Suggestion for an eco friendly, inexpensive car with 3 rows

[cdlamis]

One that is ideally not a minivan! Sorry, just can't get a minivan just yet.
I love my little Honda Civic but am now seeing the importance of being able to transport DD's friends, carpool, etc.

Any suggestions? We aren't looking to buy for another year.
Thanks!
Daniella

[ShanaMama]

I'll be watching your thread but I think your three criteria are oxymorons! Hope to see some good suggestions.

[geochick]

We're saving our pennies for the Toyota Rav4...only *some* of the Limited Eds have the optional third row. We won't need the third row every day...just occasionally when we have extra people with us. It gets great gas mileage (built on a car platform) and Edmunds and other reviewers love it:
http://www.edmunds.com/toyota/rav4/2008/review.html#search=open.eq..amp.p.eq.cvehicledata% 23%23-1%23%23-1%7E%7Ef64%7C%7C535556%7E%7Enf56%7C%7C43726f73736f 766572

The price is great. I don't think it would be good for the minivan crowd who need that third row on a daily basis. For me, it will be perfect!

[KBecks]

I thought Mazda came out with something like that, but I've been out of the car market for over a year. Just drove a Rav4 on rental and it was a fine car.

[cmo]

The Mazda 5 may be what the PP was referring to. It's kind of a cross between a wagon and an SUV. It has 3 rows, 2 seats per row, with a wagon/minivan-like hatchback, and the back doors slide open like a minivan, which is very convenient for loading/unloading kiddos!

[hellokitty]

Keep in mind that a lot of suv's with 3rd row seating have really cramped third rows. If you plan to try to fit carseats back there, it may be very difficult.

[Tondi G]

Mazda CX9, New Chevy Tahoe Hybrid, can't remember if the Saturn Vue has a 3rd row? GMC Acadia maybe?

I don't know about eco friendly and a crossover or suv with a 3rd row but there are a fair number of new hybrids coming out.... just don't know if I'd trust a brand new model??

We have a Dodge Durango with the 3rd row and we LOVE it! Yes it's big and it is a V8 Hemi engine. It does have the 4 cylinder shut down engine so it runs on 4 in the city mostly. I don't drive that much... mostly locally so I don't fill up that often!

Hope you find the right car!

~Tondi

[trales]

The Toyota Highland Hybrid get 27mpg and has an optional 3rd row seat. The Toyota minivan only gets 17mpg. You could also go for a diesel.

[SnuggleBuggles]

We rented a Mazda 5 last summer but I don't think they make them anymore. It would probably work for you. If you use the 3rd row you will not hav much cargo space at all. But, you can fold them flat and have a ton and then just use the 2nd row. Gas mileage was ok, probably as good as you can get with a car that has 3 rows.

Beth