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Original poster

4x4 type car that fits 4 car seats - please help!

29 replies

Safifi · 12/08/2017 10:18

I have done so much research it's maddening.
I have a 7 year old in high backed booster, 3 year old in forward facing, 1 year old in rear facing and one one the way. Therefore I am in need of a roomy vehicle with enough boot space for double buggy. We currently have a Volvo XC90 but there is not safe room for three carseats in middle row and not much leg room in back row. We can't have a normal people carrier as our farm lane would ground them out as they are too low to the ground. I have found many cars in other countries that could be suitable but I can find nothing in Britain.
Any ideas gratefully appreciated!

OP posts:
intuition · 12/08/2017 10:18

Disco?

womaninatightspot · 12/08/2017 10:58

We have an xc90 and four kids and it's fine. Our eldest two sit in the back row age 6 and 4 in hbb. When DS2 was three he used to climb in via boot and sit down. I would fasten him in by hopping into the middle row, middle seat was kept folded down for this. Now he can fasten his own seatbelt ( I check obviously) so it's easier. Double buggy in the boot was trickier. Out and about nipper 360 double. Also good for farmtracks.

Original poster
Safifi · 13/08/2017 06:33

Thank you both for your replies. Sadly the disco has a smaller boot.
womaninatightspot you have reassured my worries for now so I'll just just see how it goes. I am just apprehensive having my 3 year in the very back. Great idea having middle seat down though.

OP posts:
cliffdiver · 13/08/2017 06:55

A Multimac added to your current car could work?

ProseccoPoppy · 13/08/2017 07:04

My neighbours have a defender and swear by it. They have 5 under 10 and everything seems to fit in ok. A colleague with 4 under 10 has a fairly chunky Volvo (not sure which) with a multimac fitted.

eurochick · 13/08/2017 07:47

I'm surprised to read that about the xc90. That's what my friend with 4 children has.

womaninatightspot · 13/08/2017 14:33

Thinking about it DS2 was really just 2.7 when he graduated to the far backseat (we had twins). Always really liked it; far preferred it to our second car where he was squeezed in with the twins on one row. That said are you sure you can't fit three car seats in the middle row? If we're giving someone a lift then the girls seats are put together to save anyone the indignity of squeezing by. I'm sure I could get another seat in if I tried.

Orangebird69 · 13/08/2017 14:43

Volvo XC90 or Kia Sorrento?

greystarling · 13/08/2017 14:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Safifi · 13/08/2017 18:55

Thank you all for being so kind with your advice.
Sadly a multimac would not suit our current car seat and two of my children would be rear facing for a few years to come.
I am really anxious when it comes to fitting carseats properly so for peace of mind I would rather each car seat had a full seat to be attached to.
I shall look into all the other suggestions thank you and also trial my 3 year old and 7 old in my rear most seats with me in the middle row to see how things fair.
I know there are worse things going on in the world but it does worry me in the middle of the night!

OP posts:
Flowersandfootballs · 13/08/2017 18:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bamaluz · 13/08/2017 19:50

I would be looking at changing one of your existing seats for a narrower version if other people have managed to get three seats in.

Original poster
Safifi · 14/08/2017 07:13

Yes , thank you, good suggestion. I have already been to Halfords and there are no combinations that would safely and properly fit three seats as the middle seat is not a full seat. Three can be squeezed in but they do not sit flat and securely!

OP posts:
samanthaterry1983 · 11/10/2017 14:45

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

litt1elantern · 11/10/2017 17:02

Hi

I might be late (and irrelevant) with this advice, but have you tried contacting you current car's retailer?

Volvo have an online car seat configurator - And, as a car manufacturer, they may have conducted safety testing with the child seats actually in the vehicles, so the impact would be tested specifically to the car.

(BTW, I feel like I should say that I don't work for Volvo, but I do work in the automotive industry :) )

Original poster
Safifi · 12/10/2017 06:04

Thank you so much! I didn't even consider that!

OP posts:
Original poster
Safifi · 12/10/2017 06:24

Thank you! Sorry I didn't know you had sent this message. I shall look in to it thanks.

OP posts:
elastamum · 12/10/2017 06:46

My brother has 4 young DC and drives a VW caravelle. We also live up a track and it is fine off the main road.

Original poster
Safifi · 13/10/2017 18:33

I love the caravelle, but we have a pot holed lane and I'd be too scared that with regular 6x daily usage we would ground out. I shall maybe try for a test drive!

OP posts:
Salden · 12/12/2017 23:28

Hi, just out of interest....did you find one? I know exactly what you mean. When you look into it properly you realise its only the two rear window seats that are compatible with most child seats and occasionally the front passenger seat. I havent seen any 7 seaters where the back two are compatible. Would really like to find something.

Thanks

Salden · 12/12/2017 23:42

Audi Q7 is listed at holding 6 child seats on the cybex website. You can check each individual seat on there. Its only the 2015+models and would be very very expensive xx

Salden · 12/12/2017 23:44

5 sorry 🙈

Todayissunny · 12/12/2017 23:45

We have VW T6 4x4. I think it's the same thing as the caravelle.

lucy101101 · 12/12/2017 23:45

I know you said no to the Disco but couldn't you just use one of the rear seats (with the booster) which would still give you room for the buggy? We have one and hands down it is my favourite car ever!

Lollipop30 · 12/12/2017 23:50

We have a Nissan Quashqai (probably wrong spelling!) +2, so 7seater.
We can fit 2x Stage 3/4 (age 4-12) a Stage 2 (18mth old) and a baby seat. And the pram. The two youngest go either side on the middle seats, an older one in the middle. Then an older one plus pram fits in the boot.

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