Hi Kristie,
I already posted something about this in another thread, "perceived issues for larger families", a week or 2 ago. Tiggy's car thoughts are there too. We have a Hyundai Trajet. I am pleased but not thrilled with it (not enough storage space with all the seats in). Before that, we had a Pajero, which I LOVED. We actually took the Trajet on a lease because we really could not decide what to do about another car--with the idea that we'd buy it at the end of the lease if we liked it a lot. Currently, we don't like it enough to buy it.

It depends on what ages your kids are. What we liked about the Trajet was that the seating was modular & that it could go 2 in front, 2 in the middle, and 3 in back. We have an age gap & my older 2 are big boofy guys; the 12 year old is nearly as tall as I am. The Pajero did not work any more because it was a) hard to get in the back, and b) the biggest reason, the back seat did not have enough leg space for them.

Other things about the Trajet: the climate control system is not great. It has rear air, but although I can turn the option on or off at the front, I can't actually control the fan. That is only in the back. In other words, if the big boys have turned the fan off in back, even if I press the button "allowing" rear a/c, it doesn't actually blow. This is annoying. I have to get out of the car & adjust the fan manually. Also, it doesn't cool the car very fast. I've driven other minivans before & 4WDs, so I know that that does NOT have to be the case...even though the vehicle is big, with good a/c you can cool the car fast, and there are plenty of systems with a full control option at the front or back.

Also, the radio is annoying & fiddly to adjust. This is a small thing, but a daily irritation.

We are pondering other options now. I LOVE the Volvo 4WD. It has an integrated booster seat in the middle centre so our 2 year old could go in that. But for $85,000.... I find it hard to justify that kind of $$.

We wanted to get a Toyota Tarago Ultima van but they stopped making them after 2005. This was the top of the line mini van. Apparently they sold only about 50 a year in Australia. Several of my friends have the Volkswagen vans. They like them but they are fairly bus-like.

I have been in Suburbans, which are fantastic, but again I can't justify the cost. And I know I'd have trouble getting it down my driveway! If you really want a 4WD, as I said I loved my Pajero. I would also suggest taking a deep breath & buying "up" as much as possible, getting the space you really want, because you'll spend a lot of time in it & the more convenient it is for you, the better.