Driving with more than two kids

Fitting car seats can be a puzzle made more challenging with the need to transport multiple children. I have two children in car seats (one rear-facing and the other forward-facing) and recently had my 9-year-old niece with us for the weekend. We only have a small car and small SUV, so she had to squeeze between the car seats. We first tried the SUV (Toyota RAV4), but couldn’t access the center seat belt, because it was wedged under the forward facing convertible seat and wouldn’t move so that she could access it. We ended up using our Toyota Corolla. It was still a tight squeeze (luckily my niece is slender), but all kids were able to safely buckle up

When I was a child, back during simpler times, we would all pile in the car or station wagon. Car seats weren’t available, so it was easier to carpool and drive together. It made for lots of fun in the back seat. Obviously, the invention of child car seats has greatly improved child safety and reduced child crash deaths, but it also meant a change in the driving culture. If you want to drive more than your brood, you may need to install an additional child safety seat--if you have room in your current car. Progress has meant we lost the ability to car pool other kids, and thereby save gas and help our friends.

We were lucky that my niece doesn’t need to use a car seat, but if we had to fit another child in a car seat, we would most likely have a problem. The move from two to three kids in regards to transportation is difficult. Many people I know who have three children buy a minivan, but others decide they don’t want the stigma of a minivan and choose a 3-row SUV instead. However, they end up sacrificing fuel economy for image.

The good news is you may not necessarily have to “upsize” to transport more children. With the right car seats, you can potentially fit three across in some vehicles, but it requires buying narrow car seats. We recently posted our updated convertible car seat Ratings (available to online subscribers) where we list our recommendations for car seats that offer the best potential for fitting more than two children in the back seat. Armed with this information, you may be able to transport the family and friends without super-sizing your vehicle, saving money that could be used for college.

See our new car selector to compare vehicle fuel economy, plus check out our Ratings and buying advice on infant, convertible, and booster car seats.

—Liza Barth

From the logbook: Volkswagen Routan

School’s almost out and road trip season beckons. And having mapped dozens of trips all around the country, I don’t think there’s anything better to drive than a minivan – especially with kids. These vehicles offer the best combination of seating and cargo-carrying flexibility ever.

One of the newest (well, sort of) models is the built-in-Canada Volkswagen Routan. However, despite the German engineering tag line, this is a merely a Chrysler minivan in disguise. (Some have taken to combining its pedigree and moniker, Chrysler and Routan, into a tasty new name: Crouton.) While Volkswagen made some exterior styling changes, according to the company, most of the money was retuning the suspension and steering. Unfortunately, the van is powered by Chrysler’s noisy and inefficient 3.8- and 4.0-liter V6 engines. (See our Chrysler Town & Country ratings and road test, available to online subscribers. Watch our Chrysler and Dodge minivans video.)

Our SEL model with the 4.0-liter engine rang in at $36,215 before we bargained for some substantial discounts. These vans are not exactly flying off dealer lots, so there’s a lot of room for haggling.

How does it all work? Can VW turn some American iron into European sophistication? Have a look at the book:

“A Town & Country by another name – comfortable ride, but lots of rattles inside with shaky seats and plastic panels.” [But another tester countered, saying the VW was “slightly better than the Chrysler-branded products, but that isn’t saying much.”]

“Feels nothing like a VW.”

“Still has dead steering on center [as well as] loose body control.”

“Feels too bouncy on side roads.”

“Engine has good power and transmission is responsive and smooth.”

“Road and wind noise are quite high.”

“Not comfortable to drive – seat needs more lumbar.”

“Lack of telescope steering wheel makes it tough to find a good driving position.”

“Six adults traveled into and out of Boston and everyone hated the seats.”

“Shifter on dash is awkward – the huge steering wheel blocks the ‘PRND.’”

“Main gauges pick up too many reflections.”

“Some very clunky, plasticy interior components (center console, glove box, etc) – not characteristic of VW.”

“Certainly no Odyssey or Sienna, but the VW treatment benefits the van. Chrysler should adapt the suspension and dash modifications ASAP.”

“Like putting lipstick on a pig.”

In the end, only a few people thought the Chrysler-to-VW transformation works, with a few comments saying that the suspension, steering and brakes are a step-up from Detroit’s original. Most didn’t see where VW supposedly spent money improving the van. We’ll have more on the Routan in an upcoming road test.

—Mike Quincy

Minivans, mom-mobiles, and the best choices for family haulers

Minivans became popular in the mid-1980s, replacing station wagons with clever packaging. But over time, they became stigmatized and derided as “mommy-mobiles.” Minivans can seat up to eight people and have versatile interiors, making them helpful for busy parents having to cart around cargo, kids and their friends, and sometimes both at the same time. They are the right transport for many families, and with continued concern for fuel economy and a cultural trend to more multi-generation families cohabitating (often out of economic necessity), minivan appeal may increase. Mommy mobile? You betcha.

