I know i am late to this party (been away on vacation
) but i wanted to pop in a give a HUGE thumbs up for the MDX. I'm not sure if it's in your budget but my inlaws have a 2007 or 2008 4WD, and i drive it occasionally when they need transport to/from the airport.
Keep in mind that I absolutely, 100% LOVE my Sienna and will buy another when my current one bites the dust - BUT if all of the Sienna's in the world suddenly blew up and i HAD to drive a SUV - i would choose the MDX. My other set of inlaws (i have two thanks to divorce/remarriage!) drive Fords and GMC's and so i have toted children around and driven Expeditions, Explorers, Escapes, Suburbans and Tahoe's and hands down i prefer the MDX.
Not just for the way it drives but b/c of how seats install..... I got a RF TF, FF TF, and Turbo 3 across in the 2nd row of that thing
And it really wasn't THAT hard. The third row i got a RF TF back there with front/back room to spare. Now granted - as with any smaller SUV if you have that third row up your cargo is going to suck - but they make lovely roof top carriers for road trips
Would a Toyota Sequoia work? I don't know about top tethers in that third row though.....
And just a piece of advice from a resistant DH to buy a minivan situation..... have him drive the Oddy.... the newer the better. That thing is pretty sporty and has very responsive handling. It drives a lot like an SUV/Truck in terms of handling (which is why i disliked it conversely lol!) and he may just not HATE it if he drove one. My DH preferred the handling of the Oddy but disliked everything else so we went Sienna, but the Oddy just might sway him!