Wife & Kids Safe Vehicle List:

2023 Pilot Trailsport
Pros: spacious, safe, low miles
Cons: not depreciated yet, tech


2019 GX 460
Pros: V8, extra gear
Cons: suspension replacement maybe


2019 4Runner Limited
Pros: 4Runner
Cons: only Limited model has AWD


2019 Forester Premium Manual
Pros: 6 speed, great in snow
Cons: smallest option


2015 Honda Pilot
Pros: no dumb tech, least expensive
Cons: oldest/have to find a well kept one


Selling the 2006 4Runner this year, replacing with whichever of these comes up first and we feel “heck yes” about driving rather than “good enough”

New baby on the way, want the wife and kids in something a little more spacious and safer than her current rust bucket.

Any experiences and insights with multiple welcome.

Thanks

 

If concerned with safety you should add the crash test ratings for each choice.

 

GX or 4Runner. New pilot as an alternative to those 2.
I'd personally avoid the subie. My experience says reliability may be an issue. Others may disagree.

 

The GX would be my first choice but based on @RainMan_PNW 's track record of Subarus protecting his daughter more than once, I wouldn't hesitate to put my family in one.

I like the 4Runner but they seem a bit cramped. I personally put my family in the Tundra.

 

Haven’t had any reliability issues with a long run of Subies in our house. One of them is a 2008 with 265k on it.

This one did its job this past Christmas Eve and my daughter and her BF are still here with us because of it.


Once she could walk again, we put her in another one.

 

Pilot Trailsport if it’s in your budget.

You might not want or like all the tech but your wife might. It will have all the up to date safety features, and Honda reliability, ergonomics, and interior utility.

I also suspect getting a rear facing car seat in the 2nd row will be a damn sight easier than the GX, 4Runner, Forrester, or older Pilot. Keep your wife happy and reduce ass pain associated with loading baby in and out.

 

I vote GX. Wife got a 22 GX last year. Subarus are dinky, the Honda's look terrible, the 4Runner is slower than a bicycle, so GX though the previous infotainment is absolutely terrible, the newer refresh with physical climate control buttons in addition to the touch screen is the way to go imo. I also don't know why you'd have to replace the suspension, ours doesn't have air ride or any of that shit, it's essentially a 4runner suspension with a V8.

 

I'd go with a Subaru. My wife and daughter both have one. I like the Legacy Outback Wilderness or the Crosstrek Wilderness myself.

 

Why not consider a 2.5 Gen Sequoia?

The GX is going to suck ass with a rear facing car seat for an infant. There’s just not much leg room back there no matter what you do. Same for the 4Runner.

 

We had a few subis and they've served us well. Wife is currently in a '22 Forester; their AWD is unmatched and although its a smaller vehicle, its cargo area (forester) is very roomy (tall inside), and they have good ground clearance for a vehicle. For the most part if you're looking at a used Subi, they are generally well cared for.

I'd have no concerns about reliability of the 4Runner Limited, however gas mileage is horrible in those things. I owned a 2019 and it saw about 17-18mpg city and low 20s (if that) on the hwy. Yes, it's AWD... but it's also cab over frame w/a high center of gravity; the subi is much more nimble.
For me, if I was putting a newer driver in one, it would be the subi.

I have no experience w/the GX...

Wife had a 2015 Pilot in between 2 subis, and it treated us quite well.... We had the touring model which had the '4WD' badging on the tailgate, although I don't think it's true 4WD, but more of a power managing system of sorts (definitely not as good as the subis, but we made a few trips to Mammoth in the winter and it did quite well in snow and ice w/appropriate speeds for conditions). The Pilot did start to feel like it was softening up quite a bit as it approached 100k, so a used Pilot in that age range may be limited in comfort, etc.

 

We already primary my 2016 long bed Tundra so something so similar would mean we’d just take the Tundra, but I would happily add a Sequoia or even LC to the stable.

We are 80/20 on the new Trailsport over any of the others, just waiting for what comes up available, not in any rush.

We’ve bought my mom a 2005 and then a 2012 Pilot and we love them for the space. We skipped a generation for a few reasons but have feelers our for a white ‘23 whenever one pops up.

 

I’d feel safe enough in these options, otherwise they wouldn’t be on the list

 

My mother’s Pilot has the same, we do prefer the all time real AWD of the Subies and we prefer the manual transmission of the 2019 and earlier models ha just not a lot of space, which we could live with. All give and take.

