New Car Question

[Higgy]

Well, at the same time that we're thinking of moving, the lease on my Matrix is also coming up in September so we're starting to test drive new cars. I don't like going bigger but I think we're going to have to. Here's the deal. We are starting to do more and more road trips and the kids are getting older as well, so we'd like something that we'd be able to do road trips with as well as having the ability to carry some extra passengers if we needed to (like the kids' friends or family members). I really don't want a minivan...and not for the reason's you think. I'd love a minivan because it's like driving a nice big luxury vehicle with tons of room. The reason I don't want one...gas guzzler. I want something good on gas, for my pocket book and the environment.

This past week we test drove a 2011 7 seat Kia Sorento which was REALLY nice. We also drove a 2011 and 2008 Toyota Sienna. Again, both nice but bigger gas guzzlers. We may go back today and test drive the Rav4 7 seater, but my neighbor, who is a Toyota salesman, seems to be adamant against selling us a Rav4 7 seater. 5 seater, he has no problem with, but he doesn't like the 7. I'm not sure if I made it clear enough to him though that the 7th row would only be used once in a while.

We also have a Corolla, which we will use most of the time. The SUV or Minivan will only be used for the person who drives the shorter distance to work as well as for trips. Otherwise we will use the Corolla for a bigger percentage of time.

Does anyone have any opinions on the above cars, or have any other suggestions?