I have a Ford Flex. The back row folds down for a ton of luggage space. So I can haul the 4 of us and all our travel gear, or use it to take 6 people around town.

Perfect.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't neccessarily need the extra seats now that my 2 kids are older, but I found that the cargo room was insufficient in the 2 row SUV's. So I drive a 3 row SUV mostly so we can have the additional cargo space on long trips, costco runs,etc.

This is why I have a three row. I don’t usually use it.

+1

I have 13 and 15yos and made the switch from 3 to 2 rows a few years ago and I’m very happy. I prioritized trunk space in choosing the vehicle, so I’m also very happy there.

My previous 3 row vehicles had very little trunk space if the third row was up, but not that much more than what I have now when the third row was down. I actually gained a seat in this scenario bc I had captain’s chairs.

Anonymous wrote:I don't neccessarily need the extra seats now that my 2 kids are older, but I found that the cargo room was insufficient in the 2 row SUV's. So I drive a 3 row SUV mostly so we can have the additional cargo space on long trips, costco runs,etc.

This is why I have a three row. I don’t usually use it.

Pre-COVID I found as my kids entered high school it became harder to coordinate carpools because high schoolers are busier and there wasn’t always that extra time to drive to a rally point or leave an extra 20 minutes to pickup people up given homework and high school sports and activities. In addition, the older kids have licenses and start driving themselves and possibly a teammate.

In general, short of the big carpools that were very prevalent in middle school and early high school, we have used the 3rd row for long trips so each kid is in their own row, maybe mulch, and to donate furniture. We don’t need to drive 6 or more people on a regular basis like people with parents that live local where it is convenient to take one car. If you are just looking for trunk space but two rows, what about Honda CRV? Also, what car will the kids drive? - not to say that I haven’t seen teenagers driving mini-vans and Suburbans but would you keep your current car for them to drive or would they potentially learn to drive the new car?

Anonymous wrote:I don't neccessarily need the extra seats now that my 2 kids are older, but I found that the cargo room was insufficient in the 2 row SUV's. So I drive a 3 row SUV mostly so we can have the additional cargo space on long trips, costco runs,etc.

Same here. I don’t need for people but for trips, mulch, etc.

I don't neccessarily need the extra seats now that my 2 kids are older, but I found that the cargo room was insufficient in the 2 row SUV's. So I drive a 3 row SUV mostly so we can have the additional cargo space on long trips, costco runs,etc.

Anonymous wrote:PP, are there other cars with a not too intrusive third row you considered other than the highlander?

Not seriously. We're a two-hybrid household (my previous car was a Ford Escort Hybrid). I really wanted a hybrid and trying to find an optional third row in a hybrid SUV was hard. This was really the only one that fit for me, so when I was ready for a vehicle, I test drove this, liked it and bought it.

I did review most of the mid-sized SUVs and most of the vehicles with third rows and this was the best option for me.

I assume you can use the front seat. I wouldn’t spend the money for a third row. It will be too small for teens anyway.

PP, are there other cars with a not too intrusive third row you considered other than the highlander?

I have tween twins. I upgraded to a Toyota Highlander specifically because we don't need the third row most of the time. The majority of the time, we can get by with 2 rows and don't even have the 3rd row up.

Occasionally, when my kids have their BFFs (another pair of twins) do something and we need to drive, I can put up the third row. Also when extended family comes to visit, I can put up the third row for shuttling around town and all. I used to have a small SUV (Ford Escape) but would have to rent a minivan when family came to visit. I like having the optional third row and we use is so infrequently the smaller size of the 3rd row in the Highlander is not a problem. I would not want a bigger car with a larger 3rd row since 95% of the time we don't use it.

I only have 2 DCs, teens (boy and girl), and they did carpool a bunch before coronavirus.
I need to replace my car and thinking the price of a third row is a lot given we only have two kids. If you have three rows how often did you use them when your kids were in high school? If you have two rows did you have a lot of times when you wished you could fit more people? Or did you find a compact SUV was too cramped with two large teens and their gear and other stuff for four people?