4x4’s for family with three aged 5 and under

[Mirshid]

I am nearly at my wits end re searching for a suitable car. We have two dc’s aged 5 and 2 1/2 in maxicosi rodifix and 2 way pearl respectively. We are expecting baby no 3 later in the year. Currently have a 2015 vw Tiguan and we have tried various combinations of car seats but are unable to fit three in bar putting one child in the front which I would rather avoid if possible.

We test drove a Vw touareg at the weekend and loved it but although we could fit seats in the side impact panels of the rodifix (in middle seat) were pushed in which is apparently not a safe installation. We also looked at the sharan which we are considering however we have horses and need to tow on occasions.

I have spoken to a Volvo dealer re a xc90 and they weren’t really able to tell me if 3 seats in back seat was feasible.. the vw dealer has said that a Tiguan all space/kodiaq will also be to tight and the the rear boot seats are small..
We have had a Kia sorrento in the past and not keen to have another!
Any advice on car seat configuration/ alternatives greatly received many thanks!

As an alternative buy the car you want and one of these???

multimac.co.uk/home

I can recommend the Audi Q2!

We spent a lot of time trying to find a car that would take 3 seats in the back similar to you maxi Cosi rodifix, axiss and pebble. We ended up with a Ford S Max because it has individual back seats which mean you can get three in a row

The Outlander comes in a seven seater (diesel)

I'll second the Mitsubishi Outlander.

I have 3 young children and have a BMW X5
with 7 seats - I can get all 3 in the second row as ds is 8 and doesn't need a car seat anymore but one of them normally goes in the back row so they all have more space. Can have one or both seats in 3rd row up
So still plenty of boot space with only 1 seat up.

I have a Q7 and three seats fit in the back - baby seat, one bulky booster and one standard booster. I did have a q5 and it was too narrow so we upgraded.
Not many cars fit 3 side by side comfortably. Our initial thought was to use the 7 seats in the Q7 as it still has a decent boot but we don’t really need to.

Thank you very much, we did like the 3 separate seats in the sharan but really want to avoid a people carrier if possible plus I can’t find one with four wheel drive. I looked at the Multimac but really want to keep the youngest two rear facing until 4 if possible! Shall investigate the Outlander and bmw though thank you.. I didn’t realise there was a seven seat version of either. Should also mention we need to fit pram in boot which we weren’t sure about in sharan with the boot seats raised plus a small dog..

I used to have 2 in Britax seats with 5 point harness and one in a britax baby seat in the back of a landrover discovery but I’ve just googled the seats and I think maybe the current car seats are bigger (this was 14 years ago) but it might be worth a try. Love discovery’s and still drive one, only now it’s because they can hold enormous teenagers and all their friends as parent party taxi.

Thank you.. I have discovery on my list of possibles but like the Volvo there seems to be some ambiguity as to whether seats will fit across.. I guess we will just have to go and look at some and see..

Have to look at the Kia Sorrento as well. 7 seater but we managed 3 bulky car seats when ours were a similar age.

Ford Expedition EL, seats 9 and has space for 3 dogs and luggage. The 5.4L gets reasonable MPG.