Spent a grip of time researching, watching youtube videos, checking out things in person and had narrowed my list down to the following, model years 2018 and newer:

Used Volvo XC90: It has 3 rows, nice array of features and bells and whistles and a lot of style. Ultimately decided against it after an in person evaluation. I didn't drive it, but checked it for space and capacity. Ultimately the 3rd row was too cramped to be marketed as anything more than a seat for a large dog. Yeah, kids would probably enjoy it for about an hour tops. I was really wowed by the tech that it offered (360 camera, collision avoidance, smart interface, voice commands, etc.).....until I got back home and did more research to discover that most, if not ALL, current crossovers offered that same tech in some shape form or fashion.

Used or New Nissan Armada: So...these are MASSIVE and really offer a TON of value...if you're looking for a MASSIVE SUV that can TOW a LOT. It also has luxury on lock once you get into the SL and higher trims. There are deals to be had on brand new 2019, 2020 models since the 2021 is a facelifted model. Ultimately what soured me on these is the fuel consumption. I'd still be into it as maybe a 2nd vehicle reserved for long road trips or camping....but I don't camp....I don't have a boat to tow....and I'm not really trying to be owning another SUV that's a gas guzzler, my VW Touareg does just fine at that job.... But damn if the Armada's aren't the best looking HUGE SUV's on the road right now... Nissan is on the come up....

Used or New Buick Enclave (2019+): I'm old enough to own a Buick now...so I went in.. Buick offers 4 trims, Base, Essence, Premier & Avenir. In the Essence and Premier, there are sub trims for appearance. I narrowed down to the Essence and Avenir, because I couldn't find any Premiers anywhere around here. Had one brought to the house for a test drive and everything. They offer a lot of trims that range from classy to sporty. I'd landed on a Sport Touring trim because it looks more like something someone my age and younger would drive. They are HUGE compared to every other crossover (Honda Pilot, Highlander, CX-9, XC90)...but only on the inside...on the exterior they don't seem to be much larger footprint. GM really landed on something good with that platform. The technology is TOP NOTCH and at 310hp, they can get it in on the road. Super quiet ride and really really REALLY top notch finishes on the interior. Maybe not quite Volvo levels...but that may just be my personal take because I haven't owned an American made vehicle since the Chevrolet Caviler I drove back in the 90's. The Enclave checked ALL the boxes.. The 3rd row comfortably fits an adult with room to spare AND cargo space to spare behind THAT. The middle row is not cramped at all even when the front seats are pushed back. Captains chairs are the bee knees. I really like how the Enclave handles and how it feels. Don't Sleep on Buicks! Also...active noise cancelation....that's a thing..and Buick has it in all their Enclaves.....but...so does Chevrolet...which leads me to...

Chevrolet Traverse: Ultimately...this won. It has everything the mid-tier Enclave has and more. The Sport Touring Essence Trim of the Enclave doesn't have 360 camera and several other things I'd consider to be essential to classify as a semi-luxury class vehicle (memory seats, auto folding mirrors, heated steering wheel, 360 camera, etc.). To get all of that and more in the Enclave...you gotta move up to the Premier or Avenir($$$).
So I checked and noted that the middle and upper tier Traverse offered almost ALL of the things the Enclave didn't and for several thousand lower price. So I had a couple brought to the house to test drive and I was instantly impressed. SAME driving experience as the Enclave. Same active noise canceling, nearly identical "plushness"... the dashboard of the Chevy isn't soft and cushioned, but I ain't sitting on that joint so who cares... In addition, the trim had ALL the features the Enclave didn't.
I think a mini-van might offer a smidge more stretch out space back in the 3rd row...a tad more capacity...but not worth the dent in my fragile car ego lol....but honestly...my wife was more against mini-van than I was lol..

So yeah... first brand new car I've purchased since 2001. The car buying experience is still pretty much the same...except it's easier to browse selection online now. I went through 3 different colors and trims before luckily finding the exact combination I really wanted at the absolute last minute. The dealer brought in their stock from Baltimore port Tuesday night and they finally had an all black redline trim with AWD in their inventory.

Ask me anything.
I learned some interesting info about the used car market along the way....it may sway your decision on whether to buy used or new. Also GM is offering some spectacular incentives right now...


"Get ready....for your blessing....."
"Bury me by my Grand-Grand and when you can come follow me"

______________________________________

Navem nu, cuando sol
Tutu nu, vondo nos nu
Vita em, no continous non
Nos nu ekta nos sepe ta, amen

When the sun shades the ship
We sweat and life is not safe
To swim or to touch not
When we unite we hedge amen

get the wife on board with owning one lol..
Usually she couldn't care less about vehicle either...as long as they weren't chromed out, she would drive anything.... but Mini-Vans???! She was really really adamant lol...

