SUV (three rows) Reviews | Mother Proof

2008 Toyota Land Cruiser Review

2008 Toyota Land Cruiser

One of my guilty pleasures is watching shows like “The Biggest Loser” and “Celebrity Fit Club.” Toward the end of each season, the losers inevitably strap on weights of some sort to simulate the pounds they’ve lost, and I thought of that moment when I drove the 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser.

2009 Dodge Journey Review

2009 Dodge Journey

When I was little, my dad carried a red Swiss Army knife in his pocket. Every time he whipped that knife out it revealed a new feature I’d never seen before. The Dodge Journey is just like that knife.

2008 Lexus LX 570 Review

2008 Lexus LX 570

While my colleague Courtney dreamed of owning this luxury SUV when she previewed it in February, I was caught somewhere between great appreciation of the family-friendly people-hauler and utter bewilderment that someone would spend $80K on a truck.

2009 Honda Pilot Preview

2009 Honda Pilot

Dallas is a far cry from Detroit, where I first encountered the 2009 Honda Pilot. I hate to bring the word up, but when I first saw the Honda Pilot I was kind of…bitter. It was all amped up on steroids with an angular design aesthetic. It was not what I was anticipating. I was really hoping that Honda would make it up to me with a smooth ride and comfortable interior.

2008 Audi Q7 Review

2008 Audi Q7

I live in L.A., where you are what you drive. Angelinos spend hours in their cars fighting traffic, working and judging other drivers by their cars. We don’t have school buses; we drive our kids to school and get in line to parade our four-wheeled identities past the other PTA moms, like pageant queens on a runway.

2008 Land Rover LR3 HSE Review

Land Rover LR3

I grew up in a family that had a very utilitarian view of cars. We had reliable, safe cars with no frills. Then I started driving the latest and greatest cars for Mother Proof and changed my tune.

2008 Mitsubishi Outlander SE XLS Preview

2008 Mitsubishi Outlander SE XLS

It seems unfair that one should have to drive a “normal” car immediately after driving a fast racecar around a track at 100mph. And so it was last week when I had to go from Speed Racer mode to mom mode in the Outlander SE.

2008 Toyota Highlander

2008 Toyota Highlander

Up until now, I had always discarded the Highlander as a car that was just plumb U-G-L-Y, yet here I was suddenly marveling at it, admiring its face-lift. When I got closer for a peek inside, things only got better.

2008 Ford Taurus X

2008 Ford Taurus X Freestyle

I drive a Ford Freestyle and love it, so I was a little hesitant when asked to review the 2008 version of this car, which has been re-named the Taurus X. I was truly afraid that driving it would make me want to go buy the new version. Fortunately, sense won out; I am happy to report that I still love my Freestyle, and am even happier to report that Ford has improved on an already great car in the Taurus X.

2007 Hyundai Veracruz

2007 Hyundai Veracruz

The Hyundai Veracruz is a budget-esque crossover masquerading as a luxury one. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that the Veracruz is almost as nice (and in some respects even nicer) than the Lexus RX — for a base price of more than $10K lower. Meowwww!

2007 Mazda CX-9

CX9

I have discovered the outer limits of extreme sports for parents: Extreme Camping. Not for the faint of heart, this sport involves camping in tents with an entire class of kindergarteners. I swallowed my reservations and loaded up the Mazda CX-9 with our tent, sleeping bags and my son’s enormous backpack, which literally towers over him by a foot.

2007 GMC Acadia

Acadia

The “dead pedal” in most cars is a somewhat uncomfortable place to rest your foot if you wear high heels. Well, the interior designers of the GMC Acadia thought about this tiny detail and placed a notch at the bottom that will accommodate all but the chunkiest of heels.

2007 Land Rover Range Rover

2007 Range Rover HSE

I have a secret to confess: I have a crush on the Range Rover. Although it’s not the best vehicle choice for families with young children, it does have a certain seductive appeal. Infatuations do tend to make us blind to major annoyances, don’t they? I guess that would be called compromise.

2007 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer 4x4

For me, a thin, slightly crunchy layer of chocolate over a smallish marshmallow bunny shape is perfect; not too much of either ingredient. Judging the design of a car's interior is similar to considering the proportions of chocolate to marshmallow in a marshmallow bunny.

