So, here’s the deal, the lease on our Chevy Traverse is up soon, so we’re trying to figure out which big SUV would be a good replacement. The Traverse was a great car for us, but it might not be big enough for us for long.
Our main requirement is three rows of seats and a middle row with captain’s chairs (rather than a bench) so the big kids can get into the third row without needing help. We have been considering the Infiniti QX56, Toyota Sequoia, and Chevrolet Suburban. Which one’s the best for a big family? What cars are we forgetting? What car has your family found that works?
Infiniti QX56
We like this 2010 body style more than the later models.
Pros:
- Big and shiny
- Nice interior
- Bose sound system
Cons:
- Expensive
- Too much bling?
Toyota Sequoia
We loved our Toyota 4Runner before we sold it to get our Toyota Sienna minivan…maybe another Toyota?
Pros:
- Toyota reliability
- Price
- Basic interior
Chevrolet Suburban
The Traverse was great for us, maybe its big brother would be a good fit?
Pros:
- Large interior cargo capacity
Cons:
- Conservative styling
- Dated interior
- Heavy
- Expensive
What the heck would you do?
Of the 3 listed I would definitely go with the Sequoia. I dislike the current QX56 due to the body style and price. When we were in the market for a larger SUV we compared the QX56, Suburban and the Ford Expedition. All three vehicles were very nice, however the Expedition blew the other two out of the water in regards to price and features. We still have our 2009 Eddie Bauer Expedition and love it!
Hmm, we hadn’t considered the Expedition. I’ll have to check that one out. Thanks Traci!
QX56 all the way…I just traded my 2008 in a few weeks ago and really miss it. I have never driven a car that I love so much even my kids miss the space. We just got an escalade and its small compared to the infinity.
The Expedition is great – but you have to get the EL in order to have ample room for “stuff”. I drove the 2013 Suburban for a week while our Volvo was in for repairs, and I would purchase that in a heartbeat.
We are looking at the new Ford Explorer with a third row. They have an option for the middle captain’s chair, plus the new eco-boost fuel economy engines. The fancy lift gate isn’t available though till the 2014 model. We are in the market too so I’m curious so see what you end up with.
Me too, Emily! Car shopping is a BIG DEAL. My friend has a candy red Ford Explorer that is really nice. Just not sure if it’s BIG enough. I don’t want to lose any cargo space either ~ the Traverse has a lot considering it can still seat 7
We traded in our Suburban b/c the gas consumption was just ridiculous. I was commuting 80 miles a day in that tank, just didn’t make sense. I liked it other than that though!