hi everyone
we are thinking about having baby #3 but the idea of "the car" came up... we dont really want a minivan or a big explorer type vehicle.. we want a good size small suv or wagon/car... we would have to fit 2 boosters and one car seat... any suggestions? thanks!!
"Thinking" of kiddo #3 and we have 2 kids...4 and 1 1/2 and I love my GMC Acadia...though I have thought of a minivan (Dh says NO WAY!)
Question for the others with the GMC Acadia (sorry to hijack the thread), can you message me and let me know how you get a booster in the 3rd row? It doesn't have latch, but does the tether anchor and shoulder/lap belt...how does that work with a booster? Thanks!
We also have 3 kids 6 and under and love our GMC Acadia
We have 3 kids under 6 and LOVE our GMC Acadia!
My Honda CRV fit 2 no back boosters and a Britax Boulevard car seat across the back. It could possibly fit boosters with a back, but that's not what we had. The Britax Boulevard is a big car seat so space was a little tight, but the kids didn't seem to mind. Also, I average about 22 MPG city and 30 highway.
Not what you want to hear but I did not want a minivan either but I decided to test drive one for the heck of it and ended up buying a Toyota Sienna. I LOVE it! So much room, so much ease and so comfortable and such a smooth ride and it seats SEVEN. I figure while my kids are young I will drive the minivan and when they get a bit older I will get an SUV. If I didn't have a minivan I would get a Toyota Highlander with the 3rd row or Toyota Sequoia with the 3rd row. You will not like having 3 car seats along your entire back seat, you will never have any space for anyone else, as they grow they will be squished, etc Good luck and have fun car shopping!
I have a Hyundai Santa Fe which fits three across in the back. I did get a new car seat which was a little narrower but still highly rated for my middle child rather than a new car. Right now I have a high back booster, infant carseat, and a Sunshine Radian 65 across the back. No problem whatsoever getting them to fit. When you are looking at cars, look at the hip room measurement (available online) for the back seat and compare that to the widths of all your carseats. I use my car for mostly around town and we mostly use my husband's for longer trips, although I have had the kids in mine for hour plus trips with no complaints about being crowded or anything. And it is nice that the older kids can easily hand the baby a toy or whatever she needs.
My husband has a GMC Acadia which has a third row with two captain's chairs in the middle. Like a minivan easy to climb in and out of the third row that way but we like the drive and look and feel better than a minivan. My only complaint with the Acadia is there is very little room in the backend behind the third row. Although, that being said, we rent a house with our in-laws every summer and had no problem making everything fit in the backend or next to my son in the third row. We had the stroller, pack and play, bouncy seat, all the suitcases, toys for the kids, beach gear, etc. We can easily fit an adult in the third row with my son comfortably. We can also fit two non-carseat kids back there with him or one more carseat kid. We could not fit three carseats in the third row.
We did look at the Santa Fe and the RAV4 with third row -- the third row did not have any legroom. I could not sit back there at all.
I love my honda odyssey minivan. I didnt want a minivan either and kept refusing to look at them. FInally i let a car salesman talk me into looking at it. I wanted it that same day. So much room! So easy to get kids in and out of.
when I researched, Hyundai Santa Fe and Toyota Hylander were good choices.
My vote goes for the GMC Acadia also. I have 3 1/2 year old twin girls and baby number 3 on the way. I have had the Acadia for 3 years now and love it. Plenty of room and no "mini van" status.
We had CR-Vs for years. When my 2 kids were in booster + car seats, I had an Odyssey van and liked the room, but just hated having a van! We then went back to a CR-V when the kids were in backless boosters. Then I had trouble when going places and each wanted a friend, or not being able to join in carpools. I didn't want a van again,or a huge SUV. I like Hondas and drove the Pilot, but eventually settled on a Kia Sorento, which has 7 seats and is a great value!
I have a friend that has the Ford Flex and loves it - has the third row in the back. My other friend has the Acura MDX which also has a third row (small SUV) and driving that is luxurious!
We are expecting #3 and are getting RID of our Highlander. I love the car, but you can't fit 3 seats across (2 Britax and the baby seat) and the 3rd row does NOT have the latch system...also, if your kid isn't old/mature enough to buckle themself in safely, YOU will have to climb in the back on your knees to help them. No thanks!
If you don't want three kids in a row in the back, consider a Mazda5. It's like a mini minivan. It sits 6 people in 3 rows and has sliding doors. We love being able to take friends places with us plus the back seats fold down individually. If you want a good value and good gas mileage (28 miles to the gallon and 2010 new car for $17,000), this is good. It is much tighter than an Odessey or Sienna, though, so if you want tons of space, you'll need a real van. The back row does not have the latch system, though, but the middle seats do. Some people like the Kia Sorrento though, but I'm not sure how those seats are configured.
