3rd Row SUV Experiences

[SWOHTR]

Had a 2015 Traverse, family size was 2 parents, 1 infant, 1 dog. It worked but was not ideal.
Traded for a 2018 Suburban (new), 4wd, with the 5.3l. Family grew to 2 parents, 2 children, 2 dogs (60lb/ea). It fits everything we routinely need w/o using the roof rack, pulling a trailer, or using any other external storage. It has no problems towing when that needs to happen. Has about 75k on it. On the highway, we consistently average 18-20mpg. Around town is worse, but you don't buy an SUV like this and then complain about mileage. Tank is fairly large too, at 31ish gal.

Love the Suburban. We've driven it across the country five times: ID-RI (towing boat), RI-CA, CA-WA, WA-CA, CA-WA (towing tandem axle U-haul). No major problems, only a few minor ones that were covered under warranty.

The other nice thing about that body style is the rear axle is a solid axle, not independent. Keep up on the preventive maintenance, like most people don't do, and it will be a good machine. Highly recommended.

 

[Bluumoon]

Have a 21 Highlander awd/hybrid 35mpg on the highway. REALLY nice little SUV.
3rd row is fine for kids, tight for an adult. Very little storage w 3rd row up.
Money not a thang? The new Lexus version of the Land Cruiser should be out soon, with much improved gas milage.

 

[TxLite]

Did you own GM or Audi that proved unreliable? Or on the flip side, a Nissan that’s been great?

Wife and I had a 2015 equinox, sold at 120k after a blown water pump and a myriad of electrical issues.

Then bought a 2017 Yukon Denali, sold it at 85kish miles after spending 5k replacing the suspension and the AC. We also were constantly at the dealership with transmission problems and electrical issues. It was only a matter of time til the transmission or lifters (usually around 100-120k) failed on us and left her stranded with the kids somewhere.

The lifter issues, 8 speed transmission issues and the AC failures were known by GM and the dealer told us “that’s just how they were designed”.

Never again.

 

[TaperPin]

Last years expedition that we drove across country should have been a home run - the aluminum body is light weight and gas mileage is awesome. Power is good and it’s very roomy. For the size it’s easy to drive. The little things that didn’t work correctly drove me nuts, so it was a good call to rent it for a week before buying.

I probably went too far towards the reliable side and bought a 4 Runner, which will last me 20 years, but a 3 row seat would be so small only hobbits could use it and there goes the storage space. It’s good for two adults and three kids with a dog in the back, but that’s it.

Reports are good from the new hylander, but I havent driven it.

 

[Dead eye BT]

I’ve been through this as the family grew. We bought a new 2007 Honda Pilot and drove that for 7 years (~85,000 miles) without doing anything to it other than routine maintenance and tires.

My wife wanted a newer car in 2014, so we bought a new 2014 Pilot. We drove that for 5 years, at which point the Pilot was getting pretty crowded when we packed in the family of 5 and the dog (and crate) for trips. That 2014 Pilot was completely trouble free in the 5 years we owned it (-68,000 miles).

She eventually wanted bigger, so we bought a new 2019 Ford Expedition Max. The Ford was MUCH bigger, MUCH more expensive, MUCH more powerful, and (incredibly) it got better gas mileage than either of the Pilots, but I was worried about long term reliability. Well, we bought that new Expedition 12/2018, it has 81,000 miles on it (apparently we drive more miles per year with each vehicle), and I’ve done nothing to it but routine maintenance and a set of Michelins. It too has been completely trouble free and a really great vehicle.

 

[doc holiday13]

The Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade are basically same same but different skin. They seem to have decent reliability from what I read and I've put eyes on the 3rd row and it appears to be decent enough for an adult.

Currently in market for a Honda Pilot or Subaru Ascent

 

[william schmaltz]

As far as cargo, we have a Tahoe and max it out often with two kids in car seats. With both back seats down, we can hardly fit in for a weekend away with a cooler and stroller in the back. With the back seats up, there’s about 18” of cargo space. And no way you’re fitting an adult in the 3rd row or getting a car seat back there. If we had anything smaller, we would have to drive the pickup most weekends to fit everything.

We have a friend with a VW Atlas. We almost bought one but got a smoking deal on the Tahoe. She fits 4 kids with hockey gear in her Atlas. When a couple of her kids were still in car seats, the whole middle seat tilts forward with a car seat in it to crawl in the back. That was extremely handy. She’s on her second one, traded her first in after 175k.

 

[IdahoBeav]

My wife drives a 2020 Explorer. We had to get a 2nd row bench model (which are rare) since we have 3 kids in car seats. We haven't even yet folded up the 3rd row for use, but it does feature a single seat fold up option that allows the other 2/3 to stay down and increase cargo area. We'll probably keep it in this configuration once my oldest is out of a car seat. With the 3rd row folded down, there is enough space for my family of 5 to pack gear and supplies needed for a week-long vacation.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Had a 2015 Traverse, family size was 2 parents, 1 infant, 1 dog. It worked but was not ideal.
Traded for a 2018 Suburban (new), 4wd, with the 5.3l. Family grew to 2 parents, 2 children, 2 dogs (60lb/ea). It fits everything we routinely need w/o using the roof rack, pulling a trailer, or using any other external storage. It has no problems towing when that needs to happen. Has about 75k on it. On the highway, we consistently average 18-20mpg. Around town is worse, but you don't buy an SUV like this and then complain about mileage. Tank is fairly large too, at 31ish gal.