Minivans have evolved since the Dodge Caravan defined the segment, but still remaining true to the original mission and basic one-box design. Over time, a shift toward SUVs caused the segment to shrink and uncompetitive models from Ford and GM got discontinued. More families decided to choose three-row SUVs instead as their primary family hauler, since it offered the same amount of seating, go-anywhere pretensions, keeping up with the Joneses notion, and a tougher image.

Minivans have become ever more refined with clever packaging, abundant safety systems, available AWD, improved reliability, and road-trip-ready entertainment systems. The Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna are leaders in the dwindling class with excellent cargo space, a usable and comfortable third row, and both have better gas mileage than most three-row SUVs (19 mpg overall for the FWD versions of the Odyssey and Sienna).

In addition, minivans have been statistically safer. A recent study published in the Journal for Injury Prevention reported that SUVs are more dangerous than minivans. The study looked at crash data from 2000-2006 and found that children seated in minivans had a significantly lower risk of fatal and non-fatal injuries than those in an SUV. The rate was 35 percent less likely that a child would suffer an injury in a minivan and a 24 percent greater chance of fatality in an SUV than a minivan. Real factors that could influence these results include difference between driver psychographics/behavior and the increased risk for SUVs to rollover in crashes.

Interestingly, both Odyssey and Sienna both sell better than their three-row counterparts the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander. However, across brands, there are more choices for SUVs than minivans.

Bottom line:
When researching your next vehicle, focus on the attributes you seek, rather than the car type. By doing so, you might find some surprising choices. For large families seeking a safe, roomy model with a comfortable ride, versatile interior, and respectable fuel economy, the right answer may be a minivan. In general, we’ve found minivans to be a good alternative to large SUVs. They’re less expensive, get better mileage, generally ride and handle better, and provide easier access to the third-row seat. Smaller families may see similar appeal with the Kia Rondo and Mazda5, two Consumer Reports recommended models that are somewhat hidden treasures.

What ever model you seek, the interactive New Car Selector can help you quickly sort and filter models down to the attributes that matter most to you.

—Liza Barth 

Minivans became popular in the mid-1980s, replacing station wagons with clever packaging. But over time, they became stigmatized and derided as “mommy-mobiles.” Minivans can seat up to eight people and have versatile interiors, making them helpful for busy parents having to cart around cargo, kids and their friends, and sometimes both at the same time. They are the right transport for many families, and with continued concern for fuel economy and a cultural trend to more multi-generation families cohabitating (often out of economic necessity), minivan appeal may increase. Mommy mobile? You betcha.

Minivans have evolved since the Dodge Caravan defined the segment, but still remaining true to the original mission and basic one-box design. Over time, a shift toward SUVs caused the segment to shrink and uncompetitive models from Ford and GM got discontinued. More families decided to choose three-row SUVs instead as their primary family hauler, since it offered the same amount of seating, go-anywhere pretensions, keeping up with the Joneses notion, and a tougher image.

Minivans have become ever more refined with clever packaging, abundant safety systems, available AWD, improved reliability, and road-trip-ready entertainment systems. The Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna are leaders in the dwindling class with excellent cargo space, a usable and comfortable third row, and both have better gas mileage than most three-row SUVs (19 mpg overall for the FWD versions of the Odyssey and Sienna).

In addition, minivans have been statistically safer. A recent study published in the Journal for Injury Prevention reported that SUVs are more dangerous than minivans. The study looked at crash data from 2000-2006 and found that children seated in minivans had a significantly lower risk of fatal and non-fatal injuries than those in an SUV. The rate was 35 percent less likely that a child would suffer an injury in a minivan and a 24 percent greater chance of fatality in an SUV than a minivan. Real factors that could influence these results include difference between driver psychographics/behavior and the increased risk for SUVs to rollover in crashes.

Interestingly, both Odyssey and Sienna both sell better than their three-row counterparts the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander. However, across brands, there are more choices for SUVs than minivans.

Bottom line:
When researching your next vehicle, focus on the attributes you seek, rather than the car type. By doing so, you might find some surprising choices. For large families seeking a safe, roomy model with a comfortable ride, versatile interior, and respectable fuel economy, the right answer may be a minivan. In general, we’ve found minivans to be a good alternative to large SUVs. They’re less expensive, get better mileage, generally ride and handle better, and provide easier access to the third-row seat. Smaller families may see similar appeal with the Kia Rondo and Mazda5, two Consumer Reports recommended models that are somewhat hidden treasures.

