Should I upgrade my 2013 SUV before baby #1?

[Anonymous]

I have a 2013 RAV4 with 100k miles - very reliable, compact enough for DC driving and paid off. I’m now pregnant and worry about safety issues. We can’t place the car seat in the middle seat with our current model and we don’t have any of the latest safety features. Should we upgrade to a new or used SUV (2018+)? Not sure if I’m being overly cautious. I’m considering the following models but open to new suggestions:
- Highlander
- Volvo XC90
- Hyundai Palisades or Santa Fe
- Kia Sorrento
- Honda Pilot
- 2019-2022 RAV4

Reliability is really important to me as well as affordable maintenance. We expect to have 2-3 kids and we have a large dog (we are both over 6 feet tall so space is also important).

[Anonymous]

OP - forgot to add we are due July 1 so we have some time.

[Anonymous]

No comment on whether you should buy a new car, but most cars don't have LATCH in the middle seat, OP. Most everyone i know puts the car seat on the right or the left.

[Anonymous]

Good luck with buying a new car during the global pandemic!

[Anonymous]

If the car runs well, I would recommend waiting a little while. You don’t need the bigger space right now and you may want to spend some time getting used to your new lifestyle before deciding what would work best for you.

-2020 Honda Pilot with 2 kids under 5

[Anonymous]

I’d wait. As a PP said, no one puts their infant in the middle. It’s a pain to reach over and either lock the bucket seat in the base or to Buckle them in and ensure the belt is tight enough.

At this point keep the car. Aside from the difficulty of actually obtaining a car, you won’t really know what your needs are for 2+ kids until you have lived with 2 in car seats. Once we had 3 in car seats, my needs were very different than one or 2. For instance, captain chairs are easier than a bench. When we had just 2 we had an SUV on your list (Highlander) with a bench. Number 3 came along and the car seats we liked wouldn’t fit 3 across. Yes, there are some on the market that do, but I didn’t like them.

All that to say, save your money now and buy once the market is better and you have lived with a kid in the car.

[Anonymous]

No. Keep your car and drive it with baby. Nothing is wrong w an older car as long as it’s reliable.

[Anonymous]

Concur with the others. We're driving a 2004 Odyssey and a 1995 Jeep with our two kids, but when the Jeep dies it's Tesla all the way.

[Anonymous]

You don’t need to rush into getting a new car now. We have 3 kids and have the Highlander which I like a lot.

[Anonymous]

OP here - thanks for the feedback! Glad we have some time and I enjoy not having a car payment.

[Anonymous]

Op, no, continue using the car. Your car would be fine with the new baby. There is no need to get a new car if Rav4 only have 100K miles on it.

[Anonymous]

When we had an infant, we put her in the middle. You can use the latch connectors from the outer seats (one from each side) if those are not in use.

Once she got heavier, then we moved her to a side seat.

[Anonymous]

Toyota are very reliable, so no problem there.

Considering how many leaky diapers, spilled milk, and vomit babies can generate, I would put off the new car until your youngest is 8 or you hit baby #4 (we had 3 kids in a Yaris, so you'll be fine)

2013 has latch, but latch is also only for infant car seats more or less, and all these flashy "smart detection" car safety still has to prove its effectiveness.

[Anonymous]

I would not upgrade at the current prices for new cars.

[Anonymous]

No, don’t do it.

I just had my second and I am still driving my 2014 sedan (I do take good care of my car).

I was looking recently and there just is a shortage of nice family friendly Japanese cars right now.