I have 2 boys ... 3yo and almost 6yo (probably will be 6yo when I pull the trigger on a new car). I moved my 3yo to a FFing True Fit for the Christmas lights, but his usual seat is a Diono that he was RFing in before that. My 6yo will be in a Frontier 85 in my car.
I currently drive a Suzuki SX4, a compact 4-door and I'm sooo, sooo done with struggling to fit a full load of groceries, + stroller, + car seats. Not to mention there are no more Suzuki dealerships in the U.S. for recall work, etc.
My conundrum is I can't decide between classes of vehicles. I'm drawn to smaller cars like compact SUVs/CUVs (Mazda CX-5, Honda CR-V, Ford Escape) for the driving experience and fuel economy. But looking for a vehicle I will be driving through the kids' elementary and middle school years, should I realistically be looking at a larger vehicle? Maybe a Mazda 5 or a full mini-van?
This would be a commuter car as well as kid transporter. My husband and I are separated and I effectively have sole custody, so I don't have access to a second vehicle to switch out with.
ETA: We're in northern VA so we usually get snow in the winters .... everything from a slushy inch or two to 2ft+. I've driven a couple 2FWD cars in the snow and am fine but would prefer an AWD all else being equal.
I currently drive a Suzuki SX4, a compact 4-door and I'm sooo, sooo done with struggling to fit a full load of groceries, + stroller, + car seats. Not to mention there are no more Suzuki dealerships in the U.S. for recall work, etc.
My conundrum is I can't decide between classes of vehicles. I'm drawn to smaller cars like compact SUVs/CUVs (Mazda CX-5, Honda CR-V, Ford Escape) for the driving experience and fuel economy. But looking for a vehicle I will be driving through the kids' elementary and middle school years, should I realistically be looking at a larger vehicle? Maybe a Mazda 5 or a full mini-van?
This would be a commuter car as well as kid transporter. My husband and I are separated and I effectively have sole custody, so I don't have access to a second vehicle to switch out with.
ETA: We're in northern VA so we usually get snow in the winters .... everything from a slushy inch or two to 2ft+. I've driven a couple 2FWD cars in the snow and am fine but would prefer an AWD all else being equal.
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