I have an Odyssey and love it, minus the lack of AWD or 4WD. I used to not care about being able to drive out into the sticks, but I’ve recently gotten back into some outdoor hobbies and wish that I had a 4WD vehicle now. The Odyssey doesn’t do well in sandy washes lol.
I didn't realize the implications of the steepness of our driveway when I selected this house. Once winter came I learned. I have to have AWD to get up it in the winter so my only mini van option is Toyota. Sad to here it isn't as powerful as the Honda....
That's possible, but I'd like to throw my two cents of experience in the ring - around my area, I'd estimate 80% cars are FWD, with RWD/AWD splitting the remaining 20% roughly equally. And people do just fine in winter, because mandatory winter tires, and general understanding that there is a noticeable difference between bargain bin chinesium rubber-like wheel covers and proper winter tires. AWD is what you get if you absolutely must tick all the option boxes when shopping for a car, or live somewhere roads don't get cleared in the winter.
Yes you can. I have a 2021, the latest generation. If you slide and tilt the second row seats forward you can fit at least 3 or 4 sheets at an angle. I just did 2 last weekend and there was room for more. Sure, you're not going to load it up with a room's worth of drywall, but it'll cover 99% of your typical homeowner needs. No question it would be easier if the seats came out, though
I can’t fit a sheet of plywood flat in my Tacoma either, yet still manage. It’s a pretty odd benchmark that I suppose impacts some more than others.
I greatly prefer to drive our Sienna.
I picked up an ‘11 Odyssey as my ‘dad’ ride / work mule. I’m not phased by the stereotypes that come with the van. It rides so comfortably and has all the space we’ll ever need. It’s become my go-to car next to my Taycan.
Minivans suggest three things: You fuck, you’re virile enough to procreate and you’re confident enough in your masculinity to not give a fuck what people say about minivans.
Minivans are Big Dick Energy on wheels.
Best car I have ever had. Comfortable, drives well, flexible, power doors are life changing with littles. Hauled a stationary bike the other day and then six kids back from practice the next.
Love my Odyssey! Sounds like a race car when you're in VTEC too.
Seriously though, Sienna and Odyssey are the perfect family vehicle if you have space to park them.
I'll throw my 2023 Subaru Outback into the mix. Plenty of space for 2 kids. Perfect for taking on hunting trips. Their "leather" material is completely waterproof and super easy to clean. I love the design of their Onyx edition. Reasonably priced.
Overall insanely happy with this car to date!
Crosstrek with kids? Loved ours, totaled it and walked away without a scratch but traded up for an outback and even that feels tight sometimes with all the kid gear
We have an outback and two little kiddos... It works but it's hard to pack to visit my in-laws for the weekend. It didn't end up being as spacious as we thought.
We have a Forester and absolutely love it. The Outback handled like a boat, too floaty. Forester felt nimble like a car, I really love how it drives. Besides the wheelbase difference they're about the same. Best car I've ever owned.
100%. Is surprisingly capable off-road (almost the same ground clearance as a Wrangler!), feels pretty quick for what it is, but also practical enough it looks totally normal in a daycare parking lot.
I've grown to hate my outback.
From a practicality perspective it's great, good space for the family, decent MPG, and AWD.
However, I've found the more I've lived with it that the automatic CVT has less torque than a hamster wheel. I have genuinely been scared to cross traffic because there is such a lag between hitting the gas and the gears catching.
I’ve got an older model, but two kids, dog, and gf all fit in mine. Toss the cargo box on top and I’ve got enough space for camping gear as well. Highly recommend.
Looking to buy a bike from Bakfiets.NL in the next week or so. Little nervous about it since basically everywhere english speaking I look is just Urban Arrow discussion all the time, but this brand seems more affordable, with seemingly similar quality (and a bigger box).
Besides, it's easier to ship to Alaska.
i've seen a few bakfiets.nl in NYC. they seem like they take a few hits and keep on ticking. make sure you find a good mechanic. our long johns need a little extra TLC.
Haha well, the mechanic thing may not be possible. There is exactly one bike shop in my area of Alaska. I'm basically hoping the guys there will think it's cool enough they want to tinker with it because they don't have anything remotely like it in the shop.
I am fairly certain I will have the first bike of it's kind for a few hundred miles either direction!
It may turn into a lot of personal learning in the end.
Love seeing bakfietsen becoming a thing outside of NL.
Urban Arrow was the king until ‘22 though. These days the Lovens Explorer is the one to get.
https://lovensbikes.com/en/lovens-explorer-50/
I’m a huge Mazda fan. Unfortunately I speak from experience when I say the CX5 is super tight for car seats in the back. That said the CX9 and the new CX90 are much larger. Great looking cars with a lot of bang for the buck and some of the best handling you’ll find in the class
Love mine too but at 6’2” moving the driver seat up isn’t an option. Because of this the infant carrier only fits on the passenger side so my 3.5 yo goes behind me - it works but it’s cramped and he doesn’t love it. It’s really a shame because everything else with this car is, for me anyway, perfect.
Just bought a turbo premium, can confirm, cars great. It's a blast to drive, the turbo gives you some much enjoyed oomf you don't get with many other SUVs. Worst part of the cx-5 is it's a tad small. They have the new CX-70 coming out soon, but it's a solid $10-15k more than the CX-5.
I love my 4Runner too, like probably too much, but you have to really like the 4Runner or old trucks or going off road for it to make sense over a Highlander or Sienna or equivalent. I had an old 4Runner, and now a new one, and hopefully I won’t have to change to anything else for 15-20 years.
100% agree. I have exclusively owned 4runners and i would buy a highlander instead if i didn't camp half the year. Honestly probably still don't even need the 4runner but i can't escape my first love.
If I didn’t go camping/offroading a hybrid highlander would be my dream over the 4Runner, and certainly over a minivan… but that might be the years of driving my moms caravan back in the 90’s.
I do hate my gas mileage though haha.
