Cars/ SUVs that hold 3 carseats in the back seat?

[JennsBabySky]

I am pulling out all the stops to avoid a mini-van! We recently bought an Infiniti I30 and discovered it can't accomodate three kids in the back seat. I'd like to find something that will hold 3 carseats across the back row (third row seating would also be acceptable).

I'd like to get something smaller rather than larger, to increase fuel efficiency. I'd like it to be snazzier than a base model Toyota Highlander, or similar pared down interiors.

Can anyone recommend a good car or SUV that is big enough in the back? Which model and what's the gas mileage like? I like a 3rd row seat, but I'd prefer nice and wide second row so I can get them all in and out without resorting to the 3rd row.

Thanks!

Unless you are itching for a new car, I'd second the recomendation to change your car seats. I've been able to fit three car seats into a variety of cars. You just need the right seats. There are some great options out there. In the long run, even expensive car seats would be way less than a new car.

Good Luck,
Jennifer

 

[csss31399]

We have Ford Explorer, too. We have all three carseats side by side in the 2nd row.

It does have a 3rd row too which is good if we have friends with us.

It's not the greatest on gas mileage though.

 

[HelenePA]

I can fit 3 in the back of my chevy cavalier. We got it 3 months before we found out #3 was on the way tradeing it in so soon would have killed us! So we make due. Great gas milage! We'll be driving to disney in it soon!

 

[MandM-Mom]

We have a chevy trailblaizer, we love it...we have 3 kids all still in seats, 1 in an infant seat(graco safe seat up to 30lbs), 2 high back booster seats with 5 point harness. Its tight to get them all buckled but when you get them buckled your good to go. We will have alot more room when DD 1 and 1/2 gets out of her rear facing infant carrier but she is only 17 lbs and just a peanut still. Our other vehicle is a chrysler town and country which I also love so, but it is nice to have the 4wd.

 

[Off2Nvrlnd]

I also have a Buick rendezvous and can fit 3 car seats. I bought it just for that reason and I still only have DS6. Hopefully #2 will be on the way soon. I love my car and it's really roomy in the trunk space as well. I'm not sure what the MPG is, but it's not bad at all. I wanted a mini-van and DH refused to get one. This was our compromise

 

[Lisa_M]

Did the Pacifica get orphaned though? I thought I read somewhere Chrysler stopped making it. I'm always leery of buying an orphaned model car, though I LOVE the design and look of the Pacifica.

No they are still making it. http://www.chrysler.com/en/2008/pacifica/

I've been looking at cars for when DH's car kicks the bucket and I'm glad someone brought up the Pacifica. It looks like a good option for us. Traveling often with 2 cats in carriers and (soon) a baby is pretty much like 3 carseats.

ETA: Oh and I feel the same way about minivans...I just can't do it...

 

[Mouse House Mama]

It all depends on what kinds of carseats you have. I have Britax seats and there is no way that 3 of them would fit across anything.

 

[Minniemouse07]

It all depends on what kinds of carseats you have. I have Britax seats and there is no way that 3 of them would fit across anything.

Not true... I have a friend that has an 8 passenger Toyota Sienna w/ three seats across the 2nd row.

One Husky ... outboard
One Regent... outboard
One Marathon.. center, rear facing

It fits w/ the Marathon forward facing as well (we tried it out).

The seats are all installed correctly too. I'm a CPST and helped her put the Marathon in when her son was born 2yrs ago!

 

[bnorm27]

In most new vehicles, LATCH is installed only in the two outer seat positions, and not in the middle. So, when you do not have to fiddle with seat belts, for the outer two seats, it is possible to get three across. However, the seat in the middle will need to be fastened the old fashioned way with the seat belt. If you do not have LATCH compatible car seats, you may want to get them and try it out. New car seats are certainly cheaper then a new car! And this is the budget board after all!

 

[DMickey28]

I was going to suggest that. Our neighbors had one and really liked it (at least they did when it was new; they've moved and I don't know if they're still happy with it 2 years later). It would definitely be easier to deal with the 3 seats, since they wouldn't all have to be in the same row and there's an "aisle" so you can easily get to the back.

We have a Pacifica. It doesn't have an "aisle" in the middle there is a center console there. I don't know if that is model specific but that is what we have.

