5 Vs. MPV vs. the world of kid haulers.

[doctorz]

I'm tempted now to sell my Protege and the MPV and just get a new 5 as I've now seen the supreme utility of this kind of vehicle.

Just joined the board, so I missed the early part of this thread. I find this fascinating because we traded in an '04 MPV for a 5 earlier this year.

Our MPV was fine--worked well, did everything we asked it to, carried everything with ease. We found that driving something around that big got tiresome after a while, particularly since we really don't need all that space 99% of the time. The 5 is perfect for that need.

You're right about the utility part, though. Sliding doors are part of what makes the 5 what it is. If anything, my kids (6 and 2) find it easier to get in and out of the 5.

We just completed a 2500 mile road trip with the 5, carrying the usual assortment of pack and play, diapers, extra booster seat (the kind for eating), stroller, clothes galore, and toys. We packed everything in without blocking windows. The only thing we missed about the MPV was that it had more storage space up front, but other than that, we don't miss the MPV at all.

So welcome to the world of sliding doors and cargo space! I think if you ended up getting the 5 anyway, you'll be quite happy.

 

[bulwnkl]

Foolish, now that you've had the MPV for a while, what kind of mpg do you average with it?

 

[Foolish]

Mmm, not sure over all, but I know we hit 22 mpg on the highway on one leg of our trip. I can't say I was too impressed, but we were loaded down and flying! I haven't been paying too much attention to mileage, but mileage is one reason I'd like to have the 5 instead of the MPV.

 

[ZoomZoomH]

6800 on the MPV eh

well done Eric, well done (thumb)

 

[doctorz]

Mmm, not sure over all, but I know we hit 22 mpg on the highway on one leg of our trip. I can't say I was too impressed, but we were loaded down and flying! I haven't been paying too much attention to mileage, but mileage is one reason I'd like to have the 5 instead of the MPV.

That sounds about right. The 2000 MPV had the 2.5L V6 engine and the 4-speed auto and was rated at 18/23.

2003-current MPVs have the 3.0L V6 and a 5-speed auto and is rated at 18/25. Our 2004 MPV averaged about 20 mpg in mixed driving, with highway usually getting 23-25 mpg. It was nice to see the engine turn about 2500 rpm at 70 mph--tall gearing with the 5-speed auto allows for better mileage--but the city mileage wasn't so great.

On the other hand, we're getting about 26 mpg from the 5, and on the highway we're getting 30-32 mpg. We do have the 5-speed manual, but a 25-30% improvement in mileage is nothing to sneeze at.

 

[Foolish]

That is good to hear. We're actually going to go take another look at a 5 today, though I'm pretty sure we can't afford to make that budgetary leap anytime soon.

On the other hand, we're getting about 26 mpg from the 5, and on the highway we're getting 30-32 mpg. We do have the 5-speed manual, but a 25-30% improvement in mileage is nothing to sneeze at.

 

[P_bouchr]

@Foolish
Now try to imagine all that stuff you carry around, multiplied by 2 lol.

We knew though we were going for the M5. We had to wait a full year because of my previous renting contract. The hardest part when packing up was with that damn double stroller lol. And when the big infant seat facing back. We had a 03 Jetta and backseats space is not it's strongest point. Damn even my 07 Yaris has more trunk space!

So finally we went for the 5. I've yet to pack it up for my parents 150km from Montreal. Had it last week. I never even tried that double stroller in the trunk. Can't be worse than in the Jetta, plus you can at least go packing a couple feet vertically!

Honestly, the 06 MPV, I would have liked. But not sure that, with how I wanted it, i would have gone under 40k for it (ughdance) . So in a way, the M5 was my wallet saver lol.

Kinda hard to manage gas mileage / space / size / look all in one vehicle . From that point of view, the 5 is just perfect.

 

[Foolish]

Well, we went and looked at the 5 again yesterday. It's sooo much smaller than the MPV! There's no room behind the third row seats. Generally speaking, that's fine, and really would work for most of our use, but one thing that we really liked on out beach trip was the ability to load up our friends, thier baby, and both kids' strollers and go out. That wouldn't happen in a 5. In a couple of years when we don't need a stroller everywhere we go, we'll look at 5's again. Besides, by then, we'll either have more money (done with school) or be able to pick one up used, and be able to afford one!

 

[doctorz]

Well, we went and looked at the 5 again yesterday. It's sooo much smaller than the MPV! There's no room behind the third row seats. Generally speaking, that's fine, and really would work for most of our use, but one thing that we really liked on out beach trip was the ability to load up our friends, thier baby, and both kids' strollers and go out. That wouldn't happen in a 5. In a couple of years when we don't need a stroller everywhere we go, we'll look at 5's again. Besides, by then, we'll either have more money (done with school) or be able to pick one up used, and be able to afford one!

You're right, the 5 is noticeably smaller--we had the same exact reaction when we first saw the 5. But we realized that we rarely needed the extra space of the MPV, and for the rare times we did, it would be easily addressed by taking two cars. Now that we have two kids, and most of our friends have two or three, we couldn't have fit in the MPV (or any of their minivans) anyway. BTW, we use a $10 umbrella stroller and it fits fine behind the 5's third row.

The MPV's kind of a funny size, actually--the third row's not big enough for everyday use, either. Its trump card, when we bought it, was that it was smaller than all the other minivans. But if we had a third child (not planned, but things happen) and really needed a good third row, we'd probably move over to an Odyssey or Sienna.

The MPV will serve you well, don't get me wrong--ours was fine. But I bet in a couple of years you'll still be asking yourself whether you'll miss the MPV's room if you move over to a 5. I think a better question is whether the room-for-everything feel of the MPV, which you likely won't use very often especially with one child (or even two), is worth the tradeoff of dealing with the MPV's bulk and mileage every day. We don't miss our MPV at all. Happy motoring!

