I'm looking to get the wife a used 2012 or 2013 Tahoe or suburban. I am leaning towards the Tahoe but I have some specific questions regarding the third row seat for third child. Does the third row seat have any kind of latch system for a booster seat or car seat? Do the side impact airbags stretch all the way to the third seat? I guess I'm just a little freaked out with how close that child is sitting to the rear bumper of the car in the instance of a rear impact collision.

Obviously a suburban would eliminate most of my concerns here, but I don't know if I want my wife driving that big of a vehicle. I would love people's thoughts on Tahoe vs suburban for family of five. Pros/cons. Thanks

We owned a Suburban. Reliability aside, it was great for our kids and dogs. Don't know about the airbag question or latch on the 3rd row.

The Tahoe has very little room behind the 2nd row, especially with the way the 3rd row seats fold. Leave the 3rd row up and you have about 12" of luggage space.

Suburban all the way if it were my choice again. And just as an alternate suggestion, we now have a Sienna minivan and it is much more useful than the suburban ever way, minus towing.

[This message has been edited by mm98 (edited 5/3/2014 6:59p).]

Was it easy to drive/back up? It just looks like a boat on the road with how long it is

I can't answer your specific questions, but my 2003 Tahoe with the seat in (I only had it in the day I bought it and the day I sold it) did not leave much room for storage. In my opinion, the 3rd seat in the Tahoe is for occasional use only -- you have it when you need it but don't use it regularly. Others may disagree.

I think your wife will get used to the size of the Suburban. Get the backup camera and she shouldn't have any problems. Friends of mine with 2 daughters have owned Suburbans for 20 years and just bought another one. There's only 20 inches difference, anyway. That comes in handy inside but I don't think its a big deal outside. Just don't park up front!

If you don't need a suburban get a minivan. A Tahoe is not an option for 3 kids IMO. There's a reason all those people with tahoes have **** on the roof rack and trailer hitch racks. We had both growing up and Tahoe was only an option when one of us (3 kids) went to college. Even then wasn't a great option when we were all home.

Parents had a Suburban growing up, made many road trips to NY with us 3 kids.

Couldn't imagine stuffing us all into a Tahoe.

How old are your kids? Why not just use the middle row and leave the third row out? So much more space. We've got 3 kids and a Tahoe and have no problems.

Thanks for the replies. Kids are currently 4,2, and 3 months. Do you have them in booster seats all side by side? I'm assuming this is a bench second row correct?

Third row in either is going to be a pain in the butt with three kids. If you aren't towing, look at the Honda Odyssey.

Minivan is functionally roomie. Automatic sliding side doors will save your shoulders and back. Too often I see moms struggling with suv doors in tight parking spots. i think newer oddys get 27 mpg on hwy.

I swore I would never get a minivan. Well we bought an oddy 14 years ago when my daughter was born. We still drive it around. We are getting another oddy this summer. And im gonna drive the old one around.

I have 3 kids and an 08 suburban, there is no way a tahoe would be big enough for us. Nothing fits behind the 3rd row except maybe an umbrella.

Gotta echo the minivan recommendations, although I know some will never buy them.

I would never drive it daily myself despite my admiration for their utility, and my wife said she would never drive a "dustbuster" as well. But she cratered after seeing how practical they are.

They fact you cant anything behind a Tahoe 3rd row makes the point - that is a huge vehicle but no storage. When taking our Odyssey for a family christmas trip we can fit all 5 of us, have plenty of room to move around due to floor to ceiling height, fit luggage for a week, christmas presents, and extra crap just because all behind the 3rd row. And get 24 MPG on the trip.

They aren't as hideous as they used to be but it's still a minivan. I get that people don't want to be seen in them, but the practicality and utility for a family with kids, especially young kids, trumps that.

OP, regarding your question on backing up...no worse that my Ford F150 SuperCrew was. Better actually. Only place I struggle was in 1 tight parking garage in downtown Houston.

