4 kids…car advice needed

[CareBear17]

Just found out we’re expecting number 4 & our citreon grand spacetourer is just not big enough anymore.

If all goes well with this pregnancy we will have

DS (2 months away from turning 6)
DD (2 months away from turning 4)
DS (21 months)
newborn baby

DS1 is in a HBB, DD rear facing in a joie 360 & I plan to keep her rear facing for a bit longer & DS2 will be in some kind of rear facing seat though is dinky and still fits in baby car seat at the moment. Holding off on buying a new one until we have decided on our next car.

Jm not sure if I’m looking for something that doesn’t exist.

I need a car or van that takes 3 car seats plus a HBB. Ideally 3 isofix but would settle for 2. Also need to fit a bugaboo donkey in there.

awe have a dog too that on occasion needs to go in the car.

Is this impossible or does anyone have any suggestions?

Following with interest as I'm in a similar situation. We were planning to go straight for a van rather than a large car but they don't come cheap! Usually isofix are only in the middle row x

vw id buzz

Seat Alhambra / VW Sharan

It has the biggest boot of all the cars. After that, you have to go to a van!

The boot/seat configurations are also easy to use, floors are flat etc when the seats are folded.

When I had DC number 4, I had a rear facing seat in the middle of the middle row, 2 HBB on the outsides of the middle row, and baby in the front seat. When my DH travelled with us, one of the HBB was moved to the back row and he sat in the middle row.

I think you'd get a Bugaboo Donkey in the boot while using one of the rear seats (ie two adults, 4 kids and the buggy), but probably not all the people and the buggy and dog!

The Seat Alhambra has three isofix seats in the middle row.

@HappyAsASandboy thank you!

was it the Seat or VW you had?

I think it’ll be slightly easier when I can get DD into HBB. It’s the three rear facing that’s a bit of a nightmare.

We do have a roof box that I always forget about because we so rarely use it but the bugaboo does fit in it so when all of us are in the car plus the dog well manage with using that. It’s only on occasion anyway thankfully.

such a headache to figure out 😂

I have a seat Alhambra but the cars are virtually the same.

I use Britax Two Way Elite rear facing seats. I can get three across the centre row if needed.

We also had a Volvo XC90 and that can rear face three across the centre row, though the boot is noticeably smaller than the Alhambra.

@HappyAsASandboy
I thought the middle seat in the middle row in Volvo wasn't full size? X

The middle row in the Volvo isn't three separate seats, but it fits three belted rear facing Britax Two Way Elite seats in it (all rear facing) or a Britax Two Way Elite in the middle and two HBB on either side.

I went for a van tbh. All the seats turn into a bed in the back so doubles up for camping. The middle row rotates to face the back so children are effectively rear facing in that row without needing rear facing seats. All the seats move so you can just slide back row forward and voila massive boot. Sliding back doors are much easier to get kids into and no worries about neighbouring cars.

We have 3 going on 4 kids all under 6yo. Last year we bought a VW Touran and a roof box. All five seats in the back are full size and are isofix! I'm unfamiliar with your baby seats but it could be an option for you.

Just curious, as looking to upgrade our car this year, as we often have our nephew and niece as well in holidays, and there just isn't enough space in the current car. Wer are not in the market for a new car, so I wondered what age is your Touran please? I would really like the option of all seats being Isofix to make it easier to swap car seats back and forth.

It's from 2019. It's not exciting to drive but it gets us all from A to B. Last year we went on holiday for a week with four adults and three kids (absolute max capacity!) and still got everyone and everything we needed in.

I wish the boot was slightly bigger when it's in 7 seater mode, but even with six seats up it's pretty good still. I love the five isofix seats, it's really handy for a lot of kids.

Just bought a VW Sharan. All middle row and back row seats have isofix (5 in total). Still space in the boot for our pram with the seats up. Plus the middle seat of the middle row comes out so additional floor space there if needed.

thanks @catchup7 and @Yellowhammer09 that's really helpful to know.

Chrysler grand voyager? Loved ours several years ago. Newer ones look even better.

https://www.multimac.com/product/multimac-1320-4-seater/

my sister got one of these instead of changing her car - worked brilliantly in their volvo estate. They had similar child ages as you. Used it for about 5 years until eldest turned 11. They now have bought an EV9.