"Get ready....for your blessing....."
"Bury me by my Grand-Grand and when you can come follow me"

it was all over from there

______________________________________

Navem nu, cuando sol
Tutu nu, vondo nos nu
Vita em, no continous non
Nos nu ekta nos sepe ta, amen

When the sun shades the ship
We sweat and life is not safe
To swim or to touch not
When we unite we hedge amen

maybe deep down I didn't want it enough lol....



"Get ready....for your blessing....."
"Bury me by my Grand-Grand and when you can come follow me"

mistake in words

______________________________________

Navem nu, cuando sol
Tutu nu, vondo nos nu
Vita em, no continous non
Nos nu ekta nos sepe ta, amen

When the sun shades the ship
We sweat and life is not safe
To swim or to touch not
When we unite we hedge amen

thankfully the wife agrees.

SUV or it aint happening

****************
TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

https://www.kia.com/us/en/vehicles/carnival-mpv/2022?chid=sem&aud=&CID=20242760&SID=4132975&PID=204339611&AID=404130485&CRD=0

Pacifica got some competition now....



"Get ready....for your blessing....."
"Bury me by my Grand-Grand and when you can come follow me"

Every week we made 40 Gz!!

Double 0
DJ/Producer/Artist
Producer in Kidz In The Hall
-------------------------------------------
twitter: @godouble0
IG: @godouble0
www.thinklikearapper.com

I had an 06 pathfinder thinking I'd need it for the kids and their friends, but that didn't happen often. kinda turned me off of the 3rd row.

thought about getting a 3rd row again when I looked a few years ago. didn't really like the driving experience, weight, or gas consumption of any of thew few I tried. settled on a Grand Cherokee.

Y'all buy those labels, I was born supreme

Since we live in a big tourist area (DC) it's nice to be able to take a single vehicle with everyone. Also when we travel to visit, it's ideal again for the same reason.

I agree...3rd row probably won't see much use...but it'll be nice to have when/if needed. In addition though, the extra card space is needed for the many road trips. We already struggle to get everything in the VW....I mean it fits...but EVERY square inch of space is used...that's frustrating on 6+ hour drives.

"Get ready....for your blessing....."
"Bury me by my Grand-Grand and when you can come follow me"

Y'all buy those labels, I was born supreme

______________________________________

Navem nu, cuando sol
Tutu nu, vondo nos nu
Vita em, no continous non
Nos nu ekta nos sepe ta, amen

When the sun shades the ship
We sweat and life is not safe
To swim or to touch not
When we unite we hedge amen

I tried my best to convince her not to get one. She was gassed off of having sliding doors for the kids (which she still loves) and built-in TVs.

We'll probably go the SUV route for her. I have a sedan (Lexus ES F-Sport.) Checked out the Volvo XC90 you mentioned, along with the Audi Q7 and the Lexus GX.

The weird thing about the Volvo is that it LOOKS large...but once you get in...everything just feels...cramped...maybe not cramped...but compact. I'm not a big dude at all...but sitting in the driver seat of the XC90 my knees rubbed against the door and the center console.... couldn't rest my feet completely flat in the passenger seat which was strange...like, my feet had to be side by side touching to rest flat... the 2nd row seats were rather cramped with knee room if the driver and passenger seats where in the normal positions that we'd keep them in... i'm 5'10" and my wife is 5'7".

I think the price of the Lexus Landcruiser equiv. just turned me off completely....

"Get ready....for your blessing....."
"Bury me by my Grand-Grand and when you can come follow me"

I love driving the Lexus

the minivan is just a nice lil bus but nah.. not a fan of that style at all.

****************
TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

in my previous life we made the same decision lol. my girl also didnt want the minivan, i was ready for a minivan just because i knew it would be the most practical. i wasnt gonna fight to convince her to go the minivan route though lol traverse basically gives you a minivan in an suv look.

at least the model year that i had was the same dimensions as a tahoe outside but somehow was more roomy for passengers and had significantly more cargo space.

the newest design looks even better than the previous one. if im ever in the market again for a family vehicle this is where i would start.

The Tahoe is nice...but damn it's stupid expensive...at least for anything that's not Hertz Rental trim. I WAS tempted by the front bench seat available option though...I'm just amused and impressed that they're still offering a front bench seat in ANY vehicle. I have fond memories of sitting in the middle of the front bench seat of one of my grandfather's numerous Caprice Classics and Lincoln Town Cars... Nothing like the vantage point of the front middle seat of a huge vehicle while cruising down the highway...