What ever model you seek, the interactive New Car Selector can help you quickly sort and filter models down to the attributes that matter most to you.

—Liza Barth 

Mother’s Day: Happy Moms on the road

Moms are always on the run whether it’s commuting or acting as the family chauffeur--driving kids to school, activities, a friend’s house and daily errands, Moms always seem to be in the car and on the go.

In commemoration of Mother’s Day, check out our ideas for family friendly vehicles and tips on how to help Mom on the road. For those looking for a new car, here are some recommended models that have done well in safety tests, in reliability ratings, and that we've found to be comfortable, quiet, and spacious during our testing, yet attain reasonable fuel economy.  In addition, we’ve also included models from some of our car testing staff, who also happen to be Moms, that are particularly functional and include features that make them easier to live with such as easy access, quiet, have good visibility, and particularly roomy and versatile interiors.

Minivans: The Toyota Sienna or Honda Odyssey minivans are roomy, comfortable and seat up to eight people. They have ample storage and above average reliability. The Sienna also offers AWD.

Mom’s pick: Let’s face it, if you add up all of the criteria that a Mom may need or want you're more than likely going to come up with a minivan.  But if you don’t need quite that much room or just aren’t quite ready to make the leap to a minivan consider the Mazda 5 or Kia Rondo. These somewhat smaller hatches give you roomy, versatile interiors that are minvan-like but aren’t quite as large or uncool.

Sedans: The Honda Accord is a good choice in a mid-sized sedan. It has a generous back seat and powerful four- and six-cylinder engines. Stability control is standard on all models and crash-test results are impressive. If you’re looking for something more luxurious, the Infiniti M is roomy and comfortable with a well-appointed interior and logical controls. All-wheel drive is also available.

Mom’s pick:  When the noise and chaos of the day put you on the brink of overload you may find some solace in the Toyota Prius Hybrid which his surprisingly more roomy than you might think and the quiet (at times silence) of the interior can have an almost calming effect for any crazed Mother.

SUVs: The Toyota RAV4 is comfortable, agile, and gets impressive fuel economy.  For a larger SUV or minivan alternative, the three-row Toyota Highlander scored high for its refinement, quiet interior, ride comfort, power, fuel economy, and flexible and roomy second-row seat. The Toyota Highlander Hybrid offers great fuel economy.

Mom’s Pick:  The Subaru Forester is also a great choice. It has a quiet cabin, very good fit and finish and a roomy backseat.  Kids also find the Forester easy to get in and out of and if you have to be out driving in poor winter conditions (and what snowbelt dwelling Mom doesn’t) the AWD can provide some additional security.

If you’re the Mom who always ends up with an extra kid or two, then you may also want to take a look at the Hyundai Santa Fe. It's another SUV where the optional third row can come in handy and is easy to raise and lower.

Hatchbacks and Wagons: The Volkswagen Rabbit hatchback is sporty, practical and fun to drive. It has a versatile interior and good crash-test results.

If a new car is not in the cards this year, you can help Mom by giving her a driving break on her special day. Many people hit the road on Mother’s Day to visit family. On this road trip, let Mom just relax in the passenger seat or even in the back seat. Let Dad drive and have kids play a leading role in road trip preparations--getting directions (see our Ratings of GPS navigation systems), choosing activities and snacks, and bringing her favorite music or DVD along for the ride (including headphones). For more information on in-car entertainment, see our guide to mobile electronics. Better yet, Dads should be encouraged to take the little darlings out of the house so Mom can get some peace and quiet for a change.

By giving a Mom a break on the road it will ensure for at least one day she’ll be stress-free and prepared to take on Monday’s challenges.

—Liza Barth 

Word jumble–How should Volkswagen spell Routan?

In my opinion, it was destined to fail from the start. Take the unimpressive Chrysler minivans (ratings available to subscribers), strip out the few endearing features like Stow-‘n-Go, make a few suspension and cosmetic modifications, and presto! It’s the Volkswagen Routan, a “Euro-tuned” people mover. Its slow start could also be attributed to one of the oddest advertising campaigns of all time. You know the ones featuring Brooke Shields and an strange spin on fertility.

Meanwhile, Automotive News says that as of April 20, Volkswagen has sold 5,582 of the 22,037 Routans they’ve produced. Even with a global sales slowdown (meltdown?) those numbers certainly are troubling. Checking out the Routan forum at VWVortex.com shows people are having a hard time justifying the sometimes-significant cost premium for a Routan over a similarly-equipped Chrysler or Dodge minivan (see our video review). We just bought a Routan to test if any of the modifications significantly improved this van; it’s no surprise that we got over $6,000 off of the list price. (Of course, you can seriously wheel and deal on the domestic-branded version of this van, as well.)

