Tried searching online but no simple way to narrow this down that I see. My requirements:
All wheel drive
seven seats
automatic tailgate lift and being able to shut doors from the driver’s seat (little kids)
heated front seats
very reliable
Not a huge van, more like an SUV
Also my husband thinks we should wait for the 2017 model because “you lose a year of driving by buying a 2016”. I think we should wait until just before the 17 model comes out and buy an end of model one. Which makes more sense?
Ah, I see that you need a minivan because you need to be able to automatically close the second row doors.
That’s going to narrow it down a lot.
It doesn’t matter to me whether or not I buy a 2016 or a 2017 unless there’s a significant change to the model. For instance, I bought the Gen 2 Ford Flex (not good for your needs, but I love it for me) because the brakes were better and the tech was better than the Gen 1 (2009-2012) versions. Plus the front grille in the Gen 2 was much more attractive to me.
So if the models are identical, why wait? Just get what you need. Use truecar.com for pricing to keep from getting fleeced.
Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna are the 800lb gorillas of the reliable minivan set. Other than looking like every other mom in the carpool lane, there’s nothing wrong with them.
Sienna is also the only one that offers AWD in a minivan. Odyssey could get it in 2017 according to rumors, but I’d NEVER buy a car that does something that big in its first iteration. Let them shake out the bugs first.
Seven usable seats will probably mean a big "mini"van. Among SUVs, you will need a big one if you want the last row to be usable, although access to the last row will not be as good as with a van with a sliding door.
If the 2017 model is a significant redesign, it may be worth waiting for. If it is the same as the 2016 model, pay attention to how much of a discount the 2016 model is offered for when the 2017 models show up.
Okay. I was going to respond to @MotherOfDragons that price wasn’t really a consideration but the Tesla X might just be too much.
Toyota Sienna sounds good. I’ll start there. Self closing doors are important with a 2 yr old. Not my kids, just grandkids but want to make transporting them easy as possible. Back door automatic is important. Way too high for me to pull down the one I have now. And it’s only a Ford Escape.
^^Yeah they’re not like a subway train that smooshes you if you get caught in it-it has sensors that bounce the door back open. Although my minivan years were 1999-2005, and my two minivans didn’t have the self-closing doors, it certainly would have been nice.
For seven seats it’s probably going to be a mini-van. Or a really big SUV.
I’m presently looking for small cross over but 5 seems to be the max for seating. Ford Edge has a lot of room but only seats 5. Son calls it the “new Mom car”. It’s the car that mom’s go to when they downsize from their mini-vans. That is me.
Own a Chrysler T&C Limited 2005. Been nice and pretty dependable over the years despite some reviews . LOVE the stow and go seating. Very versatile Wouldn’t go for the automatic fold down though (I’m so fast now at folding seats that it frustrated me to wait for the seats to fold.) I used to haul a ton of kids and gear! Truly was the “mom bus” but I do enjoy driving it. You can lock the doors from the driver’s side, easy for people to get to rear seat without having to mess with moving seats like you do in most cars (huge plus). Now the rear seat has “stadium seating” so it’s a bit higher–less headroom for an adult but better to ride in as a passenger.
Not in love with the new styling on the new ones at all–just seems bigger and bulkier but perhaps more practical since they changed the shape of the back hatch so you could load bigger items but it made it boxier.
. I’m looking for something smaller (no soccer teams to transport anymore!) but I did check them out since that is what I’m familiar with. (BTW I hated the Dodge–not close)
Friends have a new SUV that seats seven–think it’s a Ford and it is HUGE! Super nice to ride in if someone else is driving it!
Buying used and for cash makes the most sense. Look for used with low mileage.
And unless you REALLY need the seven seats and the extra room consider that having that room makes you the preferred driver nearly ALL the time. It gets old to be the driver just because you bought a car that could carry the entire group.
Model X has a 6-seat configuration with captain seats for all pax (our test drive X had this configuration - pretty cool). Getting car seats in and out is a breeze because one does not have to climb into the car to do this. Lots of younger parents test-driving the X were ohh and ahh about that!
If you want six seats, look at the Ford Flex (my car). Super comfortable, awd option, good head and leg room, doesn’t look like you’re driving a minivan, and the button to close the back hatch is located both next to the driver and on the side of the back frame inside so you don’t have to reach up to shut it.
Heated AND air conditioned seats. Excellent crash test ratings. Very fun to drive-not like a truck or a minivan.
It does NOT have automatic closing doors-no SUV/XUV does. It’s also been good for reliability and it’s easy to get in and out of (no grabbing handles to step up into it). Mine has 61k miles and has been trouble-free (knocking some serious wood).