2007 Acura MDX Sport

I live in a neighborhood cloned straight from Wisteria Lane, where Honda Pilots and Toyota Siennas reign supreme, and I honestly have nightmares about turning into one of them (the neighbors I mean, not the cars — that would just be plain weird). Anything I can do to set myself apart from the Stepford neighbors is a good thing, and my vehicle is the perfect place to start.

2007 BMW X5 4.8i

This iDrive system is used to control the navigation (as well as communications, entertainment and climate) and is nothing less than a complete pain in the a@#. Its multifunction knob requires the dexterity of a highly evolved primate (or my 5-year-old son) to make it work properly.

2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Although the finish inside the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is nice and fairly upscale, the exterior styling of the Highlander Hybrid is remarkably unremarkable. The Highlander's styling hasn't evolved much since its introduction to the market. Evolution is such a necessary process. Without it, I'd be sitting here for months chiseling this review into a piece of slate using nothing more than my teeth and a porcupine quill.

2007 Lincoln Navigator

The Navigator boasts what must be the largest, brightest grille ever: cha-ching. Other than it being just a smidge pretentious, I like the way it looks. It is distinctive, stylish and decidedly Lincoln. Discreet, however, it is not.

2007 Nissan Armada

I do enjoy spending some time in a larger SUV. It's kind of like going to stay with someone whose house is bigger than yours: It's nice to spread out, but I wouldn't want to clean it. Or pay for it. So, in that sense, I really enjoy the Armada.

2007 Toyota RAV4

I have some favorite words that I like to use whenever I have the chance: Bloviate, myopic, psyched (yes, I know that dates me), segue and Nerf. What does one of my favorite words have to do with the 2007 Toyota RAV4?

2007 Suzuki XL7

This vehicle has steadfastly delivered me from a state of frazzled cabin fever into a world of motoring bliss, transporting myself and my children to a nearby Center for Rejuvenation Therapy (mall) for a decompression remedy (shopping) and body movement treatments (wide open spaces without crowds for the kids to run around like maniacs).

2007 Volvo XC90

This past fall, the Pope was given a Volvo XC90 for his official transportation. I keep telling myself that even though I'm not a VIP (holy or otherwise), I'm sure I will fit in the XC90 just fine. Hey, if it's good enough for the Pope ...

2007 Chrysler Aspen

My kids can keep a box of wipes in the massive rear console for cleaning up after themselves (what a concept), and some drawing supplies to keep them occupied. Speaking of keeping kids occupied, the rear seat entertainment system's remote control is cleverly hidden in the overhead console and can be removed, which makes it much easier for the kids to lose... I mean use.

2007 Hyundai Santa Fe

The Santa Fe is all grown up, slenderized, sophisticated, sleek and gorgeous. I'm a little jealous, to tell you the truth, and I think that means I'm spending way too much time with cars.

2007 Audi Q7 4.2

I've been waiting for a car to come along that is chic enough to look good on those moms among us who we all want to be. You know, the moms that look fab running errands, wearing denim with grape juice stains for the third day in a row and pulling it off with the utmost panache. This fantasy car of mine must be designed and engineered by someone clever, someone in the know, a genius or savant possibly, or better yet - a parent.

2007 Toyota Sequoia Limited

The Toyota Sequoia is not very gas-friendly (unless you happen to own Shell Oil, in which case it's quite friendly and everyone should own four). Plenty of positive qualities exist, too.

2007 GMC Yukon XL 1500 SLT

Between the pack-n-play, the stroller, the kiddie backpack and all of the other rubbish, there is usually very little space for me. But not so this weekend! As I pack for a ladies only holiday SANS KIDLETS, the Yukon XL allows me to indulge in a former bad habit: over-packing. Why only bring 2 pair of shoes when I can easily get away with 4?

2007 Ford Expedition Limited

I welcome the optional Reverse Sensing feature in the Ford Expedition, but would feel much more at ease with a back-up camera, to keep this big vehicle in check! And when I say big, I also refer to its appetite for gasoline. While driving, I have to make a concerted effort not to keep staring at the rapidly dropping gas gauge.

2007 Mitsubishi Outlander

The Outlander is actually designed for, and geared towards, college-age males. But really, Mitsubishi could come up with a Mom Package and the Outlander would do very well.

2007 Subaru B9 Tribeca

I am impressed with the attention Subaru has paid to the airliner theme of the B9 Tribeca. Even Wonder Woman's airplane doesn't have this much thematic integrity. It is a very functional aircraft, I mean vehicle, and my kids appreciate all flights, even those close to the ground.

