Smallest car with 3 kids

[abedelia]

Just 5+5 but am thinking about the inevitable transport issue that this no3 is going to cause. What's the smallest car anyone is using? I really don't want the issues of parking or driving a monster MPV or similar as we live in an area with a great combination of little parking and narrow country lanes.

We currently have a Peugeot 206 and are very happy with this. However, the chances of us fitting 3 kids in it are minimal, unless I spend all my time in the back sandwiched between two booster seats - however, the remaining space is too small to sit back so wearing a seatbelt is difficult, so we really do have to change up... thanks.

We're in a picasso. It may not be the smallest, but tis a lovely car and I have had no problems adapting to driving it

We've just got a Zafira. It's a 7 seater but it's not huge. One of my neighbours has a much bigger 5 seater car.

I've got an old style Renault Megane (not the scenic), and I can fit a booster, an infant seat with base, and a child seat in the back. It's a little tight.

DH drives a MG Z; all 5 of us can just about fit. DS1 sits in the passenger seat, and I squeeze in the middle of the back. I can sit back and use the seatbelt, but I'm not able to move much!

We manage just fine day-to-day without an MPV, but I we will struggle to fit all our holiday stuff in the boot when we go on Monday. I think we'll have to buy a roof box before next time.

I have a Zafira too. It's based on the Astra - which is not a large car by anyone's standards - & is v nice to drive (& my diesel is economical too). There are billions of them about at a vast range of prices.

But by all accounts you can't fit 3 car seats across the middle row - 1 would have to go into a rear seat - would that be an issue for you? If not then I can recommend wholeheartedly

Oh that's good, bbm - my kids were past car seats when I got mine, I'm just going by reports on here.

But you do need to get a 2003 model (or later) to get the 3-point seat belt in the middle seat - earlier ones only have a lap belt.

Might look at a Zafira - we have two recaro booster seats which are quite massive. Boot space isn't much of an issue as we tend to travel light - we just need something a bit wider. If only it was the 70s again - 4 kids in the back of a Mini in my youth... Though on some massive hills in Somerset apparently my older siblings had to get out and walk as it couldn't make it up them fully loaded!

We have the zafira and 3 kids and tis ace. Cheap to run and insure and oodles of room for 3 without being a monster truck to drive and park.

We get our 3 kids (4, 1 and 13 weeks) across the middle back row but this only works with certain car seat combinations. Luckily the car seats we had already fitted.So if you want to do this you may need to shop around for seats that fit. It is a great , reliable car tho and would defo recommend it.

I have a Fiat seicento, which is about the smallest car in the world. But I do have to put the new baby-to-be in the front seat (no airbag), and noone else can get in the car unless they are about 6 inches wide!

I had a Nissan note as a hire car recently, and fitted 2 car seats and a skinny one in the middle! I drive a scenic, which is fab, and we have an S-MAX too, which is also fab but BIG!

You will adapt to a bigger car with ease. But can I suggest a Picasso as it has parking sensors - makes it easier to park. Our Picasso is now DH car and when I first got it it seemed huge, but now I have a VW sharan 7 seater and it doesnt seem any bigger than the picasso. I admit that I do choose my parking spaces with care though! MPVs are really more comfortable than regular cars for me. I find them a lot easier to get in and out of and easier to reach the kids and fiddle with the car seats.

if you don't want a people carrier type car then I'd recommend a 307 SW - I had a 206 before ds3. ds's are just 3, 18mo and 2 wks and all fit across the back fine, the SW has 7 seats but the back two are clipped into the boot so you can take them out and just use them for play dates or grandparents visits.

www.multimac.co.uk/3_child_car_seat

maybe this can help. you choose any car)

I had my 3 kids in a corsa until 2 weeks ago!!

Edlest 7 (very skinny) sat in the middle and 4 and two year old in proper car seats either side of her. She did sometimes moan about 2 year old pulling her hair etc. but it all builds character .

baby no. 4 coming in 3 weeks time so I grudgingly traded corsa in and went for the Zafira. I only wanted a zafira as felt this was the smallest looking people carrier on the market.

i was so down about having to give up the corsa as I could park it anywhere!! Was dreading going up to a bigger car.

Must say I really like the Zafira. Nicer to drive than the corsa and not particularily huge. Kids love it as so much more room for them. Not had any problems so far parking it!!

I used to have a 206 sw before ds3 and loved it! couldn't fit three baby seats in it so upgraded to 03 plate 307 sw (has 2 extra seats in boot that you can use for friends or relatives which is great but normally I take them out and have loads of boot space)

had my 3 within 3yrs so loads of space in back, we have 2 stage 1 seats and 1 high backed booster in middle. We like having estate car and not people carrier - I think I just don't like the dash on bigger cars

Berlingo/Peugeot Partner?

DD3 is due in 4 weeks and we've just got a Picasso. I was really nervous about driving/parking but it really doesn't feel much bigger.

The seats are wide enough to have 3 kids in the back (We've easily fitting in 2 forward facing and a high-back booster as well as 2 forward facing and a rear facing).

It cheaper than most cars of a similar to size to buy/insure.

Am pg with dc3& not planning to get a bigger car than my Yaris. Dd1 doesn't need a seat which helps but I always go for smallest car possible as they are much more economical to run.