Family of 5 - ski, road trip, camp needs

[sedole]

I'd remove 3rd row entirely and keep the kiddos in the middle row. Removing the 3rd row definitely yields more cargo area.

We'll do a couple weekend ski trips a year with visiting friends or family where we cram 6 adults and gear into the LX with a box up top for skis and boards. It's tight, but for an occasional weekend, doable. Typically I'll leave one side of the 3rd row in and remove the other. Cargo area is packed floor to ceiling. I suppose as long as the 3 of them are fine sitting next to each other then you'll have plenty of space in the cargo area for 5 for all ski related gear or even that plus supplies for a weekend trip no problem. And skis up top in a box.

 

[eatSleepWoof]

I'm surprised to hear the criticisms of the LX in winter conditions. There's no doubt it's heavy, but I've never felt it was lacking traction or maneuverability. With non-studded Blizzacks for 7 of last 8 winters, I've been borderline unstoppable on streets and highways. Hell, I've towed travel trailers in the dead of winter, both for camping trips and for trailer purchases heading home, right over snow-covered mountain passes, at the speed of traffic. No issues whatsoever.

Maybe different types of snow (wet/dry), different roads, and different air temps play a role here.

 

[coleAK]

My LX570 is a two row model, so I didn't need to remove the rear seats. If I had gotten a three row model, I would have yanked the seats as I don't have a need for them.

I do agree with Cole that for a dedicated winter vehicle it is tough to beat a Mercedes 4-matic. We've had a 99 E-320 wagon, 01 E-430 and a 14 E-350. All outstanding with the traction control and anti lock breaking. That said, there is a limit to how much snow they can handle and I would not want one on Donner Pass rd when it had just dumped 4' of snow. In Anchorage we rarely get a dump that keeps the Mercedes in the garage, but it does happen now and again, but our snowfall is nothing like Donner Summit when it really dumps.

I grew up (born and raised) on the tramway loop in state line NV, then during undergrad and pre professional school I lived in Tahoe Donner for 7 years, when I was 16 to 22 I drove a Subaru GL wagon. Never had a single issue in the winter and 1994-1999 were mostly huge winters, fall of 1995 to spring 1998 I was commuting 2-3 days a week from Tahoe donner to UC Davis (yes most of the time both directions in the same day) to finish undergrad (did my first year at the no longer (well now part of UNR) Sierra Nevada university).

 

[coleAK]

I'm surprised to hear the criticisms of the LX in winter conditions. There's no doubt it's heavy, but I've never felt it was lacking traction or maneuverability. With non-studded Blizzacks for 7 of last 8 winters, I've been borderline unstoppable on streets and highways. Hell, I've towed travel trailers in the dead of winter, both for camping trips and for trailer purchases heading home, right over snow-covered mountain passes, at the speed of traffic. No issues whatsoever.

Maybe different types of snow (wet/dry), different roads, and different air temps play a role here.

Again I don’t think it is bad, just my other cars are noticeably better. And OP is coming from a Subaru, which are some of the best winter vehicles.

 

[whatdude17]

The 2011 subie we have has the CVT. Currently at 165k miles with no issues. Subaru is the #1 car brand in Alaska, I don’t know anyone that has had major issues with a CVT.

On the transmission note, I’m starting to possibly have torque converter issues (5/6th gear shudder) with my LX, 2013 - 130k miles.

Clarifying my comment about "early model years". I am referring to the Ascent, specifically 2019 - 2021. There is a massive issue w/ CVT failing and they extended warranty to 100K for these models...could be 2019-2020. Either way, I am not thrilled w/ the idea of the transmission failing and leaving the family stranded in the mountains....especially in the winter. I've had to abort a ski trip this season on a powder day b/c it was driving funny. That said, it drives amazingly well in the snow and I've been able to tackle some steep, switchbacked terrain in it where other trucks couldn't.

 

[DesertRider]

I grew up (born and raised) on the tramway loop in state line NV, then during undergrad and pre professional school I lived in Tahoe Donner for 7 years, when I was 16 to 22 I drove a Subaru GL wagon. Never had a single issue in the winter and 1994-1999 were mostly huge winters, fall of 1995 to spring 1998 I was commuting 2-3 days a week from Tahoe donner to UC Davis (yes most of the time both directions in the same day) to finish undergrad (did my first year at the no longer (well now part of UNR) Sierra Nevada university).

My folks had a cabin near Bear Valley in the early 70's before the gas crunch, late 70's through 80's a place in Squaw Valley, and late 80's into the 90's a cabin by Serene Lakes (Soda Springs / Royal Gorge) which got stupid quantities of snow, nearly to the eves on a 2 story cabin. I think Valdez is the only area that gets crazy snow like that in AK. Not that I want to deal with those quantities of snow when winter lasts half the year.

Man, commuting Tahoe Donner to Davis 2-3 times a week would get old.