RAV4 v CRV v Rogue v Forester v CX-5 v (FUCK IT) MINIVAN.

[FerrariEnzo]

2019 Tuscon doesnt have the turbo but the Santa Fe doesn.. Hyundai cars comes equipped pretty well too...

[wing_woo]

Two kids, i'd say minivan. I tjought i was fine with the Rav4 but when i switched to the Sienna, it was so much more convenient. Plus now, my kids can just get in themselves cause of the slidjng doors as opposed to worrying about them opening the door too wide and hitting the car beside.

[Traum]

Another vote for the minivan. In terms of convenience and space, there is absolutely nothing that can beat it.

I would be a bit weary of the 3rd and 4th gen Odyssey though. I continue to read / hear people running into transmission issues with them, including one incident where a friend's 4th gen Odyssey had the transmission seizing up when the vehicle was only 1 or 2 yrs news. Honda took care of the repairs under warranty, but the incident still leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

The 5th (and current) gen seems to get good reviews with the 10 speed AT, but it only comes in the top trim level (at least for now).

[Alby]

if you are planning for #2, might as well just grab a minivan now and save yourself the hassle down the road.

[GC8]

just ordered a 2019 Rav4 Hybrid, doesnt look like you are heading that direction but if you do its atleast a 3 months wait factory order

[smoothie.]

BMW M3

doesnt fit? doesnt need to come with.

[vyrospec]

Originally Posted by JHatta

1. Cargo Space
2. Driving Dynamics and Cabin Noise
3. Fuel Efficiency
4. Off-Road Capability
5. Tech

Honda Passport has it all, sans fuel efficiency

or if you want import an AWD Toyota Alphard Hybrid (i think there is such option)

[JqC]

J100% get a minivan if you have more than 1 kid. You won't regret it. We have 2 toddlers now and bought our Sienna SE soon after the 2nd was born.
Some highlights and favourite parts of the year since we bought ours.

1) Ikea shopping. Soooo much easier with a minivan.
2) We've saved on delivery fees on stuff that was too big for an SUV, but not a minivan. Recent example was a new chest freezer. No chance in an SUV - cargo opening simple isn't big enough. Piece of cake for a van.
3) We had tons of family from Asia over at once for an extended visit. Rear seats down we packed our cargo area to the roof with suitcases. Without the van, we would've needed multiple trips or taxis. Plus, I didn't have to drive chatty relatives.
4) Many day/weekend trips with grandparents and an aunt. All 7 seats utilized, no need for 2nd vehicle.
5) Going somewhere with limited parking? If you can leave one more car at home, that's one less parking spot to fight over.
6) If you have two screaming little shits, one in each arm, plus a diaper bag over your shoulder, the last thing you want to do is worry about carefully opening a door to avoid hitting the car next to you. Press button, door opens, toss those demons in there, press button to close door, then walk away for a smoke while the wife takes over.
7) No one tries to street race you. Pretty sure it's more embarrassing to try to race a minivan, than it is to drive one.
8) Our model is equipped with a rear entertainment screen. We turn it on if we're strung out and just need some quiet time.
9) If the screen still doesn't quiet them down, you can start driving with the rear doors open and threaten to toss them out of a rolling van. On an SUV, the forward momentum would just slam the doors shut. Not nearly the same effect.
10) Kid screaming cause he dropped his toy? Much easier in a minivan for the front seat passenger to climb back there over the centre console and grab it.
11) There are times we end up having 2 or 3 other kids in the van. They say the stupidest shit but it's all adorable. Lots of awwwww moments when kids that age ride together.
12) Last year buddies and I took the Sienna to Portland for the weekend. 5 or 6 dudes commuting for hours in a spacious as hell minivan? Good times. (Some gay ones too).

If you're driving around town with kids, what 'street cred' are you trying to save by going with a 'cooler' looking SUV. That's what 2nd and 3rd cars are for lol.
After our 2nd was born ,we went a few months with a 2 row SUV as our main vehicle. We tried our best to resist the minivan stage as well, but soon came to our senses. Kids are already a pain in the ass as it is, go with the vehicle that makes your life easier.

