Hi Everyone!
I'm due with baby #3 at the end of May and will need a different car to be able to accomodate 3 car seats. We already have a Honda Odessey that my husband drives, and I'm trying to find something that might be a bit more fuel efficient as I have a 50 mile round trip commute. Is anyone driving something that you love, would fit 3 car seats, and gets decent mileage? I know I probably won't get more than mid 20s at this time based on what I'm seeing in my research, but a girl can dream, right?
Thanks for any ideas!
I 'third' the Sunshine kids Radian carseats. One goes up to 65 pounds & the other to 80lbs. I love mine & they are wonderful if you fly. It is one of the safest seats out there.
I have a Chevy Venture that I can get 3 car seats across the middle row. The gas mileage isn't great, but I would say I get about 18-20 around town and 22-23 on the highway. I have 137,000 miles on it and I have loved this car! One of the carseats is even built in!
Be sure to check the width between the seat belt buckles. I looked at a lot of cars that would fit 3 carseats but not 3 booster seats, which is what we use now. i just got a Dodge Journey and love it. We downsized from a Ford Expedition. We looked at a lot of cars (Traverse, Equinox, Flex, Explorer) and because of the way the seatbelts buckled the boosters just would not fit. I love my Journey. It doesn't get great gas milage. About 16 in town and 20 on the highway. But it is easy to get the kids in and out of and has the extra space we need when my family comes to visit or we want to take our giant dog with us.
well when we are car hunting the sales person thought we were crazy but I would get all 3 carseats out and try them in the car to make sure they would fit. I also put our huge stroller in the trunk to make sure it would fit. Guess what ended up working? A 2002 cavalier which they have decided not to make anymore. For a small car it has amazing leg room. Gets 30-34 mpg, has 200,000 miles on it and still runs great. Our kids are now teenagers and still fit in the car without being too crowded although they prefer trips in our trailblazer but we do drive the car around town and to work more because of the gas mileage. I think the malibu is a little bigger than a cavalier so that might work with 3 car seats. The cobolt took the place of the cavalier but it is definitely smaller than our car so wouldn't go that route. We have had many offers for our cavalier but we aren't willing to sell it. It has been a very reliable car and with the great gas mileage it gets we plan to keep it until it dies. My husband drives 30 miles one way to work so that is what he drives most of the time. If I am going somewhere that is farther than 30 miles then I get the car that day.
The Chevy Silverado has a hybrid out now and can fit 3 carseats in that as well if you decide you would like a truck. We have a 94 and it has 250,000 miles on it and still runs great. Another car we will keep until it dies which the body will probably rust off before the engine dies lol.
Don't get a trailblazer, they have horrible gas mileage. We are lucky to get 10 mpg around town and does get 20 on the hwy if it's not windy otherwise will average 13-15 in windy conditions which is most of the time across the midwest.
Maybe get a small gas mileage car for work and drive the odessey when all the family is together.
Have you looked at the Hybrids that are out there? Maybe look for something that offers the flex fuel. The Chevy Traverse is a nice car.
Good Luck !
My mother in law drives a Honda CRV and fits 3 car seats in the back-
My first thought was get a van or something with at least one extra seat for when you have to pick up one of their friends. Then I saw you do have the Honda Odessey, but I am still going back to the thought that you dont' want to have to constantly pre-plan any last minute changes that would require an extra person in your car or god forbid your other car breaks down or you find another baby comes along unexpectedly, or you have extra stuff to bring and no room with the stroller and diaper bags and all the "stuff" kids have. Maybe a station wagon style or an SUV. Although it sounds like you could get away with a car most of the time, it could leave you in a tight position both car seat and stuff wise. Even the roomiest of back seats still leaves the kids with the ability to poke at one another and they definately wont be able to use their fun side drink holders.
I don't have good advice on a new car, but we just bought a new car seat for my daughter, it's the Sunshine Radian 80, they are narrower and three of them can fit into a backseat. they are also a 5-point harness up to 80 lbs. My friend just bought one and can fix an infant seat, this car seat and a graco car seat in the back of a nissan pathfinder. This seat is a little expensive, but we decided its cheaper than a new car!
I have no suggestions on what TO get but I do know what NOT to get! I have a Cadillac CTS, LOVE the luxury, dont get me wrong, but for as big as Cadillacs are, you would think they would be more spacious! NOT so! If you want a luxury car, a Cadillac CTS is awesome especially for the price, but if you want a car with space for kids and car seats, DONT get this car!!!!
I love my suburban, but it's not good on the gas mileage.
We have a GMC Acadia and love it. I'm not sure what the gas mileage is, but I think it's good for a SUV. We are also expecting baby #3 shortly and will have 3 car seats installed.
Look into the ford escape.
you could also get three car seats to fit your car. check out www.car-seat.org they have great recommendations! I think the Sunshine Radian is what they suggest for a narrow carseat.
We have a Dodge Intrepid. I love it. It fits 3 car seats and gets about 27 miles to the gallon.