 

[Foolish]

Funny, we were already asking ourselves if we really needed the room, that's why we went to look again at the 5. I think until we know for sure we're not having another kid, and/or our kid has passed stroller age, we'll stick to the MPV. Now, I just need to get a stereo in it and talk the wife into lowering springs!

The MPV will serve you well, don't get me wrong--ours was fine. But I bet in a couple of years you'll still be asking yourself whether you'll miss the MPV's room if you move over to a 5. I think a better question is whether the room-for-everything feel of the MPV, which you likely won't use very often especially with one child (or even two), is worth the tradeoff of dealing with the MPV's bulk and mileage every day. We don't miss our MPV at all. Happy motoring!

 

[Coolhand]

Try packing for four!

Brother, I feel your pain (nice write up BTW).
When we had just our oldest son, the Protege was enough, and my wife had an Explorer. Then two and a half years ago, we found out we were having triplets...(omg) ! Exit Explorer, enter Suburban. The thing about mini-vans is that you load up all your s***, or try to anyway, behind that third row because you don't want to load things up in the passenger compartment for safety's sake. Well you soon find out how limited that space is. For us, we would be driving around in two vehicles if it wasn't for the cargo area behind the Suburban's third row. Put it this way, we just got back from vacation, and since Suburbans are not in most rental companies' fleets, we had to rent a 12 passenger van, for 4 adults, 4 kids, and all our luggage.

 

[P_bouchr]

Triplets?? Geeeez lol.

How was it? I mean we heard a lot of horror stories about how it was hard the 2 first years with twins. TBH, it wasn't that bad. We use to think it was fairly easy. They're now 19 months, maybe the worst is to come lol.

In that case, it's clear the 5 can't be enough. You need something like an extra long vans.

Another thing I notice this week end when I installed both child seats on the second row. Well the 3rd row becomes quite unaccessible!! The fact that the seats can't fold to access the 3rd row can become an annoyance. The thing is if we have to be 6 in the car I could easily move my child seats on the 3rd row and use the seat belts, but that's some work. So all in all, it gives a lot more space than a compact/midsize car, but with toddlers, you have to make some compromises.

Anyone know why the heck they did not put UAS anchors on the 3rd row? There is a place for the top hookup, but no UAS hookups on the seats... I would have liked that. The seats aren't big enough?

 

[doctorz]

Another thing I notice this week end when I installed both child seats on the second row. Well the 3rd row becomes quite unaccessible!! The fact that the seats can't fold to access the 3rd row can become an annoyance. The thing is if we have to be 6 in the car I could easily move my child seats on the 3rd row and use the seat belts, but that's some work. So all in all, it gives a lot more space than a compact/midsize car, but with toddlers, you have to make some compromises.

Anyone know why the heck they did not put UAS anchors on the 3rd row? There is a place for the top hookup, but no UAS hookups on the seats... I would have liked that. The seats aren't big enough?

We don't have quite that problem since one of our kids is in a booster seat, which is easy to take in and out (it's not anchored). But we've also taken to using the cargo area to climbing in and out of the third row seat. Otherwise we just clamber between the second row seats.

The MPV right middle seat could move from outboard to center, which was somewhat helpful. However, you still had to deal with getting through the seatbelt when getting to the third row.

Tell you what, though--the sliding doors are helpful with all of this. Ever try to get to the third row of a Chrysler Pacifica?

Regarding the UAS (they're callled LATCH in the US), I don't know--my guess is that there isn't room. I would find it difficult to strap a child in a car seat who's in the third row, anyway. When helping a child in a booster seat in the third row, we already buckle them from behind (from the cargo area). Do the seatbelts in the third row have the retracting/locking mechanism (I've never checked)?

 

[X10James]

the 5 definitely has latch points in the 3rd row, I've used them.

It's true that there isn't much room left in the back with both 3rd row seats down. The most we carry normally is just 5 people which leaves 1 3rd row down for the cooler and stuff on the way home from the beach. The one time we did use all 6 and carry the stroller I set it up on the roof rack. It was sized so that the hooks went easily over one bar and the wheels rested on the second one. A couple of bungy cords and we were set for the drive home. Good thing it wasn't raining But since I do that so rarely I wouldn't want to lug around the extra space all the time. If you have to carry that many people all the time then you probably made the right decision for a bigger car.

 

[doctorz]

the 5 definitely has latch points in the 3rd row, I've used them.

Mine doesn't have them--I just double checked. I remember the owner's manual says they're only in the second row. Are we talking about the same thing (the anchors between the seat cushion and the seat back)?

 

[Coolhand]

It's the same on the Suburban... LATCH located only in the second row. I think, at least in the case of the Chevy, that it is because the second row is the only true hard anchored seats. The third row is designed to be taken out. The design flaw in the Chevy is that the LATCH anchors are located in the middle and passenger side seats of the 2nd row. Problem is the passenger side seat is the fold down access seat to the 3rd row, so of the four, I only have LATCH installed on one of the seats.

 

[X10James]

Mine doesn't have them--I just double checked. I remember the owner's manual says they're only in the second row. Are we talking about the same thing (the anchors between the seat cushion and the seat back)?

Sorry, yes, you're right. My memory was of having been able to put my daughters seat back there but she's a little older and her seat doesn't have the latches.

They DO have the center latch hook in the middle of the back of the 3rd row seat, so you can use that and then use the regular belts instead of the bottom 2 I suppose. If your child seat says thats OK. there are no hooks to the sides on the third row.

But the seat belt does have the locking feature if you pull it all the way out, so you should be able to get a seat installed back there safely.