 

Unfortunate we can’t do a CVT or I’d consider other Subie options. Not only do my wife and I both love to have a manual transmission, hence the option on the list, but we both get sick in a new CVT, hence the Pilot being an option still.
I know most people are fine in them, they’re just not an option for us. If the new Outbacks came with a 6 speed I’d test drive one ASAP!

 

I limped away from this rollover so my vote goes to:

Both my wife and daughter driver one too (2015 & 2019)

2016:

 

What's the landscape of other vehicles in your area? I'm in the south, so it's trucks, lifted trucks, SUVs, Suburban/Tahoe flavors, and very, very few cars. We had a 4Runner when it was only two kids. Body on frame with a lot of mass was important.

 

If you love manual transmissions, get the Forester. They are a dying breed. I'm actually selling my 2013 Outback and getting into a 2013 WRX hatchback for this exact reason, even though we have a second kid on the way lol. Like you, I still have the Tundra if we need lots of space, or the wife's car.

My wife drives a 2021 Forester sport. Overall it's a great car. Like anything it could have some issues down the line, but it is nice. The rear automatic braking can be overly sensitive, but otherwise the eye sight has been great and honestly has saved our asses quite a bit. I also installed a hitch and used a large cargo tray to carry some overflow on vacation last year. Just run quality 5w-30 to help with any oil consumption issues in the future.

All that said, my second choice would be 4 runner. Nothing but love for Honda, but their AWD system doesn't compare if you really are worried about snow performance. And the GX is of course nice, but I tend to error on the side of "less is more" when it comes to things that can go wrong. My folks had a gx460 for a while and it was honestly 100% fine, but I didn't enjoy driving it as much as I would have expected.

 

I have both, the older Pilot, 2013 with 190K miles on it, rock solid built like a tank and the new 2023 Transport Pilot. Same requirements, large family and needed a third bench. That's about it.

 

You hit the nail on the head here!

Basically do we want a fun little rally car (Subaru), if we can’t find it at least real AWD (Toyota), or give in and go full on family mobile (Honda). To be fair the tests I’ve seen of the newest iteration of Hondas AWD seem much more capable but I’m not disillusioned to it being a real off road vehicle having owned so many.

Wife liked the space of the Honda, 6 speed in the Subie, and familiarity of the Yotas, in that order.

 

We want the third bench area for our camping gear and dog haha.

 

Not a lot of anything for sale near us, unfortunately. We always research next vehicle moved way ahead of time because we know it could takes months to years to find the model we want in decent condition. We’ve done a lot of old vehicles and are ready for something that isn’t an issue list these days ha.

 

Glad you’re okay!

 

Bingo. We also looked at the GX which is like $6K more than the Trailsport but my wife didn't like it. She said it was to crowded inside and when the 3rd row was up there was no room left for luggage which is very true. The Pilots still have enough luggage room behind the 3rd row. We drove the older Pilot all over the country and did fantastic. I will keep that Pilot as a spare car forever.

 

Safe kids trumps all else as far as I’m concerned! Glad your family is okay!

 

Even the 2005 (as well as 2012) Pilot we’ve driven extensively felt HUGE inside. It honestly changed my perception of interior vehicle space from then on. My spacious at the time little Toyotas suddenly felt like coffins haha.

Not a major buying factor but I also do like the idea of having a Tundra and Pilot in the stable for the fact that they’re the two most spacious American (as far as I’m concerned) made models you can get

 

Wife & Kids Safe Vehicle List:

For teen drivers I recommend the updated Panzerkampfwagen Mark V "Panther" from Spraynard Maximum Density Industries.

Unparalleled front crash test ratings and parents will love the fuel savings from this mid-sized vehicle. The 75mm main gun also ensures Little Susie's safety against lecherous swine.



For dear old Dad, I recommend the Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. B, "Koenigs 'King' Tiger" heavy assault recreational vehicle. The good folks at SMDI continue their research into increasing fuel efficiency and have released the following statement, "don't hold your breath." But you'll soon forget the price at the pump when opposing traffic "bends the knee" before your King Tiger. The 88mm PAK main gun underwrites your authority as Field Marshall of the Eisenhower Interstate System.

 

Acura MDX is same platform / vehicle as pilot. Not sure if the 4wd system is different (SH-AWD in the MDX), but it was flawless in the snow. Could not slip a tire trying. Used examples can be had in Pilot territory and it has a different style to it if looking for another option.

edit: or go with @hagrid suggestion. Can't beat tracks in the slippery stuff. Passeneger compartment is also likley to stay fully intact in a collision with anything other than falling off of a 300' tall cliff. Tough to find parking though.