But don’t throw away those letters just yet. Just swap the T and R and you’ve got a vehicle sold overseas that is what the Routan should have been.

During honeymoon travels this month, I had many opportunities to ride in Volkswagen Touran taxi cabs. This Golf-based mini-minivan is what the U.S. market should have gotten. Sporty, space-efficient yet roomy, and good looking (at least to me), the Touran would compete with the Mazda5 here. According to Automotive News, from January through March Mazda sold 6,239 Mazda5s. In that same timeframe, VW moved just 2,195 Routans. Seems there might be a market for the mini-minivan.

Skeptics will say that the Touran is a too small, Euro-mobile that isn’t right for the big U.S. market. To that I respond: Rubbish. The Touran fits with the image VW seems to be targeting (at this moment, at least): young, active families. It should be the next K2- and/or Trek-branded VW, with both performance and clean-diesel versions available. With snow tires it can hit the slopes. It would make a great road- or mountain-bike support vehicle. For daily use, it would be good for driving vacations and perfect for around-town duty. Finally, VW fans will like that it’s a real Volkswagen, and not just, to recall a much-used phrase from the past Presidential election, lipstick on a pig.

And just think…all those Routan badges can be reused with just a bit of cutting!

—Jon Linkov

2009 New York Auto Show: Will the Ford Transit Connect with families?

In an effort to gauge consumer interest in the Transit Connect van as a potential replacement for the family minivan or SUV, Ford is showing a version called the Family One concept at the New York International Auto Show.

With added side windows, under-floor storage for a folding baby stroller, video screens for the kids in back, and sensors linked to a dashboard screen that can alert parents if a child seat is improperly installed, the Family One appears to be family ready. And better still, the in-dash screen can also let parents know if a wayward Rollerblade or some other piece of gear has been left behind, thanks to a radio frequency identification tag (RFID) inventory control system, like that used in the Ford Works System.

Electronic wizardry aside, the Transit Connect’s high ceiling, generous passenger room and cargo capacity relative to its small footprint, EPA fuel mileage estimate of 25 mpg highway, and $21,475 price tag should all make sense to non-commercial buyers. Seating for five will be available when it arrives this summer, but most non-commercial buyers will likely find the stock interior on the Spartan side.

It’ll be interesting to see whether buyers or aftermarket suppliers pursue adding a degree of personalization and more creature comforts to the Transit Connect. While Ford appears to be interested in seeing what develops, the carmaker seems unlikely to get creative with this people-hauling niche market until somebody else makes the first move.

But the possibilities are intriguing, and the Family One drew plenty of attention during the show’s media preview. In fact, it was among the most crowded show vehicles. You’d have to think customizers, young families who have outgrown their Scion xBs, and even motorhome makers all have their eye on the Transit Connect, too. 

While the RV market implodes, could the Transit Connect be the basis for a conversion van revival?

—Jim Travers

See Consumer Reports' coverage of the 2009 New York auto show.

Hyundai Entourage: The vanishing minivan

Hyundai is dropping one of their entourage: the Entourage minivan, that is. Sales were slow, with 17,000 units a year at its peak, and the minivan market has been slumping for years.

Our feelings are a bit mixed on this news. Too many people shun minivans because of their “soccer mom” image, even though a minivan is the most efficient and cost-effective way to carry a large family comfortably.

On the other hand, the pleasant Entourage didn’t quite measure up to the class-leaders--the Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey--in handling or fuel-economy. (In typical Hyundai fashion, it did undercut them in price.) The biggest concern: reliability has been well below average in our 2008 Car Reliability Survey.

But don’t fear--if you still want an Entourage, you can buy a Kia Sedona. It’s identical, save for fascia styling and interior details. Kia, the “sporty brand” in the Kia/Hyundai corporate umbrella, keeps their minivan while practical Hyundai moves on to focus on cars and crossovers.

--Tom Mutchler

2010 Ford Transit Connect fuel economy

The EPA just published fuel economy estimates for the Ford Transit Connect, a small commercial van. The numbers look impressive, even more so than Ford’s original estimate: 22 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. As always, EPA fuel economy numbers are for comparison only.

Meanwhile, we like the idea of the Transit Connect as a more efficient choice for small business owners and contractors than full-sized vans. The four-cylinder Transit Connect is somewhat smaller inside, but it is almost 50 percent more efficient. For comparison purposes, the EPA rates full-sized Ford E-Series at 13/17 mpg city/highway. The Chevrolet and GMC vans are rated at 14/18, city/highway with a V8 engine, and 15/20 with a V6.

