Fitting 3 car seats on back seat Post Reply

[legs11]

Hi

Next year I will have a 4 year old, a 2 year old and a newborn.

We've currently got a BMW 3 Series with two maxi cosi prioris in it and there is very little space between them so we're going to have to get another car. I'm really not keen on having an extra row of seats as you end up with such a small boot.

Can anyone recommend something isn't too big for the narrow BTC streets, that you can fit 3 seats across the back and that has a big boot.

Any recommendations on narrow car seats also gratefully received

Thanks

[marmarzet]

Not used them myself, but I've heard good things about these: http://www.multimac.co.uk/home
Hope you find a good solution for you!

[nuttymummy]

SMAX!!!! Fits 3 child/baby seats across the back row perfectly, has an extra 2 to pop up in the boot if you need them (as they get older v useful) which actually still leaves a hatchback amount of space. And if it's just you, your partner & your 3 across the back the boot space is enormous (much bigger than volvo!). Many come down to choice of SMAX v volvo, I've done both & the practicality of the SMAX is way superior.

[1plus2]

As nuttymummy posted, SMAX all the way! We've had ours for a while and it's given us no problems, it's easy to drive around these streets and fits everything you can imagine in it (especially when you put a box on the top too!)

My eldest is now six and twins four, but for a long time we had three of those big maxi Cosi 18month-4yr seats easily across the back.

Couldn't recommend highly enough!

[mmb]

Renault Grand Scenic works as well.

[legs11]

Thanks for the help everyone. This is going to be a difficult conversation with my petrol head husband. I think he was hoping someone would recommend something German and stylish! It looks like we're going to have to go with practical instead

Has anyone got a Volvo XC90? I'd heard they might be ok although I'd be a bit worried about driving something so big

Thanks

[Goldhawk]

We have the Volvo - it's been fine but it is wider so you can't squeeze past on the narrow streets

[shopper]

WE had the same issue but I have 2 good options for you!!!! I had an alpha romeo Julietta which we bought to accomodate 3 seats across the back. This was the best option after quite a lot of research. The car is slightly wider than the others of that car class and it just made the difference. We had a baby chair (rear and front facing) and two seat belt full car chairs. It was a lovely drive. The advert they used when it first came out had Uma Thurman putting 3 kids in the back of the car! Boot space was ok and took a bugaboo. We now have a Volvo V40 which you can still get 3 seats in the bag but bit more if a squeeze. I keep meaning to buy the extensin seat belt attachments which would make it much easier but I never get around to it and so end up with squashed hands

[Bbkl]

We have a Toyota Verso - not stylish but so practical and very compact - great for squeezing down streets and easy to park. Three car seats fit in no bother and it's easy to do up the belts if you don't have isofix. Once you have 3 children of your own it's very handy to have the extra seats that pop up in the back so that you can give a friend a lift. It's not the car I dream of, but it does the job and I won't need it forever.

[headshrinker]

Or you could get a smaller kiddie seat. At 4 they can get away with a basic booster. Check the dimensions (often the cheaper ones are the smallest). Then you get to keep the cooler car. My sister and sister in law both have an SMAX and love the space but admit that it seriously limits parking options and it a pain to drive in London (they live out of town though so don't get the practice).

[Mustgetmyrootsdone]

We had the same situation and went for the Vw touran, it's been brilliant. And a box on the roof gives extra/enough space when we go on holiday

[twingirlsmama]

i had an X5 and have just changed it for something 'less stylish'!!! the volvo XC90. It was a reluctant purchase but I must say I love it. There is so much space inside particularly in the boot. Its an easy drive and no more difficult to park than the X5. Its actually much lighter to steer than the X5.
The pop up booster seat and extra seats in the back are very useful with more than 2 children.

[supermummy]

Another vote for the xc90! We had the same dilemma when we were having our third baby. Husband is not a car fanatic but equally he really didn't want to swap our Audi q3 for MPV. Six months in and we love the Volvo, I drive it all the time round here and it's really fine. Parking took a bit of practice but with the sensors it's quite easy. The boot is just fantastic and the pop up middle booster seat is brilliant so we keep my 5 year old's proper car seat in the boot (as an extra for the pop up rear seats). Never thought I'd be so excited about boot space! The interior isn't quite as nice as the Audi but if you get the R Line it's a bit nicer than the standard. Good luck!

[awbp]

We’ve had an SMAX for 5 years and couldn’t be happier. There are surprisingly few cars which can accommodate 3 child seats three abreast, but having looked at the XC90 we chose the SMAX. It’s more fun to drive (our previous car was an MX-5) and the huge boot means we get all our holiday luggage and our buggy in the car without resorting to a roof box. The third row seats are a bonus and when family come to visit we carry 7 people and there’s still room for a buggy and change bags.

It is a big car but it’s not enormous. We enjoy London on-street-parking (as the estate agents say) and it’s not difficult to park. To be honest as SW London is full of SMAXes, XC90s and Discos it doesn’t seem bigger than anything else!

If you’re buying new there’s a new model coming out next year, so you could get a good deal on the current car.

[legs11]

Thanks everyone. You've shortened my list to the XC90 and the S Max.
Will have to go and have a look once we've got Christmas out of the way