Audi Q5 advice!

[Pharm92]

Hi everyone, hoping for some advice please!

I currently have an Audi Q5 (2017 newer shape) and we have 2 sons, one FF almost 5yrs old in a Joie bold, one RF 3yrs old in joie I-spin 360. Just found out we are pregnant with number 3 and I’d reaaaaally like to keep my car (husband can change his car to people carrier etc). I’d like to be able to fit 3 kids in my car even if I can’t fit a second adult as we will use the people carrier for big family days out etc, my car mostly for school run etc. Sons will be nearly 4 and 5.5 when baby arrives.

Has anyone managed to fit 3 across the back of a Q5? I’m thinking the I-spin is gonna have to go as its massive, but a newborn seat (looking at nuna pipa urbn), high back booster for older child and the bold may fit?! If not the baby may have to go in the front seat with airbag off, then middle child can stay RF in the 360 until he’s a bit older.

ALSO does anyone know which shops let you try fit car seats in your car anymore?! It seems like the sort of thing mothercare would have done :(

thanks in advance!

I don't have any experience with a Q5 specifically, but independent retailers will normally let you fit in the car. I'd look up Joie or Britax or Nuna stockists near you on their website, and look to see if there are any store names that aren't chains and then go and see them or get in contact and find out if they offer it.

Also Smyths and Halfords let you try in the car - but their staff training is really hit and miss, Halfords seem to be especially bad, John Lewis and Mamas and Papas tend to be a bit better. If you have a really big Boots near you, they sometimes stock child seats in store and do fitting but I think they have very few stores which offer this.

I would look at swapping the Joie 360 for something like Axkid Move or Minikid because these are much more compact for fitting with other seats. You'll have to check out what the rule is in your car with support legs in the centre seat. If you have access to the vehicle manual (make sure it's the UK one) this should help.

If you can use a support leg in the centre, another option to consider is belt fitting a base in the centre seat. Joie have some bases which do this and their infant seats habe the same pram compatability as Nuna, I don't think any other brands do this any more, but if you don't need the compatability, then some cheaper brands like Graco or Hauck have belt fitted bases.

The middle seat is not so narrow that it's a total lost cause, but I think you'll have to be very careful with seat choice. It does look like the outer two seats in the Q5 are quite moulded which makes it more difficult to fit seats slightly off centre, so that might cause an issue.

If you have other models of seat in the other car, try swapping these out too.

I found this...

Does the Audi Q5 have three ISOFIX points?
It has ISOFix in the two outer rear seats, they are within guides and nice and easy to connect to. There are top tether anchorages on the back of all three rear seats, they are easy to access and connect to through the boot. I found that three Infasecure child seats will fit across the back seats of the 2023 Audi Q5

I've no idea on the difference between 2017 and 2023 models.

That sounds like it refers to the Australian version because Infasecure is an Australian brand. They also have top tethers for all their car seats. In Europe, top tether anchors are only put in on seats with isofix fittings, so it is unlikely to have one in the centre.

Thanks for the replies! I’ve managed to find a big baby store not too far from us that should let us try some in the car.

If we can’t fit 3 across (which is looking to be the outcome now I’ve looked at the actual back seat again!) is it safer for my 5 year old to FF in the front seat with the seat pushed back, or to have the newborn RF in the front seat? I know it’s not ideal to have any kids in the front but realistically it’s a very safe car and they’re good quality car seats so I’m minimising risk there hopefully x