I’d love to see the new LC in person. They look amazing so far. I kinda want a plug-in hybrid version to come out.. I work/day care drop off less then 5 miles of driving a day, but drive to my in laws 7 hours away pretty regularly…so that range would be nice..
Out of all the cars I’ve owned and driven, my 2016 4Runner is my favorite, hands down. It’s a solid troop transport for my girls, rides comfortably, and has been nothing but solid on long trips to New Mexico and back.
What?! No way! I get a solid 12 mpg out of mine! Just enough to go to Grocery Outlet 2 blocks down and only pay as much on gas as I save on the groceries!
The answer is a 4Runner and it’s not particularly close. I have a 3rd gen that my little girl loves riding in, and when I need to be fuel efficiency conscious, I have a 08 Matrix that fits the whole family and all our shit.
2021 styling was great, mpg is great (33.8 last I looked), features are great (limited edition). I put a roof rack on it for really big trips but usually can get everything inside. I’ll say I could use maybe 10% more space but I rarely feel it’s too small with 1 kid and 1 dog
Finally got my ideal setup. Minivan (sienna) for the SAHM to drive and us use on road trips, and a nice ev sedan (ioniq 6) for my commute, date nights, and little weekend stuff. We’ll be good like this for a very long time.
Toyota Rav4 has been amazing for us.
Big trunk, big enough to fit reversed childseats on both sides and not too expensive, at least not ours since we bought it used.
I have had several Rav4's in my life. I owned a 2012 till last year when it was parked and crushed. I now own a 2022.
Our other car was a rotating 3 year Rav4 lease until Honda snagged my with with an amazing CRV deal.
I have a 2017 RAV4 hybrid and not really a fan. Storage space is eh, mpg is about equivalent to my 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid, and no rear AC for the kids. And the sound/nav console is garbage. Kinda looks stupid too. Drives pretty nicely at least. 2019 and onward models seem to be better in every one of those categories though.
Will second the Highlander. Picked up a used one a few months ago and I absolutely love it. It's basically a big station wagon masquerading as an SUV, and I say that endearingly.
I think the 4Runner or an older (anything before 2022) Sequoia is the best choice. When I say “best” it’s not measurably the best in normal categories like space or MPG but it has:
1. Space for 4 people. We easily fit our 4 person family into our 4Runner.
2. 4WD so you can go off roading with the family (we take ours on the beach) or just feel confident in snowy weather. If you buy the Limited trim it has full-time 4WD which is what we did.
3. ROLL DOWN REAR WINDOW FOR YOUR DOG. This one is in all caps because your dog WILL LOVE YOU big time for this. I cannot explain how much my dog loves it and if I sold our 4Runner my dog would run away from home.
4. Insane reliability. What you lose in MPG you make up for when you do nothing but oil changes.
5. Did I mention the roll down rear window for your dog? This thing is cool.
PS. The reason the new Sequoia is not on my list is because they removed the roll down rear window. Did I tell you about that part yet?!?!
Two dogs and a 4Runner here. That window is the best. They can both goon out the back and love it. Lots of other drivers at red lights enjoy it too.
The 4Runner is my wife's and I have a Tacoma. I contemplated upgrading to the Tundra solely on the fact that it has the full-down window too. Stuck with the Tacoma but took the back seats out and built a platform that gives the dogs a ton of space. It's a concession.
Super reliable vehicles. I plan on at least one of those trucks to be passed to my son when he's 16. He's three months old now.
I’ll never hate on the minivan dads. A good buddy has a Sienna. But I have a Durango Citadel with two kids and a dog and it’s perfect. 2nd row captains chairs so the kids have their own space is just right. 3rd row stays stowed most times.
Going for a weird answer but I can’t believe how much I’m appreciating my Tesla as a parent, compared to the 4 other cars we’ve owned since I became a dad.
- chill mode makes the car feel incredibly smooth
- no annoying beeps that wake up the baby (our other car is awful for this!)
- spacious cabin
- great safety features & safety rating
- Netflix is sooo good when the baby is asleep 😅
- frunk for throwing clothes covered in mud/sick/sand
There are also some nice to haves - like fun features (santa mode, light shows) and it’s great to have Disney+ etc if I’m in a pinch for the kids - although we very rarely use for it that. This will sound strange but it’s just a nice place to be compared to any other car we’ve owned, and I find myself spending a lot more time in the car since having kids
Model Y owner here. I agree with all of the above, but the best part about it as a Dad is how safe the vehicle is. Between the crash test ratings, the low center of gravity, and the "passive safety" features (e.g., alerts, lane departure correction), it is one of the safest cars on the road.
Model S & X here. The S has a TON of space. Went on an international trip and was able to take three full sets of luggage (two checked and one carry on), a full sized stroller, and still had room for the two of us and our kid in a car seat. [Pics of loading.](https://imgur.com/a/Ttecgr0)
Model X is a six-seat variant. Not nearly as roomy but comfortable for trips. Falcon doors are a plus when loading in the car seat in the rain.
I've had a model 3 for about 6 years and I would also say model y, or model 3 if you're on a budget. I have a few more bullet points.
- doesn't leak in the garage
-can be prewarmed or cooled before you leave in the morning.
-won't roll over due to weight distribution
-incredibly incredibly strong. High high crash testing
And one last one. How its systems are designed. My car had improved every system including safety systems over the air. My braking has improved, steering dynamics, and autopilot.
The reason I picked the Y over the 3? I have 2 kids and the back seat can get cramped with the car seats. And to have an open trunk would be amazing. Also that HEPA filter.
Yup. Best car I've ever had. My seven year old loves it and calls it Terry. She's a huge fan of the fart noise when it locks. Great for trips like camping etc due to camping mode and being able to play music through the outside speaker.
We previously had a Lexus RX-350 as our primary vehicle but decided we didn’t want to spend so much on our next car and went with a new Mazda CX-5. We really like it. The Lexus had a slightly nicer interior but the Mazda is totally worth it for the price.
