Best cars for two ERFs?

[OneSauvTwoSauvThreeSauvFloor]

Hoping someone can help us narrow this down.

We're hoping to keep DS rf until at least 4 - just gone into a Maxi Cosi 2WayPearl and would consider erf past this if the option is there. We're considering car changes and number 2 (number 3 will not be in the pipeline, AFAIC) but DH at 6'0 will not really be able to drive the Focus comfortably with another rf car seat behind him.

What are people driving that works well and less so, please and thanks?

Forgot to mention also that we'd prefer to stick with iSize as far as possible and I'm not wild about MPVs given our lack of need. Am I asking for the moon on a stick? ;)

Could one of them go in the front? We can turn the airbags off for our passenger seat to make it safe for baby seats (we have a Toyota). I can't offer any other help with cars I'm afraid!

Something longer like a Mondeo, 5 series, Insignia would have more rear cabin space - anything that gets good reviews for rear leg room generally. Think the two way elite can go in the middle seat in many cars as well.

It's an option if it comes to it but would mean foregoing iSize and I think we'd both worry about the distraction. It is a bit like a needle in a haystack! Thanks anyway.

Thanks - will have a gander at those as a starter.

Our 09 Skoda Octavia would be ok on driver's side with my 6 foot dh plus cybex Sirona behind now it's not quite as reclined. Depends a bit on how he likes his seat.

So you'd get a decent enough gap between the two? Would say he probably has average tilt on his own seat - definitely not a rudeboy but no stick down his back, either!

Honda CRV. Very generous leg room in the rear and wide enough to comfortably accommodate 2 ERF seats in the rear.

There's a thought. Do like the look of those as well.

Bump - anyone got experience with a Qashqai+2 or Outlander?

DH has an insignia estate, he's 6ft5 and dds britax dualfix will go rear facing behind his seat no problem. Next lo is due in January , so we had to check! I have a 5 door mini and her seat will fit behind the drivers seat erf if I'm driving but if we're all in my car and DH is driving then we just rotate it to front facing for that one journey then put it back, so that's always an option too. Rotating seats are really really handy for that. If we're out as a family we almost always take his car though as it's much bigger.

Are you on facebook? If so join the page 'rear facing toddlers' and 'rear facing the way forward'. One (or both) has billions of photos showing ERF seats tried in all sorts of cars and shows fit in everything from small hatch to massive vehicle. Tells you what sort of room driver and passenger would have too. They are both great for advice, as are securatot (Google for website).

Other things to consider are whether cars you're looking at have long seat belt stalks (consider buckle crunch), whether they have underfloor storage (prevents fitting of a number of seats), whether the seat needs to brace against seat in front or has front and rear tethers or foot prop. I realise it all sounds confusing but allow a bit of time to browse a couple of sites like the ones I've mentioned above and all will be clear :)

Those are both massively helpful - thank you very much. I'd rather not get to an estate just yet but the Insignia is nice if it comes to it and DH likes it

Thanks v much for the steers to those FB groups - I've started taking a look 👍 I'm also not hugely happy with the amount of play on the spare seat in DH's car - iSize as we thought that was best but now I'm starting to question whether belted might be better than the Isofix in it. Those groups prove a help once we can narrow things down there as well.

I'm glad I saw this thread, it hadn't actually occurred to me that having a car seat behind the driver would be problematic. It certainly will be in my golf! Dc2 is due in 7 weeks. Bugger.

We have two Cybex Sironas and have just replaced a Skoda Octavia with a C max. DH is probably a bit shorter than your DH but there was loads of room in th Skoda estate. C max is tighter on space but still doable. The main issue tends to be the swivel function - swivelling the seat needs more space than th seat alone takes up in rear facing mode.

We've been very pleased with the Skoda, the C max (though only had it a month) and the Sirona seats.

Infant carriers normally fit fine.

I don't think you can stick with isize can you if you want to rf until age 4?

I would suggest the britax two way elite as it rests on the seat in front so can be tight up to it.

I would also suggest a c-max

Also, what will your age gap be? You may be okay with only needing one side of decent legroom (i.e. The driver's side) as DC2 will be in a group zero seat which takes up less room than an ERF seat, and by the time they are out of that, your elder child may be over 4 and can go forward facing behind the driver.

That said, given that the Sirona is suitable from birth, I wish I had just bought it instead of a separate group 0 seat.

We have an Insignia and have our toddler rear facing behind my 6.2 DH. DS is in a Besafe modular on maximum recline and with the seat extended for maximum legroom, I don't know how much variation there is in space requirements for ERF seats though. The only annoying thing about the Insignia hatchback is the low, sloping shape at the back - it's a bit too easy to hit DS''s head on the roof, particularly when he isn't cooperating.

V interesting about that Skoda vs C Max comparison. DH had a Skoda once and did really rate it - never heard a bad word about them.

iSize will do ERF on most seats to age 4 - there's a Maxi Cosi iSize swivel now but that one only does ERF til 2. Looking at anything from possibly ~2-year gap so it may realistically still end up a problem (and to be fair, I'd love a bigger boot to just sling stuff in. Probably not the best thing for the gear, though 😳).