[!Aznboi128]

Originally Posted by JqC

7) No one tries to street race you. Pretty sure it's more embarrassing to try to race a minivan, than it is to drive one.

wellll......

YouTube (Short URL)

[TypeRNammer]

Originally Posted by JqC

J100% get a minivan if you have more than 1 kid. You won't regret it. We have 2 toddlers now and bought our Sienna SE soon after the 2nd was born.
Some highlights and favourite parts of the year since we bought ours.

Spoiler!

1) Ikea shopping. Soooo much easier with a minivan.
2) We've saved on delivery fees on stuff that was too big for an SUV, but not a minivan. Recent example was a new chest freezer. No chance in an SUV - cargo opening simple isn't big enough. Piece of cake for a van.
3) We had tons of family from Asia over at once for an extended visit. Rear seats down we packed our cargo area to the roof with suitcases. Without the van, we would've needed multiple trips or taxis. Plus, I didn't have to drive chatty relatives.
4) Many day/weekend trips with grandparents and an aunt. All 7 seats utilized, no need for 2nd vehicle.
5) Going somewhere with limited parking? If you can leave one more car at home, that's one less parking spot to fight over.
6) If you have two screaming little shits, one in each arm, plus a diaper bag over your shoulder, the last thing you want to do is worry about carefully opening a door to avoid hitting the car next to you. Press button, door opens, toss those demons in there, press button to close door, then walk away for a smoke while the wife takes over.
7) No one tries to street race you. Pretty sure it's more embarrassing to try to race a minivan, than it is to drive one.
8) Our model is equipped with a rear entertainment screen. We turn it on if we're strung out and just need some quiet time.
9) If the screen still doesn't quiet them down, you can start driving with the rear doors open and threaten to toss them out of a rolling van. On an SUV, the forward momentum would just slam the doors shut. Not nearly the same effect.
10) Kid screaming cause he dropped his toy? Much easier in a minivan for the front seat passenger to climb back there over the centre console and grab it.
11) There are times we end up having 2 or 3 other kids in the van. They say the stupidest shit but it's all adorable. Lots of awwwww moments when kids that age ride together.
12) Last year buddies and I took the Sienna to Portland for the weekend. 5 or 6 dudes commuting for hours in a spacious as hell minivan? Good times. (Some gay ones too).

If you're driving around town with kids, what 'street cred' are you trying to save by going with a 'cooler' looking SUV. That's what 2nd and 3rd cars are for lol.
After our 2nd was born ,we went a few months with a 2 row SUV as our main vehicle. We tried our best to resist the minivan stage as well, but soon came to our senses. Kids are already a pain in the ass as it is, go with the vehicle that makes your life easier.

I can definitely reflect on this 1000%

Ikea shopping is such a piece of cake, with the bigger cargo space and lower ride height, it's almost a one person one stop shop.

I've hauled stuff ranging from tall chest drawers to stove top ranges.

I asked a friend to drive my Odyssey to pick me and my family up at the airport. With a bit of Tetris logic, manage to pack in 3 adults, 2 toddlers, 1 baby, 6 full sized luggages, and 2 strollers with ease.

Family priorities first, do it right the first time and get a minivan, a SUV can come later down the road as a 2nd vehicle.

[dvst8]

I'd recommend a minivan if having 2 kids. Trunk space and convenience is going to be the luxury you're going to need.

CX-5 would be my choice for CUV

[ziggyx]

My vote goes for minivan as well. All my friends are getting CUVs and mid-size SUVs as they're starting families but I'm always nudging them to get minivans.

[Timbits93]

For a CUV, I personally think the CX-5 is probably the best value in terms of driving dynamics and interior. It is on the smaller side compared to the CRV or RAV4 though.

If you're planning to have a 2nd kid as well, make sure there's enough space both in the cabin and trunk. Otherwise, a minivan would be the best choice as it has plenty of room to haul people and stuff in the back.

[supafamous]

I love minivans, grew up on a Plymouth Voyager with the wood panels and all but there's a big diff between a compact crossover and a minivan. It's a good 18-20 inches longer and few inches wider and those inches do make navigating parking lots trickier.