Love the Suburban. We've driven it across the country five times: ID-RI (towing boat), RI-CA, CA-WA, WA-CA, CA-WA (towing tandem axle U-haul). No major problems, only a few minor ones that were covered under warranty.

The other nice thing about that body style is the rear axle is a solid axle, not independent. Keep up on the preventive maintenance, like most people don't do, and it will be a good machine. Highly recommended.

Your mileage seems low. My 17s lifetime average is over 20, and on the highway the 400 mile rolling average will be 25 with highway tires or 23 with all terrains. It's actually more fuel efficient than the awd traverse it replaced.

I did have the invisible 4 cylinder mode turned off recently, that cost about 1.5 mpg highway.

 

[Balderdash]

We have a 2015 Traverse AWD. Bought it new. 150k on it now. Overall, been pretty good. Had a few minor things like sensors and window/lock actuators go out, but nothing major. Do all maintenance as directed in manual. Use full synthetic lubes in everything. Towed with it way more than I intended to, but when all 3 kids were in car seats, it was just too big of a pain to move all the seats over to my full sized truck for shorter trips. Never exceeded the 5200 lbs tow rating.

Should add that we are 2 adults, 3 kids amd a 50 lb dog. Have taken it on some pretty big road trips. Sometimes put on a hitch and haul that fits a cooler and a good sized tote.

Hoping to run it a few more years. Not worth much at this point. Also, we run a full sized, crew cab truck and a smaller car for mileage. Take the truck camping and boating. If I were only going to run 1 SUV/truck, it would be a Suburban. Sometimes you get a good GM, sometimes you don't, but can usually tell before warranty.

 

[180ls1]

Run from the Audi!

If you want 3rd row and luxury while having tremendous reliability while being very capable look at the GX460 and GX470.

 

[TxxAgg]

We bought a '24 Kia Tellluride. Also looked at the Hyundai Palisade and Subaru Ascent.

 

[Cheesy]

Full size is the only way to go. You give up very little and gain a whole lot.

Wife wants to downsize from her Infiniti QX80, and I want to upsize to a Suburban.

So far we are staying even in the fight.

I never tell myself 'gee, I wish this vehicle were smaller'

I always am telling myself, 'gee, I wish we had more room for more stuff'.

 

[beerbucksducks]

Great info guys, thank you.

The “are you planning on more kids” is a far more complicated question than vehicle selection. Haha!

The comments have me considering a full size SUV, and skipping the mid size. Although, I’m not sure one will fit in my garage.

Any Nissan experience? There seems to be a lot of armadas around. Good or bad?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Sccritterkiller]

3rd row go big or go home...You want a suburn or Epxy EL. The smaller vechiles with a 3rd row are a shitty compromise you get a 3rd row no one over 8 yrs old can use and enough cargo space for a row of groceries...Had Expy EL for 12 yrs my kids have their own cars now so I am back to truck.

 

[timekiller13]

Wife had a 2016 Chevy Traverse that was a great vehicle. Bought it with 15k on it. Drove it to 189k no mechanical issues. It was even wrecked twice (once pretty badly) and still somehow we managed to never have any problems out of it.

Wife currently has Jeep Grand Cherokee L. She’s had it for a yr. 20k miles so and trouble free. Hoping it stays that way. I know Jeeps have a reputation as not being the most reliable.

 

[Mighty Mouse]

we are needing more cargo space after having a kid and getting a second lab.

Our main criteria is reliability and cargo space, but not wanting the full size Tahoe/suburban class.

A mid size vehicle may work well for you at the moment, but if more kids (or dogs) are on the horizon, I would recommend going full size. Most mid size 3rd row models have very little cargo space when the 3rd row is in use. I cart my family (wife + 3 kids + 1 Pyrenees-Lab mix) around in an Expedition Max. We bought it when we just had one kid and the dog (but knew we wanted more kids), and I've never regretted having the extra space.

 

[Cannonball]

ive got a 2015 Acadia that I inherited from my wife when she got a 2019 Yukon. Its been a great car and I drive it a lot more than my 3500 dually

 

[Highvoltage1]

2015 Durango has been good to us. Plenty of room for kids and gear. Goes better in the weather than my 3/4 ton. Everyone I’ve recommended take one for a ride ends up with one. Just seems to have the right balance between size space mpg etc. Best wishes on your choice. I think if I had to buy now the telluride would be a front runner.

 

[Meshnasty]

We have a 4Runner and I’ve sat in the third row. It’s tight and cargo space is really reduced to almost nothing when you use the third row. I wouldn’t want to be back there for an extended period of time.

At the same time by wife was looking at Denali’s/Yukon sized vehicles which I didn’t want since we already have a truck so I’m reaping what I sowed. We also have a third kid on the way which will make things a little more fun as well.

Gas mileage isn’t great either, but we didn’t buy it for that. It is nice to be able to zip around town in it though.