Anonymous wrote:I need a larger car now that my kids are getting older. We have 3 kids ages 12, 10, and 8. We regularly spend time driving with 2 additional cousins along with other school/sport related carpooling.
I am really struggling with buying a 7 seater (with 2 captains chairs in the 2nd row) or an 8 seater (so that we can fold down the 3rd row and have a lot more space when it's just our family going on trips which we do often). However, in a few years will my kids want the captains chairs and everyone gets their own space and we just get a Thule for the top of the car for more space on trips?
This is a major purchase for us so want to get it right and hold on to the car for at least the next 10 years.
So far we liked the 8 seater subaru but the 2nd row middle seat was tight. Looking to test drive the Sienna this weekend but only have 7 seaters with the other features we like. We need an AWD for regular ski trips almost weekly in the winter.
Can anyone with older kids weigh in??
An 8 seat Sienna will be more comfortable than an Ascent even without captains chairs because there is so much more space in the second and third row. It's two captains chairs with a removable middle seat. If space and comfort and the primary concerns, the answer is always minivan unless your budget gets you up to X7s or a LX