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Multimac - to buy or not to buy? Help!!

8 replies

kdmummyx · 10/03/2025 19:42

Hi guys - I want HONEST opinions on this topic please, and if you have a multimac even better!

were expecting our third child, we are looking to buy a larger car anyway but are struggling to find a car that can fit 3 car seats across the back comfortably and safely (if you have any recommendations on this too please help - a 3005 isn’t an option either) we’ve done a whole lot of googling and the only way to fit 3 across the back is with a multimac, but I’ve heard very very mixed reviews on these of people suggesting they aren’t safe, what do you think?

Thank you in advance

OP posts:
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BertieBotts · 12/03/2025 15:41

They aren't categorically unsafe. They have passed the required crash tests and there is nothing that's less safe about them than any other forward facing seat.

The grey area where you might want to consider is the fact that their baby insert for rear facing is limited as it only goes up to 82cm, which is only likely to get you up to about 18 months rear facing. And while they say that a larger rear facing element is in the works, they have been saying that for ages and it has not yet appeared. So you cannot do extended rear facing (ie, RF past the baby stage) in this seat, and that is where it's true that there is a safety deficit because it is true that extended rear facing is safer than forward facing.

If your children tend to be on the smaller side and/or you'd forward face at ~18 months anyway, plus your older children are already forward facing, then it can be a reasonable option, though I'd consider the ages/sizes of the older children because the harnessed seats go up to 135cm/36kg, if the eldest child gets to this point before the youngest is old enough to be out of a harness, you may get an issue again.

Multimac actually did a video on the safety/development of the crash testing of it on their youtube channel, which is interesting and worth a watch.

Interestingly this video includes a crash test of the rear facing element with the 3yo dummy in it - so I don't understand why they have limited it to 82cm height, aside from the fact the 3yo dummy didn't have any leg room, but it does seem the founder does not see anything wrong with forward facing from 15 months, so it might be that they have set the limit for that reason.

Like anything car seat related it really depends what you're comparing against. If you're comparing against three children in rear facing seats, then the Multimac is not going to come out as safer. It might be worth investigating whether ERF seats with tethers (like Axkid Minikid), which can tesselate well with each other, other ERF tethered seats like Britax Max Safe, a high backed booster or smaller seats like Graco Extend R129, an infant carrier with belt fitted base, and/or putting one child in the front - whether any of this would solve your three across problem. I would look at an ERF specialist if you have one nearby or just a big John Lewis and see if you can play around with fitting different seat models next to each other, before you write off 3 across based on google because it's not so much about how wide all the seats are, it's about the shape of them and the placement of the parts which stick out basically. If you believe everything that is written online about getting 3 across you'd think it's impossible whereas I do think it's more often possible than it's made out to be.

OTOH if you're comparing against three very cheap, basic forward facing seats (because these are often the slimmest) or even two basic FF seats and one child in the middle with no seat, which is legal, then Multimac is almost definitely the safer option.

Of course, IRL you will have a multitude of options between 3x plus tested ERF seats, and 2x basic seats with one child with no seat - these are extremes, and Multimac, just as most setups, is somewhere between the two extremes.

Lastly since you asked about cars which fit three across, this list is a bit old but might be of some use: https://erfmission.com/car-seats-3-across-in-the-backseat/

Sorry for no easy answer there. But hopefully there is some helpful information somewhere.

Amberkitten7654321 · 12/03/2025 16:12

We have one in a golf - it’s been a lifesaver - but a few points…

the buckles are quite difficult to do up and tighten properly so usability is quite annoying sometimes. My 8 year old now finds it really uncomfortable.

As PP said - my chunky baby grew out of the baby seat quickly but seemed so small facing forward and for a year or so, although I knew it passed all the safety tests it did make me feel a bit anxious.

mine are now 8, 6 and almost 4 and I’m going to get rid of it soon as my 8 year old is tall enough to not need a car seat and so she can sit on the middle and have car seats on either sides.

we also have a Skoda kodiaq 7 seater which I love! Been a lifesaver with 3 kids! Happy to answer any more questions on it.

laura1085 · 12/03/2025 16:16

Don't want to write a long winded response, but I had one previously and we loved it. Baby seat is a bit cumbersome, and as others have already said you can't rear face for an extended period of time.
Found the owner really helpful too, and the installation process very good.

kombuchabucha · 14/01/2026 10:24

@kdmummyx what did you decide to do in the end? My third is on the way and I'm in the same pickle now!

Did you go for a multimac, and if so how are you finding it?

kdmummyx · 14/01/2026 11:00

kombuchabucha · 14/01/2026 10:24

@kdmummyx what did you decide to do in the end? My third is on the way and I'm in the same pickle now!

Did you go for a multimac, and if so how are you finding it?

Hi! We didn’t end up going for a multi Mac for a few reasons which I’ll explain why;

  1. the price seemed like a lot at the time, even though car seats are pricey individually spending over £1k seemed like a lot at the time.

  2. we knew we needed a new car anyway, we had a VW golf at the time and definitely would of outgrown that with 3 children very fast.

  3. I didn’t like the idea of the forward facing once the baby reached a certain weight/height (have a google of the restrictions as I’m unsure now)

our 3rd baby is now 3 months old and have had 2 cars since she’s been born and have all fit 3 car seats next to each other along the back seats. First one being a VW touran which was very spacious, easy to drive and had extra seats in the boot if needed - definitely recommend! We sadly had a car accident and this car was scraped so now we have a Mercedes ML which also fits all 3 car seats along the back safely, however doesn’t have the extra seats in the boot.

I was also very stressed about the whole car seat situation but it’s very easily done with the right car and car seats! Hope this helps!

OP posts:
kombuchabucha · 14/01/2026 19:40

Thanks for your response OP. I'm currently in a small hatchback too so definitely need a bigger car but wanted to avoid getting a 7 seater/minivan as the boot space seems so tiny on them. Unless you have the third row seats folded I suppose, in which case might as well get a 5 seater! Hence why I was looking at the multimac.

The minimac seat does look really small though, I can imagine it would get snug before 18 months and I usually keep mine rearward facing until 2.5/3yo.

Back to the drawing board I think!

BertieBotts · 14/01/2026 23:34

Well a lot of the time, the benefit with the 7 seaters with foldable back seats is that they have 3x full sized seats in the second row. So there can be a benefit even if you don't very often use the other two seats.

HDready · 14/01/2026 23:40

kombuchabucha · 14/01/2026 19:40

Thanks for your response OP. I'm currently in a small hatchback too so definitely need a bigger car but wanted to avoid getting a 7 seater/minivan as the boot space seems so tiny on them. Unless you have the third row seats folded I suppose, in which case might as well get a 5 seater! Hence why I was looking at the multimac.

The minimac seat does look really small though, I can imagine it would get snug before 18 months and I usually keep mine rearward facing until 2.5/3yo.

Back to the drawing board I think!

Have you looked at the Peugeot 5008? The boot is a really good size. I went from a BMW 1

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