Any suggestions for a large SUV?

[MomtoGKC]

We love our Sequoia. It's a 2005 with about 85000 miles and it is in great shape. We always say when we are ready to get a new car we would just want a new Sequoia!

We had the same requirements as you- 3 kids, lots of carpooling and needed space for our stuff when we go to the beach, on vacation, to kids sports games...

 

[crl]

What year traverse do you have? I saw the 2014 at Test Track and really liked it, the cargo space seemed pretty good, I was wondering if older models had good space as well. I need more cargo space! But I am doing everything in my power to stay out of a suburban, I am scared to death to back one up at Walmart. I have 4 kids, but I think I would prefer captains chairs for easier walk through to the last row.

Ours is a 2012. We got it in May 2013 as a left over from 2012 at a fantastic deal. I wouldn't rule out the bench seat option if you found a great deal because the way the seats fold really leaves a lot of room for climbing into that 3rd row. We opted for the bench seat for 2 reasons.
1. Our kids are still young and don't like to have one alone in a row if given the choice.
2. It allowed for each child to take an extra someone in the future.

For cargo space, I can have the 3rd row up and in use and still have space to take our travel system stroller along standing on it's side plus a small cooler.
We picked this one because it got better gas mileage than a Suburban, was cheaper and could fit into parking spaces in the city easier. We love the car and would purchase it again.

 

[wekhogan]

If you don't have a back up camera, you will be amazed at how easy backing up is no matter how large the car is. Go and test drive the models suggested here. I would suggest doing a thorough test - go to a parking lot and park and back up - really test it the way you would use it. Good luck!

 

[mrsp1030]

Not only a backup camera but the blind spot monitors are my new favorite feature in a car! My odyssey has them and I love it!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

What year traverse do you have? I saw the 2014 at Test Track and really liked it, the cargo space seemed pretty good, I was wondering if older models had good space as well. I need more cargo space! But I am doing everything in my power to stay out of a suburban, I am scared to death to back one up at Walmart. I have 4 kids, but I think I would prefer captains chairs for easier walk through to the last row.

The current Traverse got a restyle last year, but no change in size. So, space should be the same regardless of year

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you are used to a Toyota, you are not going to like the maintenance with a non-Toyota. Why not just get another Sienna? We had a 2000 and then got a 2006 and had two of them. Our 2000 got totaled in an accident (no injuries) in 2010 and we got about $7500 for it. Put that towards a 2006 Highlander. We still have the 2006 Sienna with about 103,000 miles on it and won't be trading it in for a long time yet. The guy who sold it to us told us we could probably get 200,000 miles on it before we needed to do much for it.

The Highlander has a third seat, but it isn't as roomy as the Sienna. Our son has the Highlander at school.

 

[sersee05]

Well I guess I will chime in ...just my opinion.. We are in the market for a new vehicle as well.

I used to love the Sequoias years ago..I don't like they way they look now at all though.

I have an armada now . I have three kids ages 16, 11, 9 . I love it . It's fantastic. I can carpool a ton of kids around. I have the two captains chairs which keep the two kids separated. I am telling you the size of it is worth it. My kids aren't hitting, poking, or harassing each other .. I love that it kind of drives like a truck. I used to have an Xterra which I was sad to give up...but I had to get a bigger car.


The cons is that it goes through tires fast. We had to replace them quickly. Mine is a magnet for people hitting it with carts and their doors because of the size. The gas mileage! Oh the gas mileage! I won't win any green friendly awards with my gas guzzler.

Mine is a 2010 and we are ready to move on My daughter will be a senior next year and I was considering going smaller. But when I sit in some of the smaller cars...I just don't know.

I have loved the looks of the Tahoe forever. My husband thought it was chinsy inside and talked me out of it and in the armada. But now I am back on the Tahoe kick. It has SLIGHTLY better gas mileage Well that is what I am telling him. I just like the Tahoe. It looks a tad smaller than my armada.


Anyhow if you are looking for a vehicle for gear and kids..Armada is great. The truck space is small..but we made it to disney in it with just part of the third row down.

 

[kristinradico]

I have a Chevy Traverse and really like it. I really liked the GMC Acadia (sister car) but went with the Chevy because it was alittle bit cheaper).I've had it for 5 years now this month. NO issues except needing the water pump replaced 2 years ago. As for space I'd say it is roomy. We took a roundtrip road trip from California to Pennsylvania a year ago. We had 3 children (2 in car seats 1 a booster seat) in the middle row. Then we folded down the back row and had our 95 pound Boxer on one side and all of our lugage for 3 weeks on the other side. We've also taken many other roadtrips in it (most recently moving over 1800 miles) and never had a room issue!!

 

[kristenrice]

The Suburban is much much longer, 222.4 inches versus 191 inches for the Trailblazer.

We have a 2004 Suburban and a 2007 Trailblazer. Parked side by side, their wheelbase is the same length.

 

[kristenrice]

We have a 2004 Suburban and a 2007 Trailblazer. Parked side by side, their wheelbase is the same length.

I should mention that I drive the Suburban. I love it! I don't have any problems backing it, but that's just because I have been a paramedic for 15 years and I back an ambulance almost daily

We got it in 2004, brand new, but a year-end close out. It was literally an impulse buy because DH saw the special financing offer while he was getting an oil change on our other car. We ended up paying under $36K for it and financed it for 6 years at 0%. We bought it that night so I can honestly say I did not do a lot of research on it. Now that we have no car payments, I'm getting itchy an starting to look at new vehicles. Our financial situation had changed a lot since 2004 and now I don't think another Suburban I in our future

 

[helloirishkitty]

I second the QX56. We went from a Sienna to a QX. It is a tank on wheels, but there is so much room!

 

[tvguy]

We have a 2004 Suburban and a 2007 Trailblazer. Parked side by side, their wheelbase is the same length.

Not sure how that can be. 130 inch wheel base for the Suburban, 113 for the Trailblazer. And you have the Tahoe as the in between size between them. Google it.

http://www.edmunds.com/chevrolet/trailblazer/2007/features-specs.html

http://www.edmunds.com/chevrolet/suburban/2004/features-specs.html

 

[sookie]

Not only a backup camera but the blind spot monitors are my new favorite feature in a car! My odyssey has them and I love it!

This is what I have. We just got it. We were between a Volvo SUV and the Odyssey. Believe it or not, the top model Honda won out - I liked having all the cameras, bells, and whistles. The backup and side cameras, along with the alarms, make me feel a lot better driving a van of that length.

 

[NewCrew42]

I enjoyed my sequoia so much that when it came time to trade, my husband kept it as his car. Lol. I wanted something smaller as both the kids are driving. I must admit I was glad we still had the sequoia when it came time to take DS to college. We needed it transport all his stuff. I am sure we will need it in the spring to move him home.