another old thread revival......pretty the OP has bought a car by now.

I don't see the appeal of a 3rd row SUV. We had one that both kids outgrew by the time they were 8 and then it was just folded down all the time for more space.

Even when driving carpool, NO ONE wanted the 3rd row because they were so squished. This was when I had a Honda Pilot, which is pretty roomy.

We have 3 kids and a dog, so we need 3rd row if we ever carpool or have someone else with us. We leave it down for storage unless someone needs to ride in it.

We also have a second home, so we're frequently packing luggage, and 2 rows just wouldn't provide enough storage and space for the dog. We used to have a 2 row plus luggage rack, but it's a lot easier to pack the back of the car than the luggage rack.

It sounds like you have time before you would need 3 rows. Most carpooling doesn't start until elementary school, unless it's just your kid and one other for preschool carpooling, which would work with 2 rows.

Just make sure you get 3 seats in the second row, that can fit two real car seats plus a booster in the middle. That way you could put an infant car seat on one side, another car seat for a 2 year old on the other side, and a booster for a 4+ year old in the middle, for example. Assuming life works out that way of course

Third row is great when your kids are old enough to start carpooling for activities and birthday parties.

Anonymous wrote:Minivans? WTF?! Did you ever consider the "Dork Factor"? Apparently not since you must be a dork.

NP. I felt like you and my husband bought one. I was mortified but it’s the best. I have an SUV but prefer the van for space with the children. We can fit 8 people total. That being said, OP doesn’t need it yet. The minivan was comfortable for trips when we had our 2nd but became necessary when they started frequently carpooling with multiple children. You are years away from that.

Minivans? WTF?! Did you ever consider the "Dork Factor"? Apparently not since you must be a dork.

We bought a minivan right before our second. I had such great cars before (audi allroad/bmw/just fun cars) so this was hard. BUT, for the earlier years, that sliding door on a minivan is a God-send. You click your remote and a door opens when you are carrying a baby in a car seat (which does become quite heavy as they grow of course). It also eliminates the slamming of doors against other cars as they become early past-toddler ages. The extra space in back was very useful much more then- all that kid gear/strollers/play yards/gates- stuff you end up carrying when you go somewhere - visiting relatives, renting a beach place- anything- that stuff was rather space consuming.

We are now at a point that our now ES kids are doing sports but not the I need to drive the team situation. They are not going in that direction (things like travel soccer-it's way too much of a time commitment- not our cup of tea). But I so appreciate the minivan for what it has done for 10 years in our kid's life. BTW, I do hear from parents with different sports that a minivan is essential int he older years. Our kids are not in that type of sports that requires that (at least so far).