3 car seats in a normal car

[325Ti]

Need some advice

Child number 3 is on the way and will mean 3 children under the age of 5 so need 3 full car seats

Trying to avoid a people carrier as I drive quite large distance - 30 to 35k a year and don't think it would be the most comfortable

Will be a brand new car - thinking 5 series or a6 estate or even a v90?

I know they only have 2 isofox seats but can 3 car seats fit in the rear?

[kambites]

Very few normal cars will take three seats using the isofix mounts because they tend to be mounted too close to the centre of the car (presumably for safety reasons?) to fit a thind one between them; you might get three seats in a 5-series if you choose narrow ones and strap them all in with the seatbelts rather than isofix.

The only "car" I'm aware of with three isofix points across the back is the Tesla Model-S.

ETA: Actually it would appear that the insignia estate does too.

Edited by kambites on Sunday 12th February 09:37

[Vaud]

Try this - not sure how many are 3rd row:

https://www.carwow.co.uk/best/cars-3-isofix-child-...

[Mike335i]

As much as I don't want a people carrier, for comfort they would be quite good as they tend to avoid all sporting pretensions (mostly). I had a BMW 218d Gran Tourer as a courtesy car and, whilst the 8 speed auto was a pain when mixed with a 2.0d diesel, the rest of the package was comfy and it handled OK for a big boat.

Could look at Merc E Class Estate, I think a 5 series with the se or lux set up would relatively comfy but no 7 seat option (which might be useful to you).

Could go the down the SUV route, although an estate would be better and cheaper. Half the world seems to have Nissan Cashcows, Kia Sportages or Land Rover Discoverys.

[Dan Gleables]

I'm in the same boat, we had a Ford Galaxy and now have a Honda FR-V.

You just won't get 3 seats in the back of a big saloon / estate car I'm afraid. Even most people carriers won't allow it, especially if you want 3 ISOFIX seats.

[325Ti]

Thanks for the replies

Not too worries about the third row - will only be the three kids and us in the car so 5 seats in plenty

Anyone know release date for new 5 series estate?

[tjlazer]

325Ti said:

Thanks for the replies

Not too worries about the third row - will only be the three kids and us in the car so 5 seats in plenty

Anyone know release date for new 5 series estate?

You're missing the point, if you want all the kids in the back you have to go for xc90 or mpv route. Otherwise your missus is climbing in the middle seat and the eldest sits upfront (which is what we are doing until our skoda lease is up in May). Not ideal!

Edited by tjlazer on Sunday 12th February 14:53

[skip_1]

325Ti said:

Thanks for the replies

Not too worries about the third row - will only be the three kids and us in the car so 5 seats in plenty

Anyone know release date for new 5 series estate?

June.BMW say it will take 3 car seats across the rear bench.

That CarWow link above is good though, but doesn't show if isofix is across the back or on front seat too. As post above says most cars won't take 3 across the middle unless they have Individual seats I.e. MPV.

Edited by skip_1 on Sunday 12th February 22:56

[Vaud]

skip_1 said:

June.BMW say it will take 3 car seats across the rear bench.

That CarWow link above is good though, but doesn't show if isofix is across the back or on front seat too. As post above says most cars won't take 3 across the middle unless they have Individual seats I.e. MPV.

Edited by skip_1 on Sunday 12th February 22:56

True. The other issue is that having 3 isofix points is one thing, fitting 3 seats along side each other is a different challenge.

[Hitch]

Hitch said:

5, 3 and >1 here. We got my wife an SMax which I secretly love. It sounds like you're away a lot like me and for us it made sense that they have the family bus and I join them in it at the weekends. I'm then not dragging a massive empty car around all week.

That said, I find the visibility, ride and seating position very good so I borrow it on occasion for very long slogs.

P.s three full isofix on the middle row in an Smax including a massive new Contour booster for the 5 year old.

[Teejaycee]

Hi

I have four kids

Google minimac car seat

https://multimac.co.uk/p/minimac

Not cheap , think you can sell them
Back to them when your done though !

Good luck

[oldcynic]

I've got 5 children although there's only 3 left at home now. You're honestly better off swallowing your pride and buying the best SMax available; otherwise split the budget between 2 cars if the idea of an mpv is so repulsive.

I currently run a 2011 XC90 which is lovely but not exactly cheap to run; if I was covering more than my current 6000 miles PA I'd be driving something else.

[Alex_225]

I'm surprised more manufacturers of car seats haven't come up with a solution to enable you to fit three car seats into the back of a car.

There may be a technical/safety reason why not but a base that fixes across the back to two ISOFIX points that you can then mount three seats to would be great.

Again, I'm sure there's a reason why not but would save people with three kids having upscale to people carriers.

[Vaud]

Alex_225 said:

I'm surprised more manufacturers of car seats haven't come up with a solution to enable you to fit three car seats into the back of a car.

There may be a technical/safety reason why not but a base that fixes across the back to two ISOFIX points that you can then mount three seats to would be great.

Again, I'm sure there's a reason why not but would save people with three kids having upscale to people carriers.

I'm guessing a lot of it has to do the physical width of 3 child seats. At <2 years old the seats are pretty wide, before they get older (Group3 +) and a booster can be used on it's own.