Graduating from Minivan Soon - Help Pick My Next Car!

[Anonymous]

Hi car people! I am out of my depth here. Have been driving a 2011 Sienna for the past 9+years, and loved it! It still has some life in it, but we have recently had some expensive repairs, which makes me think I should start looking for something else. Kids are now 11 and 13, plus we have a dog. We have replaced DH's Highlander with an Outback a year ago, and so far he is very happy with it.

I am not sure what I should be looking at as my next car. I don't want anything huge, would prefer a hybrid or something with great fuel efficiency, and something that is fun to drive and looks great. I feel like I have paid my "ugly but practical" car dues. The Outback is a good car, but I am not sure whether I should buy something larger (as a family vehicle), or if it can serve as the family car, and I can get something smaller and fun.

Not a car person at all - so far I have always gone for safety, reliability and practicability, so I am at a loss. Budget around 30K. Any good options out there? The choices seem overwhelming. TIA!

[Anonymous]

you still have two kids and a dog, so that a vehicle that needs to seat 5. so somewhat practical is still on the books.

aslo in three years you'll be letting a kid drive. either your husbands outback or your car.

So while you need ot be somewhat thinking about a practical vehicle. might not be a minivan, but still looking in the wagon/suv market.

[Anonymous]

im 1340 my wife bought a forester last july. she tried about a dozen vehicles before she settled on the forester.

just go out an try on a few vehicles.

[Anonymous]

PP, you are right - it still has to be somewhat practical. I am OK with a wagon or a small SUV or crossover of some sort, just trying to find a handful of things to test-drive, that at least look good on paper.

[Anonymous]

Go full Subaru and get a crosstrek

[Anonymous]

These are the cars I would consider

the Honda Pilot, you could put the dog in the third row

The Honda Passport, no third row but the trunk area would be big enough for the dog and the design looks interesting

The Tesla model x, no gas and again room for the dog

Toyota Highlander

The crosstreck is supposed to be under powered

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These are the cars I would consider

the Honda Pilot, you could put the dog in the third row

The Honda Passport, no third row but the trunk area would be big enough for the dog and the design looks interesting

The Tesla model x, no gas and again room for the dog

Toyota Highlander

The crosstreck is supposed to be under powered
She said she doesn't want anything huge

[Anonymous]

Either of those kids boys? Mine drive my rusting 2004 Dodge and could care less. Keep the Siena!

[Anonymous]

Any carpooling to think of? I carpool my high schooler even more than my middle schooler.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:im 1340 my wife bought a forester last july. she tried about a dozen vehicles before she settled on the forester.

just go out an try on a few vehicles.

We have a Forester and love it so much.

[Anonymous]

OP here -no, kids are girls and we have no carpools to think of - that's why I was thinking smaller. Maybe the Mazda 6? Or the Crosstrek?

[Anonymous]

I replaced my 2011 Sienna with a 2018 Sienna. Better than any other vehicle for legroom.
How do you not have any carpools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here -no, kids are girls and we have no carpools to think of - that's why I was thinking smaller. Maybe the Mazda 6? Or the Crosstrek?

I love my Crosstrek. We bought it because we are moving somewhere with deep snow later this year. If I didn't need the extra ground clearance I would have bought the Impreza.

[Anonymous]

I recently sold my 2004 Sienna and bought a 2015 Highlander. I'm disappointed that the fuel consumption is actually worse than the Sienna. Maybe there is some tinkering I can do or have the dealership do to improve it.

the safety features and the Bluetooth are very nice improvements over the old Sienna, so overall I'm still happy with the graduation from Sienna to Highlander.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here -no, kids are girls and we have no carpools to think of - that's why I was thinking smaller. Maybe the Mazda 6? Or the Crosstrek?

I love my Crosstrek. We bought it because we are moving somewhere with deep snow later this year. If I didn't need the extra ground clearance I would have bought the Impreza.

The crosstrek is basically a raised impreza right?

I am considering getting one. We often drive to MA (so a long drive), and I have family that lives off of a dirt road, so like you I want the ground clearance.

is it comfortable for long roadtrips?