Cadillac Escalade

Five in, five bags in the back, and nobody riding with a suitcase between their knees. The vehicle that makes that math work is our Cadillac Escalade, and the third row folds flat when you need cargo space more than seating.

In October, families head north in Maine toward Acadia National Park for the Park Loop Road and peak foliage season. The Escalade gives everyone a window seat, and 27 miles of coastline and granite look better when nobody is arguing over legroom. Stop at Jordan Pond without sending someone back to move the vehicle or search for another parking space.

Private arrivals at Northeast Air work on a different clock. A charter lands, five people step off with golf bags or ski gear, and the Escalade is already parked planeside. Luggage goes from the plane to the cargo bay.