Crossover or Small Suv?

I have a Honda CRV and I love it my day to day commute to work, running errands, and being taxi driver for my kids. However, we use the mini van for vacations and family trips. IMO a crossover would be too small for the family and dogs.

I just switched from a crossover (Ford Freestyle) that I LOVED to a small SUV (Volvo XC60). The differences are monumental. I got the Vovlo because it was the most comfortable ride and I have back and hip issues that require me to have the most comfortable seat possible. It no longer hurts to drive :)

But, my crossover had a pass through middle seat and TONS of space. The Volvo, not so much. It really is too small for our family of 5, but the larger Volvo XC 90 was not nearly as comfortable nor did it have as good gas mileage.

Good luck trying to find a good crossover. I could not find one that I was interested in when I was looking. I drove LOTS of them and they wouldn't work for me and my particular issues. Ford has the Flex (which I think is ugly), GM has the Traverse/Acadia/Buick (I don't like GM). Chrysler got rid of the Pacifica when Deimler sold them, but Mercedes has it is the R class. DH wouldn't even let me look at that one. Our problem was finding something that fit that we could afford. We narrowed down our choices to the Lincoln MKt and the Volvo. The Volvo won out because it was 10K cheaper, though the Lincoln was almost EXACTLY like my Freestyle that I loved so much.

JMHO

I have a Pacifica. It fits our family of 4 fine and 3 dogs. I love it and it holds my double stroller just fine.

We went from a Honda Odyssey to the GMC Acadia and we servery happy. Gas mileage has been the same.

We loved our Chrysler Pacifica. It is a crossover, it had plenty of cargo space, sat 4 of us easily (we even had a fifth, with a couple of the kids in car seats, and it was okay), and had good gas mileage (better, I think, than many small SUVs).

I would suggest test-driving several small SUVs and several crossovers, you can find the one you like.

I'am going through the same thing right now.I don't want a mini van if it comes down to it it will be a Toyota Sienna/Mazda5.I'm searching crossovers today the Chrysler Pacifica seems to be great they nolonger make these anymore the Journey took over for the Pacifica I think it is a smaller crossover but has 3rd row hatchback most veicles do unless it is a sedan that has a trunk.Not looking into a gas hog plus me being 4"10 I need something that I feel comfortable driving & it not feeling that i'm driving a bus.
Honda Pilots they come wioth 3rd row
Ford Free star it is considered a wagon but it has 3rd row the one I looked up last night was roomy

Ahahahaha a crossover is a small SUV. Don't feel bad I had my CRV for three years before someone pointed that out. I asked what the heck is a crossover and they laughed and said you drive one. Oops. :p

I don't have dogs at the moment but I used to have Goldens. You can't fit two crates back there but they do make a screen that goes between the seats and the cargo area. More than enough room back there for two Goldens to fit comfortably.

My younger two are 10 and 12, the older two have their own cars, so the four that end up in the CRV fit very well.

We have always had to drive halfway across the country to visit family every summer. Of all of our vehicles, the minivans provided the best room for everyone. Easy access, extra seats, luggage room, decent gas mileage, etc. I always have to laugh when family or friends say they would never drive a minivan but they always loved the extra room we enjoyed.

Chevy Equinox are nice. Small, but roomy. And they are nice. Chevy Traverse's are really nice too, they are a little bigger then the Equinox.

I'd just go to a dealer and see which ones you guys like better!

http://www.edmunds.com/crossover/?mktcat=new-crossover-co...

Since I am in the same quandry about what to get for my next car, and want a hatchback with space for 2 teens, I googled your header and got to this Edmunds car comparison page. You can choose by price range or by features and then it will give you a list of cars to click on to read the reviews. I was thinking about getting a Dodge Caliber or Journey, but while the mileage is good it gets it by a small 4 cylinder engine and performance is described as "lackluster". I may actually test drive a Hyundai Touring or Tucson which both have much better reviews, and my sister loves her little Hyundai Elantra (with roadside assistance and long warranty and low price tag). RAV4 and CR-V always get mentioned in other reviews as viable options as well. Let us know what you decide :)

With all the different activities we do I think a Suburban might be too small, and I think we could almost put a toddler bed in the back of one of those....

If you just keep in mind that you need lots of space behind the rear seat you will find the perfect vehicle for your family. We have the worst luck in that area. Seems like it looks like a lot of room then when we start putting in the T-Ball bags, the BMX bikes and helmets, the tennis rackets, etc...it fills up quickly. Then the back seat is flipped down and it just fills up more.

So, to me having the room is the needed option for my family. The price of gasoline is CRAZY but if I am constantly running home to switch out stuff it saves in the long run.