Vehicles that can handle 3 car seats

[Tron_fdc]

Help me CP.

Anyone have any advice on a vehicle (please god, not a minivan) that can accommodate 3 car seats, and has 3 rows?

I have a 6yr old, a 1yr old and a pregnant wife. She has EXPLICITLY told me she will not drive a minivan when the newborn comes, so I've been on the hunt for an alternative. High on the list is ease of access for the car seats and the 3rd row (for the 6yr old). So far I have:

- GMC Yukon with captains chairs on the 2nd row
- Ford Expedition with the same set up
- I believe the Navigator does the same seats

Possibly a Sequoia?

Is there a vehicle out there that is (sorta) cool, doesn't cost $80k, can transport my kids and give my wife easy access to them (that isn't a minivan)?

Has anyone ever tried anything other than a GD minivan?

[Knut]

Toyota highlander maybe.. I drove one as a rental and it had an extra row in the back.

Also...

http://www.vasectomycalgary.ca/aboutvas.htm

[StrykerSteve]

We were in the exact same boat, 3 kids, used to have a Chev Equinox, but it wasn't big enough and my wife detests minivans.

I recently picked up a GMC Traverse. Seats 8 and gives us more than enough room for us.

I shopped around at all the different options out there, this was easily the best value.

[ken0042]

GMC Acadia has 3 rows of seats. The middle row gives you the option of a bench seat or bucket seats.

[Canehdianman]

Originally Posted by Hesla

Toyota highlander maybe.. I drove one as a rental and it had an extra row in the back.

Also...

http://www.vasectomycalgary.ca/aboutvas.htm

I'd look at the highlander too. The new '14 has a decent third row.

Problem is it is a 8-12 week wait for one right now.

[MrMastodonFarm]

1988 Chrevrolet Caprice Wagon. Get the plain white so everyone can call it Ecto-1.

[Buff]

I thought I was allergic to mini-vans until I had to drive the company mini-van en-route to a conference with 4 others. I then realized that it may be beneficial to have for a few kids. We bought one, against my wife's wishes, and it actually has been very handy to have.

I also have a Mazda 5, but I've not tried to put a car seat in the 3rd row as my oldest kid no longer needs one, but that 3rd row comes in handy in a pinch.

[V]

I believe that this thread will probably unleash the wrath and disdain from Tinordi, but what the heck.

We've had an '02 Sequoia for the last 6 years and we really like it. It's been extremely reliable with almost no need for maintenance except the stupid handle on the back door seems to break too often. I'm sure they've fixed that for newer models. It's one of the fewer SUV's that we found had room for a large stroller behind the back seat. I think the Pilot had about 2 inches of room back there.

[bizaro86]

Do 6 year olds actually still need car seats? I hate to sidetrack to a "back in my day" thread, but that really surprises me.

[Canehdianman]

Sex. Sex is the answer (as it often is)

[calgarygeologist]

If you want something cool you gotta go with a Ford Flex.

[REDVAN]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

Has anyone ever tried anything other than a GD minivan?

[You Need a Thneed]

Kia Rondo has a 3 row seating option.

[bossy22]

We have a Honda Pilot and it works as well.

[Burninator]

Ford Flex. It's kind of in the minivan grey area though. It's polarizing but I think it's better looking than any minivan.

[Galakanokis]

I went through the phase of not wanting a minivan and looked at every other alternative to it. Tried some but finally relented and went to the minivan. Best decision I ever made. For room, flexibility, mileage, drivability it beat everything else out there.

I got over the whole how do I look driving a minivan when I didn't need a degree in vehicle packing to take my family on an outing.

[Galakanokis]

Originally Posted by Burninator

Ford Flex. It's kind of in the minivan grey area though. It's polarizing but I think it's better looking than any minivan.

I hate these things! So ugly. They have become quite popular on sets for shutting cast and crew around. Ugh...

[ernie]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Do 6 year olds actually still need car seats? I hate to sidetrack to a "back in my day" thread, but that really surprises me.

Provinces and states have different car seat laws. It is typically done by a combo of age, weight and height. This is because a seat belt can do considerable damage and/or provide no help whatsoever if it isn't hitting a person in the proper spot.

Where we are a child under 4 or under 40 pounds has to be restrained with an appropriate restraint system (i.e. rear facing for kids under 20 lbs and forward facing until 40 pounds). Under 8 years of age and between 40-80 pounds and under 4'9" must be in a child restraint system or booster seat (everyone will use the booster). 8 years old and atleast 80 pounds or over 4'9" can use regular belts if they can be adjusted to fit correctly (pretty much all can).

[OldDutch]

Here is a great link to all 3rd bench SUV:

http://autos.aol.com/car-finder/styl...d-row-seating/

[Ace]

The regular size yukon does not work for three car seats IF you need all three rear facing. In looking at vehicles in this class: the Sequoia was the only one where the 2nd row seats were not fixed (can slide back and forth), I think this could help a lot with various car seat arrangements. Also count me in as super disappointed that there are no latch connections in the third row of the Yukon (2008)...