I think nearly everyone else covered the basics, but I’ll add my thoughts since my family situation is nearly identical to yours (three kids, oldest is six, wife drives a Honda Odyssey, etc.).
I went from a four door Wrangler Rubicon to the GX when our third kid arrived, as the Wrangler couldn’t do three car seats across the back. I initially wanted a three row 4Runner, but found them to be 50% more than the GX, even with 50% more miles (though that is changing now that people are aware of the value a used GX provides). In the GX, I took out one of the third row seats, got a hitch-mounted step off Amazon, and my oldest uses that and the third row as his domain, which allows us to keep the other car seats latched (and makes loading the kids WAY faster, which is critical in the rainy season here in the Pacific Northwest).
I have had many full-size trucks in the past, all 3/4 ton gas or diesel from my days when I hauled enough to justify the trucks and dealing with the size. Now I haul kids, some occasional home supplies (I’m remodeling a house right now), and a smaller quad to the local sand dunes, the latter two done by a smaller cargo trailer easily towed by the GX.
I had initially wanted a 100 series, but like the full-size trucks, my wife was afraid of the size. Now she drives the GX whenever she gets the chance and loves it, especially when it comes to parking. She loves her van, but no one could accuse modern minivans of being anywhere close to “mini”.
As for gas mileage, I do mostly rural, hilly road driving with speed limits 45mph and less and the GX gets about 16.5mpg on average.
I went from a four door Wrangler Rubicon to the GX when our third kid arrived, as the Wrangler couldn’t do three car seats across the back. I initially wanted a three row 4Runner, but found them to be 50% more than the GX, even with 50% more miles (though that is changing now that people are aware of the value a used GX provides). In the GX, I took out one of the third row seats, got a hitch-mounted step off Amazon, and my oldest uses that and the third row as his domain, which allows us to keep the other car seats latched (and makes loading the kids WAY faster, which is critical in the rainy season here in the Pacific Northwest).
I have had many full-size trucks in the past, all 3/4 ton gas or diesel from my days when I hauled enough to justify the trucks and dealing with the size. Now I haul kids, some occasional home supplies (I’m remodeling a house right now), and a smaller quad to the local sand dunes, the latter two done by a smaller cargo trailer easily towed by the GX.
I had initially wanted a 100 series, but like the full-size trucks, my wife was afraid of the size. Now she drives the GX whenever she gets the chance and loves it, especially when it comes to parking. She loves her van, but no one could accuse modern minivans of being anywhere close to “mini”.
As for gas mileage, I do mostly rural, hilly road driving with speed limits 45mph and less and the GX gets about 16.5mpg on average.
Last edited:
