[b0bab0i]

Originally Posted by EyeGuy

Infiniti jx, now called the qx60

It's the same as a pathfinder.

[ska///235i]

nissan pathfinder

[lmaleke]

Originally Posted by quiksi

and how exactly do you propose fitting OP, his wife and their FOUR kids in a f3x wagon?

... very snugly *ba-dum ching!*

Damn it, you're right! I need a new glasses

[majin ssj eric]

I didn't read any reviews of the JX, I drove it myself. Very nice SUV for the money and my wife liked it too (but we couldn't turn down the GS)...

[rick100]

Originally Posted by D's Bimmer

We need to replace the family vehicle soon. Presently, we have a 2006 Honda Odyysey Van. We have four kids so I know that we are limited in terms of what we can look at that will accommodate the sic of us and still have some truck/storage space in the back.

My wife would like to not get another minivan so have been thinking about the following:

Honda Pilot
Buick Enclave

What other vehicles should I be looking at? Any ideas/insights would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

I have the enclave. Very quite and luxurious suv , 7 seaters. Power wise its alright , 280 horsepower is somewhat enough .

Do not get the 2008 or 2009 model , they have tranny and timing belt issues.

[turboawdfanatic]

I've had my fully loaded JX for 1.5 years now. Not sure which reviews you've read, but I thought it got pretty decent reviews (but I also haven't read any since I got it lol). It's a lot of value for the money IMO. I didn't want a mini van either but needed a family hauler...2 kids plus the parents at times. JX has a very useable third row. All the tech works well and haven't had any issues. One thing it is not is performance oriented. Don't get me wrong it has enough passing power...but suspension is more luxurious oriented and the cvt is not meant for 1/4 mile. That being said it is a crossover platform and def drives more like a sedan than a SUV/mini van. It also gets same if not better mpg than our 2004 g35x. I knew all this going in....only thing I wish it had was the locking 4x4 mode that comes with the new pathfinder.

[MaC-N54-E82]

Our family car is a 2011 Pilot Touring. It has excellent interior space and the 3rd row is very functional. We have had 8 passengers in it several times with no issues. Reliability has been excellent. Fit and finish is average but after all it's a Honda.

[D's Bimmer]

Originally Posted by MaC-N54-E82

Our family car is a 2011 Pilot Touring. It has excellent interior space and the 3rd row is very functional. We have had 8 passengers in it several times with no issues. Reliability has been excellent. Fit and finish is average but after all it's a Honda.

My wife likes the Honda Pilot. I know the finish isn't on par with others but she loves those Honda's.

I test drove a 2014 Nissan Pathfinder on XMAS eve. I was very surprised with the ride and finishing's.

Still deciding though. The real challenge is that our 2006 van has been fully paid for a while now and the thought of adding back a car payment is a little uncomfortable. Its an 06 with 290k's on it. Needs new suspension, door lock modulator, rear wiper motor. The sliding doors always need some form of maintenance. The power steering and transmission are the problem with these vans but thankfully I haven't had to deal with either yet! In essence, we are making a monthly payment when you factor in the increasing maintenance costs associated with driving a very high milage vehicle.

[YellowMellow]

Do you want a SUV or CUV?
Personally I don't think JX/Pathfinder are true SUV's in the traditional sense since they don't have a low range 4x4. They're FWD until they detect slippage. Some say the JX/Pathfinder exterior shape resembles a minivan. But to each their own.

Pilot is nice (no low range though).
Jeep Grand Cherokee / 4-Runner are nice as well.
You can get a used Toyota Sequoia, which in my mind, is the ultimate family hauler with plenty of room and power.

[Raja Ventureshield]

only one choice under 50k,
Acura MDX. redesigned, refined and freaking awesome looking headlights.

[YellowMellow]

Originally Posted by Raja Ventureshield

only one choice under 50k,
Acura MDX. redesigned, refined and freaking awesome looking headlights.

Just my opinion but the previous generation MDX looks x100 better - more aggressive in design.
The new one looks like AWD minivan.
Here is a side by side view of the new MDX and Honday Odyssey.

[Raja Ventureshield]

Originally Posted by mark12345

Just my opinion but the previous generation MDX looks x100 better - more aggressive in design.
The new one looks like AWD minivan.
Here is a side by side view of the new MDX and Honday Odyssey.

correct they have gone a little soft on the design but overall it's a great DD / family vehicle. But if money is no object then Porsche Cayenne and RR for sure.

[Transfer]

MDX probably gets my vote but haven't driven one. I saw the newer Durango yesterday and thought it looked pretty good. Motor Trend seemed to like it in their SUV of the year comparo.

[YellowMellow]

Durango is nice. Grand Cherokee's other half. I'm sure the new MDX is a great drive

[MaC-N54-E82]

Rear visibility out of the MDX is atrocious. One of the reasons we went with a Pilot instead of another MDX.

[majin ssj eric]

Uh, that MDX looks NOTHING like the Odyssey you posted! I saw a Grand Cherokee SRT the other day and man is that a great looking SUV! I'd be hard pressed not to get that if I was looking for one...

[dubsesd]

The jeep srt will not seat 4 kids and is a gas gusler.

Mdx, Durango, pathfinder, sequoia And the new highlander are all solid choices

[canbmw]

X5 with 3rd row seating? That's what I may look at soon.

[MisterSkiMask]

Originally Posted by canbmw

X5 with 3rd row seating? That's what I may look at soon.

if you still have a rear facing seat, forget about it. And the 3 rd row is a joke.

[canbmw]

^ I only have two kids (unlike OP) and they are out of the rear facing seats now. I guess I was thinking of the third row for occasional use only.

I rented a Mazda 5 last year and although only 6 seats total it was amazingly functional.

[BBBluey]

When I bought our 05 Ody for my wife, she thought I was crazy. She's German and we were living in Germany at the time. "What the hell are we going to do with a giant vehicle like that?", she said. Now, 9 yrs later, she's still in love with it. I most likely have the most cultured and traveled Ody in the world considering all the countries and states we've been to in it, to include Gibralter and Venice (yes, you can drive into Venice and immediately park, but still...).
Anyways, I don't think you can replace an Ody with anything else other than another Ody or the Toyota Sienna. I've got two kids as well plus a giant Old English Sheepdog and we all fit comfortably plus luggage. Not to mention it kicks ass at the drive-in movies. Once you get used to having that space and ease of getting in and out, you will not find the SUV's as oriented for family travel. And if your kids start wanting to bring friends along for the ride,...you know the hassles I'm talking about...like when the kid in the back has to pee...
Good luck to you. However, I do think the Cadillac SUV is sharp looking.

[secretsquirrel]

I'lll be in the same position in a couple of years. We are probably going to look at the Tahoe, Jx, mdx, and will consider the escalade if the budget allows.