My wife is barely comfortable with the sightlines on a CRV or RDX so a minivan is very unwieldy for her.

If only they still made the smaller size of minivan - some around 185-190 inches, a jumbo Mazda 5 basically. A 2L turbo motor and a 3rd big enough for Asian sized in-laws. I'd totally buy something that size over a compact crossover.

[sleepywheel]

Originally Posted by GC8

just ordered a 2019 Rav4 Hybrid, doesnt look like you are heading that direction but if you do its atleast a 3 months wait factory order

Were you able to get any kind of discount? I'm thinking of getting one vs some of the others discussed here.

[fishCak3s]

Right now we have the NX and it's a PITA to load just 1 kid with stroller and groceries. Will get a mini van when we have our 2nd.

[stanton]

Just bought a 2019 Odyssey and love it as we just had our first child last fall. Went for the base LX with a roof rack and hitch and was great this winter travelling to see the grandparents and shuttling family to the airport and back.

I hate to say it but do wish I went for the EX that comes with the built-in sunshades and vacuum though. Could have used them so many times already.

Would have to say go with a minivan for when your kids a little and move to an SUV after. There is so much crap we take everywhere and having the extra room is amazing. Test drove the Pilot, Highlander and the new VW.

[!Aznboi128]

Minivans generally get you better fuel consumption than SUVs as well, and due to the lower centre of gravity it SHOULD handle better.

[wing_woo]

Originally Posted by sleepywheel

Were you able to get any kind of discount? I'm thinking of getting one vs some of the others discussed here.

Toyota in BC does not negotiate...well, at least they didn't before. Don't know if that changed, although I did get a good deal on my Sienna.

Also, with a 3 month wait to get the new Rav4 Hybrid, I doubt they'd give you any discount.

Usually, they'll give you a discount if it's a vehicle that's physically on their lot vs one that they don't have yet.

[ak1to]

I have a 2017 Forester XT and I would recommend the mini-van if you're thinking of two kids.

The thing with the CX5, Rav4 and CRV are they're all compact SUV's. You can probably get away with 1 kid, but with 2 it's hard to argue that it'll be more practical and convenient than a minivan.

Even if you were shopping for a compact SUV primarily, I wouldn't recommend the Forester even though I love mine. Interior quality and materials are still leagues ahead in the CX5 and Rav4 along with more features.

I basically went with a Forester as I live where there's snow almost 6 months of the year plus I wanted a bit of go-fast fun which you can also get with the CX5 now.

[yray]

wagon

[Traum]

All this minivan talk is once again making me wish we have something smaller than a Sienna / Odyssey. In Asia, there is the Toyota Sienta and Honda Stepwgn among others. They are infinitely more practical than small / midsize SUVs, but no N.American consumers have to go big or go SUV.

[donjalapeno]

$2000 rebate on Odysseys this month

[AstulzerRZD]

Originally Posted by wing_woo

Toyota in BC does not negotiate...well, at least they didn't before. Don't know if that changed, although I did get a good deal on my Sienna.

Also, with a 3 month wait to get the new Rav4 Hybrid, I doubt they'd give you any discount.

Usually, they'll give you a discount if it's a vehicle that's physically on their lot vs one that they don't have yet.

If we're thinking of the same thing, the no haggle programmed called Access Toyota was killed quite a while ago :https://www.theglobeandmail.com/repo...rticle1000818/

Recently... I negotiated 2500 off a Camry XSE V6 (opened with this offer at Open Road, accepted), and got 900 off a RAV4 LE FWD (this was Open Road's initial offer)

[sho_bc]

We went for a Honda Odyssey in 2014. We wanted leather because kids are messy as hell, but didn't want a sunroof and didn't need the navigation or entertainment set-up. We got the EX and then the dealership had Katzkin leather put on all the seats for $1800 (much cheaper than moving up $7000 for the EX-L). We went with Vancouver Honda and they tried to have us pay $2500 for the Katzkin, but they slipped that it only cost them $1800 to have the shop they contracted to have the seat covers put on. We love the quality of the leather and the easy clean-ups.