I have an in-home daycare and would like to carry seven kids at all times.
There are many options for hauling eight passengers, including minivans, full-size SUVs, crossover SUVs and full-size vans.
For carrying around seven kids, however, a minivan with a low step-in height that provides easy access for the little ones will be the most family- and kid-friendly. Not all minivans have seating for eight, but the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna are among the few that do.
Crossover SUVs are an alternative to the minivan, but still have an overall minivan-like function. The Honda Pilot offers eight-passenger seating as standard, as does the Toyota Highlander.
There are also heavy-duty haulers like full-size SUVs — think Chevrolet Suburban and Ford Expedition EL — and full-size vans like the GMC Savana or Ford E-150. The big vans border on commercial size, though. These will have more overall interior room for up to 15 passengers, but you’ll be piloting an 18-foot long, three-ton van.
We’ve put together a list minivans, crossover SUVs, traditional SUVs and vans that can seat eight passengers:
Minivans
Crossover SUVs
Full-size SUVs
Full-size van
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I think you should go for the Saturn Outlook. It is the most fuel efficent SUV in it's class, it uses unleaded fuel, and not the pricy premium, and it is affordable. You could load it up with lot's of goodies, and it won't crash the bank! The handling of the vehicle is luxurious, and the interior is nice and quiet. I would definetly recommend this vehicle to anyone.
Is a Suburban my only choice for a vehicle that seats 8 & can tow a 25-30 ft camper?
The Chevy Venture and the Oldsmobile Silhouette also have models that seat 8
The third row generally seats only two safely and has a shorter seat base that doesn't properly hold child seats.
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I am very confused. We are deciding between Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander due to 3rd row. We care for 3 toddler greandchildren 3 days a week. Pilot has Tethers in 3rd row and Highlander does not. Toyota sales staff at 3 dealerships say it is ok to put 3 toddlers (2, 3, and 4 years old) in 3rd row without tethers or latch. But when I wrote to "Ask Toyota" on their web site, i was told that Toyota did not recommend putting child seats in 3rd row due to safety factors. Has anyone else has such mis-communication from Toyota. Also, How do others feel about putting car seats in 3rd row of Highlander and/or Pilot?