Ya gotta love those brood mobiles that allow you to pack 'em in and haul 'em off! They are roomy, comfy, designed with families in mind, these kid-tested, mother-approved vehicles will go the distance without any complaints from those younger driving wannabees in the rear.
Here are four top choices for 2012 SUV's and crossovers that get high marks from this Car Chick for offering all that any family ever needs to make road travel a pleasant experience:
1) Chevy Traverse: Roomy as all heck and in all three rows. The huge cabin can comfortably fit up to 8. A real looker with an athletic build that is eye-catching, the Traverse gives you styling that doesn't scream, "I'm huge!" The interior look is refined with a layout that is sensible, and well-placed. The well-bolstered seating can take you for miles without an utterance of displeasure. The crossover offers a ride that glides over those annoying and sometimes hazardous road booby traps.
The handling is secure and surprisingly agile. For those who are intimidated by larger rides, this one will make you forget you're driving a big boy. In the LS and LT trims, the V6 produces 281 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque while the LTZ kicks out 288 hp and 270 lb-ft.
Safety-wise, the Traverse offers antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, front seat side-impact airbags and side curtain airbags for all three rows. Traverse also did swell on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash tests, where it got the highest rating of "Good" in all frontal-offset, side-impact and roof-strength tests. The add-on rear seat DVD entertainment system gets an "A" for being clear and unfussy in getting it going. All in all a ride any mom would rave about!
2) Ford Flex: It is boxy and has an undeniable ground-hugging appeal, the Ford Flex's profile makes you wanna look. The crossover wagon which seats up to seven has a bold design with lots to offer. The Flex oddly resembles the Range Rover in a third cousin, twice-removed kind of way.
The interior shows off an excellent build quality, really upscale as far as the materials used, the fit and finish all about is neat. I bet the seating in the Flex is more comfortable and supportive than your family room's furniture. Adults can even sit in the third row! Love the visibility which is great for all drivers. The Limited and Titanium models offer a refrigerated second-row console that can hold up to seven 12-oz. cans or two 20-oz. bottles that is included in the must-have package of a multi-panel moonroof, heated second-row bucket seats and power-folding third row seats (you'll appreciate the fridge, it will cut out those pricey soft drink stops at McDonalds completely). Cargo space is a dream come true for trunk hoarders, the Flex gives you 20 cubic feet, when you stow the third row you wind up with 43.2 and folding the second row gives you a whopping 83.2 cubes.
The Flex rides like a car, easy-breezy, responsive steering, first-rate braking system, soaks up road thumps like a pro. The 2012 Ford Flex comes standard with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that puts out 262 horsepower. Want a smidge more power? Opt for the spirited 355 horsepower contained in the Flex’s twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine.
A "Top Safety Pick for 2012" the Flex comes with all of the safety equipment you'll need but here 's one standard feature that parents of teen drivers will welcome, the Ford MyKey. The MyKey system allows moms and dads to program different limitations settings for when a particular key is in use in the car. Among other things, parents can adjust the key so that the radio volume won’t go above a certain level, the car will provide earlier low-fuel warnings and will limit the car’s top speed. "Take that Junior!"
3) Toyota Sienna: Here's a minivan with some 'tude and one you and your brood will be proud to be seen in around town. The up to eight passenger vehicle is actually cool looking, not odious and bulky; the look is streamlined and stylish. The Sienna is actually considered to be the best looking minivan on the market.
Inside the Sienna gives all room to roam, it is cavernous. The cabin is attractive with lots of storage space. The seating all-around fits like your favorite recliner. A kid-friendly plus is the 16.4-inch rear seat DVD screen. The screen can show one DVD in a widescreen format, or show two in a split-screen format, funtertainment for a kid of any age. The cargo space is abundant at 150 cubic feet, you can't possibly ask for more unless your next stop is a Mack truck!
Base and LE models come with a 2.7-liter inline-4 that cranks out 187 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque. Available on those two trims and standard on all others is a 3.5-liter V6 with 266 hp and 245 lb-ft of torque. Handling is a smooth operation, acceleration is perky, the ride quality is firm but not jarring.
The safety features run the gamut--antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, a driver-side knee airbag and active front head restraints are standard on all Toyota Siennas. A minivan that makes maxi moves.
4) Land Rover LR4: A solid piece of machinery, refinement, luxury, an upper-crust feeling as soon as you step into its cabin, the Land Rover LR4 offers amazing off-roading capabilities in sheer style. Just think, you can take the fam to places that regular run-of-the-mill vehicles can only dream of going. Like camping? Mud, dirt, sand, water, snow, rocks is a joke for this more than capable land crawler, it excels on rough terrain. The Terrain Response System allows drivers to set the LR4’s responses for different terrains. The LR4 also has a hill descent control system that works to help bring it down steep and challenging terrain with little driver inputs.
There's a perfect blend of sexy ruggedness and sophistication as far as styling for the LR4. The go-anywhere SUV's interior gives off an air of elegance and is chock-full of materials that are high end and tasteful. The comfort seating factor is present anywhere you sit. Large-sized windows enhances outward visibility and the sunroofs makes the cabin feel expansive. The LR4 can comfortably seat five but with the optional third row you can squeeze in a total of seven.
The ride is comfortable, picking up steam to get on the highway is robust, the steering is precise and effortless. Braking offers on-a-dime stopping control. The LR4 features a 5.0-liter V8 engine which gives you 375 horsepower and 375 lb-ft of torque that is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.
The LR4's safety features are all present and accounted for including front and rear parking sensors, six airbags and four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes. The optional surround camera system is what every single driver should have at their disposal. The system uses five cameras around the vehicle giving drivers an almost 360-degree view of the LR4 on the main touch screen on the dashboard. The LR4 provides off-roading chops with unsurpassed refinement, what an interesting combo.
--Car Chick
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