And to emphasize again, if you're moving people and not equipment, minivans are better imo. Made my family get togethers and daily errands much easier .

Dang....kids sure are spoiled these days. We took a road trip from Greenville SC to Laredo when I was a kid. It was a working trip for my dad, so we used his company car...a 4dr ford. I think it was an LTD. My parents, us 4 kids, 5 foster kids, and 2 dogs. All in an LTD. Ahhh....the good old days. Young ones sitting in older kids laps, changing spots every 100 miles. No a/c.

On the Tahoe/Burb question, if you are gonna road trip, get the Burb. If not, go Tahoe.

On my 4th suburban Everybody i know that went from one to a Tahoe wish they would not have. As far a mini vans, have been stuck with a few from rental car companies and talk about zero room for bags.

Zero room for bags, huh? You must pack like a woman.

I've had a minivan with two kids and loved it, now have a sequoia with three kids and love it even more.

I'd take both over Tahoe and Burban.

quote:

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4,2, and 3 months

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Wow, y'all are busy! The question, is #4 going to be here in about 18 months? We have a Sienna (11, 9 and 4 years old daughters) and it's the only way to go IMHO.

Ashley, why exactly do you prefer the sequoia over both?

I hear what everyones saying about the minivan and I'm sure it is more functional but im having a hard time getting over the mental block of owning a minivan. . .

and #4 will only happen if there is a modern day miracle given the snip snip factor which occurred immediately after #3

Rent one for a weekend, I think the appeal of a minivan will immediately become obvious.

We had suburbans growing up, but it was because dad always seemed to have a big trailer (camper, boat, etc) and that easily allowed him to justify the purchase of a suburban over a minivan since mom always seemed to get new vehicles and he drove an early 80's S10 for 15 years. Also, minivans today are NOTHING like they were in the 90's. The Siennas and Oddyseys of today are not your momma's grand caravan.

[This message has been edited by Txagfan (edited 5/4/2014 10:10a).]

We actually drove all three as well as an expy. The amount of room in the front for me in the driver seat was a big factor, I somehow felt cramped in the Tahoe/Burban/Expy. I think it was the way my left knee rested against the door. I just felt more comfortable driving the Sequoia, felt the same while in the passenger seat.

That and the second row is a great second row, right now I've got a toddler seat, a car seat, and an infant base across the back and there's plenty of room for my 5,2, and 9 week old. When the MIL is with us she sits in the middle and I move the 5 year old to the third row.

Third row is legit and folds up and down with a push of a button. There's just tons of room front to back and lots of power which is good because it's not small.

The only knock I can find is the crap gas mileage, of course I have a heavy foot.

Give it a shot you might like it. We almost pulled the trigger on the Burban, made sure it fit in the garage, then on a whim drove the Sequoia and the decision was easy.

Suburban>>>>>>>sequoia=tahoe

Like I said I suggest driving them all because people have different likes and needs but the Tahoe does not equal the Sequoia.

[This message has been edited by Ashleyschaeffer (edited 5/4/2014 12:07p).]

Lets compare the Sequoia to the Sienna

Sequoia HWY mileage - 17. For the SIenna, 23.

Headroom much better for the Sienna, by far.

Third row legroom better in Sienna.

Sequoia luggage volume 18.9 cu ft. 39.1 for the Sienna.

Max luggage volume (seats down/out) - Sequoia 120.1, Sienna 150.

All automatic doors in the Sienna of course, and low floors for young kids.

Towing of course better for Sequoia, if you have a boat or trailer it is what you need.

Styling of Sequoia is better - but not by much.

Info is all per cars.com or my subjective determination on looks.

Oh, decked out Sequoia - $64k. Sienna $41k.

I'm also going to suggest a van over any SUV. Comfort, accessibility, options.... don't get a SUV. you'll also be glad you went with a van every time you fill up

Before you buy anything. Go test drive a van, you'll see what I'm talking about

Looked at sienna too because we liked our previous town and country so much. Wife wanted to sit higher than the minivan though.