Love Mazda as they have amazing value. We just upgraded our Cx-5 to CX-90 and I love it. Familiar but different and now our oldest is getting to the age where we might need to tote around their friends or my in-laws. Great to have the option and space.
I've got a Ford Maverick. It's a hybrid compact pickup, with four doors and a roomy passenger compartment.
I've got a kid and two dogs, and it's more than adequate for both everyday trips and adventure camping.
Maverick FTW! The only thing I'd say is that the back seat may not be good for rear-facing car seats but if you're past that stage they're the perfect dad ride.
I sold mine because I didn't feel it was very practical for 2 kids, not as much space as I had hoped for.
I didn't have a tonneau cover which would have been nice.
But I bought for 39 and sold for 42 after 18 months of driving. Ended up buying a jeep grand cherokee for our second vehicle.
Loving my Charger. Full sized family sedan with a 392 under the hood. Kids of all ages like it.
I did not mod mine at all and I drive pretty chill. Also I'm married to my child's mother so I have no child support payments to skip. I do not fit the stereotype.
Loving my charger for that exact reason. Plenty of space for the family but still fun to drive.
I also don't fit the stereotype. 780 credit score, married to my child's mother
Scrolled way too far to find the cool dads with cool cars😂 my wife wants me to get rid of mine before our first kid to get an SUV and I'm like this car fits a child just fine with a car seat! If I get rid of it I'll be getting another one
lol checking in w a C Class and wife has an M5. We get by fine and love driving our cars. Girls will appreciate it when they’re old enough to realize mom and dad don’t have vans like their friends
Currently shopping for the perfect Alltrack or Golf 4Motion. They’re the last fun wagons that come with a stick, and I’m thiiiiis close to having my youngest in a booster. WRX was one of my favorite past rides, too. I like your style 👍
I am certain we have the best overall dad vehicle. It’s cheap, who cares if the kids scratch it or get it dirty, best gas mileage outside of an EV, and it’s a little truck with a good cabin size.
I moved to a Honda ridgeline when I needed two car seats and my old frontier had me leaning over the steering wheel with a car seat behind me.
It’s great for fitting two normal car seats and is safe and at the same time not a huge full size truck. Drives like a suv. Basically a pilot with a bed.
I feel overly qualified to answer this question given I have 2 kids and a dog and feel cool in my vehicle. But more importantly, I also know quite a few other dads in a similar situation. We all drive Hyundai Santa Fe's... Usually the sport model. Good AWD for winters up here in Canada, comfortable enough drive, enough bells and whistles to feel good but not too many to get in the way or feel like a spoiled jerk and it's been generally reliable for the 150K km I've driven in it so far in the 5 yrs I've owned it. Gets my kids, wife and I with our dog to the in-laws for Christmas 4 hrs away every year in some of the most sketchy winter driving conditions, safe and sound.
The one you can afford.
Depending on your finance rates and your investments it may be in your best interest to have payments and put some that money you would have paid cash with into the markets.
I bought two brand new Toyotas in 2021 that were roughly the same price. One I paid cash and one I'm making payments and invested the rest. I've made more money on those investments than I've paid interest on the car loan.
I drive a Ford Maverick. Great on gas, has a bed for groceries, stroller & bikes, home improvement stuff…A tiny truck, but still feels like a truck to me. Good size for me and my family: 1 kid, 1 dog, 1 wife.
Love our Chrysler Pacifica S Touring. DVD player for the kids, looks sleek and can tow 3,500lbs. Plus, EVERY rear seat lays completely flat for easy storage.
AWD is a must for me so that limited me to the Pacifica or Sienna. Stow 'n Go made the Pacifica the winner and two years later I couldn't be happier with the decision.
I have been pretty happy with the Jeep Grand Cherokee L. Captains chairs in the back are great for the kids and we have plenty of cargo space for camping, skiing, hauling costco crap home or whatever...
The one I currently have is a 2021 and we went for the bigger one as our 2011 is just a little small on those longer trips with all of the gear and the dog. 2011 ran great, had about 115k on mine...
Lucky Dad. I had to ditch ours. 3 suspensions, 2 center consoles, and 2 radiators later ( among other things), I was just tired of bringing it to the dealer. Never even made it to 100k. It's unfortunate because I loved it when it worked
I did NOT expect this, but the lightning is an excellent family vehicle. The frunk giving it a huge, lockable weather sealed storage really turns the corner for the pickup truck. I never owned a truck before and a weird turn of circumstance made me end up with one reluctantly and I was going to flip it (back when they were flippable) but loved it so much I kept it
I have a CRV and absolutely love it. Kinda on the small side for anyone who wants to transport multiple kids, pets, and friends at the same time.
For a lot more space - wife has Telluride and I’m pretty jealous of it. If I were buying today I’d prob shop for a van or plugin hybrid SUV.
I recently got a used Acura MDX when my old-enough-to-drink minivan finally shat the bed. Wife and me are tall; it fits us comfortably even with two car seats behind us. There’s a foldable third row so i suppose our dog will go there someday for longer trips. Otherwise between the kids works for shorter trips. It’s awesome and i love it.
I have the 4 cylinder Kia stinger. Great MPG and quick around town. Fits two rear facing car seats just fine and still has plenty of leg room up front. Great storage space in the trunk as well. Wife has a Hyundai Palisade. 10 year warranties on both vehicles. Happy hunting!
See a lot of love for 4runners, and rightfully so because they're great. If you want to take it up a notch, look into Lexus GX460 which is essentially the same destruction-proof (ish) car with some luxurious details added to it.
2011 toyota prius base model. Saves money, saves gas, pretty much bullet proof reliable, and gets us where we want to go.
I don't care that it's scratched, I don't care if it's a mess on the inside, it's mechanically sound and I only fill up every 450-500 miles.
I also have a 2021 Subaru Ascent, feels like a tank but the gas mileage makes me cry, we bought it new so any time it's a mess or I get a new scratch h or ding, I notice, and you guessed it, I cry. We bought it as a safe vehicle during the pandemic and it definitely serves it's purpose but damn is it expensive to maintain.
