What does everyone have for a full size SUV?

Just curious because my wife and I are potentially going to try for a third kid here pretty soon which I imagine will lead to a fourth. Lol! Not looking to get a minivan as both of us can’t stand them (yes, I know they’re practical but they’re a hard no for us). We are really liking the suburban but are stuck on which powertrain option. Any input? Thanks!

 

Neighbor has a Suburban and nothing but AC issues with it.

 

I’d look at the Pilot over much else.

 

What year is it?

 

Wife has a 21 GX460, for 4 people with luggage, its a great roadtrip vehicle.

 

My wife currently has a telluride as a lease but we are learning even with 2 kids and all our stuff, it can become pretty tight so we are looking for something similar size as a suburban!

 

We have 3 kids under 5 (all in front facing car seats). Currently using a 2022 Pilot for around town with the kids and my truck for road trips (usually camping with our travel trailer).

It's not necessarily a perfect setup but then again, nothing is. I occasionally ponder the idea of replacing my truck with a (used) Ford Excursion or Suburban 2500 but then I'd lose the ability to throw wet/dirty stuff in the bed of the truck when camping or hauling garbage to the dump.

Wife sometimes wishes for a minivan with sliding doors but we've been able to manage with the Pilot so far. We're not minivan people and, even if we'd been willing to hold our noses and get one, when we were shopping it was a 2 year wait for the Sienna.

 

Get yourself a diesel excursion lol room for 9.

 

Saw a bumper sticker. Condoms prevent minivans

 

I bought a 2025 Sienna today, pick it up Friday. 2nd kid due in January next year.

Yes, I know. I surrendered my man card.

Once we got past the “minivans are lame” stigma and actually looked at one, we realized that they were better in every way from the 3 row full size SUVs except for looking cool and towing.

 

I think it's @Terndrerrr who's rocking an LX570.

 

22 GX, wife loves it, gets 19mpg at 90mph, can shove 6 people in it if you need for a bit, and low mileage are sub $50k. Fine for us planning two kids, though would be nice if it had more power.

 

Not all vans suck...

 

Yep.

We had such poor experiences with two Suburbans (one was a Yukon XL) that it is more worth it to me to put a Thule cargo carrier on top of the smaller LX rather than drive that GM abomination of frustration.

I think the 200/570 platform is just about the best road trip vehicle there is. So smooth.

@WindChillYeti75 if you’re looking for more room, a 2nd gen Sequoia is an absolute unit, it just compares to a Tahoe instead of a Suburban. If it’s only four people, you would have loads of storage with the 3rd row stowed.

 

The only arguments against minivans are irrational. That is the most practical, spacious, efficient platform out there.

Rising above an irrational stigma is commendable. No surrendering of the man card needed.

 

Where's yours?

 

Have you looked at the 2nd or 3rd Gen Sequoias? We have a 2nd gen sequoia and it flat works perfectly for us. Shorter wheelbase for easy maneuvering, same drivetrain as the tundra for familiarity, pulls our camp trailer great, hauls kids, dogs and groceries with aplomb, and is way more spacious in all three rows than the minivans I've been in. Kids and adults can sit three wide in the middle seat; adults can fit in the backseat fine (I recommend two-wide instead of three in the back seat) and because the middle row seats move forward and back, you can adjust legroom throughout. IMO, comparable leg room in the middle row as a suburban, but more room in the backseat that a suburban - with the middle row seats in any configuration.

 

If this ever comes to the US, mini vans may become cool:

https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/comments/1m19x3m/toyota_rumored_to_be_working_on_the_land_cruiser/

I have a 2016 Land Cruiser. Best vehicle I have ever owned.

 

My wife drove a first gen sequoia with our 2 kids until we gave it to the oldest one who just turned 16 a few months ago. It was a great vehicle for all the sports games we traveled to and we always had room for extra kids when rides were needed. If I was in the market now I'd be looking at the 2nd gen sequoia.

 

2023 Chevy Traverse. Last model year of the V6. 3rd row that an adult can actually ride in if needed. Hauls plenty of everything with 3rd row folded. 4 adults, the dog, and asst stuff all fit easily and comfortably for road trips. Good mpg for the size of the vehicle.

 

First gen sequoia! Mine is approaching 250k and no signs of slowing down. It just did 3 family summer road trips (family of 4+dog) with the reliability I expect and all the comfort I would want.

Recommended only if you're okay with 20 year old vehicle and you're able to do your own maintenance... Haha.
2nd gen sequoia or 200 land cruiser if you need a little more room/power/newer.

 

Wife is irrational

 

We had a 2022 Yukon with the 5.3l, which to me had plenty of power for a family cruiser. We did have the lifter issue at about 7,300 miles, and it was fine since, sold at 48,000 miles. Only other issue we had was a memory computer failed, $600 including dealer labor to replace. My old neighbor had the 6.2l that had the lifter fail too, but he was just over 100,000 miles. If you’re buying used, I’d check to see if the lifters have been changed, typically just one side. I haven’t heard of anyone having problems a second time. No experience with the diesel power option.

 

Once strongly considered buying a 1968 Chevy Panel with (factory) 4WD.

We have a 2012 Toyota Rav4 with the 4WD option. It's a good trip vehicle that can get 34 mpg.

 

Wife is considering a RAV4, I can’t help but think it won’t be very spacious for long trips with the kids compared to tue Tundra. We were originally thinking Pilot or GX460 next or even a minivan. Any packed and loaded photos of the new Ravs? Last smaller vehicle we did a long trip in was our ‘99 Runner and her ‘06 Runner which at the time we felt was huge in comparison, now it feels cramped compared to the Tundra ha. All relative I guess.

 

We are now shopping for a larger family car for my wife. She has a ‘19 Rav4. We have 2 kids and a dog these days. It’s too small. We took a road trip in it when we had one kid. We didn’t bring the dog along and we barely fit all our stuff for a beach trip staying at a friend’s house.

To join the discussion we have determined we are looking at an older 2500 suburban or a sequoia/lx/200. The GX460 is sweet but we think will be too small in the long run. She drove a ‘17 sequoia and really liked it. Are there actual dimensional differences that are significant between a sequoia and an LX/Land Cruiser or is it more a difference of suspension, durability and build quality? I know newer 200s have the better 8 speed trans also. A sequoia I believe can fill the role that we need more affordably than an LX/200.

 

The sequoia is more spacious than the LC/LX, more affordable, and still has the basic AWD/4WD system. It’s the way to go if space is of the essence. I’d grab one tomorrow if the wife wasn’t interested in daily driving a shorter version of my truck ha.

 

Some friends of ours with 2 kids have a Rav4 and a Chevy Colorado. They have a roof rack on the Rav.

 

Most underrated vehicle of all time. It's a Tundra SUV. Same width, about 12" longer than a 200/570 if I recall correctly.

And the 4wd is not basic...it has a true center differential like a 200/570, but unlike a 200/570 it can run RWD only as well.

You could leave it in 4wd all the time with the center diff unlocked, and it would operate like a 200/570.

No split tailgate/liftgate like a 570, but it does have the roll down rear window like a Tundra and 4Runner.

 

In 2015 we bought a brand new Infiniti QX80. Two young kids and a 100lb GSD. We were primarily using it for sports activities, but we started traveling more and have driven all over the country with zero issues. We have close to 100k miles now. It’s been rock solid for us with plenty of room.