7 Passenger Vehicles | 7 Seater Vehicles

Top 7 Passenger Vehicles 2011

Posted on May 25, 2011 by Eric

Based on buyer statistics and motoring website reviews, we are now in a position to come up with a list of the top ‘7 passenger vehicles’ for the year 2011. We will be looking at the vehicles in their respective categories – that is, top 7 passenger Minivans, top 7 passenger SUVs and top 7 crossovers for 2011.

Top 7 Passenger Minivans 2011

Going by the number of reviews it’s getting, and the number of people showing an interest in buying it, Toyota Sienna comes across as one of the top 7 passenger minivans for the year 2011. Among the top selling points for this minivan are things like its remarkable fuel efficiency and pocket-friendly pricing.

Another notable 7 passenger minivan in 2011 has been the ‘Chrysler Town and Country.’ With a fuel efficiency rating comparable to that of Toyota Sienna and lots of space for huge traveling parties, this car has proved to be a ‘hot sell’ for the year 2011.

The new 2011 KIA Sedona is another increasingly popular 7 passenger minivan for the year 2011.

Top 7 Passenger Crossovers 2011

Turning to the top 7 passenger crossovers for 2011, you are likely to hear the 2011 Honda Pilot being frequently mentioned. It is an environment-friendly vehicle, and that, combined with its pocket-friendly pricing, makes it a highly adored 7 passenger crossover by many.

Ford Flex is another 7 passenger crossover whose performance in the year 2011 has been quite remarkable. Going by its appearance, you may get the impression that Ford Flex is a fuel-guzzler. But in actual fact, it turns out to be one of the most fuel-efficient 7 passenger vehicles. Combine that with its remarkably good performance, the considerable amount of space it makes available and its considerable aesthetic appeal, and you begin seeing why the Ford Flex has made it onto this list.

Top 7 Passenger SUVs 2011

Turning to the top 7 passenger SUVs for 2011, one name you won’t miss on any review site is the Toyota Highlander. The Toyota Highlander is not really a new car, but people seem to have ‘rediscovered’ it, hence its buoyed popularity ratings in 2011.

Thanks mainly to its unique design, the Chevrolet Tahoe is increasingly finding favor among people looking for new SUVs in 2011.

British Motor Works make an entry into this list too: thanks to their BMW X5, whose main strength seems to be in its well-reviewed road performance.

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2011 Audi Q5

Posted on July 4, 2011 by Eric

One of the strongest selling point for Audi Q5 2011 is in its remarkable fuel efficiency. Numerous reviews have been written about this car, and in each one, Audi Q5 2011’s MPG (Miles Per Gallon) rating is mentioned as one of the car’s biggest strengths. Looks can indeed be deceiving, because at first glance, Audi Q5 2011 comes across as an unapologetic fuel guzzler. It therefore comes as a great surprise for potential buyers to learn that it is actually one of the most fuel efficient SUV crossovers. Specifically, we are looking at about 20 miles per gallon in the city, and 27 miles per gallon when cruising on the highway: remarkable by any standards. In combined city/highway driving conditions, Audi Q5 2011 can give you an average of 22 miles per gallon: still remarkable, by all standards, and especially for a ‘luxury’ 7 passenger SUV crossover.

Then there is Audi Q5 2011’s interior design, which is yet another strong selling point for this 7 passenger SUV crossover. Particularly commendable is the way Audi has managed to find a compromise between the second row seating space and the third row – such that, at the end of the day, the third row in Audi Q5 2011 is not too cramped, as is the case with many other 7 passenger crossovers.

In terms of road performance, potential buyers will find relief in the fact that Audi Q5 2011 is an all-wheel-drive vehicle. That makes it a car which can be driven even in challenging road and climatic conditions.

Lovers of automatic transmission too, have a reason to love Audi Q5 2011: for this is a car which comes with eight-speed automatic transmission. Of course, those of us who equate driving with changing gears on the lever will find this to be something of a put-off. But it would seem that nowadays, most people have simply come to love automatic transmission. Therefore this is not likely to be much of a liability to Audi Q5 2011.

