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Original poster

Can you recommend a car which fits 3 child seats/boosters in rear AND has a large boot?

29 replies

cupsnakes · 15/10/2006 20:45

We have an audi estate which is great for 2 children and labrador in boot.
With third baby coming I don't think we can fit 3 child seats in the back so ds is going to have to sit in the front and I am going to have to squeeze in the middle of the back seat when we are out as a family.
Is there another car I should be considering for the future?
Some of the people carriers look quite good but I need a LOT of boot space for dog + pram + sundry.

OP posts:
MacdogOnElmStreet · 15/10/2006 20:55

i think the KIA Sedona has seats and a biggish boot
Chevrolet Lacetti Station Wagon has huge boot, but don't know if it would be wider than your Audi

LIZS · 15/10/2006 20:57

Scenic - you can now get the Grand Scenic body with only 5 seats fitted.

hub2dee · 15/10/2006 20:59

Merc E ?

Wallace · 15/10/2006 21:04

When we are out as a family we have infant seat in the back, with dd (5) in a booster seat with back, and ds (7) in the middle in no booster (allowed if can't fit 3 seats in back), and the middle 3point seat belt fits well, and doesn't rub his neck. If the middle belt was longer, we could probably fit the infant carrier in hte middle and have boosters either side. We have an old (P reg) Vauxhall Vectra. The boot is huge too.

buktus · 15/10/2006 21:08

ford galaxy is great, wwe have three car seats a bullmastiff, buggy and bags and stuff with plenty of room

Twohootsandapumpkin · 15/10/2006 21:10

The new Ford S-Max has been given great ratings in car mags recently (7 seats). And imo it looks quite stylish whilst not being too big. Another friend has just bought a Nissan Pathfinder but then you get into the 4x4 thing - shhhhh!

Someone I know is pregnant and will have 3 kids and has just bought a large Volvo estate for them all. However, don't think she was too pleased when someone pointed out that whilst you can fit 3 seats in the back, they can't actually be touching each other. Not sure why but apparently it's a safety thing - just something to watch out for if you decide on another estate.

7up · 15/10/2006 21:11

my sister bought an estate volvo, sounds like an old grandads car but its actually quite nice. fits her 3under 5s in the back and very big boot for her 2 pyrenean mountain dogs!

NastyNemo666 · 15/10/2006 21:12

we have a scenic and have 3rd baby on the way. I currently have one booster seat, one forward facing britax and a rear facing car seat in the back of mine. Boot was holding a double pram and a single pram although admittedly had to squash the shopping around it.

MerlinsBeard · 15/10/2006 21:13

s max has 3 full size seats in the back and 2 fold down (jnto the floor) seats behind that. Boot is large even with the extra seats up and its not a massive car either.
we looked at it as if we had another chikd we would need 3 full size seats, extra seats in back for frineds AND be able to get DPs music studio in the back without moving any babyseats

TheUnholyTrinity · 15/10/2006 21:16

I believe that my scenic will, it better do as dd3 is due in jan

soph28 · 15/10/2006 21:23

my sil just bought a Skoda Octavia estate and it's gorgeous. We drove all around last week with 3 babyseats in the back. One forward facing in the middle and two rear facing on either side. We also had the double buggy in the boot.
A lot cheaper than some other bigger cars and with loads of cool extras.

willowcatkin · 15/10/2006 21:25

My Mazda MPV is great - 7 full size adult seats plus boot space, AND sliding rear doors so no trouble parking.

Please do not have a Kia Sedona - it only got 2 stars in the crash tests - seriously unsafe!

VanillaMilkshake · 15/10/2006 21:38

Cupsnakes, we had this conversation with firends last week, and were shocked to find out there are some bits in the new law which they dont advertise, such as acknowledging it is not possible to get 3 carseats in the back of a normal family car, and in these circumstances the eldest child can sit in the middle (and as long as it's a shoulder seat belt not just waist) without a booster.

This is just my recollection of the conversation, so dont take it as gospel. But if you phone your local police station they will advise you - in fact when you ask for thier advice they really seem to like it and go out of thier to help (in my experience)

KBear · 15/10/2006 21:45

I have a Scenic and three boosters fit across the back. Kids can't manage their own seat belts though, I have to do it for them as the buckles are quite low down. They can undo them, just not do them up.

Lots of boot space and the added advantage that the back seats recline and move forward and back making more leg room/more boot space, depending on your needs at the time and there is lots of floor space for the shopping if the boot is full with prams!

You can also take the middle seat out and have just two seats in the back and move them in a bit, giving more space for two kids.

I couldn't go back to driving a saloon car after the handy little Scenic!

3monkeys · 15/10/2006 21:58

Ford Galaxy is fab! Can fit 2 booster seats with baby seat across back and loads of room in boot. We went from Merseyside to the Isle of Wight in ours this summer and loads of room!

ghoulgirl · 15/10/2006 22:01

volvo estate has child seat in the middle doesn't it

cat64 · 15/10/2006 22:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Gillian76 · 15/10/2006 22:05

Never heard the thing about the seats not touching each other?

We have had this problem long before car seat laws and anded up with a VW Sharan. Now have a Vauxhall Zafira and can fit 3 seats in but they definitely touch

Also, I think it depends on the seats, tbh. We bought new seats when we bought the new car.

Gillian76 · 15/10/2006 22:06

VW Sharan, Ford Galaxy and Seat Alhambra all have the same body fwiw. If you take the back seats out you have a massive boot and 3 proper seats in the middle.

fussymummy · 15/10/2006 22:12

If you have 3 children, then the new law allows the eldest to be exempt from using a car seat.

We have 2 booster seats for our 3 and 5 year olds.

They sit either side in the back.

My 8 year old goes in the front as he can't fit in the middle seat.

He is over the height restrictions as well.

When partner is with us as well, we have to put 2 booster seats next to each other and 8 year old next to the door.

My 5 year old can't wait til she's over the height limit.

Only another couple of inches to go!!!

Tommy · 15/10/2006 22:16

Citroen Berlingo fits 3 seats across the back and the boot is huge

Depends if you're after a "cool" car though because it most definitly isn't but I don't care

Twohootsandapumpkin · 15/10/2006 22:47

Have been trying to find something on car seats not touching/rubbing against one another and can't. We were told it by the fitter of our last car seat at Halfords - seem to recall it might have been something to do with the seat belt buckles being pushed up against the seats which can cause them to shatter in an accident? .

If I find anything I'll post it - would be useful to know if it is legit advice. A friend of mine also knew about this?

Original poster
cupsnakes · 16/10/2006 08:37

blimey - I go off to watch Jane Eyre and come back to find all these posts. You're all fab.
Will get dh to read these as well.

question - can ds (6) sit in the middle without a booster if we only have a lap belt (not a three point harness)? tbh, I'm not crazy about the idea. It's a useful consideration though if we did get another similar estate because then we'd look for one with a better belt.

btw, what is s max?

OP posts:
Wilbur · 16/10/2006 08:43

Haven't read other posts, so sorry if I am repeating something but last year we bought a second hand Volvo V70 and it's great. I can get all three seats across the back, plus it's got flip down seats in the boot for extra folk. The boot is huge, plpenty of space for pram, dog etc. It's nice to drive as well. We looked at a citroen scenic too, but there was very little boot space in comparison (and I didn't like sitting so high off the ground to drive, but that's me). The Volvo is a bit of a boat, and although eventually we will swap it for something smaller, for these small children/travel cot/playdate/diy store/ikea years, it's just the ticket.

PretendFriend · 16/10/2006 09:03

S Max for you, cupcakes.

Sounds excellent

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