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Tall family, needs something like 2016 Tahoe, but don\'t need to tow anything

The Right Car for Me | TrueDelta

barrett.email

I'm 6'5" with long legs & my family is tall as well. I liked the 2014 Tahoe LTZ that I testdrove, but head & leg room fell just a little shy of what would work for me. The newer models (e.g. 2016) have the right sized interior, but are a bit too expensive. What else should we be looking at?

seat comfort is huge for us b/c otherwise we have back problems when riding more than 30 min. Backup camera is must, navigation screen is preferred. Something a bit higher off the ground is helpful for loading small kids into carseats and generally more comfortable for us to get in & out of, hence the SUV preference.

Thanks!

Priorities: Front seat room / Front seat support & comfort / Rear seat room & comfort

Need minimum of 5 seats

Will consider both new and used cars
Maximum mileage: 75000
Maximum age: 5 years

Maximum price: US $ 31000

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Response from AcuraT

7:00 pm November 15, 2018

There are cars and SUVs with a lot more leg room than average. US News and World Report lists them all. They all have about 41 inches or more (for legs):

https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/best-cars-for-tall-people

From most leg room to least generally speaking:
Kia Optima, Ford Escape, Chevy Impala, Land Rover Discovery, Subaru Legacy, Nissan Altima, Kia Cadenza, Cadillac CT6, Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Highlander, Subaru Outback, Ford F-150, Ford CMAX Hybrid, Genesis G80, Genesis G90, Ford Explorer, Subaru Forrester, GMC Canyon, Chevy Colorado, Nissan Rogue, Ford Flex, Ford Expiedition, Mercedes Benz G Class, Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra, GM Full size SUVs (which you tried one).

Unfortunately, your best bet for more space there are more cars than SUVs according to US News. You will have to try them out to see what you like.

Relatively reliable ones and have not changed in the last few years are the Kia Optima, Ford Escape, and Chevy Impala. Land Rover is very expensive and not reliable - don't get it. Subaru Legacy is surprisingly one of the bigger models. Toyota Highlander may be your best bet in the SUV class.

I will be curious as to what others recommend. Best of luck.

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Toyota Highlander
Chevrolet Impala
Kia Optima

Response from Sea-Dan

7:01 pm November 15, 2018

Never having been a mm over 5' 8" and having average size children, your concerns have never been mine and I have never shopped your segment. So basically I have vitually no personal experience to share.

Your basic question is: "what else should be be looking at?". Below is a link that provides an abundance of detail in a compact fashion that I think you may find helpful. I notice that about half of them sticker for $31,000 new or less new. So, if you don't need all the bells and whistles, you may be able find a new model in your price range.

https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/best-3-row-suvs-for-families

As always we would love to hear back from you regarding your final selection and why you chose that particular model.

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Response from LectroFuel

8:20 pm November 15, 2018

If you don't need to off road or tow, a minivan is better than an SUV in every way. The seats in a minivan are at about the same height as a crossover, which makes it easy for parents to buckle up the kids and kids to get into. The sliding doors mean your kids will never ding someone's door in the parking lot. The Toyota Sienna is the most reliable and is the only minivan available with AWD. The 2014-2017 Honda Odyssey is also pretty reliable. These minivans have bigger 3rd row seats and get better gas mileage than the SUVs. The 3rd row seat in the Tahoe is virtually useless because it is so small. The overall interior volume in minivans are usually larger than the large SUVs such as the Tahoe. The Traverse, Suburban, and Expedition EL are the only SUVs that have comparable space to a minivan.

If you don't want a minivan, the 2010-2014 Tahoe and Suburban are OK. Some of them burn oil, though. The 2013-2017 Chevy Traverses, GMC Acadias, and Buick Enclaves are pretty roomy, but not as spacious as most minivans. These three GM crossovers are not trucks like the Tahoe and Suburban are, so they have a nicer ride and don't consume so much gas. They are pretty reliable, but not as good as the minivans. About the same as the Tahoes and Suburbans.

I could be wrong, but I think the body on frame SUVs such as the Tahoe and Suburban have a higher floor and only a slightly taller roof. When I am in a body on frame SUV, I always feel like they were meant for short people because my knees are usually in my chest when in the 2nd or 3rd row. I'm only 5'9". Minivans have low floors, high roofs, and elevated seats.

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Toyota Sienna
Honda Odyssey
Chevrolet Traverse

Response from mkaresh

8:22 pm November 15, 2018

Those U.S. News lists are probably based on specs, and specs don't always match reality for various reasons. Nothing beats actually sitting in cars to see how well you fit.

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