Open up Audi Q5 2011’s bonnet, and you come face to face with a turbo-charged engine. This is specifically a 2.0 liter inline engine. It is capable of giving up to 211 horsepower, and can give you as much as 258 pound-feet, in terms of torque.

If you are a safety-conscious person (as all of us are, to a certain degree), you will probably love the fact that Audi Q5 2011 comes with enhanced traction and stability control features, as well as airbags. The airbags we are looking at are on the front, as well as on the sides (where they are installed as ‘side curtains’).

Some Audi Q5 2011 trim levels come with a navigation system. Incidentally, when we talk of Audi Q5 2011 trim levels, we are specifically looking at the 2.0 T Audi Q5 2011 Premium, the 2.0T Audi Q5 2011 Premium Plus, the 3.2 Audi Q5 2011 Premium Plus and the 3.2 Audi Q5 2011 Prestige. It turns out that the latter three come with the electronic navigation system, so that only the 2.0T Audi Q5 2011 Premium Trim level lacks that feature.

One of the interior design features you will love about the Audi Q5 2011 is something to do with the placement of dashboard screens and controls on this car. These are conveniently placed facing the driver and in a logical layout.

Buyers of the Audi Q5 2011 have the option of going with 19-inch wheels.

Price-wise, one would say that the Audi Q5 2011 is somewhat on the high-end. But thanks to things like its remarkable fuel efficiency, beauty and roominess, you are likely to find it as being a generally good SUV for money.

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Honda Pilot 2011

Posted on July 2, 2011 by Eric

One of the strongest selling points of the Honda Pilot 2011 is definitely something to do with its roominess (especially on the third row), given the fact that we tend to hear complaints about third rows in crossovers being uncomfortably cramped. It therefore comes as a great relief to note that, in terms of roominess, the Honda Pilot 2011 can actually compete favorably with most minivans. And that is in spite of it being, in terms of exterior dimensions, a much more compact car than most minivans. The cargo-carrying capacity of Honda Pilot 2011 is remarkable too, and this is a car you will enjoy going camping on, as it can haul all your stuff comfortably.

Then there are the advanced safety features on the Honda Pilot 2011. You notice, for instance, that the Honda Pilot 2011 can be said to be a car which is fully-decked with airbags (whose effect, in terms of enhancing safety, is no longer a subject of conjecture). This is a car with front seat-side airbags (which many other car makers seem to have a difficult time installing). It is also a car whose sides, all the way to the back, are ‘curtained’ with airbags. Then there are the anti-lock brakes, whose effect in terms of safety-enhancement is also no longer a matter of conjecture. Thanks to the Honda Pilot 2011’s generally impressive safety ratings (on government and insurance institute standardized safety tests), you are likely to end up spending less on its insurance.

In terms of fuel-efficiency, Honda Pilot 2011 is not too badly off. Cruising on the highway, the Honda Pilot 2011 is likely to give you some 23 miles per gallon. In the more challenging city conditions, Honda Pilot 2011 promises about 17 miles per gallon. These are remarkable figures for a car its size.

The engine you will encounter, upon opening up the Honda Pilot 2011’s bonnet, is a 3.5 liter V6. This engine promises you up to 253 pound-feet of torque: more than you will ever need, in most circumstances. In terms of Horsepower units, the engine on Honda Pilot 2011 would give you up to 250 – again, quite an impressive figure.

Regardless of the trim-level you buy, provided you buy a Honda Pilot 2011, you will get a five-speed automatic transmission. That means you won’t have to change gears manually on the lever: you just hit the accelerator pedal, and the car changes gears for you as need arises.

The Honda Pilot 2011 comes with what you may term as a combined ‘front-wheel and all-wheel-drive capability.’ By default, the Honda Pilot 2011 is a front-wheel-drive car. But in case you fall into difficult conditions (for instance, in case you encounter slippage), some power is automatically apportioned to the rear wheels, to ensure a smooth drive.

