 2015
We recently rented a full-size Hyundai Santa Fe for a 1,200 mile trip through the Rocky Mountains. It has 2 rows of seats in back like a van, but the back seats fold completely flat for extra room. The Santa Fe was incredibly nimble and steady on all of the mountain roads. We owned a 2003 Santa Fe for 10 years before we got our van. They are fabulously reliable cars. Our previous Santa Fe only needed maintenance - nothing ever broke - in the 10 years we had it. If you're looking at used cars, you may look at the Hyundai Veracruz -- they turned it into the Santa Fe in recent model years.
posted by Ostara at 8:53 PM on August 7, 2015
Another vote for the Acura MDX. My parents had one for many years. It holds lots of people and stuff and it's fun to drive.
posted by SisterHavana at 11:53 PM on August 7, 2015
posted by SisterHavana at 11:53 PM on August 7, 2015
Mitsubishi Delica or Pajero imported from Japan. Not sure how common they are in the US with the different import regulations, but just north of you here in BC they're all the rage these days, for good reason. Diesel, ridiculously great mileage, and cheap - there are tons with decent low mileage for under $10k. They're also wonderful feats of engineering, with the seats folding down/up in various ways according to your needs.
Driving a Paj now, when this dies (might take awhile) I'm planning to drop whatever is necessary on the nicest Del I can find.
posted by mannequito at 1:49 AM on August 8, 2015
Driving a Paj now, when this dies (might take awhile) I'm planning to drop whatever is necessary on the nicest Del I can find.
posted by mannequito at 1:49 AM on August 8, 2015
Hint:what we call a mini-van in the UD is called a people !over in the UK.
posted by SemiSalt at 5:23 AM on August 8, 2015
posted by SemiSalt at 5:23 AM on August 8, 2015
We were seriously considering the Highlander, but against my preferences my husband bought a Toyota Sienna. After a month or so I had to come clean and admit that I love driving it. It's just as easy to drive as my Camry, and the interior has tons of thoughtful touches. The Highlander does not have great storage if the third row is up, and the third row seating is less comfortable than in the Highlander.
posted by vignettist at 8:46 AM on August 8, 2015
posted by vignettist at 8:46 AM on August 8, 2015
From Jalopnik: Parents, Just Buy the Damn Minivan.
posted by LastOfHisKind at 9:20 AM on August 8, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by LastOfHisKind at 9:20 AM on August 8, 2015 [5 favorites]
I went from a Honda Pilot last year to an Acura MDX, and I love it so much! It's comfortable, drives really well, I love all the features. I recommend it highly.
posted by Bresciabouvier at 2:11 PM on August 8, 2015
posted by Bresciabouvier at 2:11 PM on August 8, 2015
Believe it or not, a Tesla can be bought with a third row of seats. It seats 7. And at least one guy thinks that in the long run it is cheaper than a minivan.
posted by eye of newt at 12:37 PM on August 9, 2015
posted by eye of newt at 12:37 PM on August 9, 2015
I looooove my Toyota Sienna minivan. It's technically an eight-seater, but that 8th seat is ridiculous.
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:49 PM on August 9, 2015
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:49 PM on August 9, 2015
Minivans are far more comfortable, but are generally much fare much worse than most SUVs or even larger sedans in a crash. Like a small car, there is just less room for crumple zones.
posted by wierdo at 11:02 PM on August 10, 2015
posted by wierdo at 11:02 PM on August 10, 2015
Is that true? I'm not seeing that when I compare random minivans vs random SUVs on safercar.gov. I've heard bad things about passenger vans, but not about minivans.
posted by The corpse in the library at 12:44 PM on August 11, 2015
posted by The corpse in the library at 12:44 PM on August 11, 2015
Minivans are far more comfortable, but are generally much fare much worse than most SUVs or even larger sedans in a crash.
That's a common perception, but completely wrong.
SUVs typically have a higher centre of gravity and, as a class, are more prone to roll-over. Minivans are the safest vehicle class on the road and have been for a long time. They do, in fact, have great survivability in a crash. SUVs are second best, with cars, then pickups last.
posted by bonehead at 1:29 PM on August 11, 2015
That's a common perception, but completely wrong.
SUVs typically have a higher centre of gravity and, as a class, are more prone to roll-over. Minivans are the safest vehicle class on the road and have been for a long time. They do, in fact, have great survivability in a crash. SUVs are second best, with cars, then pickups last.
posted by bonehead at 1:29 PM on August 11, 2015
They are indeed less likely to roll over. And your precious snowflakes are less likely to get smushed if they're in the middle. You, on the other hand, have little protection. I've seen way too many smashed up minivans that crushed front driver/passenger legs to think of them as any better than a smart car, and at least those bounce.
Perhaps they have gotten better since the offset frontal crash test began, but in the past they were horrid in that sort of crash.
A nice sedan is the best thing to be in in a crash with anything but a Hummer or big rig anyway. Lots of room.for crumple zones on both ends.
posted by wierdo at 11:39 PM on August 11, 2015
Perhaps they have gotten better since the offset frontal crash test began, but in the past they were horrid in that sort of crash.
A nice sedan is the best thing to be in in a crash with anything but a Hummer or big rig anyway. Lots of room.for crumple zones on both ends.
posted by wierdo at 11:39 PM on August 11, 2015
> I've seen way too many smashed up minivans that crushed front driver/passenger legs to think of them as any better than a smart car, and at least those bounce
The OP is looking for car-buying advice, so if you have sites to point to that confirm your feelings, that would be helpful.
posted by The corpse in the library at 1:10 PM on August 12, 2015
The OP is looking for car-buying advice, so if you have sites to point to that confirm your feelings, that would be helpful.
posted by The corpse in the library at 1:10 PM on August 12, 2015
Response by poster: So i ended up getting a Mercedes GL 450 and let me tell you...it seats 7 VERY comfortably. The third row are 2 full sized seats. It was a tough choice between a tricked out Toyota Sienna and the GL, but I honestly could not see myself in the minivan.
Thanks for all who answered.
posted by ramix at 12:25 AM on August 13, 2015
Thanks for all who answered.
posted by ramix at 12:25 AM on August 13, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by cecic at 1:41 PM on August 7, 2015 [1 favorite]