XC90 or van

[Chaosonthehorizon]

We need to change cars as will have four next year. Two in baby seats, two extended rear facing (or one in high backed booster). Is the XC90 actually impossible for this set up? If so then please give me your honest thoughts on vans, particularly noise levels on the motorway. Rear facing makes children quite hard to hear. Thanks

We’ve got the VW California and it’s certainly no fancy SUV. Having said that, it’s not that bad on the motorway. I’ve never struggled to hear DS in the back but he faces forward. We chat and listen to music etc It’s fine really. Might not be the same if you get a converted white van. I’ve also heard that the Merc camper vans are good.

Big XC90 fan here. Much preferred to people carrier

If you do go for a van, having a bulkhead in it lowers the noise from the road a lot. We've got a LWB Vivaro crew cab, so 6 seats and plenty of room in the back!

We have an xc90 and yes this set up would work. I it not so useful as your kids get older. We use our back seats as occasional seats when we have visitors etc. There is room for everyone but I wouldn't want it as a permanent solution. The back 2 seats aren't permanent ones I'd go for permanent seats for more comfort as kids grow.

‘thesun’ and motortroll do you have four children then? Thanks for van info, will investigate bulkheads. Thinking about the toureno and the Caravelle only at the mo and perhaps a Mercedes. Short wheel base as we don’t yet have off road parking

We have four children and now the youngest is six we moved from a Zafira to a Land Rover Discovery-it’s so much better and everyone is comfortable now. We also checked out the XC90 but found it cramped in comparison.

We’ve only got one child but found that a van has tons more space than the largest SUVs. We’ve even carried 5 people plus a sofa and luggage in it. I think you’ll find a Caravelle to work much better on a practical level.

@chaosonthehorizon I have 3 children but lots of nieces and nephews!

If I had 4+ kids I'd go for a van with more permanent seats as my eldest is nearly a teen

XC90 only if it's the new model (2015 onwards).
I think car seat wise you'd be ok in the XC90; rest depends on what you value more - lots of space (van types) or comfort and a bit of luxury (Volvo).

I have 4 kids and have an XC90 (had one since we had no.4) but I’m not sure you’d get 2 infant carriers and 2 RF seats in it?

Or I might have read that wrong?

@MyView2 how are the back seats in the discovery, they look less supportive to me than the XC90 but I hear so many positive reviews of them being more spacious. Is it more the headroom?

ShivD you are right and the in car safety centre said that they are pretty sure we won’t. Probably could make do and mend if we already had one but we don’t so think it will have to be a van😱