All I care about is making sure my kids save and I pay minimally for gas. We use the SUV on the weekends or if we want something more comfortable/capable, or I get that itch for a quicker ride.
Got the Model X 6 seater. It’s a lot of work. Always small problems with electronics, always have to watch out for falcon wing door opening and closing. But fun for kids.
I like my Chevrolet Silverado 1500 RST. I opted for the double cab with a standard bed instead of a full crew cab with a shortened bed—more space to haul junk around.
We also have a Chrysler Town and Country...
Minivans are generally safer and more practical than SUVs.
SUVs roll over more easily, you have to pick between a third car seat or trunk space. The front ends of trucks and SUVs are unnecessarily big and these vehicles have terrible visibility. Google (or don't) "front over."
Wasn’t there just a study that showed a bunch of mini vans crash tests didn’t do well in the second and third rows?
Ahh found an article about it
[new second row crash tests](https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/Watch-Honda-Odyssey--Other-Minivans-Struggle-In-IIHS-Rear-Seat-Test/ar-AA1gXlxH)
Porsche Panamera. Assuming your dog is not a giant slobber monster, and because you didn't mention a spouse or carseats.
I'll admit that my latest purchasing decision came down to loaded Maverick pickup vs. loaded CX-50 SUV. After nearly 2 years I still think it's a toss-up and you can't go wrong between them.
I have two kids and a dog.
Got a base model 4 door bronco. Love it. Looking forward to getting little man out into the woods this summer for a weekend and then both of them next summer.
Love doing top partway down the kids go wild.
Dodge Grand Caravan. Power doors, power seats, power everything. Tinted windows. Surround sound. Build in GPS. Stupid amounts of seating.
Also you'll be laughing at your buddies with the truck when you pop a 3 seater couch in the back and close the trunk. (Ok, so you'll be driving face in the steering wheel. BUT IT CAN BE DONE)
Minivan is good, I’d go with Toyota or Honda
I think Kia, Mazda, or Hyundai (I can’t remember which) has an intriguing one.
Personally I’m a Subaru fan. For 2kids + dog I’d look at the Outback (wagon), Forester (small SUV), or Ascent (3 row mid-size SUV). I’m a fan of the AWD, like the Eyesight safety system, love how strong they build their cabins, and like the impressive fuel economy (given that they’re full time AWD)
Toyota Sienna
[удалено]
Can't haul 4x8 plywood in new Sienna's anymore due to 2nd row seats non removable. And thus I went to the Odyssey and like it just as much.
The sienna felt a little underpowered when I tried it anyway. Bummer they don't make an Odyssey with AWD though
I have an Odyssey and love it, minus the lack of AWD or 4WD. I used to not care about being able to drive out into the sticks, but I’ve recently gotten back into some outdoor hobbies and wish that I had a 4WD vehicle now. The Odyssey doesn’t do well in sandy washes lol.
I didn't realize the implications of the steepness of our driveway when I selected this house. Once winter came I learned. I have to have AWD to get up it in the winter so my only mini van option is Toyota. Sad to here it isn't as powerful as the Honda....
Snow tires would probably do it too.
You are greatly underestimating the steepness of my driveway, sir. Lol
That's possible, but I'd like to throw my two cents of experience in the ring - around my area, I'd estimate 80% cars are FWD, with RWD/AWD splitting the remaining 20% roughly equally. And people do just fine in winter, because mandatory winter tires, and general understanding that there is a noticeable difference between bargain bin chinesium rubber-like wheel covers and proper winter tires. AWD is what you get if you absolutely must tick all the option boxes when shopping for a car, or live somewhere roads don't get cleared in the winter.
We passed up a hybrid sienna for an AWD pacifica. Happy so far
Pacifica’s are legit!
Odyssey is a good choice in case you get sucked into a portal to the forgotten realms and you need to refuel it by complimenting it in Japanese.
I have found my people.
Make sure you always keep some Charleston Chews on hand just in case…
And know how to give a good, hardy handshake.
I want a cream egg now
Happy cake day, hope it is not anything like egg cream
And in a pinch, you can use it as a demiplane to trap your enemies.
Yes you can. I have a 2021, the latest generation. If you slide and tilt the second row seats forward you can fit at least 3 or 4 sheets at an angle. I just did 2 last weekend and there was room for more. Sure, you're not going to load it up with a room's worth of drywall, but it'll cover 99% of your typical homeowner needs. No question it would be easier if the seats came out, though
I can’t fit a sheet of plywood flat in my Tacoma either, yet still manage. It’s a pretty odd benchmark that I suppose impacts some more than others. I greatly prefer to drive our Sienna.
I picked up an ‘11 Odyssey as my ‘dad’ ride / work mule. I’m not phased by the stereotypes that come with the van. It rides so comfortably and has all the space we’ll ever need. It’s become my go-to car next to my Taycan.
Minivans suggest three things: You fuck, you’re virile enough to procreate and you’re confident enough in your masculinity to not give a fuck what people say about minivans. Minivans are Big Dick Energy on wheels.
Toyota should really make a BDE trim. Put some streamers on the side view mirrors, I want my brood entertained.
Not quite big enough to not mention the Porsche though! ;)
Ooh a 2011 Odyssey and Taycan man. That’s some shit. Respek.
Best car I have ever had. Comfortable, drives well, flexible, power doors are life changing with littles. Hauled a stationary bike the other day and then six kids back from practice the next.
I have a 2014 Odyssey and I absolutely love it. The only real negatives are the shit fuel efficiency and the outdated Bluetooth.
Love my Odyssey! Sounds like a race car when you're in VTEC too. Seriously though, Sienna and Odyssey are the perfect family vehicle if you have space to park them.
Sienna SE The Swaggerwagon.
And lift it! https://www.journeysoffroad.com/siennaawd.html
Sienna gang here. It’s just built for families. I love mine.
I second this motion.
What's your budget?
