So called 5 seaters

[Davel]

Why is it that most cars seem to cater for four, with a smaller and less comfortable middle rear seat?

I realise that it is to maxmise comfort for four people but I have three teenagers, who argue all the time and fight for their space when crammed in the back of the car, especially when the one in the middle has to put their legs on either side of the transmission tunnel.

I'm trying to find a decent 5 seater without going to a 7 seater/three rows of seats setup, but I'm struggling.

Even the BMW 7 Series, and almost everything else, still seem to expect the fifth person to be a small person or child, who doesn't mind being uncomfortable.

Help please!

[FreeLitres]

FWD cars should have more space in the rear due to the lack of a transmission tunnel.

Tried AUDI?

[5lab]

normal cars aren't really wide enough for 3 adults, hense the compromise. Most MPVs have individual seats, if you don't want a 7 seater what about a multipla or the equivilent 2x3 honda?

fwd will help you avoid the transmission tunnel issue

[grayze]

http://www.cartestreport.com/fiat-multipla.htm



beat me to it

[Shaw Tarse]

XJ Jag, is too narrow for3 in the back seat, possibly the Multipla ^^^ would work?

[Cupramax]

FreeLitres said:

FWD cars should have more space in the rear due to the lack of a transmission tunnel.

Tried AUDI?

Except you've missed the fact that all Audi's are engineered for quattro haven't you, FWD or otherwise?

[T5R+]

Hallelujah, somebody else who understands. Closest in a normal saloon that I found was a Volvo S80.

I ended up in a Mercedes GL (partly because I wanted one) but all other so called 4x4s are small XC90, X5, etc however I cannot vouch for the Q7 as could not bring myself to buy an Audi (RS4/6 excepted).

Never tried the crop of MPVs but the Galaxy always gets positive feedback.

[off_again]

Great isnt it - when my kids were small, trying to fit two child seats in the back was easy. Add a third (legally) and it was a nightmare. 5 seater? My arse.

[eybic]

Surely there must be a minimum size for a bit of fabric to be classed as a seat? My Celica is classed as a 5 seater and the middle "seat" is only about 8 inches wide

[Frik]

I think this issue explains the success of the Citroen Picasso. There simply cannot be any other reason.

[XitUp]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EX-TV-LTI-LONDON-FAIRWAY...

When we have kids I want one of these as our family car. She wants a Skoda Superb.

[marcosgt]

The RX8 at least makes no pretence, there's a great big hump between the two rear seats.

Actually works really well if you have just two kids as it makes it harder for them to fight!

My Sister In Law got a Citroen Xsara Picasso some years ago as she had three growing sons and couldn't find an ordinary car with three proper seats.

M

[Davel]

The Multipla looks great but I'm a car snob sadly and it just does nothing for me.

The Q7 has the smaller middle rear seat and the third row seats are sadly for smaller kids. Even the A8 has a smaller middle rear seat and of course the drive system tunnel.

The new XJ had no leg room at all in the back and the middle seat was small.

Even where the seat isn't actually uncomfortable, the back support is.

It's no good, one of the kids is going on ebay.

Edited by Davel on Tuesday 25th October 15:47

[chrisispringles]

Look at the BMW 5 series, Audi A6 and Mercedes E class estates. They don't have that massive bulge between the outer two seats and can take 3 fairly stocky teenagers comfortably. Either that or an Audi A8 without the bulge in the middle of the rear bench.

[kambites]

I believe some big cars have a choice of two different rear bench layouts, with either two comfortable seats and a perch or three mildly uncomfortable seats of the same size.

[5lab]

5 series GT might be a win if you just want to shuttle kids around in a classy environment?

honda FR-V?

Merc R class?

val satis i think was really big at the back (maybe the signum too?)

[Stu R]

7 series can comfortably take 5 people over 6 foot tall in reasonable comfort. Did regular trips in mine loaded up to the rafters with stuff for a weekend and never had any complaints whatsoever.

[matthias73]

Peugeot 406. Might be hard to find a good example but there are some left. Its got 3 propper seatbelts in the back and as long as the front seats aren't all the way back then theres lots of room in the back, even for the middle person. I've got one and reguarly drive with 5 people in it.

the downside is that people will think you are a taxi and try and hail you..

[Ramses]

Davel said:

Even the BMW 7 Series, and almost everything else, still seem to expect the fifth person to be a small person or child, who doesn't mind being uncomfortable.

Help please!

Can't believe this - mine is based on a 7-series and I can get three six-footers in the back very easily?

[deadmau5]

My dad has a 7-series long wheel base, and even with the extra legroom, sitting in the middle seat is a real chore. I'm 6'4'' which doesn't help, but the cushioning is about 2mm thick, and then my head nearly touches the roof which is also a pain for the driver who can't see out of the back properly. It's supposed to comfortably seat 5 adults, which it does as long as one is a midget with a fat arse to make up for the lack of cushioning.