The interior design of Honda Pilot 2011 is what you could describe as practical (especially with regard to the layout of screens and control buttons). But that is by no means to suggest that it is Spartan. You will still get heated seats. You will still get a sophisticated entertainment system. And you will still get remarkable upholstery.

Exteriorly, the Honda Pilot 2011 comes across as a ‘big, impressive 7 passenger suv:’ the sort of car which makes builds up your stature. You have four trim levels to select from, namely the Honda Pilot 2011 LX, the Honda Pilot 2011 EX, the Honda Pilot 2011 EX-L and the Honda Pilot 2011 Touring. And as is usually the case in these arrangements, there are standard features you get with every Honda Pilot 2011 you buy, and some trim-level specific features.

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2011 Volvo XC90

Posted on June 6, 2011 by Eric

The 2011 Volvo XC90 is best described as a midsize 7 passenger SUV.

One of the first things you will love about the 2011 Volvo XC90, which also happens to be a mid-priced 7 passenger SUV, is the abundance of safety features on it. Suffice it to say that this is a car on which you will find the complete set of expectable/standard safety features, and several advanced safety-enhancing features. In the latter category, we are looking at things like a blind spot warning system, as well as a (roll-sensing) stability system. Thanks to its chassis design, the 2011 Volvo XC90 feels remarkably stable, and this is another strong selling point for buyers who care deeply about stability and predictability when it comes to car dynamics.

As would be expected of a modern Volvo, the 2011 Volvo XC90 is also a reasonably beautiful car when viewed from outside, and a remarkably classy car when viewed from the inside. The sunroof (made from power glass) and the real leather seats on it go a long way towards enhancing its interior and exterior elegance.

Noteworthy too is the effort Volvo has put into the design of the third row seats, leading to a situation where people seated on that third row don’t feel too squeezed in. But that comes at the cost of cargo space; the 2011 Volvo XC90 being one of those cars configured in such a way that you have to choose between third row passenger comfort and backside compartment cargo space. Another challenge third row passengers on the 2011 Volvo XC90 have to grapple with is that of access, seeing that a certain degree of agility is essential, if one is to ‘penetrate’ into the third row.

In terms of fuel efficiency, the 2011 Volvo XC90 is not very notable with its 15 miles per gallon city consumption and 21 miles per gallon highway consumption being neither too high nor too low. A high-end 2011 Volvo XC90 is powered by a 4.4 liter V8 engine, which turns out to be a remarkably powerful engine. That is an engine capable of yielding some 311 horsepower units – which is as much power as most people will ever need. Some users of the V8-powered 2011 Volvo XC90 trim levels have noted a tendency of the car to (somewhat) purr when cruising on highways, but this doesn’t seem to be too much of a concern for most people.

Transmission is standard on all 2011 Volvo XC90 trim levels, and that is through a six-speed automatic transmission system.

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2011 Mitsubishi Outlander

Posted on June 3, 2011 by Eric

The 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander is one of the most affordable (yet decent quality) 7 passenger SUVs.

Particularly remarkable about the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander is its fuel efficiency, especially when compared with other 7-passenger SUVs in the market. The figures are good – at 23 miles per gallon in the city, and 28 miles per gallon on the highway (for the low-end ES 2WD trim level of the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander). For the sake of perspective, one may just as well mention the fact that we have some 7-passenger SUVs giving as little as 15 miles per gallon (city), and 19 miles per gallon on highways. It therefore follows that in terms of fuel efficiency, the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander is definitely a leader in its class. Figures for the other trim levels, whose engines are different, are also remarkably good. The GT S-AWC 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander trim level, for instance, would give you 19 miles per gallon in the city, and 25 miles per gallon on an highway… good figures, by all accounts. The upshot there is that you end saving twice, if you opt for the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander. In the first instance, you get to save on the buying price, this being one of the cheaper 7-passenger SUVs. And secondly, you get to save, in the long run, on fuel consumption: this also being one of the most fuel-efficient 7-passenger SUVs.