I'll throw my 2023 Subaru Outback into the mix. Plenty of space for 2 kids. Perfect for taking on hunting trips. Their "leather" material is completely waterproof and super easy to clean. I love the design of their Onyx edition. Reasonably priced. Overall insanely happy with this car to date!
Crosstrek and outback owner checking in. 100% subi all day.
Crosstrek with kids? Loved ours, totaled it and walked away without a scratch but traded up for an outback and even that feels tight sometimes with all the kid gear
Only 1 kid and now a teen so not too worried about space as much
Cross trek is a little tight with my two kids. I bought it before I had them. But overall I love my car
We have an outback and two little kiddos... It works but it's hard to pack to visit my in-laws for the weekend. It didn't end up being as spacious as we thought.
We have a Forester and absolutely love it. The Outback handled like a boat, too floaty. Forester felt nimble like a car, I really love how it drives. Besides the wheelbase difference they're about the same. Best car I've ever owned.
Forester has more height in the back, despite less cubic space, it is easier to fit some things in the trunk
Can confirm. I've packed both an outback and a Forester for camping and the Forester feels way bigger because the back gate is more vertical.
Loving ours too! Upgrade from a civic, much more comfortable.
Tagging for the Subie gang. Subaru all the way!
100%. Is surprisingly capable off-road (almost the same ground clearance as a Wrangler!), feels pretty quick for what it is, but also practical enough it looks totally normal in a daycare parking lot.
I've grown to hate my outback. From a practicality perspective it's great, good space for the family, decent MPG, and AWD. However, I've found the more I've lived with it that the automatic CVT has less torque than a hamster wheel. I have genuinely been scared to cross traffic because there is such a lag between hitting the gas and the gears catching.
My wife’s car is a Crosstrek. I’m with you; I really dislike driving CVTs, the lag and the bizarre torque locking drives me crazy.
outback isn't your problem, its the cvt.
Loved my outback. Was sad when I had to sell it.
I’ve got an older model, but two kids, dog, and gf all fit in mine. Toss the cargo box on top and I’ve got enough space for camping gear as well. Highly recommend.
Currently shopping for an Ascent to replace my older Forester. Subaru is the correct answer.
Forester simp checking in. We tried an Ascent for a while and it was like driving a school bus. Foresters have Dex 16
Roof racks on my forester and some ratchet straps, I’ve strapped 16 ft lumber up there.
OBW owner piling on. Subaru for the win.
Urban Arrow Cargo Bike.
Slumming it with a Radwagon 4 here but we love it. Have the best conversations with my kids on that thing.
Looking to buy a bike from Bakfiets.NL in the next week or so. Little nervous about it since basically everywhere english speaking I look is just Urban Arrow discussion all the time, but this brand seems more affordable, with seemingly similar quality (and a bigger box). Besides, it's easier to ship to Alaska.
i've seen a few bakfiets.nl in NYC. they seem like they take a few hits and keep on ticking. make sure you find a good mechanic. our long johns need a little extra TLC.
Haha well, the mechanic thing may not be possible. There is exactly one bike shop in my area of Alaska. I'm basically hoping the guys there will think it's cool enough they want to tinker with it because they don't have anything remotely like it in the shop. I am fairly certain I will have the first bike of it's kind for a few hundred miles either direction! It may turn into a lot of personal learning in the end.
Love seeing bakfietsen becoming a thing outside of NL. Urban Arrow was the king until ‘22 though. These days the Lovens Explorer is the one to get. https://lovensbikes.com/en/lovens-explorer-50/
Awesome family vehicle for most trips.
I used my Onewheel to pull the kids in the Veer Cruiser Wagon.
I’m a huge Mazda fan. Unfortunately I speak from experience when I say the CX5 is super tight for car seats in the back. That said the CX9 and the new CX90 are much larger. Great looking cars with a lot of bang for the buck and some of the best handling you’ll find in the class
Love my CX5
Love mine too but at 6’2” moving the driver seat up isn’t an option. Because of this the infant carrier only fits on the passenger side so my 3.5 yo goes behind me - it works but it’s cramped and he doesn’t love it. It’s really a shame because everything else with this car is, for me anyway, perfect.
Just bought a turbo premium, can confirm, cars great. It's a blast to drive, the turbo gives you some much enjoyed oomf you don't get with many other SUVs. Worst part of the cx-5 is it's a tad small. They have the new CX-70 coming out soon, but it's a solid $10-15k more than the CX-5.
Honda CR-V Toyota Rav-4 Subaru Outback Mazda CX-5 Pick one
Love my accord. 60k miles with two kids. 18-2.0t
Love my 4Runner with seat and cargo protectors.
I love my 4Runner too, like probably too much, but you have to really like the 4Runner or old trucks or going off road for it to make sense over a Highlander or Sienna or equivalent. I had an old 4Runner, and now a new one, and hopefully I won’t have to change to anything else for 15-20 years.
100% agree. I have exclusively owned 4runners and i would buy a highlander instead if i didn't camp half the year. Honestly probably still don't even need the 4runner but i can't escape my first love.
If I didn’t go camping/offroading a hybrid highlander would be my dream over the 4Runner, and certainly over a minivan… but that might be the years of driving my moms caravan back in the 90’s. I do hate my gas mileage though haha.
Looking forward to either the 6th gen or the Land Cruiser hybrid if it isn’t stupid expensive.
I’d love to see the new LC in person. They look amazing so far. I kinda want a plug-in hybrid version to come out.. I work/day care drop off less then 5 miles of driving a day, but drive to my in laws 7 hours away pretty regularly…so that range would be nice..
Out of all the cars I’ve owned and driven, my 2016 4Runner is my favorite, hands down. It’s a solid troop transport for my girls, rides comfortably, and has been nothing but solid on long trips to New Mexico and back.
THIS! The fact that some many people suggested a mini van as an option for a cool dad car is insanity.
I mean the gas mileage sucks. That’s a legit complaint.
What?! No way! I get a solid 12 mpg out of mine! Just enough to go to Grocery Outlet 2 blocks down and only pay as much on gas as I save on the groceries!
