If you have one kid, is a sedan big enough?

[Anonymous]

The width in those 2 models is about the same. You need to decide if you want a regular truck or the space that an SUV has.

[Anonymous]

I don't think the small suv's offer a lot over larger sedans, except head room. we have a Hyundai Santa fee (a "poor" vehicle by dcum standards I'm sure). I prefer it to my husband's 4 door hatchback because I always bump the baby's head putting him in the convertible in the lower car, especially if you're parked really close to a curb and are standing on the sidewalk. the trade off for the small suv is legroom in the back seat. my dad rented a Ford fusion when visiting and I found the back seat to be much roomier than ours. I do like all the trunk space, but it looks junky to me because it's basically open (we have a retractable cover but it's a pain to use and limits the storage space too much). like pp said you're not going to put stuff up past the back seat for safety reasons anyway.

one thing I really like about our suv, though, is that our dog, who travels with us a lot, can ride in the very very back, whereas in a sedan she'd have to occupy a seat.

[Anonymous]

The CRV will be easier to the toddler in and out of. I had a BMW 335i and while it had plenty of room it was killing my back putting her in and out of the car. I moved to the Jeep Patriot, a little more room and no bending to put her in. I love it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In OP's defense, a sedan isn't always big enough. I have a c class mercedes and the trunk space is ridiculously small. Our uppababy vista takes up the entire trunk so you can't fit groceries, shopping bags, etc in there. Say you're going on a road trip - you have to put your luggage in the back seat. I now use an umbrella stroller and put the vista in my husband's SUV. Trunk space should definitely be a consideration.

A gigantic stroller does call for a larger car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have one kid a Mini Cooper is enough.

Do you plan on going on day-long car trips with a week's supply of diapers and baby food?

Actually, not with a rear-facing convertible car seat behind the passenger...or, perhaps there was some car seat that would have worked, but the one we had didn't, and the Mini was getting pretty old, so...just saying that a Mini Cooper could work, but it wouldn't necessarily be the best choice.

We were determined to make it work with our Mini Cooper because we love that car. It was more than doable with the baby in the infant seat, but once we installed the convertible (after tons of research on what seat would reasonably fit behind the passenger) there was that long DUHHHHH moment where we realized that even though the seat fit, we had to climb in/out of the backseat while holding the baby. Again, doable, but in heels, with pump bag, laptop, diaper bag....became an ever-increasing pain in the ass. For you, the sedan will be FINE, plenty of space and an absolute luxury if you've previously had to deal with a two-door...however, with the small SUV you will get a little more head clearance for getting the baby in/out, and in my opinion the hatchback makes all the difference with loading and unloading groceries and gear while also juggling the kid. These are *conveniences*. As PP's are noting, any car can work. How much do you value convenience? How much do you hate hassle? How much do you drive vs. walk/public transport?

Agree with this 100% like OP, we have one toddler and a 13 year old accord that is on its last legs. We are considering a small SUV just for the convenience of height and now having to bend and stoop so much to get her in the convertable car seat. Even though the stroller, work bags, pump, groceries, daycare bag, etc all fit in the trunk, it does take some maneuvering on my part and that is annoying when I am trying to quickly load up and get moving. So yes, while a sedan can absolutely accommodate you, a small SUV might be a little bit more comfortable.

[Anonymous]

We chose a CRV (which is, I think, a smaller platform than an Accord). It's easier to get kids (we have one, buth there are endless carpools, etc.), and the extra trunk space is nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In OP's defense, a sedan isn't always big enough. I have a c class mercedes and the trunk space is ridiculously small. Our uppababy vista takes up the entire trunk so you can't fit groceries, shopping bags, etc in there. Say you're going on a road trip - you have to put your luggage in the back seat. I now use an umbrella stroller and put the vista in my husband's SUV. Trunk space should definitely be a consideration.

GASP! Luggage in the backseat! They might mistake you for a poor!!

In PP's defense, not having room for luggage in the trunk limits how much stuff you can take, means you can't have an adult sit back there to sooth a fussy child, and luggage that's loose in the car can become a projectile in an accident. It's not entirely ridiculous to prefer to have more storage space.

[Anonymous]

In op's defense I lug two strollers for different purposes and after a grocery shopping trip I can't shut the trunk. Plus she asked going forward when the kid is older.

[Anonymous]

We have a sedan and an SUV. I drive the sedan most days with DS and the dog. We use the SUV for the weekends, trips to Costco, Home Depot etc. We travel in either depending on how much crap we need to take with us (Wknd Getaway vs. Ski Trip)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2 kids with prius and perfectly happy

Ditto!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In OP's defense, a sedan isn't always big enough. I have a c class mercedes and the trunk space is ridiculously small. Our uppababy vista takes up the entire trunk so you can't fit groceries, shopping bags, etc in there. Say you're going on a road trip - you have to put your luggage in the back seat. I now use an umbrella stroller and put the vista in my husband's SUV. Trunk space should definitely be a consideration.

GASP! Luggage in the backseat! They might mistake you for a poor!!

In PP's defense, not having room for luggage in the trunk limits how much stuff you can take, means you can't have an adult sit back there to sooth a fussy child, and luggage that's loose in the car can become a projectile in an accident. It's not entirely ridiculous to prefer to have more storage space.

NP, that is my only concern with luggage in a back seat.

Huge stroller is PP's problem. We have a britax b-agile that can be wedged in between the back seat and one of the front seats. Leaves the trunk free.

[Anonymous]

For the poster commenting on luggage in the backseat being unsafe, how is an SUV any better? In a bad car accident cargo in the rear can be a projectile. Size-wise, the CRV cargo space compared to an Accord trunk space is really no different. If you really need extra cargo space you need to step it up past a CRV.

[Anonymous]

A CRV is not bigger than an accord, in either passenger or cargo room. If anything, I'd argue the accord is bigger.

[Anonymous]

A CRV is on a civic chassis.

[Anonymous]

Yes. If you want an SUV, get one, but you absolutely don't need one for a single kid - or even two.

We had a jetta and were fine until he was 12.