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Original poster

7 seater advice

12 replies

TheHouseofMirth · 05/03/2011 20:25

We're currently contemplating buying a 7 seater but I'm wondering about the safety of children in the 3rd row of seat. None of the dealers we've spoken to seem to have any information.

Also, can anyone tell me if there are any estate cars still made with 1 or 2 seats in the boot, like Volvos used to have?

OP posts:
thisisyesterday · 05/03/2011 20:32

My friend has a renault grand scenic and i know in her manual it warns about having young children (or maybe car seats?) in the rear seats because it's basically in the crumple zone

volvo no longer make the jump seats for the back of the car as they believe them not to be safe enough. We have a 2006 volvo which could take seats and we have in the past looked for some, but came to the conclusion that it just wasn't safe enough for children. and probably not comfy enough for adults!!

sooo... if you need 7 seats because you have more than 3 children I would maybe go for a BIG mpv that has 7 seats AND a big boot behind it (vw caravelle for example)

4madboys · 05/03/2011 20:36

we just bought a citreon c8 and it says its fine for kids to be in the back, but there is boot space as well behind the back row of seats.

before that we had a vw sharran and again that was ok, previous to that we had a mitsubishi space wagon but that was NOT ok, as the back seats were basically only meant for occasional use.

make sure you buy a car with proper full size seats and boot space.

btw we would love a vw caravelle, but couldnt afford one, we are very happy with our citreon c8 tho :)

Original poster
TheHouseofMirth · 05/03/2011 21:18

We neither need nor want an mpv! There's only 4 of us but we regularly take MIL on trips and we're struggling to find a 5 seater which will comfortably fit 2 car seats and 1 adult in the back. We looked at a Zafira today but DH sat in the back and seemed to think the rear seats would not be great for an adult on a long journey.

OP posts:
NonnoMum · 05/03/2011 21:22

If you want 3 seats across the back, I'd recommend a Citroen Picasso. I've even had three car seats in there.

Original poster
TheHouseofMirth · 05/03/2011 21:25

Is that the Xsara Picasso NonnoMum?

OP posts:
KingofHighVis · 05/03/2011 21:26

Look on www.parkers.co.uk/ or similar for reviews which include crash safety test results.

Original poster
TheHouseofMirth · 06/03/2011 09:17

Thanks KingogHighVis though they don't specifically mention the rear seats. Looking at those ncap ratings I wonder how many bother to consider the pedestrian safety ratings?!

OP posts:
PrettyCandles · 06/03/2011 09:37

We ended up with a Galaxy, but when we looked at the other Ford 7-seater we found that 3 car-seats fitted across the middle row without any difficulty. It is basically the same middle row as the Galaxy. I have travelled comfortably in the middle row of our Galaxy with 2 of the dc in carseats, and I am a size 20. So I should think the smaller Ford 7-seater would suit you perfectly, without even using the 3rd row at all.

I'm sure there must be other 'mini-MPVs' which are basically shorter, lower versions of the full-size MPV, with the same middle row.

PrettyCandles · 06/03/2011 09:40

Or what about the Multipla? I know nothing about it, except that it seats 6 in two rows, and that my friend with 3dc loves hers.

movingsoon · 06/03/2011 14:21

I have a grand scienic and it does not say anything about them not being safe for children.

It the boot is quite wide compared to the c4 and the zafira we had before, You do have to put the middle row forward a bit to give more room. I imagine very small car like a c1 the back seats may not be the safest you just have to do the best you can on your budget. When we take the in-laws the kid go in the middle all the way to get them 3.5hrs all motorway we then move the seat for during the visit then we move them back. A good point with the scienic is you can fit britax kidfix in the third row at its full height that is taking a child of about 150cm which is goo as they then benefit from increased side impact in the c4 my 9 year old couldn't fit anymore not happing with her on just a booster

Katz · 06/03/2011 14:25

We had a mercedes A class which we could get 3 adults across the back seat or any combo of children/adults. We chose one with intergrated car seats which made the 2 children 1 adult even more comfy. We've just upgraded to an R class which is a 6 seater and fab.

If you want more boot space the mercedes b class would do.

thisisyesterday · 06/03/2011 15:23

we have a volvo v70 which can easily fit 3 car seats across the back, although it may not be comfortable for 2 seats and a grandma Grin

as it's not for regular usage I am sure you'd be fine with something like a Ford S-Max or the Toyota Verso or similar which has an extra 2 seats in the back but is definitely not an MPV!

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