My wife and I are looking for a vehicle that will hold 6 people (2 adults, 4 kids) that is NOT a mini-van. We are looking at the Dodge Durango, which has the 3rd seat in the back where a Ford Explorer would have cargo space.
Anyone aware of any other options we should look into?
Buick Road Master
Ford Crown Victoria
The Ford Explorer and Chevy Trailblazer are available with third seat options.
You may want to check into station wagons as well.
Ford Explorer (as of 2002) and the Expedition (2003) have the 3rd row seats as mentioned above that fold flat so you still have cargo space if needed. I’m not sure about the Explorer but the 3rd row* seats in my Expedition automatically opens/closes with the push of a button since it is a powered option.
*The 3rd “row” is actually 3 full seats split 2/1, so you could in theory have three kids in the 2nd row and one kid in the 3rd row with some cargo space left over where the other two 3rd row seats have been folded flat. Even when all three seats in the 3rd row are up you still have some cargo space behind them (maybe 14" deep by 48" wide).
If your kids are in car seats/boosters you can still fit 3 across in either the 2nd or 3rd row in an Expedition, but not in an Explorer.
http://www.fordvehicles.com/images/2003/EN/photo/suvs/epd_pgintpop7.jpg
We have a Discovery and it seats seven very comfortably. There are two jump seats in the way-back, as we call it. When not in use, they easily fold up. The seats are situated so that, when in use, the occupants face each other.
It’s very convenient and has come in handy several times.
The jump seats, however, aren’t standard so you may want to take that into account when looking to purchase one.
My Ford F250 extended cab pickup seats six. Three in the front (2 full size buckets + 1 child size bucket) and three in the back (on a bench seat).
How about the old standard, the Chevy Suburban?
You definitely need to check out the Honda Pilot. Sounds perfect for you.
Volvo V70 with optional 3rd seat, XC70 (AWD version of V70) again with optional 3rd seat, and XC90 will all seat 7.
If you want a passanger car:
-Ford Crown Vic
-Mercury Grand Marquis
-Lincoln Town Car
-Toyota Avalon
-Buick LeSabre
-Buick Park Avenue
Plus some high end Mercedes, BMW, and Audis.
In the pseudo-minivan vein:
-Chrysler Pacifica
In the SUV category:
-Chevy Suburban/GMC Yukon XL
-Chevy Tahoe/GMC Yukon
-Chevy Trailblazer/GMC Envoy
-Ford Expedition/Lincoln Navigator
-Ford Explorer/Lincoln Navigator/Mercury Mountaineer
-Dodge Durango
-Honda Pilot/Acura MDX
-Toyota Sequoia
-Toyota Land Cruiser/Lexus
-Nissan Pathfinder Armada
-Mitsu Montero
-Volvo XC90
-Suzuki XL-7
-Land Rover Discovery
-Land Rover Range Rover
I think that’s it for the US Market. Maybe the Hummer offers third row on the H2.
Oops, forgot the full sized Chrysler cars, LH and Intrepid. Plus the Cadillac Escalade and their full sized passanger car.