SUV search

[sm625]

I'm looking for a crossover type SUV that has 7 passenger seating with 4 bucket style seats (iow no bench in the 2nd row). Something like a Buick enclave or a GMC Acadia. But slightly smaller, and/or with better fuel economy. Does anyone know of such a beast? Or does anyone know of a auto website that will run this specific search for me?

Edit: 6 passenger seating is a viable option as well.

 

[Tuanies]

I don't think you'll be able to find a 7-passenger SUV with bucket style seats without going to a Suburban, Tahoe or Expedition. The third row is typically a two seat affair.

Your best bet for that size and seating arrangement is a minivan. The crossovers with 4 bucket type seats are usually 6-seaters.

 

[JCH13]

With your requirements of 4 bucket seats AND the ability to seat 7 AND better fuel economy than a GMC Acadia you're looking at a minivan (Sienna, Odyssey, etc).

Depending on which requirements are hard and fast you could get a Mazda 5 which has 4x bucket seats, but only seats 6 total.

 

[ElFenix]

what you want is a minivan, you just haven't realized it yet. don't be fooled by their looks, GM's lambdas are the best minivans the general has ever made (and the sienna still beats them silly).

 

[Tuanies]

The new Sedona is quite nice

P1100761 by tuanies, on Flickr

 

[waffleironhead]

I think the new highlander claims seating for 8. The second row can be either 2 buckets, or has an insert to make it a bench.
MPG seems about the same as the enclave.

 

[sm625]

Sante Fe Limited is another option. It doesnt actually have to have 7 passenger seating. It could be 6 or 8.

 

[jlee]

It's not gonna be cheap, but the Lexus LX570 has bucket-ish seats..basically divide-able bench:

 

[Tuanies]

If you want smaller, your best bet will be the Nissan Rogue SV with the optional SV family package that adds a third row (tiny). That gets 25 or 26 city and 32 or 33 highway depending on FWD or AWD.

If you want cheaper, the Mazda5 is small and seats 6 with a tiny third row. That's rated for 22/28MPG.

 

[sm625]

I'm not seeing the right type of 2nd row seats on the Nissan Rogue S or SV.

 

[Tuanies]

Second row is standard 3 person bench, but it can seat 6/7 and is much smaller than the GM Lambdas.

 

[XavierMace]

I'm looking for a crossover type SUV that has 7 passenger seating with 4 bucket style seats (iow no bench in the 2nd row). Something like a Buick enclave or a GMC Acadia. But slightly smaller, and/or with better fuel economy. Does anyone know of such a beast? Or does anyone know of a auto website that will run this specific search for me?

Edit: 6 passenger seating is a viable option as well.

I just spent a month with a reasonably equipped 2014 Enclave. Leather, AWD, etc. I was completely unimpressed with it from the start. Cheap looking and feeling all around (this is coming from a Subaru BRZ as my daily), tacky LED light strip, less than stellar gas mileage especially for a V6. Then out of sheer curiosity I checked the pricing on it. As configured, $51k. I about crapped myself. That's Lexus GX and BMW X5 territory. Oh hell no. I was far more impressed with the Subaru Outback 3.6R I had as a loaner a couple months prior and it's like $15k cheaper. It's interior felt far better done than the Enclave and Subaru's aren't known for luxury interiors. The only things the Enclave had going for it over the Outback was a power lift gate, better rear camera (with sensors).

I would strongly recommend looking at the Lexus GX if that's in your price range even if you have to go a couple years older. Similar 2nd row setup to the LX jlee posted but two seats instead of a bench on the third row and they fold flat unlike in the Enclave for when you need the cargo space. Which you will in the Enclave as it has none with the rear bench. In addition to getting a Lexus interior instead of a GM, plus Toyota reliability, you also get a V8 instead of V6 which is nice for a vehicle that size even if you aren't towing, and a vehicle that knows what it is. The Enclave felt like an old persons impression of what young people like.

I'm not seeing the right type of 2nd row seats on the Nissan Rogue S or SV.

Looking at the GMC website, the Arcadia is a second row bench as well. I don't know that you're going to find many vehicles these days with second row "Captain" chairs, especially not in a vehicle smaller than the Enclave/Arcadia. They don't make it any easier to get into the back seat (based off my experience with the Enclave) and for whatever reason they just end up looking cheap IMO. I'd far rather have the Lexus style setup with 2nd row bench but with the center folding down as a armrest.

