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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not understand why you can't buy a 5 seater car that seats 5 people?

115 replies

haveuheard · 06/06/2019 22:05

We have been trying and failing to buy a bigger car for about 6 months.

We want a car that will seat 5 people, with the possibility of having three car seats. Not massive seats, just HBBs. Nothing fits. Yes we could buy a minibus or a 7 seater and shove one of the kids in the boot inches from the back window but I don't want to, or we could spend more than a lot of people have for a house deposit but that seems stupid for a family car.

Why doesn't anyone make a sensible family car??

OP posts:
Alwaysgrey · 06/06/2019 22:07

We can’t work this out. How hard could it be? I don’t want a 7 seater.

Rtmhwales · 06/06/2019 22:07

Are you sure it's the car and not the car seats? Most cars don't fit typical car seats three across. I know in Canada and the US you can buy car seats that are built specifically to be 3 across (the Diono fits 3 across in my civic no problem) but most are too wide.

LizziesTwin · 06/06/2019 22:07

Will the car seats fit in a Renault Megane? I had two in high back car seats & a newborn in a Megane back in the day. All 3 can drive now Smile

helloswellow · 06/06/2019 22:11

I think a 2018 Citroën Berlingo has 3 isofix points in the back so could probably fit 3 HBB. It is a bit van-ish though.

TheTrollFairy · 06/06/2019 22:12

We have a berlingo (I think it’s an xl) which fits 5 in and probably fit 3 car seats in as the middle seat is as wide as the outer seats and the car seat we have doesn’t go outside of the seat if that makes sense.
They aren’t the best looking cars but the space is perfect (and has a massive boot)

Original poster
haveuheard · 06/06/2019 22:14

I know its the car seats that are the problem its only a problem for a finite period. It just would be nice to occasionally take one of the kid's friends out. There seems to be a gap in the market.

OP posts:
TheTrollFairy · 06/06/2019 22:15

I think a 2018 Citroën Berlingo has 3 isofix points in the back so could probably fit 3 HBB. It is a bit van-ish though

The earlier models have the 3 isofix (plus one in the front too). Agree it is very van looking but the amount of space you get is worth it I think!

confusednorthner · 06/06/2019 22:15

Few years ago we looked at a Honda frv, it had two rows of 3 seats so if I remember correctly was a true 6 seater.

toomuchfaster · 06/06/2019 22:16

My Citroen Berlingo takes three car seats across the back and there is a Peugeot and Renault version of it. I had a

Milly345 · 06/06/2019 22:16

You can have two boosters on the outside and if eldest child is over 125 cm they can sit in the middle seat with no car seat

NurseButtercup · 06/06/2019 22:17

Have you tried the new Peugeot 5008 the three back seats are quite roomy

ArfArfBarf · 06/06/2019 22:17

Ford smax can be bought as a 5 seater and has 3 full seats with isofix

DuchessSybilVimes · 06/06/2019 22:18

Thing is, kids' car seats are massive, for safety. The interior space in cars is compromised by the side impact protection bars, side airbags etc, for safety. Put the two things together and you just can't fit 3 massively wide child seats across the rear bench of a standard car.

I know you said you don't want a 7 seater with a child in the boot, but some do have three 'proper' seats in the middle row - seat Alhambra, Ford galaxy, vw touran are all basically the same car and you might do 3 hbbs on the middle row.

frugalkitty · 06/06/2019 22:18

I had three car seats on the back seat of a Renault Scenic. We had the seven seater but the five seater was the same width.

Wait till you need a five seater for six foot teenagers to sit in the back of! Now that's a real challenge Grin

MrsAmaretto · 06/06/2019 22:19

I totally get what you mean - I drive a saloon that sits 4 people. The back seat in the middle isn’t a proper seat, in fact the back folds down so it’s an arm rest. I just want 3 proper seats!!!

DuchessSybilVimes · 06/06/2019 22:20

The Citreon Berlingo is definitely van like!

Disfordarkchocolate · 06/06/2019 22:21

I still miss our Fiat Multipla, ugly but three proper back seats.

Scienceforthewin · 06/06/2019 22:21

Fiat multipla or Honda FRV?
Or one of those special car seats which someone will helpfully remember the name of for me... three car seats in one in a row...

theorchidwhisperer · 06/06/2019 22:23

Years ago I had a small people carrier with 5 seats plus optional two in the boot (we didn't buy the optional two).

The front seats were fixed. The other three could be moved into any position in the remaining 5 slots available. They were all full sized rear seats. This Was the most versatile vehicle I ever owned.

I fitted child seats. I'm assuming you'd be able to fit child seats side by side? But maybe not if you've tried this already. This was 15 years ago so maybe car seats have changed.

W33XXX · 06/06/2019 22:23

Most of the cars with 3 individual seats in the middle / back row are 7 seaters. The Citroen c4 Picasso is a 5 seater with individual seats. I could easily fit 3 car seats in the back. There are cars like the Ford C-Max where it's not quite 3 full sized seats in the back/middle row but the centre seat is nearer full size than half seat. We have started buying 7 seaters due to having more options. We regularly have 3 car seats in the middle row, and on occasion have to put the HBB in the rear two seats and an adult sits in the back with the two toddler seats.

WhiteRedRose · 06/06/2019 22:23

@haveuheard three diono or three two way elites fit fine in most decent back seats.

You have a seat problem.

ILikeYourLittleHat · 06/06/2019 22:23

I've only got two young dc so thought we'd avoid this problem but hadn't thought about taking a dc friend out! Surely that's really common?! What do ppl normally do?

Sweetooth92 · 06/06/2019 22:24

@scienceforthewin a multimac I believe 😊 i’d love one!!

meuh · 06/06/2019 22:24

Just buy a Ford S-Max and don't use keep the extra two seats folded down flat. Then it has 5 full sized adult seats and you can easily fit 3 car seats in the back. If the extra seats in the boot bother you just pretend they're not there Grin

Lazypuppy · 06/06/2019 22:25

Get a car that has isofix in the front passenger seat, then 1 child up front 2 in the back with 1 adult.