re: “Best” or “nicest” 3 row suv around 30k

When I bought my Highlander, there was a Sienna on the lot right next to it. Thought about going the minivan route but I just couldn't see myself in a minivan. (I'm not the minivan type).

Well, several months later, we took a girls trip and rented a minivan. The ride was, as one poster put it, smooth as butter, and the room in the third row put my Highlander to shame.

Almost wish I had gotten the Sienna.
And one more thing, the resale value of Toyotas is well worth buying one.

VW Atlas has a very spacious 3rd row... actually more 3rd row room than the my wife's Yukon...

a 3 year old one should go for around 30k, i'd think

Idk how the newer CX-90’s are, but my wife has a 2013 CX-9 that has been amazing (knock on wood)

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(I'm not the minivan type).

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That's what I said...until I got a minivan. Now it will be the next vehicle I buy.

I'm torn between another sienna or a Carnival (I like the styling a bit better, reminds me of an SUV, and they have 5 years/ 40k miles more warranty).


But as far as the functionality? Get an AWD and it IS an suv with more room.

Mini van, but a third row is like 4wd you don’t use it.

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Does your vehicle need to tow anything? If not, a minivan will get you three comfortable rows with good storage behind the third row

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Unfortunately, most Americans now will sacrifice function for form. Minivans were the best value for a family, hands down, and the utility of the sliding side doors is unmatched when loading multiple kids in a car. But there is now a stigma for some reason, and people care way too much about what others think.

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most Americans now will sacrifice function for form

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It has been that way "forever." The station wagon was the "I have given up car" for decades before it morphed into the minivan.

America, outside of maybe Japan, has the strongest car culture in the world that permeates well past petrol heads down to people that couldn't tell a camshaft from a crankshaft if their life depended on it. That is why over 50% of pickup drivers drive pickups.

A minivan is the best driving appliance for a family, full stop. Just like a Civic or Corolla is the best driving appliance for a single person or couple. There are tons of them but there are tons of other cars. That being said I am a car guy and I won't drive any of them unless I am forced at gunpoint.

A fellow car guy and I have a joke that minivan drivers are like drug addicts, they want to pull everyone down into their soulless hole of despair. Nothing wrong with being boring AF, but nothing wrong with being not boring AF either. Plus, if you can't get all your stuff in a mid-sized CUV/SUV then you have a different set of issues that should be addressed unless you have a GRT-sized family, then you might need a Sprinter or a school bus instead.

Highlander but if going used you can get a 460gx or Rx350L for less sometimes.

I wanted a 4runner but got a similar year gx for less.

I would own a Honda Pilot or Acura MDX naturally aspirated V-6 right now if they didn't have the rubber band timing belt that you have to replace at ~100k miles - and it's not the $$, it's the inconvenience and built in requirement to perform maintenance when timing chains have been standard in most ICEs forever.

Get the minivan. Everyone with kids and not driving a minivan is either towing something or retarded. Don’t be retarded.