We have the Ascent and love outside of the DMV so have crap roads and it’s held up great, no issues. We use the third row and it’s much better than Highlander. But having rented minivans I wish we had gone the captains chairs minivan round now that the kids are a bit older. Will drive the Ascent till it can’t drive anymore.

Anonymous wrote:Would you consider the Subaru Ascent?

Only if you enjoy replacing wheel hub unit bearings, CV shafts, and transmissions.

I have the 2021 highlander hybrid and it’s great. Only used the third row once or twice. I’m 5”3 so I fit but it’s tight. Fine for a 20-30 minute drive though. DH is 6”4 and definitely does not fit in third row but very comfortable in second row and up front. We still have a good amount of trunk space when third row is up. Fits our stroller and then if you stack groceries and bags it could work.

You could fit all 3 kids in the second row though and only use third when necessary.

We had a Highlander for a while and it was by far my favorite car that I've owned since having kids but as others have said, the 3rd row is tiny. My kids were early elementary at the time so they were able to crawl back there and buckle themselves and were short enough that leg room wasn't an issue, but when that row is up, there's absolutely no trunk space at all. I doubt a regular sized stroller would fit back there, let alone a stroller and a big load of groceries and a few backpacks. We bought it when we lived elsewhere in a smaller town but once we moved here and experienced how crazy the traffic is around here, it also made me extremely nervous with how close the kids were to the back of the car if we ever got rear ended.

I'd look for a larger SUV or a minivan.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would you consider the Subaru Ascent?

Ascent also has a tiny row and very small trunk space when it's up. Also, if it's important to you, the mileage is really bad. Like, 10-15 mpg in my experience. Nowhere clos to the 20-25 advertised.

Not sure what you're doing in your Ascent (hauling zoo animals??) but mine gets about 24-26 most of the time...

OP here. I am firmly in the no minivan camp, although the people I know who have them adore them, and I know they have a ton of space. This thread is very helpful, thanks.

Minivan alternatives like Suburban, Tahoe, Escalade, Navigator

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:nobody wants a minivan!

It's one of those things where you know it works better in every way possible, but you just can't bring yourself to do it. I'm guessing our kids will view crossovers the same way we view minivans

Haha this is so true. We got a Volkswagen atlas just before having our third - my husband thought we should get a van, but I just did NOT want to be a van mom. 2 years down the line now, I do really love the atlas but if I was shopping now I’d probably just lean in and get a van.

Anonymous wrote:nobody wants a minivan!

Based on the sheer number of them on the roads, that is just not true. I personally love mine still after 13 years, and my kids are teenagers (one is already driving). My self-esteem is tied to what's in my head, not what's under my hood.

Anonymous wrote:nobody wants a minivan!

I wanted a minivan, and now that I have one, I love it so much.

Anonymous wrote:nobody wants a minivan!

It's one of those things where you know it works better in every way possible, but you just can't bring yourself to do it. I'm guessing our kids will view crossovers the same way we view minivans

nobody wants a minivan!

I agree that the third row of the Highlander is super uncomfortable. My kids complained and argued about who had to sit back there once they were over 10, and my poor daughter got stuck in it permanent once her brothers hit their growth spurts and f dad isn’t have enough leg room anymore

Telluride.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need a minivan. Three kids equals minivan. Sorry.

False. Four kids and happy as a clam with a hylander.

You must have short kids that are older.