Audi Q7 or Volvo XC90 for three car seats?

[newcarquandry]

Due DC3 in a few months and will have three under three, so in definite need of a car which comfortably fits three full car seats in the middle row (so that we still have ample space for double buggy etc in the boot).

I've narrowed it down to these two. Does anyone have any experience of either, preferably experience with fitting in multiple car seats? I'm aware the Volvo doesn't have as many isofix however we are using axkids for our current two which don't need isofix. We are big fans of extended rear facing so it's important that three axkids will fit across, and two axkids and one infant seat for the first few months.

Hopeful bump?

I think in the XC90 you can put half the back row of seats down and put the buggy in beside that seat?

Only way to be sure is take the seats to the showroom!

Did you get your Axkid seats from a specialist retailer? I'd ask them what they have experience fitting in, as that can be a useful guide. You could also try the extended rear facing groups on FB as everyone has Axkid seats on there!

Volvo XC90 every day of the week. Such a comfortable car and easy to drive. Our kids love it to pieces and never ever want to go in any other car. Also, the middle seat has a booster seat which is great when they’re older and outgrow car seats but still need a booster.

We have an XC90 hybrid. Eldest was 3 yr 4 m when twins arrived so she could use the booster seat.

The twins are rear facing in spin 360s either side. Eldest is a little squashed whilst the seats are turned, but fine once in position.

The boot is a great size with the back row folded down- we keep the double pushchair in there and there’s still room for weekly shop.

The engine is a bit underpowered but we primarily drive on electric. It has some good options, like the bird’s eye camera parking assistant.

I doubt you'd get 3 car seats or HB boosters in the Q7. We've got 2 and and occasionally use a small booster in the middle but it's a squeeze.

Thank you- the booster seat sounds great for when they're older but it was my understanding that 3 years 4 months was far too young to be safe for that? We've read to keep our eldest in the read facing axkid until he's at least 4.5 and then move him into a high back booster to keep him safe?

Ok thank you- it's definitely wider than the xc90 so I'm not really sure where to go from here if neither car will fit three good car seats across the back!

I could put an infant carrier or axkid in the passenger seat for either car for the next couple of years if needs be but it's not ideal. If I did that then in the Audi could theoretically put the other axkid and the Joie side by side in the middle row with space for the passenger next to them, but couldn't do this in the Volvo as neither joie or axkid say we could fit their seats in the middle seat of the middle row, so passenger would have to climb over a car seat to get into the middle seat every time.

What do people with triplets etc do? I refuse to believe I'm going to have to compromise on the safety of my children to get them seats that will fit in a car!

We've just bought a Q7 and have 4 children. Three car seats across the back row would be very difficult as the middle seat isn't as large as the other two.

The Touran we just sold would have fitted three in. It's a perfect family car.

Thank you. I think I'm now leaning towards getting a people carrier and then splashing out on a top of the range SUV in a few years when it's safe to have them out of car seats/in high back boosters.

Can I ask what the difference is between a Touran and a Sharan if you know?

The XC90 is great for car seats, I had my first when my twins were tiny with a 2yo and 5yo, the boot held a double pushchair even with all 7 seats up. Ended up with a surprise 5th child when eldest was 7 so it was perfect

The sharan is bigger than a Touran I think but you can't access the back seats with isofix in the middle row as far as I can remember. We used to access the back row in the XC90 through the boot, it had a gap between the back two seats, accessing the back row with isofix in middle row is definitely something to consider

This is good to hear- thank you- can I ask which car seats you had in the xc90? I'm struggling with it as the rear middle seat doesn't have isofix and also doesn't allow any seat with a support leg, and even the joie 360 on the fit list says it can't go in the front passenger seat. Just seems incredibly restricted in comparison to something like the sharan where three full size seats can fit across the middle row (access to the rear seats isn't an issue for us).

Would really love to make the Volvo work as think overall it looks like a great car, but I can't for the life of me figure out a trio of good car seats that would work!

Whilst it isn't what you are asking - we looked for cars that would get three proper car seats across the back and in the end decided on the Ford Galaxy. It has been fantastic and as the very back seats are fully sized as well we use them for extra adults or children.

Thank you!

I've also read the VW Sharan is supposed to be excellent. Have decided I'm better off getting something like that for the next few years and then splashing out on a new 4x4 when I can be more flexible about car seats in the future. It just doesn't seem to make sense to try and 'make' the luxury 4x4 options work, when I could get a cheaper but better people carrier!

We looked at a number of options and even when we did not need to consider car seats we stayed with the Galaxy. The teenagers appreciate the leg and head room and the middle seat is much more comfortable than many middle seats.

We have four children and a Sharan. Fantastic for space. Extra bonus is the sliding doors for easy access for car seats etc. I love it!

The Volvo is supposed to be great for rear facing because of the built in tethers.

If you're on Facebook, go to the carseat.se page and do a search for Volvo as they are singing the praises of it all the time.

This is also helpful for showing 3 across (including ERF seats) in various cars. It's a bit old now but still v useful.

You can definitely get 3 ERF seats in various cars, so don't give up!

erfmission.com/car-seats-3-across-in-the-backseat-part-2/

Peugeot 5008 also great - we have the 3008, and got 2x car seats in middle and edge plus adult on the other side. But the 5008 has 3 full sized seats and we are thinking of upgrading to it.

If you haven’t already looked at Multimac it could be a great option! Saves you buying a new car www.Multimac.com

We had the old version of this when I had 3 under 2 and fit 3 full car seats but only 2 rear facing.

Have a Volvo XC90 now. Still room for a small double buggy with all seats up but definitely room for a decent double buggy if you just have one of the rear row seats up.

I had a Volvo XC90 when my twins were new. I put older children then two and 4 in the back row twins either side middle row and left the middle seat in middle row folded down so I could keep an eye on everyone.

After that I drove a Seat Alahambra which was such a nice easy car to drive and it has three full seats across the middle with isofix points so I 'd add that to your list.

This is exactly what we did—unattractive but super functional people carrier with 3 full seats across the middle until the youngest was 6. We are now moving to the plug-in XC90 because the older ones are out of car seats and the youngest can use the middle booster.