Looking for a SUV

I've had a Toyota 4Runner for the last almost 4 years and love, love, love it. It has an optional 3rd row seat. I think this year's model got the highest safety rating. It drives like a car. It has a short front which makes it easy to zip in and out of parking spaces - great for when you're running errands. My 4-year old son and 7-year old nephew (both self-proclaimed car experts) both love my 4Runner too. Gas mileage is about 16 city 19 highway. I drive about 23,000 miles a year and it has not given me any problems whatsoever. It now has 85000+ miles on it, and still drives like the day I drove it off the lot.
Good luck!

I would recommend getting a Toyota Highlander. It drives like a car. My kids love it. The newer ones also come with a 3rd row seat.

I believe the Honda Pilot has great safety ratings and the Lexus small SUV. I know because when I called to get a quote on the insurance they told me that Lexus has the side curtains. I would check out that one if you don't like the Pilot. Call your insurance also!!!

I'm looking into buying an SUV myself, probably in January when they have their best deals. The only one I'm even considering, after months of research, is the Honda Pilot. It is one of the highest rated SUV's for safety and the only one that has a 5-star rating in roll-over crashes. It also costs considerably less than it's competitors and gets good gas mileage. I think the new Pilots start in the mid-$20,000's. It's also smaller than say, a Tahoe or Suburban, so driving and parking it should be easier. Good luck :)

I have a Mazda Tribute too, and I love it! I usually get rid of my cars within 2 years, but I have had this one for 3 and don't intend to trade it in any time soon.

It's small enough not to be troublesome parking, but big enough that I feel safer than when I'm in a car. Plus, the V6 version has TONS of zoom-zoom! lol

Good luck!

I love my Honda Pilot as well. It has eight seatbelts if needed but I usually keep the back row folded down for storage. It is easy to pull into parking spaces, unlike some other suv's. Good luck.

I have a Toyota Highlander and I really like it. It's not considered the smallest SUV, but isn't a large one either (although they do sell them with 7 passenger seating if you wanted that). It's just enough space for us, but still drives like a car. Also, I have some friends with the Honda CRV and they like that. It's a bit smaller than my Highlander and I wanted a little more room, but if you're looking for a small one, that one comes with great recommendations.

Good luck!

Have you thought about a van. I have one and love it. But my husband and I have decided to sell it to get out of debt so that I will be able to stay home soon with my son. My van is '04 Freestar, is you are interested, let me know.

DON'T even consider a Dodge Durango. We had one and kept it for three months and got rid of it. Terrible gas milage. We have had our Jeep Cherokee Laredo since buying it new in 2002 and have loved it. The newest ones look very sleek, I'm sure my hubby would love to trade for a new one but we'll be waiting a little while longer before adding a new car payment to the budget. Also, there are some nice and very well stocked minivans out there, too, very roomy and usually pretty good on gas.

I just recently bought a Nissan Xterra and we love it!!!! Plus it is cute enough to be a soccer mom car but your husband will like it to I know mine does!!!

I love my Honda Pilot. It's very spacious and can my boys can look out of the window and see everything from their car seats. I went from an Acura TL when my first son was a baby. I just got so tired of bumping my head and the infant car seat trying to secure him into the car! Good luck in your decision making!

I also love my pilot!

I will have to say that I am jealous of my brothers SUV. They have an infinity QX56. It is SO NICE!! They had a tahoe before, but with a 1 1/2 year old and twins on the way, they needed something that would be good for a toddler car seat and 2 infant seats. They put the toddler in the middle of the farthest row back and then in the middle row, they took out the center console and put one infant on either bucket seat. It is a great car!!!

If you still looking, I curently have a mitz montero sport, my son is 5 and he loves it. just test drove a suzuki xl7 this weekend, waiting on approvel for financing. we both loved it. it has 3rd row seating and is rated the safest vehicle for the past couple of years. it has front and all side air bags, rear air, and the air bags go all the way around the vehicle. my lil sis died in a car wreck at the ae of 9, sot= this is very important. check on line see what ya think.

We just purchased one of the Brand New GMC Acadia's. It has 7 seats and more room then the Honda Pilot. It rides more like a car then a SUV and is EXTREMELY quiet...even on the highway. If you are close to the Gainsville Texas area check out the GMC dealership there.

Lookin for a good suv go to Honda cars of Mckinney and ask for Darrell Rougeau he is a great!!salesman he help me and also saved us alot of money!!!

I have a Lincoln Navigator. They are a little more expensive than most SUVs, but I just love it. I get lots of compliments from other moms too. My son has always loved riding in it and loves looking out the windows; in fact, I kept him rear facing till 23 months old because he was so content. I only switched him to forward facing because he got too tall. You should definitely check them out.

I love my Mazda Tribute, and it gets better mileage than my husband's GMC Yukon Denali did, plus it had better safety ratings than that SUV, too. Good luck!

The Ford Escape Hybrid

I absolutely LOVE my Honda Pilot. I jut got rid of my Ford Expedition last June and traded it in for a Pilot. The Ford was roomy, and fit my needs at the time, but it wasn't mechanically sound and got awful gas mileage.

I was a little nervous moving on to the Pilot because it is a bit smaller, but I love it!! It's big, but not too big. It has great head room and is plenty big for our family (two boys 3 & 5) Like someone else said, it has a 3rd seat, but I also keep mine down for extra cargo space. It gets good gas mileage (I get 17/24), and the safety ratings are very high.

My Pilot is the first car I've driven in a long time that I've just really loved. The salesman told me that once you own a Honda you will always buy a Honda. At the time I was thinking "Yea, sure!!", but I believe him now.

Good luck with your search!!

P.S. The Toyota Highlander is about the same size. I've heard it's a good car too, we just didn't like it because of the low head room!! Otherwise, I think it's a good car.

I have a Honda SUV and I love it. My step dad did research for me for about 2 months and it is by far the #1 best small SUV on the market. It comes standard with 8 airbags, 2 front airbags, 2 side airbags for driver and passendger, 2 drop downs for the dirver and passenger, and 2 drop downs for the back seat passenger. Most SUV's on the market only come with 2 standard air bags and then charge you ###-###-#### more for the others. It gets great gas mileage and has a v-tec engine so it has pick up in it. We love it. It has plenty of storge space and leg room also. We paid around 20,000 for ours and it the best decision we ever made. We looked at the X-terra's and the Saturn VUE's also. The x-terra get's horrible gas mileage and costs more, and then the VUE has the worst saftey rating for SUV's. I believe that the CRV has been rated the best small SUV for a number of years in a row. Hope this helps. Also when looking for a safer SUV for your family I wouldn't go on looks. As your husband is probabley doing. The Hummer is gas eater by far, it gets like 12 miles to the gallon. Saftey is number 1!!!!

Have you thought of an Armada? Our neighbor across the street has one and she loves hers. As a matter of fact my husband was considering getting me one as well since I got rid of my Escalade. My husband will be joining the Nissan team here next week, and could tell you more about the vehicle if you are interested. Please feel free to email me back or call me at ###-###-####. Im sure changing out vehicles will make your baby enjoy his rides!! I sure miss not having my truck myself.

Hi D.,
I would look into maybe a Honda CRV, I believe they have stadium seats in the back, which means your son could see. Also, I believe Saturn just released a hybrid SUV that seems pretty sweet. What about a wagon instead of an SUV? Plenty of room and WAY better gas mileage, with plenty of room.

I have a Hyuandi Santa Fe that I've had since 2001. It has good safety ratings, great warranty and good price. I think I get about 24 mpg on gas. Good luck in your decision.