I probably can't keep the P4S after a year due to more kids... i ll probably need a car with 7 seats then.. i am looking at the range rover sport as it got the 2 optional seats.. does anyone have other suggestions (except any Audi please)? I am hoping Cayenne could have 7 seats when they facelift but chance should be slim.. .i know my question here is not quite about panamera but hope to get some advices..

 

I would look at RR (not the sport), GL63 AMG or X5. Although I am not 100% sure the new x5 has a 3rd row but as a family SUV the GL seems like a good option

 

Do you need AWD?

Even though I absolutely hate the looks of it but my LX570 does a wonderful job hauling clients around and it seats 7.

 

The GL is a great option and 7 seater which I cross shopped in 2012 with the 8 seater - Infiniti QX 56 (now QX 80) while keeping the panny. At the time the Benz was a new model and there's no way I was going to be caught in the first manufacturing year of a model. The infiniti might not have the social panache of a benz but is more powerful and fully equipped is slightly cheaper than an equivalent 550 GL. It it is really a question of personal preference.The QX 56 interior is great, and it feels like a tank - it is not a unibody construction but a true truck - body on frame. The third row is commodious. it might not be the prettiest druck but if you are driving the Panny, who the hell cares about looks which are only subjective anyway? If the size of the 3rd row is not so important and you will use it only occasionally, the RR might be somewhat cramped in the back given the specs and reviews but I bet it is a great drive.

 

7 seats means mid size SUV You have to decide how much comfort and hauling beyond the first 4 seats. If you go with sport SUV - X5, ML and RR all are really 6 passenger, not 7 (but you can put 3 small kids across the 2nd row). If you are using the 3rd row for seating you have little/no storage behind the 3rd row seats. The 3rd row seats in all three are adequate for kids, but only good for short hops for adults.

If you go up to the next size SUV you are leaving the sport catagory and getting into the useful to useful with luxury and/or towing capacity. That woudl included tow classes - mid cost ($55k) - $65k - Tahoe, Yukon, Expedition and Toyota Sequia or the uppper tier ($70k - $95k) including Infiniti QX80, Denali, Escalade, Land Cruiser/LX 570Sequoia, Mercedes GL. All seat 7 comfortably and offer some storage for stuff behind the 3rd row of seats.

In the mid price the Sequoia is the best engineered - everything fits and works, third row seat folds totally flat, lots of utility. But to drive you feel like you are up on top of it, you don't settle in. The Tahoe/Yukon are great as well, but for the same money the Sequoia offers better features. The Tahoe/Yukon are more fun to drive. Expedition has the good engineering of the Sequoia and the driving feel of the Tahoe/Yukon, but I am not a fan of the Ford motor.

The QX 80 is very impressive, lot of luxury, nice motor, good utility. The Escalade and Denali are step up from Tahoe/Yukon but are not in the same league as the QX 80, GL or Lexus 570. The Land Cruiser/LX 570 are nice, have same motor as Sequoia, less utility and much more luxury - the Lexus is a step up from the LC and not that much more and last but not least these both offer off the chart off road capabilities. The GL is a bit smaller, but super nice and well engineered a great option as well.

So many choices in this catagory that you have to narrow down your real needs and how much space you will need. When your kids are small the smaller ones work fine - but when they get 10+ and they have stuff and sports stuff you need the next size up.

We had three X5's - the last an X5M (all the wife's car) I was driving an M5. Then I got PTT and the wife opted for a Sequoia - We put TRD supercharger on Sequoia which gives it 505 hp and 550 ft. lbs of torque - it is fast and tows great, but I still don't like how you feel like you are sitting on top of it when driving. But from a utility and engineering point and cost to operate (Toyota service is "dirt cheap") it is a good vehicle and most important my wife loves it.

Good luck fining something that is fun and works for you.

 

I have a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit V8 now(which I love) but before that a 2012 QX 56 which I could not stand, and before that the big RR which did not have a 3rd row though there is a company that makes a 3rd row seat. If you do need an SUV then the GL would be my pick, if not the Infiniti JX is not a bad choice. Having seating for 7 is great as long as you can get in without being a circus performer or throwing someone over the seats, or it taking ten minutes of button pushing and seat moving. My girlfriend has a new Honda Pilot Touring and that thing seats 8 and still gas room behind the third row for stuff not a lot of SUV's do.

 

I would not recommend a GL. Mercedes brakes down way too often. I would try RR (very good but rear door is kind of small and its kind of hard to get in). QX is a nice ride with tons of power (no complaints) and new Escalade ESV which we will find out how it is.