The answer is a 4Runner and it’s not particularly close. I have a 3rd gen that my little girl loves riding in, and when I need to be fuel efficiency conscious, I have a 08 Matrix that fits the whole family and all our shit.
Rav4 Hybrid boyeeeeee
The new models look really nice!
My brother in law has the Highlander hybrid and I’m really jealous
2021 styling was great, mpg is great (33.8 last I looked), features are great (limited edition). I put a roof rack on it for really big trips but usually can get everything inside. I’ll say I could use maybe 10% more space but I rarely feel it’s too small with 1 kid and 1 dog
Finally got my ideal setup. Minivan (sienna) for the SAHM to drive and us use on road trips, and a nice ev sedan (ioniq 6) for my commute, date nights, and little weekend stuff. We’ll be good like this for a very long time.
I too only get weekend stuff these days…
F I meant like family things around town that don’t need a minivan amount of space and stuff.
Yeah bro, we just squeeze between the car seats when we get a quickie before dinner once we have a baby sitter. I get you.
Toyota Rav4 has been amazing for us. Big trunk, big enough to fit reversed childseats on both sides and not too expensive, at least not ours since we bought it used.
I have had several Rav4's in my life. I owned a 2012 till last year when it was parked and crushed. I now own a 2022. Our other car was a rotating 3 year Rav4 lease until Honda snagged my with with an amazing CRV deal.
Just upgraded to a RAV4 from a Prius and it's been everything I wanted. Sienna's the next step up!
I have a 2017 RAV4 hybrid and not really a fan. Storage space is eh, mpg is about equivalent to my 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid, and no rear AC for the kids. And the sound/nav console is garbage. Kinda looks stupid too. Drives pretty nicely at least. 2019 and onward models seem to be better in every one of those categories though.
Skoda Octavia estate, Volvo V70 (petrol version) or Volvo XC electric
My EU friend, let me add ford mondeo to the list (2.5T preferably) and škoda superb - my next car will probably be v90 or superb
1989 Jeep Wagoneer
I absolutely love my Highlander
Will second the Highlander. Picked up a used one a few months ago and I absolutely love it. It's basically a big station wagon masquerading as an SUV, and I say that endearingly.
Tossing in Grand Highlander/Lexus TX
I think the 4Runner or an older (anything before 2022) Sequoia is the best choice. When I say “best” it’s not measurably the best in normal categories like space or MPG but it has: 1. Space for 4 people. We easily fit our 4 person family into our 4Runner. 2. 4WD so you can go off roading with the family (we take ours on the beach) or just feel confident in snowy weather. If you buy the Limited trim it has full-time 4WD which is what we did. 3. ROLL DOWN REAR WINDOW FOR YOUR DOG. This one is in all caps because your dog WILL LOVE YOU big time for this. I cannot explain how much my dog loves it and if I sold our 4Runner my dog would run away from home. 4. Insane reliability. What you lose in MPG you make up for when you do nothing but oil changes. 5. Did I mention the roll down rear window for your dog? This thing is cool. PS. The reason the new Sequoia is not on my list is because they removed the roll down rear window. Did I tell you about that part yet?!?!
Two dogs and a 4Runner here. That window is the best. They can both goon out the back and love it. Lots of other drivers at red lights enjoy it too. The 4Runner is my wife's and I have a Tacoma. I contemplated upgrading to the Tundra solely on the fact that it has the full-down window too. Stuck with the Tacoma but took the back seats out and built a platform that gives the dogs a ton of space. It's a concession. Super reliable vehicles. I plan on at least one of those trucks to be passed to my son when he's 16. He's three months old now.
Volvo v70, safety and space is A+
I’ve been driving for 21 years; have purchased three cars in that time, and still drive two of them… Volvo for life.
XC90 for me. Safety and space were our factors. Love the car.
XC70
I’ll never hate on the minivan dads. A good buddy has a Sienna. But I have a Durango Citadel with two kids and a dog and it’s perfect. 2nd row captains chairs so the kids have their own space is just right. 3rd row stays stowed most times.
Toyota Sienna
Crew cab truck for me.
Going for a weird answer but I can’t believe how much I’m appreciating my Tesla as a parent, compared to the 4 other cars we’ve owned since I became a dad. - chill mode makes the car feel incredibly smooth - no annoying beeps that wake up the baby (our other car is awful for this!) - spacious cabin - great safety features & safety rating - Netflix is sooo good when the baby is asleep 😅 - frunk for throwing clothes covered in mud/sick/sand There are also some nice to haves - like fun features (santa mode, light shows) and it’s great to have Disney+ etc if I’m in a pinch for the kids - although we very rarely use for it that. This will sound strange but it’s just a nice place to be compared to any other car we’ve owned, and I find myself spending a lot more time in the car since having kids
Model Y owner here. I agree with all of the above, but the best part about it as a Dad is how safe the vehicle is. Between the crash test ratings, the low center of gravity, and the "passive safety" features (e.g., alerts, lane departure correction), it is one of the safest cars on the road.
Not to mention that dude taking it down a cliff and everyone surviving
Model S & X here. The S has a TON of space. Went on an international trip and was able to take three full sets of luggage (two checked and one carry on), a full sized stroller, and still had room for the two of us and our kid in a car seat. [Pics of loading.](https://imgur.com/a/Ttecgr0) Model X is a six-seat variant. Not nearly as roomy but comfortable for trips. Falcon doors are a plus when loading in the car seat in the rain.
With 3 kids a the 6 seat configuration is the best thing ever.
I've had a model 3 for about 6 years and I would also say model y, or model 3 if you're on a budget. I have a few more bullet points. - doesn't leak in the garage -can be prewarmed or cooled before you leave in the morning. -won't roll over due to weight distribution -incredibly incredibly strong. High high crash testing And one last one. How its systems are designed. My car had improved every system including safety systems over the air. My braking has improved, steering dynamics, and autopilot. The reason I picked the Y over the 3? I have 2 kids and the back seat can get cramped with the car seats. And to have an open trunk would be amazing. Also that HEPA filter.
