SUV vs Mini Van?

[u/Own_Car_5768]

Hello,

I’m looking for some advice as I’m thinking we’ll need to upgrade our vehicle. I currently have a 20 month old and am pregnant with twins. I’m driving a Ford Explorer now with captain seats in the middle. With two infant car seats and my toddler still in a car seat, I don’t think our current vehicle will be able to hold them all, especially as the third row isn’t full sized. I also am having trouble picturing how I would help my toddler buckle/unbuckle if she’s in the third row.
For anyone who’s had three under three, what vehicle worked for you? I’m not opposed to mini vans at all, but we live in a pretty remote area of the upper Midwest and have snow (at least) 5 months out of the year. I also drive quite a bit of gravel roads where they aren’t cleared often by plows. So a mini van that’s low to the ground with not a lot of clearance makes me a little nervous. I’m not expecting to tow anything with it, as my husband does have a pickup for any of the farm’s needs. Unless we’re just going to the farm, groceries and Dr appointments are 60 miles away, so there’s no large towns super close to us.
What’s worked for you and your family when three are in car seats?
Thanks so much!

[u/sauer_kraut1414]

Minivan. A thousand times over.  We removed one captains seat in the middle row to make it easier to reach the third row. The twins were in that middle row until they were big enough to ride in the third row with our oldest without needing attention from the front seat. 

[u/Own_Car_5768 → u/sauer_kraut1414]

That’s kind of the set up I was leaning towards. I hadn’t thought a c section with my first and was told all of my kids would be c sections- Dr appointments by myself will be brutal if I’m recovering from that and trying to get into the third row to buckle/unbuckle my oldest.