Looking at pickups, the full-sized Toyota Tundra V6 pickup is rated at 15/19 mpg, and even the relatively-efficient Honda Ridgeline is rated at 15/20. Only four-cylinder-powered small pickups like the Ford Ranger can match the Transit Connect’s mileage. And any pickup has much less enclosed cargo space.

But don’t think that Transit Connects will be running around getting 22 to 25 mpg. The EPA tests the truck as if only a driver is aboard. If Transit Connects sell to the commercial buyers that Ford expects, most of them will be driving around with up to 1,600 pounds of cargo. With a relatively small 136-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, the weight will definitely hurt their mileage.

—Eric Evarts

Honda recalls 2009 Odyssey minivans

Honda is recalling 421 model-year 2009 Odyssey minivans to correct a potential brake hose problem. There is risk that the incorrect brake hose on these specific models could contact a caliper bolt. Over time, a hole may develop, leading to a fluid leak and reduced brake performance.

Dealers will inspect and correct, if necessary.

Customers can contact Honda customer service at: 1-800-999-1009. And reach the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at: 1-888-327-4236.

Automotive turkeys 2008

The word “turkey” means different things to different people. Thanksgiving, for many, is a great time for turkey…unless you’re a turkey. For those of us who drive different cars every day, we sometimes come across features that rank as turkeys – perhaps the designers/engineers created them with the best of intentions, but in the real world, they prove frustrating. We’ve already written enough about BMW’s iDrive, perhaps the biggest automotive turkey of all time. Some turkeys are nice ideas that simply fall short.

In an informal poll in and around the Consumer Reports Auto Test Center, I’ve come up with some other turkeys that particularly rankle our feathers:

•    Sirius radio reception in wooded, tree shade areas is awful. Also, some car audio systems have a long delay, making you wait to see the title of the satellite radio station identification.

•    Automatic door locks that don’t unlock when you park or allow a choice to set the locks to unlock when the car is turned off. This maybe a good feature for those who want the security in a tough neighborhood, but consumers should at least be given the choice. (This turkey was mentioned more than once.)

•    The government giving a tax credit if you buy a 19-mpg Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid but nothing if you buy a 32-mpg Toyota Corolla or 29 mpg Ford Focus.

·    Outside mirrors that automatically turn and give you a view of the ground below when shifting to reverse. While this offers a good view of the curb, it makes using the mirrors to back out of a long driveway useless. Convex or larger mirrors do it all.

•    Chrysler announcing its hybrid Aspen and Dodge Durango SUVs and then unceremoniously killing them four weeks later.

·    Mini Cooper’s radio controls (see photo above), which are scattered all around the center stack. The radio’s volume knob, for example, is mounted separate from the radio head unit, lower on the dashboard. It’s easy to grab the radio’s other knob by mistake; even though that’s a multi-function knob, it only serves as a tuning knob if you push the “m” button first. (Of course!) It also takes several button presses to change radio modes.

·    Re-inventing a wheel that wasn’t broken in the first place. For example: Some keyless ignitions work OK, but some “Start” buttons are hard to find and require a push-and-hold process to start the car. The worst are those on BMWs and Mini Coopers that require using a fob placed in a slot and then pressing a start button. What was wrong with a key?

·    Big key fobs are maybe OK if you use a purse, but they’re bulky in a pant’s pocket. Kneel down at just the wrong angle, and the panic button can be activated, resulting in the car’s horn going off and waking up the neighborhood.

•    Acura’s styling department is a whole, gobbling turkey within itself. Have you seen the beaks on the TL, TSX and RL? I can’t tell them apart. They all look like grinning teenagers with mouths full of braces.

•    The headlights in the Toyota Prius Touring. On a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being the tops), these lights got a 1. Even with Xenon bulbs, low-beam light doesn’t provide enough illumination forward to allow the driver time to see and react to objects in the road. The lights also have a distinct ramp-shaped cutoff between light and darkness at the top of the low-beam pattern. These lights leave us in the dark.

•    Paying a premium to buy a Smart (ours was just under $16,000) to get 39 mpg overall but putting up with the limitations of being able to seat only two people, limited cargo room, and maybe the worst transmission ever, when--for about the same a price--you could get a Honda Fit or Toyota Yaris, which seat five, and are infinitely more comfortable and (in the Fit’s case) fun to drive.

Anyway, that’s our short list. I’m sure we could go on, but you get the point. What particular car controls, models, or manufacturers drive you bonkers? Pass the gravy, and share your automotive turkeys in the Comments below.

--Mike Quincy