The 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander is unlike most other 7 passenger SUVs, for which engine power tends to be uniform across the various trim levels. We come to realize that the various trim levels of the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander come with varying engines, capable of producing different levels of power. The low-end ES 2WD 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander trim level, for instance, can promise you 168 Hp (Horse power) – that being from a 2.4 liter L4 engine. That is a little bit on the lower side, relative to other 7-passenger SUVs in the 270s range. But it is still more power than many people can find use for. And in any case, it is particularly attractive when obtained at 28 miles per gallon in terms of fuel consumption. The engine on the higher-end GT S-AWC 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander, on the other hand, turns out to be a 3.0 liter V6. This can give you a much more decent 230 Hp, in terms of power.

All 2011 Mitsubishi Outlanders come with a six speed (automatic transmission).

Thus, spaciousness, fuel-efficiency and reasonable pricing are some of the strongest selling points for the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander.

picture from here

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Infiniti QX56 2011

Posted on May 31, 2011 by Eric

The 2011 Infiniti QX56 is a seven passenger SUV.

By virtue of its price, the 2011 Infiniti QX56 qualifies to be termed as a high-end 7 passenger SUV.

One of the strongest selling points for the 2011 Infiniti QX56 is definitely its power. Simply put, there are very few cars which can compete with the 2011 Infiniti QX56 in terms of power. This is a car driven by an extremely powerful 5.6 liter V8 engine, which can give up to 400 HP/413 lb-ft (that is, 400 horsepower units, and 413 pound-feet units of torque). Those numbers are remarkable, especially when you recall that majority of 7-passenger cars only yield something in the 270s range in terms of horsepower and torque. The upshot is that, with proper towing equipment, the 2011 Infiniti QX56 can pull up to 4 tons (4,000 kilograms) with ease. Just for the sake of perspective, one could mention that we have some small lorries which would struggle with such 4,000 kilograms. The 2011 Infiniti QX56 is therefore, effectively, more powerful than some small lorries on the road!

The 2011 Infiniti QX56 is one of the few SUVs equipped with direct injection, and a 7 speed transmission. In fact, some authorities claim it to be the only one. The 7 speed transmission on the 2011 Infiniti QX56 is, of course, automatic.

It further emerges that the 2011 Infiniti QX56 is not just a powerful car, but also a remarkably beautiful one – on the inside and the outside (and especially on the inside). Get inside the 2011 Infiniti QX56, and one of the first things you are likely to take note of is the car’s luxurious leather upholstery on virtually all surfaces, complete with a high-end wood trim.

One wouldn’t term the 2011 Infiniti QX56 as a particularly fuel efficient car – which is hardly surprising, given the type of engine powering it. But in terms of fuel efficiency, the 2011 Infiniti QX56 is neither a particularly outrageous car: pulling 14 miles per gallon in city roads, and 20 miles per gallon when cruising on highways.

At least four features make the 2011 Infiniti QX56 a remarkably safe car. One of those is the airbag equipment on it (front, and side curtaining). The second safety feature is a set of anti-lock brakes. Third is stability control, with the fourth safety feature being traction control. Add to these advanced safety features like line departure warning systems, seat-belt tensioners (which can activate in the face of imminent crash), and blind spot warning features… and you see all some of the reasons as to why many buyer find the 2011 Infiniti QX56 to be good value for money.

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2011 Buick Enclave

Posted on May 28, 2011 by Eric

The 2011 Buick Enclave is a 7 passenger crossover.

One of the biggest attractions to the 2011 Buick Enclave is definitely its spaciousness: this being one of the rare crossovers with ample legroom for passengers on all three rows.

The 2011 Buick Enclave is powered by a decent 3.6 liter V6 engine, whose output in terms of horsepower units is about 288, working out to about 270 pound feet units in terms of torque. We term this as ‘decent power’ because it is pretty much in the range most people need. It is, for perspective’s sense, enough power to tow 2,000 kilograms, if you have a proper trailer.

The power produced by 2011 Buick Enclave’s 3.6 liter V6 engine is transferred to the car’s axles by a six-speed automatic transmission.

