If our kids were older we may have gotten this console depending upon their need for separation and our need for sanity. Plus, it’s got awesome cup holders. We went with the bench, however, because our kids are 2.5 and 3.5 and the middle seat is super handy for my wife on long trips.Some prefer to have a walk-thru center row, making it easier to access the 3rd. The Navigator (all I think, with 2nd row captains) have a large, beautiful console. Its a trivial feature I suppose.