2007 Chrysler Pacifica

The standard seat fabric in the Pacifica, called YES Essentials, is the most kid-proof vehicle upholstery out there, next to leather. It's both stain- and odor-resistant, making that dreaded spoiled-milk mom-car smell as yesterday as sending hand-written party invitations.

2007 GMC Yukon Denali

My 19-year-old next-door neighbor struts in to the driveway when I arrive and says, "Girl, you're rollin' on some tight dubs." OK, luckily she didn't loose me on "tight", but "dubs"? It takes me only a second to realize that she is staring at the rims of the 2007 GMC Yukon Denali.

2007 Cadillac Escalade

What on EARTH could I possibly not like about the Escalade? It is large, handsome, and clad in leather. What more is there to want in a man? Er, a car?

2007 Mercedes GL450

After the GL450's debut in X-Men: The Last Stand, it may be cool enough to make an appearance in front of the movie theatre as opposed the usual pick up spot - around the corner and down the block so as not to cause mortal embarrassment to fragile developing pre-teen psyches.

2006 Toyota RAV4 Limited

The two cup holders in the front seat are too big for a standard travel mug or water bottle. My cup never actually tumbles out, but it does dance around like a dashboard hula girl. Despite my disappointment in the utility of the front cup holders, I am impressed that the total number of cup holders in this small wonder is a whopping 10, with the optional third row seat.

2007 Chevrolet Tahoe LT

The Tahoe has certainly evolved and changed over the years to reflect more about its true modern drivers: Women. Practical features are being added quicker than Chevy can say 'who's your momma?' with the exception of a major one that I'll get into later.

2006 Mercury Mountaineer

With plenty of room for the whole family (plus the extra kids we collect along the way), yet enough flexibility to accommodate the other facets of my life, the 2006 Mercury Mountaineer is a relative chameleon of an SUV.

2006 Nissan Pathfinder

I am convinced we might need to strap the dog to the roof with the skis. My husband, the self-proclaimed "packing pro" manages to get all our gear, our dog and our kids packed in the Pathfinder.

2006 Chrysler Pacifica Limited AWD

You are either an SUV sista' or a minivan mama. Well I have news for you, ladies, there is a new player in town. The crossover class in general and the Chrysler Pacifica in specific bring together the ease of the minivan with the sturdy flair of an SUV.

2006 Jeep Commander

There's a 4 or 5 inch gap of side window not protected by the visor where the sun seems to eternally linger. It must be a conspiracy! Don't worry, I've figured out how to fix the problem; simply don't drive north between the hours of 3:00 pm and sunset.

2006 Volvo XC90

A poll of my mom peers revealed a gradient of thoughts about "VOLVO" such as safe, family-friendly, expensive, tree-hugging, boxy, boring, gutless and a few straggling remarks about the female anatomy. That's exactly what Volvo's going for; maybe not the boring and gutless part, but safety for sure.

2006 Mercedes R350

When I pick my mother up for Sunday brunch in this car she exclaims, "Wow, what a beauty!" This is one of the few things we've agreed upon. However, my brother (barely 20 years old) said, "That's a Mercedes? It looks more like a Pontiac." Ouch! I won't tell Mercedes he said that!

2006 Ford Explorer Limited 4X4

I find myself yearning for mulled apple cider and pumpkin muffins. It must be fall; time for some scenic aspen viewing and road testing the Ford Explorer through the Rocky Mountain National Park.

2005 Nissan Pathfinder

OK, I'll just say it; the Nissan Pathfinder has a big butt. It wasn't long ago that J.Lo put big butts into the spotlight, which personally I am thankful for. Though Hollywood is able to make the derriere a popular trend, the big back end of the Pathfinder is anything but bootylicious.

2005 Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum

Does anyone really need to spend this much money on a gas guzzler that barely fits in an average parking space? After driving it for a week I can say with some certainty that I now see the appeal. I can drive this car to the PTA, or fit right into a rap video. You can't say that about a station wagon.

2005 Lexus GX 470

The workings of the GX470 leave me oh so tired. Maybe it's the woman in me, maybe it's the mom in me, but there's a lot about this SUV I don't get. The larger size of this SUV makes me feel like I have a big butt that is going to bump into everything when I try to park.