For a V6 powered car, 2011 Buick Enclave doesn’t rate very impressively in terms of fuel efficiency. But it is not outrageously inefficient either: at 17 miles per gallon in city, and 24 miles per gallon on the highway. Put in perspective, those figures are neither remarkably good nor particularly off-putting. They are simply unremarkable. But many buyers seem to be willing to sacrifice ‘something little’ in terms of fuel efficiency, if doing so will give them a reasonably spacious and classic looking 7-passenger crossover.

2011 Buick Enclave’s buyers find themselves faced with three mid-priced trim levels to choose from. The first one is the CX 2011 Buick Enclave trim level, with the second and third ones being CXL1 and CXL2 2011 Buick Enclave trim levels respectively.

The 2011 Buick Enclave comes with all safety features one would ask of a modern car. Those include antilock brakes, stability controls and airbags on virtually all sides.

From the outside, the 2011 Buick Enclave comes across as a very classy – if inconspicuous – car. The interior design doesn’t disappoint either, especially when you get a peek at the wooden inlays ‘served with’ chrome trim. Whilst third-row the access mechanism on the 2011 Buick Enclave is not the best, it is clearly far superior to what many other 7 passenger vehicles in the market have to offer. The designers of the 2011 Buick Enclave seem to have made some effort to ensure a reasonable balance of passenger comfort and cargo space, especially with respect to the third row. We see most other 7 passenger crossover designers having to make a painful compromise between third row passenger comfort and cargo space. Thus, the way decent cargo space and third row passenger comfort is achieved as a package in the 2011 Buick Enclave is indeed remarkable.

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2011 Toyota Sequoia

Posted on May 27, 2011 by Eric

The 2011 Toyota Sequoia is a 7 passenger SUV, though it is also capable of carrying 8 passengers if two are ‘squeezed’ onto the front seat row.

2011 Toyota Sequoia is not what you’d call a cheap car, though its low-end trim level (SR5 2011 Toyota Sequoia trim level) goes at a price which would qualify it to be viewed as a ‘mid-priced car.’ The SR5 FFV trim level of the 2011 Toyota Sequoia similarly qualifies to be termed as a mid-priced car.

One of the biggest attractions to the 2011 Toyota Sequoia is in the fact that it is an extremely spacious car (unlike many other SUVs, in which space, especially third row space, tends to be rather scarce). Simply put, the interior design of the 2011 Toyota Sequoia is such that passengers on all three rows get more than enough legroom. More remarkable is the fact that this seating comfort is achieved in a relatively compact car – as you can’t describe the 2011 Toyota Sequoia as a ‘grotesque car’ by any stretch of the imagination.

Powered by a 5.7 liter V8 engine, the 2011 Toyota Sequoia also turns out to be one of the most powerful 7-passenger SUVs on the road today. A car with an engine capable of pumping out 310 horsepower and 327 pound-feet units of torque can only be described as ‘powerful.’ And when a car the size of 2011 Toyota Sequoia proves capable of accelerating from a standstill point speed (0 miles per hour) to 60 miles per hour in as little as 6.8 seconds, you have every reason to get impressed with its power. The hauling power is remarkable too, with a properly equipped 2011 Toyota Sequoia showing the capability to tow 3,000+ kilograms with ease.

The transmission responsible for transferring 2011 Toyota Sequoia’s remarkable power from the engine to the wheels turns out to be a six-speed automatic.

And as would be expected of a modern Toyota, the 2011 Toyota Sequoia is also remarkably well equipped with safety features. One of those is a set of anti-lock brakes (which, by the way, not all cars have even in this day and age). Airbags, in front and on all sides are other safety features integrated in the 2011 Toyota Sequoia. Parking sensors too, are to be found on the 2011 Toyota Sequoia. Remarkable in that regard, however, is the fact that the 2011 Toyota Sequoia comes with both front and rear parking sensors. It turns out that most other cars only come with rear parking sensors (whereas the 2011 Toyota Sequoia comes with both front and rear parking sensors as a standard feature).

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