"Get ready....for your blessing....."
"Bury me by my Grand-Grand and when you can come follow me"

my brother had a tahoe when i had my traverse. we did a road trip with his and the cargo space is almost comical. the traverse isnt huge but its reasonable. the third row on a tahoe is almost useless for an adult. the leg space is almost none. the traverse is cramped in the third row but doable.

one thing the tahoe did have was more width inside. not major but noticeable. im pretty sure there are other benefits to a tahoe but space wise traverse was a better move.

they're dope.


we just got a CR-V

www.engadgethd.com - the other stuff i'm looking at

the target audience for them for decades....like...it's just assumed that Mom HAS to own and be the one to drive the mini-van. Like...that's the sole market for them almost. And then the men are just brainwashed into thinking there's something less manly about owning and driving one (i'm like 10% guilty of that myself lol)....

I really do think this Kia Carnival is going to spark shit for the better though. Pacifica proved there was still an untapped market...and Kia is running with it.


My homeboy from waaaay back been into mini-vans since the 90's though. I think he discovered early on how perfect they were for outfitting with the most obscene loud sound systems and stuff lol... He's legit minivan mafia with it...

I don't know what it is/why it is Honda won't just come out with a large size ANYTHING....like...they always land just shy of their competition in size...
Accord Vs. Camry...
CR-V Vs. Rav-4
Passport Vs. Venza?
I think the Pilot might be bigger than the Highlander though....


"Get ready....for your blessing....."
"Bury me by my Grand-Grand and when you can come follow me"

i gave serious consideration into a sedona back then, still too much of a minivan look. the carnival looks basically like an suv.

but yeah.. its always been viewed as the end of an era.

once you get that van its over.. lol.

none of this is true but that is the way its perceived.

****************
TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

If you had a pickup or a van or a motorcycle or a muscle car then your man-card was pretty much accepted anywhere.

And if you had a CONVERSION VAN!?! Psssht...you were boss status.
I remember my uncle used to stay having the kitted out conversion vans. Lil 12" TV up in the headliner area in the back...and a CB radio up front with the hardwood cupholders.... I'm still salty he wouldn't let me hold it for prom night....

"Get ready....for your blessing....."
"Bury me by my Grand-Grand and when you can come follow me"

especially when they started coming out w/ lower profile tires and/or nice rims.

hold up, your conversion van had all that AND a spoiler on the top? sheeeeeeiiiiit (c) Clay Davis

>but yeah.. its always been viewed as the end of an era.
>
>once you get that van its over.. lol.
>
>none of this is true but that is the way its perceived.

<-><-><-><-><-><-><-><-><->
<-><-><-><-><-><-><-><-><->

****************
TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

feels like I'm driving a bus. Like when making a quick left in between traffic turn it feels like I gotta tell the kids to hold on tight. On the other hand when driving my sedan it's actually fun driving.

SUVs if they are built on a car platform feel very similar to cars but sitting up higher (I had a Lexus RX before moving to the ES F Sport). I've also had a truck based SUV, which wasn't "fun" to drive but also didn't feel like a bus. Maybe it's because of one of the mini-van benefits - with the large open space it just makes it feel wide and unruly to drive.

that’s true as hell..

but I guess with a van you aren’t supposed to drive that fast

****************
TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

~~~~~~~~
A bad Samaritan averaging above average men (c) DOOM

from the cr-v / escape up to explorer / navigator / escalade to the jaguar f-pace / mercedes...I think it's the GLE now?

and man the fun you can have in those is super limited. it's not zero, but it's not worth the tradeoff for me

www.engadgethd.com - the other stuff i'm looking at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CffO9oIWi9M



>they're dope.
>
>
>we just got a CR-V
>
>www.engadgethd.com - the other stuff i'm looking at

IG: amadu_me

"...Whateva, man..." (c) Redman

"Get ready....for your blessing....."
"Bury me by my Grand-Grand and when you can come follow me"

**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"

If your gonna get a van... just get a real one.. mercedes sprinter or a 12-15 passenger van... at least you can make that shit fly and do more activities.

Or

A rape van......

The japanese know wassup

https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2757/4246005954_a95ce9ff8d_o.jpg

Double 0
DJ/Producer/Artist
Producer in Kidz In The Hall
-------------------------------------------
twitter: @godouble0
IG: @godouble0
www.thinklikearapper.com

I'm on Bookman steez right about now....

"Get ready....for your blessing....."
"Bury me by my Grand-Grand and when you can come follow me"