Cars for 4 kids (including 3 toddlers!)

[LumpySpaceCow]

Hi!
Currently have a 7 seater but the middle seat on the third row is only a small seat so doesn't fit a car seat.
We are expecting baby number 4 and kids will be 7. 3 and nearly 2 when born.
What cars do other people have and how do they configure seats?
Currently thinking will have to have toddler in front, 2 car seats either side of middle for baby/toddler and then 7 years old in middle and then DH in boot! We are looking into getting another car though if we can find one suitable we can afford!
Thanks!

[AliBingo]

VW sharan. Three back seats and 2 boot seats are all full size with isofix.

[Imnotacelebgetmeouttahere]

Alhambra - all individual seats - we can fit 3 car seats across the middle but we do 2 either side and 1 in back with the eldest dc or they fight

[Raver84]

I've 4 similar ages to your and have an xc90.

[PaskinRobbin]

We have four and after much research went for a second hand Hyundai i800. Much cheaper than a Caravelle which is what I had wanted, 8 full size seats and a huge boot too.

[Fresh01]

We have 4 children and on a recent holiday got a Renault Scenic. We have been surprised by the space in the car and the boot area for the luggage. Child no. 2 has always used the seat in the 3rd row in our car. Child no 1 always had a MaxiCosi Rodi as it was the slimmest high backed booster seat. It went between the youngest 2's car seats. An Isofix base for child no. 4's rear facing car seat is very handy.

We used folded face cloths to fill the hole the seatbelt plugs go into in the seat of the car so they were always easier to reach for the eldest child in the middle. Otherwise the seatbelt plug kept going into the hole and was hard to reach. If you get what I mean.

We have had a Ford S or C Max before as a hire car. Can't remember which is the bigger one. It also worked well.

[Batoutahell]

XC90. Will have a 4, 3, 2 and newborn.

[HeartburnCentral]

Very few of the 7 seaters have 3 full seats in the middle row to fit three car seats and if you use the two seats in the third row too there is very little space in the booth for a buggy/bags etc. It really depends on your budget/needs/year & mileage/space requirements.
Ford Smax is bigger than the Ford Grand CMAX (CMAX has sliding doors but the SMAX does not). The C4 Picasso and Ford Galaxy are popular and I think the Peugeot 5008 (I think they stopped making the 5008 around 2010). Vokeswagon Sharan, Volvo XC90 & the Seat Alahambra. Check the cost of road tax/insurance/engine size and mileage (some of these cars need fan belts replaced after x moles/km and can be costly so beware of getting a "bargain". Usually, there is a catch)

[HeartburnCentral]

Sorry for the essay! I forgot to say to check your car seats and buggy fit in comfortably before buying and it's worth getting an independent mechanic to check it over before parting with your hard earned cash. Make sure to get a car check and warranty if possible.

[ricepolo]

We just got an XC90 to transport out four children (7, 4, 2 and 9 days :) ). It's brilliant. We put three (two plus baby) in the middle, then one in the back, keeping the other back seat down to increase the boot space. Lovely easy car to drive too.

[greendale17]

Just looked up the price of an XC90s starting from £47,000!

[Panicmode1]

We have a VW Sharan (same as the Seat Alhambra) and our four and our golden retriever all fit in fine. Prior to that we had a Renault Espace, which would have been fabulous if it didn't break down all the time....we had looked at a LR Discovery, because everyone kept raving about them, but it felt like a reverse tardis - huge on the outside and not much leg/headroom in the third row of seats...and not enough room for the dog/luggage in the boot when the third row was being used - which would have been every time we go anywhere all together!

Our next problem is that our two oldest (13 and 12) are heading to 6ft already (DH is 6ft6) so we are struggling with what to get next; I have a horrid feeling we're going to end up with a van!

[lougle]

Ford Galaxy will work. Full size seats in every row, fully configurable. We used the Britax Prince seats which were the slimmest seats on the market when we had 3 under 3.5 with a 20 month gap between each. You can fit 3 in a row across the middle bench then have one in the back, with room for a buggy where the 7th seat should go and plenty of room for shopping.

