Cars with 3 proper seats across the back

[onceagainforrose]

Hi, an often repeated one, but cars keep on changing so looking for recent experience. I’ve seen a number of newer cars where the older ones could definitely have 3 isofix seats in the back seat , the newer models have 2x isofix in the back and one in the front, presumably the back seat is narrower. Eg the new big SEAT doesn’t have the same seat confit as the old Alhambra, I think the new/next Peugeot 5008 isn’t as big, pretty sure the Skoda 7 seater doesn’t have 3 seats.

whilst my next car probably won’t need all the car seats, one thing I didn’t really appreciate is that those cute toddlers in their bulky car seats grow into gangly teenagers who still need a proper sized seat to sit in the back… and then I had three of them.

we do a fair amount of long journeys in the car, so I do want something comfortable for them.

so if you’ve bought a car less than 5 years old with 3 proper seats in the back, what have you bought?

We have a Dacia Jogger, bought new in 2024. The middle row bench has three equal-sized moulded seats although only the outer two have isofix. The Jogger also has two removable seats (non isofix) in the third row which can take full sized adults. We find it a really good car for our needs (only two primary school age DCs but friends, occasional grandparent etc) but honestly I can think of better cars for transporting lanky teenagers long distances in.

Stellantis van-based cars (Citroën Berlingo, Peugeot Rifter, Vauxhall Combo Life, and Toyota City Verso etc as mid size) all have three isofix across the back/middle row, although I think the seven seat LWB versions are only available as electric now.

There is a bigger model too - the Citroën SpaceTourer, Peugeot Traveller, Vauxhall Vivaro Life and Toyota Proace Verso have three isofix across both the second and third rows, but these are definitely electric only now and use the same battery/drivetrain as the Corsa in a Transit-sized vehicle. They are renowned for poor range. They are very rare - and expensive - on the used market if you want a diesel-engined one. If they had been available new with the diesel I'd have probably bought one, but for us it came to a straightforward choice between the Jogger and the Skoda Kodiaq.