I'll jump in here. The X should do quite well for what you are describing. Room wise, you'll be a lot better off. Ride wise, I think you will be a lot happier. My wife and I have taken our X on numerous long vacation drives, and she has never been anything but comfortable in the truck, so I think you would find the ride good.
I would stay away from the SC option. The base V6 has never been a problem for me, even running up the mountains here in western NC. The X has done quite well on the steep hillclimbs around my house on a daily basis.
Go for the X...I think you would be very happy with it.