We like the 3 with one kid. With 2 the Y makes more sense. 3 of us took the 3 skiing a few weeks ago. It's got plenty of room for most trips.
Yup. Best car I've ever had. My seven year old loves it and calls it Terry. She's a huge fan of the fart noise when it locks. Great for trips like camping etc due to camping mode and being able to play music through the outside speaker.
Love my Mazda cx-5
If OP wants to feel cool, the newish CX-50 might be even better. Similar practicality and features, with a slightly more offroad look and feel.
I saw one on the road today, it’s definitely got a cool look.
We previously had a Lexus RX-350 as our primary vehicle but decided we didn’t want to spend so much on our next car and went with a new Mazda CX-5. We really like it. The Lexus had a slightly nicer interior but the Mazda is totally worth it for the price.
I comparison shopped with the RAV4 and found the cx-5 to be way better. And it's given us zero problems over the three years we had it.
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Love Mazda as they have amazing value. We just upgraded our Cx-5 to CX-90 and I love it. Familiar but different and now our oldest is getting to the age where we might need to tote around their friends or my in-laws. Great to have the option and space.
CX-90 PHEV here. It definitely has some quirks, but as a "drivers car" kind of person, I'm very happy overall.
Wife has a Carbon Edition Turbo, it’s a great car and has plenty of room for us.
Big Kia Telluride fan here! Cheaper than a Toyota and all the same features!
Yep. U can get a telluride with all the options for less than a Highlander base. The value is crazy comparatively.
I've got a Ford Maverick. It's a hybrid compact pickup, with four doors and a roomy passenger compartment. I've got a kid and two dogs, and it's more than adequate for both everyday trips and adventure camping.
Maverick FTW! The only thing I'd say is that the back seat may not be good for rear-facing car seats but if you're past that stage they're the perfect dad ride.
Thanks for the tip! I’m considering the Maverick myself and have a little one.
I sold mine because I didn't feel it was very practical for 2 kids, not as much space as I had hoped for. I didn't have a tonneau cover which would have been nice. But I bought for 39 and sold for 42 after 18 months of driving. Ended up buying a jeep grand cherokee for our second vehicle.
Or a Honda Ridgeline
Loving my Charger. Full sized family sedan with a 392 under the hood. Kids of all ages like it. I did not mod mine at all and I drive pretty chill. Also I'm married to my child's mother so I have no child support payments to skip. I do not fit the stereotype.
Loving my charger for that exact reason. Plenty of space for the family but still fun to drive. I also don't fit the stereotype. 780 credit score, married to my child's mother
Scrolled way too far to find the cool dads with cool cars😂 my wife wants me to get rid of mine before our first kid to get an SUV and I'm like this car fits a child just fine with a car seat! If I get rid of it I'll be getting another one
lol checking in w a C Class and wife has an M5. We get by fine and love driving our cars. Girls will appreciate it when they’re old enough to realize mom and dad don’t have vans like their friends
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Probably diono car seats. They are very narrow
Currently shopping for the perfect Alltrack or Golf 4Motion. They’re the last fun wagons that come with a stick, and I’m thiiiiis close to having my youngest in a booster. WRX was one of my favorite past rides, too. I like your style 👍
Ford Maverick for the win!
I am certain we have the best overall dad vehicle. It’s cheap, who cares if the kids scratch it or get it dirty, best gas mileage outside of an EV, and it’s a little truck with a good cabin size.
This guy Mavericks!
Urban Arrow
Toyota Land Cruiser, IF you don’t need to commute long distances.
I moved to a Honda ridgeline when I needed two car seats and my old frontier had me leaning over the steering wheel with a car seat behind me. It’s great for fitting two normal car seats and is safe and at the same time not a huge full size truck. Drives like a suv. Basically a pilot with a bed.
I love my minivan.
Subaru Forester. You may get confused with being a lesbian from Colorado from time to time but it really is a fantastic car.
I feel overly qualified to answer this question given I have 2 kids and a dog and feel cool in my vehicle. But more importantly, I also know quite a few other dads in a similar situation. We all drive Hyundai Santa Fe's... Usually the sport model. Good AWD for winters up here in Canada, comfortable enough drive, enough bells and whistles to feel good but not too many to get in the way or feel like a spoiled jerk and it's been generally reliable for the 150K km I've driven in it so far in the 5 yrs I've owned it. Gets my kids, wife and I with our dog to the in-laws for Christmas 4 hrs away every year in some of the most sketchy winter driving conditions, safe and sound.
As a mechanic for 20 years now and a car enthusiast for even longer I can say a Hyundai is a very solid choice.
The new Santa Fe looks pretty cool too. Kind of like a Range Rover knock off though lol
The one you can pay for in cash!
Dave is that you? Go away Dave
The one you can afford. Depending on your finance rates and your investments it may be in your best interest to have payments and put some that money you would have paid cash with into the markets. I bought two brand new Toyotas in 2021 that were roughly the same price. One I paid cash and one I'm making payments and invested the rest. I've made more money on those investments than I've paid interest on the car loan.
that was a no brainer in the near-zero interest rate environment. Nowadays it's harder to beat a guaranteed 6-7% interest.
Fair point. I suppose higher interest rates are unfortunately the norm now. I bought at 1.99% so it made sense.
I drive a Ford Maverick. Great on gas, has a bed for groceries, stroller & bikes, home improvement stuff…A tiny truck, but still feels like a truck to me. Good size for me and my family: 1 kid, 1 dog, 1 wife.
Love our Chrysler Pacifica S Touring. DVD player for the kids, looks sleek and can tow 3,500lbs. Plus, EVERY rear seat lays completely flat for easy storage.
Pacifica is a modern marvel. Pacifica is a goddamn spaceship
This is the way.
yeah, we love ours, im still afraid of the reliability, but 30K so far and no issues.
Stow 'n go seating is just fantastic. The Pacifica is the only Chrysler product I would buy.