 

[sm625]

Looking at the GMC website, the Arcadia is a second row bench as well. I don't know that you're going to find many vehicles these days with second row "Captain" chairs, especially not in a vehicle smaller than the Enclave/Arcadia.

Acadia SLE-2 has second row "Captain" chairs. Some of the other trims have them too.

Its funny I have the same initial impression of that Buick. You'd think the Lexus would be aLOT more expensive but maybe it wont be. I'll definitely look into Subaru options.

 

[Scarpozzi]

what you want is a minivan, you just haven't realized it yet. don't be fooled by their looks, GM's lambdas are the best minivans the general has ever made (and the sienna still beats them silly).

My cousin has a 2010 Traverse. The thing drives like a sedan.....very smooth and great for long trips. We drive it to NFL games (10 hour round trip drives). I'm a bigger fan of the Enclave or Acadia, but that's just aesthetics.

You're going to have trouble finding what you want with a 2nd row bench. I agree the minivan is likely your best bet. I have not ever seen a vehicle with a 3rd row that's viable for full time adult use. Meaning, most are limited in the back seats and are more for providing seatbelts when you need them in a pinch. I'd look at Sienna and Odyssey based on resale value. Models without leather seats are $3-4k less. I've seen both in the $27k range without leather new and $30-33k with leather new, depending on features.

My 2011 4Runner has 3rd row seating. It's got a bench on the 2nd row and the 3rd row is 2 jump seats that fold down into the cargo area. It's nice when we travel on vacation with extended family (in 2 vehicles)....then unload luggage and want to go out to dinner in just 1 vehicle.

 

[XavierMace]

Acadia SLE-2 has second row "Captain" chairs. Some of the other trims have them too.

Its funny I have the same initial impression of that Buick. You'd think the Lexus would be aLOT more expensive but maybe it wont be. I'll definitely look into Subaru options.

Yeah, the Subaru's are smaller than what you're looking for. I was just using that as a reference point.

My 2011 4Runner has 3rd row seating. It's got a bench on the 2nd row and the 3rd row is 2 jump seats that fold down into the cargo area. It's nice when we travel on vacation with extended family (in 2 vehicles)....then unload luggage and want to go out to dinner in just 1 vehicle.

Toyota 4Runner = Lexus GX
Toyota Landcruiser = Lexus LX

I recommended the Lexus offering over the 4Runner purely because it's the same price as the Enclave I was driving. But if the OP is looking for cheaper than that, yeah, the 4Runner will get you the same general vehicle.

 

[Tuanies]

The thing that kills me about the GM Lambda's are the use of a separate key and keyfob, not even a switch blade. But they all start at $30k+, so you'd think they'd have push-button start or at least a switch blade. But nope, just old school.

 

[Legios]

2013 Highlanders had a removable section in the second row. Made them either a bench or 2 buckets for easy access to the 3rd row.

 

[heymrdj]

Odd seeing the drooling for the Outback...I haven't had a chance to see the 3.6R limited though. Center stack is Civic cheap, nav system doesn't use a quality map vendor, Nav radio is entirely too small and doesn't serve integral functionality with the car, gauge cluster is thoroughly appalling (seriously, two gauge pods and 2 tiny screens? No vehicle stats? Take a note from an F-150 for a center message center), and lower end models standard features are all lacking vs other options on the market. The fit and finish of supplied materials were good quality, I'll give it that, but at a price tag of 40K it damn well better be for it's size.

Plus the 200lb tongue weight towing makes it fairly useless for any type of trailer.

 

[Tuanies]

The Hyundai Santa Fe (not Sport) Limited offers 6 passenger seating as well in the mid 30s.

 

[XavierMace]

Odd seeing the drooling for the Outback...I haven't had a chance to see the 3.6R limited though. Center stack is Civic cheap, nav system doesn't use a quality map vendor, Nav radio is entirely too small and doesn't serve integral functionality with the car, gauge cluster is thoroughly appalling (seriously, two gauge pods and 2 tiny screens? No vehicle stats? Take a note from an F-150 for a center message center), and lower end models standard features are all lacking vs other options on the market. The fit and finish of supplied materials were good quality, I'll give it that, but at a price tag of 40K it damn well better be for it's size.

Plus the 200lb tongue weight towing makes it fairly useless for any type of trailer.

I wouldn't calling it drooling, but compared to the $50k Buick it was definitely nicer. I have no complaints about the 2 gauge pods combined with a center screen. I'll completely agree on the second screen (the one for the stereo/camera) being far too small.