Is there a 5 seat car that supports 3 baby seats and 2 Adults???

[FoRahman]

My wife and I are expecting twins later this year (at which point our first child will be 2 years and 3 months old) and is currently using a harness back supported booster seat. I am currently looking for a car that has 5 seats as I would rather avoid purchasing a 7-seater.

My options are BMW 5 Series Estate, E class Estate, BMW X5 or a Mercedes ML (all 13 or 14 plates). Anyone know which of these cars will be best to support our family and whether we can or cannot (space-wise) use two ISO-fixes for the twins with any of these cars and then an infant seat or adult in the middle rear seat?

You don’t take the multimac out of the car, just the infant seat if you choose to do so. The multimac remains in the car permanently, if you want an adult/older child to sit there you just adjust it.

@SimonJT so if I purchased a 3 seater multimac, an adult could also sit on it?

Thanks @ArfArfBarf

Yes they can, there are some pictures on google if you want to see how it would work.

I was sure the x5 could do three across the back

Audi A8?

I’m with you on not wanting to jump into mumvan territory if you can help it

The pictures of the multimacs with 4 across the back are impressive!

I had a Citroen C4 years ago when they were little because it was the only car to have flat back seats rather than ones with sides round your bottom.

Two rear seats me in the middle and DD in the front of all going out together.

Otherwise I’d be driving. DH has his own car.

With friends, we just walked if they had play dates each or one friend at a time worked as well.

I wasn’t buying a car based on future friends downing for tea.

Looks like a q7 would work?

We have an XC90 and fitted 2 Britax ERF seats and a Britax baby seat across the middle row when we had 3 under 3. We had twins then a singleton so slightly different. But I would imagine that the XC60 would have a similar set up and might work. It is a case of finding the seats to fit the car. I think the base for the baby seat was belted rather than ISOFIX but I can't remember. To be honest, we didn't take it out of the car much as it was too much hassle (baby was in the middle).

That third row now is amazing though - on long distance journeys they can't touch each other. It's worth every penny...

Also make sure the boot is big enough for your double buggy!

This website although American confirms what 3 car seats will fit across the back bench of the second row of most popular cars www.thecarcrashdetective.com/3-across-installations-xc90/

Definitely get a 7seater. We have three kids and
I drive a Toyota Sienna (in the US). My husband desperately wanted to retain some street cred 😊 and kept his BMW. It didn't last long...you can barely fit the car seats in a 5 seater. As a PP mentioned, it's so restrictive for you. Think long term.

We have a multi mac but I dont think the newborn seats are that great tbh and the kids argue alot as there is not much space and the baby tries to pull hair / rob the older ones sticker books etc. I would love a mum van type thing but we rarely use the car (london) and had just got a newer (old) car when expecting dc3. Now we dont need baby seat multimac is more versatile.

We have 3 dc, only one in a booster now and couldn't get them all in an X5 comfortably. The middle seat is about 6 inches wide!
Perhaps have a look at a sharan or alhambra. The sliding doors make access to the back very easy and as each seat is separate there's plenty of room for doing up seatbelts.

Could you test drive for a weekend or hire one?

My friends with 3 got an s max. Not the prettiest are they

Definitely not in a 5 series estate. Sorry. You need a car with 3 separate adult seats in the back if you want to use standard car seats.

@Focalpoint does the 5 series estate not have separate belts? What do you mean by that?

@CottonSock Not at all, I am heading that way

Picasso

@Tidypidy What is dc? Did you use iso fixes on the rear sides of your X5? Maybe that is why the middle seat was too narrow?

@Episcomama O god, I will be a 32 year old with a boring 7 seat car lol. I currently own a 330 BMW and enjoy driving it.

Expecting no 3 and we are going for a c5 aircross as will have 3 in car seats.

@Funf Hire sounds good

Not all cars can have multimacs
Mine couldn’t

You need three separate rear seats to get three cars seats in legally and safely

Try the in car safety centre for top notch advice but you will struggle unless you go for a car that has that feature

So you would put your toddler in a front seat which would be less safe in an accident, rather than get a less attractive car that would keep all 3 children safer in the back? Also, your poor wife having to squeeze in a middle seat between two baby seats!
Get the car that works best for your situation and stop worrying about appearances!