We could not do three car seats in our Pacifica easily. You COULD put two seats in the back but they don't have LATCH and it's difficult to install with the belt back there. Tried it with our infant carrier once. I doubt that a convertible would fit back there unless it was forward facing.

You can't put the two car seats in the middle and 3rd in the back because you need to flip one of the middle seats over to get to the 3rd. row.

We are thinking of looking at the Aspen when we need a car with 3 car seats. We are still a way off from that.

 

[DMickey28]

Oh I forgot to add that we LOVE our Pacifica!!! I just don't think it would be very user friendly with 3 car seats. The 3rd row becomes useless even with 2 car seats anyway since I would feel comfortable with a child back there.

 

[englishteacha]

My mom drives a Buick LeSabre that holds 3 adults very comfortably in the backseat. I would think 3 carseats would fit if my Dh, me, and my sister can all fit comfortably. We're all good sized adults.

Perhaps a Chevy Impala? There's a ton of room in there. The trunk is HUGE. I'd love one, but we don't need anything that big.

 

[aljer]

We have a jeep commander. We fit two car seats and a booster seat in the second row. Plenty of room for the three. It also comes with the third row which when not using lays flat for plenty of storage. Love the third row for when one of the kids wants a friend to come along.

 

[surfgirl]

It all depends on what kinds of carseats you have. I have Britax seats and there is no way that 3 of them would fit across anything.

I beg to differ... I had 3 Britax seats across the 2nd row of my Ford Expedition -- we bought it for exactly that reason. We are now at 1 Britax and 2 boosters and b/c there is plenty of room, it is still easy for the booster-users to buckle themselves in. We've rented cars and it is so tight that I get the honor of doing it

Love Love Love my Expedition!

 

[Colinsmom]

With the talk of LATCH vs. seat belts, keep in mind that in many cars, you have too stop using the lower LATCH attachments when the child hits 40-48lbs (depending on car make), so be sure that the 3 seats across works with both seat belts and LATCH before buying!

 

[Heather1101]

We have a GMC Acadia and I believe you could fit 3 car seats in the back row w/ enough cargo room behind the 3rd row to store a stroller and a few other items. We have the Captain's chairs in the 2nd row, which makes it easy to access the 3rd row. Both rows fold flat and it is much easier to do this in my Acadia than in Chrysler/Dodge's Stow and Go seating. The Acadia also comes w/ a bench seat in the middle if you wanted that instead of the Captain's Chairs. The second row has a neat folding feature that is easy as pie to work that compresses the 2nd row against the back of the front seats for easy access to the 3rd row (though this won't work if you have carseats in the second row seating).
I have had my Acadia 8 months and I LOVE it more than any vehicle we have ever owned, and we've had many vehicles from sports cars and sedans to minivans and large SUV's. It has the conveniences and room of a minivan and the benefits and look of a SUV. It definately attracts a lot of attention b/c you don't see many of them around here.

Also look at the Buick Enclave and the Saturn Outlook...they are Crossover's as well and very similar to the GMC Acadia.

 

[juligrl]

Our Jeep Grand Cherokee is able to accomodate 3 car seats of varying sizes. My oldest was in a car seat, my youngest was in an infant carrier and a friend of my oldest was in a booster. It was tight but they fit. It works better now that my oldest is also in a booster and my youngest is in a regular car seat.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Not true... I have a friend that has an 8 passenger Toyota Sienna w/ three seats across the 2nd row.

One Husky ... outboard
One Regent... outboard
One Marathon.. center, rear facing

It fits w/ the Marathon forward facing as well (we tried it out).

The seats are all installed correctly too. I'm a CPST and helped her put the Marathon in when her son was born 2yrs ago!

I don't know how you did it. I have a Honda Minivan and it is an 8 passenger. The middle seat in the second row pops out. It is not big enough for a carseat. The third row currently has a Britax and a high back booster and there is not enough room for another seat. I have a roundabout and 2 marathons as well as a high back booster. Interesting....

 

[MinnieMom]

I didn't read all the responses, so I hope this isn't a repost, but I have a Honda Pilot and it fits three in the middle row or the third row. I love it!

 

[MichelleinMaine]

I can get three across in my Camry.

My advice is measure the space you have in the back, and then go to Babies R Us with a tape measure. As someone else said- car seats are cheaper than a new car.