[lougle]

Alternatively, you could take out the middle seat in the middle row, use that for the buggy, use both back seats, and seat the children in a 2+2 configuration, then have a full boot for shopping. You'd just have to lift the buggy over one of the seats first.

[burninghigh]

VW caravelle. Has literally changed my life. Don't get an s max. They work for 3 but a hassle for more.

[Yikesitshot]

We drive an old XC90 with 4 children (twins who are 2), a 6 year old and a 9 year old. It is great but there is no doubt that the back third row of seating gets a bit cramped on long journeys for the eldest. We also have a roof box and a trailer on it...

A couple of people have raved about the VW Caravelle - miles more spacious..will be researching that as a next option

[helhathnofury]

We've just bought a Hyundai Santa fe 7 seater. Our children are older 13,13 and 15 so were uncomfortable in the back seats together. No boot space though if have all 7 seats in use, but can fold down one back seat to make room for a pushchair, and second row should accommodate 3 car seats I imagine - we had all 3 of mine in 2 and row and they were much more comfortable than previous car so def more room.

[TableMirror]

Discovery or a six seater VW transporter if you like to take a lot of stuff with you!

[womaninatightspot]

XC90, two eldest in the far back. Middle seat middle row kept down so can fasten/ check seatbelts. Also means they can scramble in from my seat if buggy is in the way normally get in via the boot!

[IveGotBillsTheyreMultiplying]

Another vote for vw caravelle. It will be good even when they are olderand you get a dog instead of number 5

[goingagain]

Multimac.... we have a Discovery (7 seats) but want to preserve the boot space (buggy, bikes, boxes of wellies, sticks, all manner of crap etc) so are going to get one of these.

[isittheholidaysyet]

Just bought a sharan. (Was looking at alhambra as well).

Before that we had a Honda frv which was my dream car I think, but you can only get them very second hand now.

Maybe look at the multi-mac car seat as your kids are little.

[ruthieruthuk]

Just got a Peugeot Traveller, 8 seater people carrier with 6 isofix points in back but gonna have to remove a seat so can climb into back row as u can pull forward seats but not fold if car seat is there, gap is very small for accessing back row, currently trying to get 2x isofix group 123 seats that fit nicely together side by side but proving difficult but have one last car seat to try really hoping for the best!

We also have a Zafira and it only has a half seat in the middle row, so we have used one of the back row boot seats but these are only ever meant to be used as temporary seats n takes away Boot space

[Gobbolinothewitchscat]

We are getting a Mercedes GLS. We have a 1 year old, 3 and 4 year old and planning another.

Looked st the Volvo xv90 but it doesn't have isofix in the back row so 3 and 4 year old would need to go in there and then we would need to remove an isofix seat from the middle row to let them in and out. Plus the seats move manually and there is a piece of the rail which is right on the path for stepping in and out. It is plastic and the Volvo salesman admitted that is often snapped off by passengers standing on it. It's quite integral for moving the seat forward and back so not ideal

[PineappleScrunchie]

We have 3 under 6 and have an smax which is perfect because it has three isofix in middle row BUT it doesn't have isofix in the back and with three car seats in middle row your 7yr old would have to get in back seat via the boot.

[Montsti]

Dh has a combi with 8 seats that he only uses at the weekend (works away during the week)...

I have an Audi Q7 so a 7 seater...dc are 8, 5, 3 and 3 weeks old...the youngest 3 sit in the 2nd row and DS who is 8 sits on a booster in the 3rd row. Luckily the seats are automatic and so I can easily put it up and down when he's in the car (we walk to school and most of his extra curricular activities are at school so he's not often in the car during the week) and by only having one seat up when he's there, I can also fit the pushchair into the boot....there isn't much boot space (fine for shopping but not a Bugaboo!) if both 3rd row seats are up...