Big SUV drivers out there?

I"ve been driving a 2008 Toyota Sequoia for about 2 years. It's great @2 times a year -- when we have a big family vacation and need the space. The rest of the year, it's really bigger than I need. Any suggestions from personal experience? I've been researching the next level smaller from the Sequoia and there isn't really much there. I'd like to keep the 3rd row availability too. So, for a large SUV that's not quite as huge as the Sequoia, there's:

- Land Rover LR4
- Mercedes GL 450/550
- Acura MDX (which we already have one of - a 2003 model - the new one is bigger, I think)

And, that's about it for non-domestic makers. Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q7 and BMW X5 are all too small capacity-wise. Range Rover doesn't have a 3rd row. The M-B G-wagon is too unreliable and expensive.

If you're looking at the MDX, also check out the Volvo XC90. It's about the same size and has third row seating.

Originally Posted by kabert

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It's great @2 times a year -- when we have a big family vacation and need the space. The rest of the year, it's really bigger than I need.

Get a car and rent a monster truck when needed. I'm tired of the "just in case" SUV and crew-cab pickup crowd....

Originally Posted by greg_atlanta

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Get a car and rent a monster truck when needed. I'm tired of the "just in case" SUV and crew-cab pickup crowd....

+1

London's streets are choked with 4x4s ferrying single, weedy looking children about.

Get the GL

Originally Posted by alan

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Get the GL

+1. My wife has been driving one for a year and a half and it's the best vehicle I've ever owned. It's big, but not too big, and it drives much smaller than it is. We had an ML430 prior to buying the GL and the GL, while bigger, drives smaller in every way. I drove it across the country this summer and it was an absolute joy to drive, and I hate long drives.

Originally Posted by coolpapaboze

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+1. My wife has been driving one for a year and a half and it's the best vehicle I've ever owned. It's big, but not too big, and it drives much smaller than it is. We had an ML430 prior to buying the GL and the GL, while bigger, drives smaller in every way. I drove it across the country this summer and it was an absolute joy to drive, and I hate long drives.

Ditto. Even the drive across country.

Originally Posted by greg_atlanta

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Get a car and rent a monster truck when needed. I'm tired of the "just in case" SUV and crew-cab pickup crowd....

you'd think the city folk would heed to that logic... but all the outer boroughs of nyc are choked up by dudes in ford expedition/explorer/hummer/escalades ect..

it be almost acceptable if there where whole families inside, but its rarely so.

Originally Posted by kabert

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I"ve been driving a 2008 Toyota Sequoia for about 2 years. It's great @2 times a year -- when we have a big family vacation and need the space. The rest of the year, it's really bigger than I need. Any suggestions from personal experience? I've been researching the next level smaller from the Sequoia and there isn't really much there. I'd like to keep the 3rd row availability too. So, for a large SUV that's not quite as huge as the Sequoia, there's:

- Land Rover LR4
- Mercedes GL 450/550
- Acura MDX (which we already have one of - a 2003 model - the new one is bigger, I think)

And, that's about it for non-domestic makers. Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q7 and BMW X5 are all too small capacity-wise. Range Rover doesn't have a 3rd row. The M-B G-wagon is too unreliable and expensive.

The big SUV is passe´ as a daily driver, unless you have six children and live off the grid somewhere.

I am figuring you want only upscale imports (which the Sequoia technically isn't, neither an import nor all that upscale), otherwise I would suggest you take a good look at both the Ford Flex and the Chevrolet Traverse.

Forget Land Rover. They are self-inflicted punishment. If you want that level of off-road capability, buy the Toyota Land Cruiser; it is better in almost every way except perhaps for the level of interior luxury. And little good the nice carpet and leather will do you when the LR is at the shop.

The MB GL is still pretty large, maybe not quite as big as a Sequoia or Suburban, but certainly as big as a the Land Cruiser and less off-road-capable (if that really matters.) For a decent alternative, perhaps the M350 with or without the Bluetec turbodiesel, but there is no third-row seat.

Seriously, the domestics, especially Ford and Chevy, are offering the thing you say you want. Funny thing, at this level, they don't look cheap and aren't particularly priced that way either.