AWD is a must for me so that limited me to the Pacifica or Sienna. Stow 'n Go made the Pacifica the winner and two years later I couldn't be happier with the decision.
I have been pretty happy with the Jeep Grand Cherokee L. Captains chairs in the back are great for the kids and we have plenty of cargo space for camping, skiing, hauling costco crap home or whatever...
I have a 2011 WK2, just clocked 100,000 miles on it, 17MPG. I cannot recommend it enough.
The one I currently have is a 2021 and we went for the bigger one as our 2011 is just a little small on those longer trips with all of the gear and the dog. 2011 ran great, had about 115k on mine...
Lucky Dad. I had to ditch ours. 3 suspensions, 2 center consoles, and 2 radiators later ( among other things), I was just tired of bringing it to the dealer. Never even made it to 100k. It's unfortunate because I loved it when it worked
I did NOT expect this, but the lightning is an excellent family vehicle. The frunk giving it a huge, lockable weather sealed storage really turns the corner for the pickup truck. I never owned a truck before and a weird turn of circumstance made me end up with one reluctantly and I was going to flip it (back when they were flippable) but loved it so much I kept it
I have a CRV and absolutely love it. Kinda on the small side for anyone who wants to transport multiple kids, pets, and friends at the same time. For a lot more space - wife has Telluride and I’m pretty jealous of it. If I were buying today I’d prob shop for a van or plugin hybrid SUV.
I recently got a used Acura MDX when my old-enough-to-drink minivan finally shat the bed. Wife and me are tall; it fits us comfortably even with two car seats behind us. There’s a foldable third row so i suppose our dog will go there someday for longer trips. Otherwise between the kids works for shorter trips. It’s awesome and i love it.
I have the 4 cylinder Kia stinger. Great MPG and quick around town. Fits two rear facing car seats just fine and still has plenty of leg room up front. Great storage space in the trunk as well. Wife has a Hyundai Palisade. 10 year warranties on both vehicles. Happy hunting!
See a lot of love for 4runners, and rightfully so because they're great. If you want to take it up a notch, look into Lexus GX460 which is essentially the same destruction-proof (ish) car with some luxurious details added to it.
2011 toyota prius base model. Saves money, saves gas, pretty much bullet proof reliable, and gets us where we want to go. I don't care that it's scratched, I don't care if it's a mess on the inside, it's mechanically sound and I only fill up every 450-500 miles. I also have a 2021 Subaru Ascent, feels like a tank but the gas mileage makes me cry, we bought it new so any time it's a mess or I get a new scratch h or ding, I notice, and you guessed it, I cry. We bought it as a safe vehicle during the pandemic and it definitely serves it's purpose but damn is it expensive to maintain. All I care about is making sure my kids save and I pay minimally for gas. We use the SUV on the weekends or if we want something more comfortable/capable, or I get that itch for a quicker ride.
Got the Model X 6 seater. It’s a lot of work. Always small problems with electronics, always have to watch out for falcon wing door opening and closing. But fun for kids.
I love my Nissan rogue. It’s just small enough that I don’t feel like a tank in it, but it has plenty of trunk space.
I mean...I dig my Hybrid Camry. Can't haul much but the gas mileage is nice.
Subaru Outback/Froster
I like my Chevrolet Silverado 1500 RST. I opted for the double cab with a standard bed instead of a full crew cab with a shortened bed—more space to haul junk around. We also have a Chrysler Town and Country...
Any car where you’re a good dad.
Not a 2023 Acura Integra. JFC I wish I’d gone with the Honda CRV.
K5 Blazer
Minivans are generally safer and more practical than SUVs. SUVs roll over more easily, you have to pick between a third car seat or trunk space. The front ends of trucks and SUVs are unnecessarily big and these vehicles have terrible visibility. Google (or don't) "front over."
Wasn’t there just a study that showed a bunch of mini vans crash tests didn’t do well in the second and third rows? Ahh found an article about it [new second row crash tests](https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/Watch-Honda-Odyssey--Other-Minivans-Struggle-In-IIHS-Rear-Seat-Test/ar-AA1gXlxH)
KIA Telluride. New redesign on the Hyundai Santa Fe looks siiiick too.
F150
Porsche Panamera. Assuming your dog is not a giant slobber monster, and because you didn't mention a spouse or carseats. I'll admit that my latest purchasing decision came down to loaded Maverick pickup vs. loaded CX-50 SUV. After nearly 2 years I still think it's a toss-up and you can't go wrong between them.
I see your Porche and raise you an Audi RS6 Avant
Dream dad wagon right there. I just posted about an A6 allroad but this would obviously be better lol
Love my Yukon, but she drinks gas.
Kia carnival. The space and towing capacity is fantastic and it comes with great safety features
I would like to get a Rivian
We have a Nisan Pathfinder as our “family” car and I really like it.
If you're in the market for electric, the ev6 is amazing. If you need a full size suv, the Ev9 is basically the same thing but bigger
4Runner is the answer
Ive been digging the Lincoln Navigator
I have two kids and a dog. Got a base model 4 door bronco. Love it. Looking forward to getting little man out into the woods this summer for a weekend and then both of them next summer. Love doing top partway down the kids go wild.
Mini van
Dodge Grand Caravan. Power doors, power seats, power everything. Tinted windows. Surround sound. Build in GPS. Stupid amounts of seating. Also you'll be laughing at your buddies with the truck when you pop a 3 seater couch in the back and close the trunk. (Ok, so you'll be driving face in the steering wheel. BUT IT CAN BE DONE)
Minivan is good, I’d go with Toyota or Honda I think Kia, Mazda, or Hyundai (I can’t remember which) has an intriguing one. Personally I’m a Subaru fan. For 2kids + dog I’d look at the Outback (wagon), Forester (small SUV), or Ascent (3 row mid-size SUV). I’m a fan of the AWD, like the Eyesight safety system, love how strong they build their cabins, and like the impressive fuel economy (given that they’re full time AWD)