Cars that can fit two baby seats and one adult in the back
Discussion
Dear all,
This forum has been an incredibly useful source of information - including finding my first car for me - a Mazda2 which I still drive to this day!
Since then I now have a toddler and newborn on the way - my wife would like a car that can fit two babyseats in the back and her in the middle to watch over them - I would be like somewhat of a taxi driver alone at the front.
My question is, are there any cars that can fit this requirement without being a MPV?
Right now I'm looking at a couple of large estates, Volvo V70, Skoda superb, Avensis and Kia Optima SW - have I missed any good shouts?
These all have aboslutely huge boots that I don't need though, is there anything like that is reasonably wide like the above, but not almost 5M long? E.g. something like the Honda FR-V ...but newer...
This forum has been an incredibly useful source of information - including finding my first car for me - a Mazda2 which I still drive to this day!
Since then I now have a toddler and newborn on the way - my wife would like a car that can fit two babyseats in the back and her in the middle to watch over them - I would be like somewhat of a taxi driver alone at the front.
My question is, are there any cars that can fit this requirement without being a MPV?
Right now I'm looking at a couple of large estates, Volvo V70, Skoda superb, Avensis and Kia Optima SW - have I missed any good shouts?
These all have aboslutely huge boots that I don't need though, is there anything like that is reasonably wide like the above, but not almost 5M long? E.g. something like the Honda FR-V ...but newer...
Judging by the size of modern child seats and their ISO fixings I would think that's a tough call. amongst other things, even if someone managed to wedge themselves in the middle I don't see how they'd be able to reach to do anything constructive.
And how would the adult get to the centre seating position with child seats to climb over?
And how would the adult get to the centre seating position with child seats to climb over?
And how would the adult get to the centre seating position with child seats to climb over?
Yes I agree it wouldn't be easy - essentially she would have to sit in first, then the newborn babyseat goes in - either way it's a pain and would only be done for long journeys - the long journeys not being able to be next to the newborn is what she's worried about.
Yes I agree it wouldn't be easy - essentially she would have to sit in first, then the newborn babyseat goes in - either way it's a pain and would only be done for long journeys - the long journeys not being able to be next to the newborn is what she's worried about.
For your wife to sit in any sort of comfort no there aren't is the short answer. You will need either an MPV of big SUV.
Are MPVs truly better at fitting three in the back? Other than being taller?
What I don't understand is that many MPVs are narrower than a big estate - are they actually better, or are the three distinct seats actually smaller - is it an illusion ?
Are MPVs truly better at fitting three in the back? Other than being taller?
What I don't understand is that many MPVs are narrower than a big estate - are they actually better, or are the three distinct seats actually smaller - is it an illusion ?
You"re shooting at a pretty niche market there. Three child seat cars are fairly rare, and add to that the ingress and egress, kind of requiring the middle seat to be staggered, and I cannot think of any car.
Might this help, when she sits up front, like a normal human?
https://www.halfords.com/motoring/car-accessories/...
Might this help, when she sits up front, like a normal human?
https://www.halfords.com/motoring/car-accessories/...
I have a P3 V70 and a 4yr old in a Maxi Cosi extending booster seat (isofix) and a 2yr old in a Maxi Cosi front facing seat with a separate isofix base and my wife can sit in the middle though I guess the width of the respective wife's arse is an important measurement to consider here too. Granted it's not exactly comfortable for longer trips but it's doable.
But, why would you want to? Get the kids used to being in their own seats and not needing constant attention from your wife because then what happens when you or her are driving solo and they suddenly come over with abandonment issues? Crying kids are a massive distraction, more so for mother's so I'd get them used to car travel in the conventional sense, ie they're in the back and you guys aren't.
Plus, as a front seat passenger it's not hard to turn round to hand out bribes / retrieve toys from the footwell / read the riot act.
But, why would you want to? Get the kids used to being in their own seats and not needing constant attention from your wife because then what happens when you or her are driving solo and they suddenly come over with abandonment issues? Crying kids are a massive distraction, more so for mother's so I'd get them used to car travel in the conventional sense, ie they're in the back and you guys aren't.
Plus, as a front seat passenger it's not hard to turn round to hand out bribes / retrieve toys from the footwell / read the riot act.
The answer is the Ford Galaxy:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205155...
Petrol:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204014...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205155...
Petrol:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204014...
Feels boring saying it, as I've said pretty much just this recently, but the Peugeot 5008 works well with this.
3 individual rear seats, my wife sits comfortably between 2 car seats, avoid panoramic roof due to head height. Flat floor across so good for leg/foot room.
Reclassified as an SUV from mpv so meets that brief. Sort of.
We also tried the Discovery Sport. That worked too, although it's a rear bench and it was tighter in the middle.
3 individual rear seats, my wife sits comfortably between 2 car seats, avoid panoramic roof due to head height. Flat floor across so good for leg/foot room.
Reclassified as an SUV from mpv so meets that brief. Sort of.
We also tried the Discovery Sport. That worked too, although it's a rear bench and it was tighter in the middle.
You’re going to struggle unless you get a van.
I’ve got a Volvo V90 which is big and wide and perfect for family duties and my wife has had to sit in between while we picked the mil up to Come stay. we have a joie 360 iso fox and a new born car seat and it ain’t pretty. My wife has climb over the new born car seat base, feel for the seatbelt buckle down the side of the joie then I have to put the baby in and my wife (who’s medium build) can just manage a 45 min journey.
What you need is a car without sport or bucket seats that you can reach back or twist round to see to the baby who will most likely either a. Sleep the whole way or B. Cry the whole journey no matter what you try and do.
I’ve got a Volvo V90 which is big and wide and perfect for family duties and my wife has had to sit in between while we picked the mil up to Come stay. we have a joie 360 iso fox and a new born car seat and it ain’t pretty. My wife has climb over the new born car seat base, feel for the seatbelt buckle down the side of the joie then I have to put the baby in and my wife (who’s medium build) can just manage a 45 min journey.
What you need is a car without sport or bucket seats that you can reach back or twist round to see to the baby who will most likely either a. Sleep the whole way or B. Cry the whole journey no matter what you try and do.
Davie said:
I have a P3 V70 and a 4yr old in a Maxi Cosi extending booster seat (isofix) and a 2yr old in a Maxi Cosi front facing seat with a separate isofix base and my wife can sit in the middle though I guess the width of the respective wife's arse is an important measurement to consider here too. Granted it's not exactly comfortable for longer trips but it's doable.
But, why would you want to? Get the kids used to being in their own seats and not needing constant attention from your wife because then what happens when you or her are driving solo and they suddenly come over with abandonment issues? Crying kids are a massive distraction, more so for mother's so I'd get them used to car travel in the conventional sense, ie they're in the back and you guys aren't.
Plus, as a front seat passenger it's not hard to turn round to hand out bribes / retrieve toys from the footwell / read the riot act.
Some good points here. That said, sometimes it's nice not to have the missus in the front whinging at my driving But, why would you want to? Get the kids used to being in their own seats and not needing constant attention from your wife because then what happens when you or her are driving solo and they suddenly come over with abandonment issues? Crying kids are a massive distraction, more so for mother's so I'd get them used to car travel in the conventional sense, ie they're in the back and you guys aren't.
Plus, as a front seat passenger it's not hard to turn round to hand out bribes / retrieve toys from the footwell / read the riot act.
I have a 2 year old in a belted 25kg rear facing seat and a 10 month old in infant carrier on isofix. My Mrs who is fairly short can just squeeze in the middle of our B class Merc. The real answer though is one of those cars with 3 individual seats and ideally all sliding. The later Merc B class has sliding seats.
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