Finding the minivan alternative

[five in a cruiser]

Okay can anyone brain storm some ideas that are not minivans that seat 6, 7, or 8 people well.

[Duchess of Fife]

Mazda 5 (would love one of these!)
Mazda CX-9
Hyundai Santa Fe
That's all I can think of right now...

[Colesmum]

Ford Freestyle (looks pretty, but expensive!!)
Volvo xc970 (I think) Basically their station wagon.....
Most SUV's....

[Kagy]

We have a Mazda 5 and it seats 6 with all the seats up. We are only 3 and need the back to pack the stroller, so we only have 4 seats up. Otherwise it's a great car and would highly recommend it to others.

[Kayleighs Momma]

Kia Rondo comes as a 5 or 7 seater

[magic341]

I have to ask, 'What is wrong with owning a minivan?'

[five in a cruiser]

we live in sooke and like to go off roading sometimes. we currently have a landcruiser and love it. I am not against minivans they are just not my style. I would love all the paracticality of a minivan in something smaller, I love the delica vans but they are sort of ugly. I just think sometimes a minvan is just too big and they are big gas suckers. maybe smart cars should come up with an itsy bitsy 7 seater smart car

[Guest]

maybe smart cars should come up with an itsy bitsy 7 seater smart car

OK that one made my day.

[WCM]

love love love my VW van. we camp in it, road trip, you name it. seats 7 WITH full trunk space, meaning the seats do not 'take up' the trunk like most new 7-seaters and minivans. loads of room, because the engine is in the trunk, so it's as long as a minivan, but uses up all of that length for the interior (ie it has no 'nose' on it).

http://www.thesamba.com. ours was $7000 canadian.


love it.

and hey, delica's rock.

[rainkat]

ford expedition seats 9

[Guest]

love love love my VW van. we camp in it, road trip, you name it. seats 7 WITH full trunk space, meaning the seats do not 'take up' the trunk like most new 7-seaters and minivans. loads of room, because the engine is in the trunk, so it's as long as a minivan, but uses up all of that length for the interior (ie it has no 'nose' on it).

http://www.thesamba.com. ours was $7000 canadian.


love it.

and hey, delica's rock.

Sorry, but I had to say it... This is the car that I pictured you and your family owning. I couldn't believe I was correct though when you posted. Do they even have newer models though?

[Guest]

Mazda 5 (would love one of these!)
Mazda CX-9
Hyundai Santa Fe
That's all I can think of right now...

Isn't a Mazda 5 the Mazda version of the Mini-Van? It is very cool looking I must say.

[TC]

I have been looking into this too. Here is a few that haven't been mentioned:

Honda Pilot
Saturn Vue
Saturn outlook

I gotta say though, I can't find anything that can beat a mini van, looks like we will be getting a toyota sienna

[Kagy]

Duchess of Fife wrote:
Mazda 5 (would love one of these!)
Mazda CX-9
Hyundai Santa Fe
That's all I can think of right now...


Isn't a Mazda 5 the Mazda version of the Mini-Van? It is very cool looking I must say.

Mazda has the MPV which is their minivan. The Mazda 5 is "multi-utility" vehicle. It's sits lower to the ground like a car and is a bit shorter than a van, but has the sliding passenger doors like a van for easy in/out. And the seats fold flat for cargo. It's also only 4cyl so it's very good on gas. We had a civic, so it uses a bit more (as it's a bit bigger), but alot less than the average van. It also feels like a car driving. Also the thing I love most is that the windows on the sliding doors actually slide down. Most of the minivans we saw, the rear windows didn't fully open.

[Guest]

Duchess of Fife wrote:
Mazda 5 (would love one of these!)
Mazda CX-9
Hyundai Santa Fe
That's all I can think of right now...


Isn't a Mazda 5 the Mazda version of the Mini-Van? It is very cool looking I must say.

Mazda has the MPV which is their minivan. The Mazda 5 is "multi-utility" vehicle. It's sits lower to the ground like a car and is a bit shorter than a van, but has the sliding passenger doors like a van for easy in/out. And the seats fold flat for cargo. It's also only 4cyl so it's very good on gas. We had a civic, so it uses a bit more (as it's a bit bigger), but alot less than the average van. It also feels like a car driving. Also the thing I love most is that the windows on the sliding doors actually slide down. Most of the minivans we saw, the rear windows didn't fully open.

Wow, and the price is right too =). I want to buy a new car and was thinking about a Honda Civic as we have an Accord now and love Honda's. 2 people in our complex have the Mazda 3's and I liked them but they are too small.

Now I am hooked on the Mazda 5. It is the SAME price as a new Civic in the same range I wanted. I couldn't believe it when I went to their website - 22,000 with Auto/AC/Auto Locks etc.

After reading that Mini Van thread about why everyone loved their Mini-Van I asked my DH what car he would buy if we could buy a new one and he said a Mini-Van. I burst out laughing because I had never told him about the thread and how I said I wouldn't own one. However, he saw our friends and how cool it was to have the space.

I think the Mazda 5 is a lovely alternative as the price is far more affordable and being a 4 cylinder I can avoid the comments from my family.

Thanks for the suggestion. Now on to the saving. I can save for it if I put my mind to it.

Cheers,
Lara