We also bought pre-owned.

I've got some first hand experience in this.

I had a 2010 Ody and it was a great vehicle. Due to circumstances, it became my primary vehicle. I couldn't do it so I went to a Tahoe.

As for the mini v Tahoe comparison, as everyone has said, if you are just hauling people, the mini's are tons better. Sliding doors are the S. I basically went to the Tahoe because of vanity.

As for the Suburban, I so wish I had gone with the Suburban. The Tahoe has zero room. I also have 3 kids and the youngest is 9. The third row is fine for him, but I suspect by the time he's 12 or so, it will not be.

And, as was said before, if you have something to tow, mini is out.

So the first question you have to ask is, 'what am I hauling'? If it's just people, you need to give a serious look to the mini's. Their functionality is fantastic. IF you have a boat or trailer to pull, go with the Suburban.

And I like my Tahoe, you just have to know it's limitations.

[This message has been edited by Macarthur (edited 5/5/2014 9:35a).]

I'm going to vote minivan as well.

We had plans to have a few kids, nicely spaced apart. After our second I slipped one past the goalie, as it turns out not all birth control is 100% effective.
Now I've got a 4 yr old, an 18 month old, and a 2 month old. All boys. I tried all sorts of ways to avoid the mini van route. We test drove or borrowed most SUV's on the market in our price range. I spent a lot of time trying to drag 3 car seats and kids in and out of all our options. At the end of the day, it was painfully clear the minivan was by far the best option. It wasn't even close.

After a few months now of life with 3 young kids we are even more convinced it was the right move. No shame in admitting I have a Y chromosome and I love my minivan.

Get the best of both worlds with a transit wagon w/tow package.

People travel with 3 kids all the time in vehicles significantly smaller than a Tahoe.

It comes down to what you want to drive on a daily basis. Three rows will of course make it easier to travel with three young children likely needing car or booster seats.

If you don't like how long the Suburban is then buy a Tahoe and get receiver hitch rack. That's what my parents did. For years we had Suburbans but they found they no longer "needed" then once my sister and I were out of the house. Now if they need to haul more they either use the receiver hitch or take my dad's pickup truck.


Personally I despise FWD vehicles and the way they tend to feel. I will never own a minivan or any FWD vehicle for that matter. My personal preference of course.

I currently have a Wrangler Unlimited and it is insanely easy to maneuver. Seats 5 easily and has room to carry cargo. Unfortunately it won't fit 3 car seats side by side.



Oh and if you are even a mediocre driver the Tahoe is ridiculously easy to whip around backing up. Seriously it is super easy.

If you aren't planning on towing more than two tons regularly, AND going off road regularly, minivan is much better for travelling with kids than Suburban (Tahoe). We had both, as well as an Expedition.

Sienna lacks a little trunk volume, but the passenger volume is so much better, as ride, comfort, driveability, fuel economy, reliability and purchase price.

When I had an Ody, the only complaint I had was road noise. It appears Honda has addressed that in the new body design.

to answer the OP, choosing between the two, go with the tahoe. Plenty of room for the kids to sit across the bench seat in the back. if three grown adults can fit in the back of a tahoe, your kids can too.

That said, I don't get how people have so much **** they need to carry. We took vacations every summer to Colorado and/or Florida in either my mom's Volvo 240 GL or my Dad's Buick sedans in the 80s and 90s. We had our luggage, which fit in the trunk and maybe a book to read. I didn't have chingos of toys, games and random bull**** that kids allegedly require now.

I don't get the minivan lifestyle and refuse to ever buy one. to me, if you require a van, you have too much **** and you've spoiled your kids to the point of failure, in that they can't travel without their own "captain's chair" and their mountain of toys and videos.

Sorry for being harsh, but the mini-van concept is too foreign to me to be able to understand.

I pretty much agree with above. I understand the small conveniences with the sliding doors, extra room, etc. But we grew up with a corolla and crown vic and our family of 5 was fine. Some folks like to accumulate stuff and to each their own.