Car for 3 kids and 2 adults? Been done before but Im being more specific...

[MummyOfHnS]

Sorry, I know this has been done, and is currently being done but I have a bit more specific requirements...

I'm looking for a car which fits 3 children (3yo,1yo&baby) and 2 adults;
Need space in boot for double buggy (so find 7 seaters aren't suitable);
At least 2 isofix points (thinking eldest child may have to go in front and 2nd adult in back between 2 youngest DC's);
Needs to be reliable - don't want an older car although not keen on losing so much buying brand new either;
Engine size 1.8 or above and pref TDi.

I currently own a Zafira and bizarrely this doesn't fit 3 kids and 2 adults!! The front airbag cannot be deactivated so unless u carry zero luggage or prams, its a big waste of a lot of space...

Any help is appreciated!

Our car has a non deactivateable airbag too but the dealership said they could permanently deactivate it if we paid them £100 odd. I'm not sure if this would help you at all?

Ours is a Ford.

Thanks for the replies!

JanuaryJoJo, how in earth do you do it?! If I had 2 adults in front, 2 kids in back (baby seat and stage 1-3 car seat) and another in back back, I couldn't possibly fit a double buggy in...also access to the back back isn't great for a toddler, climbing in through the boot then I have to strap him in (very difficult), or go through the back but with isofix in at either side it would be a pain to take in and out all the time...you are only able to put car seat in the front if the seat is put right back to the furthest position which you can't do with another baby seat behind it...

JaneBirkin, thanks for that, def something I'll look into!

Ford s max fits 3 isofix car seats side by side on back seat allowing you to keep 3rd row folded down hence loads of boot space - our double maclaren fits easily. Is also a lovely car to drive and doesn't feel as big as the Galaxy, for example.

I would suggest either the s-max or the galaxy. enough room for 3 seats next to each other, generous bootspace and really nice to drive

You need to take your zarfira and try lots of car seat in it because getting new carseats is going to be much cheaper than a new car. I have seen lots of people with three in them. 3 year old in the middle with the buckle the so it does up next to the baby.

We have a renault scenic and 3 child seats fit fine in the back.

We have a vw touran, plenty of room for twins (5mths) and ds 3 1/2
Boot massive for double pram plus lots more and two extra seats if we need them, (without double pram) Sharan is bigger version of it

Citroen Xsara picasso, fits 3 children across the back seat, we've had
1 baby seat, 1 toddler, 1 booster
2 toddler seats, 1 booster
and now 1 toddler, 2 boosters

really big boot as well

Thanks for the responses all, youve given me a lot to think about

Januaryjojo, I think the ages of your kids make the big difference. I'm trying to fit a Recaro Monza, Recaro Young Sport and a Maxicozi Cabriofix and an iCandy Peach double pram...

Smax smax smax

I currently have 1y old in maxi cosi, 4y old in massive stage 2 nd 6y old in stage 3 full booster on Middle seat row (all isofix), back row has one seat up for picking up friend and i still have: Bugaboo frog, mcclaren pushchair, 2 scooters, 2 helmets, a portable highchair and 3 bags of shopping in the boot!

We had a zafira before and i agree they're crap

Citroen C4 Grand Picasso is very similar to the SMax but a good 2 or 3k cheaper.

I think your car seats are the problem, rather than the car. I had 3dcs with your age gaps and a Zafira. We had a Britax high back booster, a Britax Freeway (I think, was 4 years ago now!) and a Britax rear facing across the back seats which left the boot free for the double buggy.

I prefer the Grand Picasso though; it has 3 individual seats across the back, the airbag turns off, the boot seats are easier to pull up and it's a more comfortable ride and drive.

Second the Grand Picasso.

We have this and when youngest was first born we had a maxi cosi high back booster, a maxi cosi priorifix and a bebe confort rear facing seat and they all fitted no problem. We then had the priorifix, a britax isofix stage 1 and the booster which fitted fine and now have 2 boosters and the britax. Never had any problem fitting the 3 kids in.

All 3 seats in the middle row are isofix, not sure about the back 2 though. We generally always keep the back 2 seats down which gives us massive boot space. Also, as Lady says, the airbag turns off with the ignition key.

We have a landrover discovery and a mercedes R class, both of which can accomodate our 3 (now 1, 3 and 5 - so have had same seat config as you need) plus our double buggy (babyjogger city select).

Landrover has 2 isofix seats (middle row both sides), and although it was tight, we could get a britax duo plus on one side, a maxi-cosi cabriofix on the other, and a britax evolva 2 3 in the middle. Agree with other poster who says that you may need consider other car seats - some were too big to get 3 across the same row. Although we more commonly now have the evolva 2 3 in the back row and 2 britax duo plus in the middle row, and can still get the double buggy in no problem.

I have a Renault Grand Scenic and fit a stage 1, and 2 boosters easily in the back. Each seat folds and moves independantly and there's an extra 2 seats under the (MASSIVE) boot if you ever need them. Passenger airbag turns off too.

Its a 54 reg diesel and i adore it!