2005 Toyota Highlander Hybrid LTD

I highly recommend upgrading to the Hybrid model. It packs more power and saves time because I don't have to go the gas station as often. The Highlander Hybrid is many things (stylish yet practical; family friendly yet fun to drive; masculine yet feminine; SUV yet Hybrid) and is a great choice for appealing to different tastes.

2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca Limited

The 2006 B9 Tribeca is less "crunchy granola Boulderite" and more "crunchy granola Boulderite has grown up, moved to a trendy city, secured a profession and has a growing family". This car is equally comfortable in the carpool lane and on a rare child-free date night with my husband.

2005 Toyota Highlander LTD

It's not obvious to me in the beginning, but after a week of driving the Highlander it's becoming a regular member of the family. At first site I think, "eh, just another SUV," but the Highlander continues to surprise me. It has quietly molded its family-friendliness around my busy mom life.

2005 Land Rover LR3 V8 HSE

Two worlds collide to create the LR3, a sensible combination of the ultimate 4x4 capability with practicality. Sure, it drives over sand, moguls, rocks, and up and down steep hills but if a monster vehicle can't keep up with my suburban life, what's the point?

2005 Suzuki XL-7 4WD EX III

Can it be? Am I actually enjoying this SUV? I've always been partial to the compact car: practical, closer to the ground, great gas mileage and less surface area to keep clean. I tend not to believe in the notion that "bigger is better," but in this case it might be true.

2005 Honda Pilot EX-L

I wonder if the automotive journalists who wrote those other Pilot reviews ever put children in the Pilot. Since Honda claims that "The Pilot continues to lead the sport utility segment as the ultimate SUV for family adventure" it would be logical to test it in real life with a real family.

2005 Volvo V50 and XC90

I recently traveled 300 kilometers above the Arctic Circle to test the Volvo V50 and XC90 on the ice tracks. OK, the real truth is that 13 hours in the plane each way without kids was quite appealing to me. A good book, some mindless magazines and a long nap would do any mom a world of good.

2005 Ford Freestyle SEL AWD

Young women today work hard, whether it's at an office or as full-time moms. We act as chauffeurs, cooks, counselors, nurses, housekeepers, and more (in my instance, I have to give my husband credit for his amazing cleaning skills). We deserve to get into a car that feels just as good as putting on our favorite pair of jeans. The Ford Freestyle does it for me.

2005 Land Rover Range Rover HSE

It's interesting the comments I got from my neighbors as I pulled into my driveway (this vehicle is much too large to fit in my garage alongside my husband's truck). As I stepped out of this enormous vehicle I got a look of "how did you afford this?" As I smiled back, I began to think, "if I could afford it, would I actually buy it?"

2005 Volvo XC90 AWD A SR7

You might be wondering what's with the full-sized Lego model of the 2005 Volvo XC90? Volvo has paired with LegoLand to help teach young children the importance of safe driving. What a great idea! How can I get my kids involved in that? Maybe if we start now (at ages 2 and 4) we can avoid the all-too-common "invincible new driver" syndrome when they turn 16.

2004 Infiniti QX56 4X4

Infiniti's tagline for the QX56 is "Luxury on a Grand Scale." To me that conjures up images of sailing a yacht through the warm Mediterranean, being served champagne and caviar by the deck boy. Can the Infiniti QX56 inject luxury into my real life where dining on peanut butter and honey is a more realistic expectation?

2004 Nissan Pathfinder Armada

I recently heard about a woman who had three children when she became pregnant with triplets. Her youngest was under 2 when the triplets were born. How does she take her family of three infants, three children and a husband anywhere? The Nissan Pathfinder Armada could be her answer.

2004 Dodge Durango

What is a Hemi? Does it make carpooling easier? Will it keep my kids' sippy cups from leaking on the seats? No? Well then, what's it good for?

2005 Chrysler Pacifica

I have a theory that most minivan moms are cat people, while SUV moms are dog people. Now, that may be a gross generalization, but follow me on this for a minute: If the Pacifica can bridge the gap between SUVs and minivans, maybe it can also bridge the gap between dog and cat lovers. That, my fellow parents, could be a starting point for making the world a better place.

2004 Volvo XC90 2.5T AWD

My first impression of the Volvo XC90 is that it's not your typical SUV. It appears very sophisticated and expensive. I'm a little weary about throwing kids in the back seat knowing that it will soon be littered with cracker crumbs.

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