Question for those with 7 seaters & young kids

[NVP]

I was wondering if anyone could enlighten me on an MPV or SUV which has 7 seats where they are able to get people into the third row without having to remove any ISO-Fix child seat from the middle row?

I think perhaps the answer may be to look for a car with 2 individual captain seats for the middle row, but curious to see if any allow it with 3 in the middle.

Thanks

 

[NVP]

My mate's Chrysler Grand Voyager 2008 has two full size seats in the middle that would allow access to the rear bench seat without removing any child seats on them.

Thanks. Yes I've looked at them extensively but the non-ulez and poor interior kept putting me off. It may have to be though.

An Alambra or Sharan or Galaxy spec'd with the 2 captain chairs in the middle row are a bit more appealing.

Q7. I've just got one because it has 3 ISOFIX points in the second row and I don't want to change if sprog 3 comes along any time soon.
I've gone for the hybrid, which loses the rear-most seats (and ultimately its USP), but **** it.
And you don't have to give up on life.

However, if you must give up on life, get a VW Caravelle

Can you get people into the back without removing a baby seat? (I know you've not got the rear seats but still) I thought they fold forward crushing whatever is in the seat?

Caravelle is another choice with the 2 captain seats on the middle row, but hoping for something less of a van.

Man 7 seater

gave up on life

Interesting comment... how so?

 

[NVP]

Unless you remove the middle seat in row 2 (which I assume would make the vehicle a 6 seater), the only way that springs to mind would be if the jump seats in row 3 face backwards, which I believe some Volvo and Merc estates did. No idea if an MPV or SUV offers that.

Thanks for the suggestion, I've just found one E class which has those seats and is ULEZ compliant, but I was aiming for an MPV or larger SUV over an estate due to there being more leg room for the middle row. With me being so tall and my kids growing so quickly they were already getting cramped sitting behind me in my 5 series estate.

Regarding the removal of the middle seat, a 6 seater wouldn't be too bad of an option really. Do they allow the middle to be removed on some?

BMW X7, V-Class (clearly a van).

Yeh X7 would be great but can't afford or rather don't want to spend so much on a depreciating asset.

 

[NVP]

Fair enough! You can remove the middle seat in a Q7, making a 6-seater. Somewhat of a bodge though
https://www.audiworld.com/forums/q7-mkii-discussion-211/removal-2nd-row-center-seat-2916454/page3/

Now that is an interesting solution! Thank you

The Galaxy I was drove certainly did. Can’t comment on others, but I assume that Parker’s would include that detail.

For a big MPV, I’d be inclined to go for a poke around in Galaxy/Sharon, SMAx and similar.

I’m currently thinking about an MPV for our next car, but don’t need a huge one. They might not be considered as great for one’s image, but at least they’re not offensive like most SUVs (or at least how they’re often driven).

Thanks, yeh I'm thinking it may end up being one of those - definitely need to give them a look over. Are there still reliability issues with the powershift autos in galaxy's?

I had a 7 seater Merc estate, good car but when fully loaded with 7 there isn't much room in the boot, this is a problem with other 7 seaters too but at least in those you still have some boot space that is separated by the back of the third row so your rear most passengers don't end up holding everything on their lap.

I've just bought a Kodiaq as my Merc got written off over Xmas. No idea if you can get in the back row with car seats in place though.

edit/ a van with captain seats would be the most practical option but it depends on how ofter you have 7 people in it. I was going to get a Toyota Proace Verso with captain chairs but cancelled it and went with the Kodiaq as I don't always carry 7.

Thanks Would you be able to have a gander at your seats in the kodiaq to see if any fitted seat may get crushed, or if the middle seat of the middle row can be folded/removed?

 

[NVP]

I've got a Kodiaq aswell so will check later today. I'd say very unlikely though.

Also worth noting my Isofix car seat also connects to the seatbelt which would prevent the seat moving. For the purpose of the test I'll remove the seatbelt from the carseat so it'll just have the 2 isofix and top tether in place.

Worth also noting there is no isofix on the middle seat of the second row or front seat (although I think the latter was a £50 option).

Thank you that's really appreciated. Yes, my eldests car seat also attaches to the seat belt but is easily unfixed (bit of velcro and clip threading etc.)

At the moment, 2 iso fix seats are fine for me, I'm not sure how you'd fit 3 in a row anyway unless you had special child seats or perhaps the one in the middle be a rear facing baby seat.

Thanks

 

[NVP]

Are you sure you aren't going a bit OTT here? The point of ISOFIX is you do not need the seat belt. The seat belt attachment is for folk who do not have ISOFIX.

There are many different types of child seat. ISO Fix seats aren't just for babies they're for young children too, who require the seat but use the seatbelt to secure themselves in. Modern ones have chest protectors which velcro around the seat belt to protect the children's chests.

This is the middle seat folded down in the Kodiaq

Thank you this is a potential solution I guess, the cabin should be large enough for someone to climb over that into the back. I wonder if the X5 is similar?

Thank you so much I appreciate the effort.

 

[NVP]

This is the best you can get in the Kodiaq with the Isofix in place. Seat won't technical move without the back folding forward but you can use the lever underneath to slide the seat forward. Too small to realistically get anyone in:

Thank you so much. Yes, it is a bit tight to squeeze through it seems. However the option of folding the middle down is still viable, I'd just have to check the width of the baby seats etc. first.

Man, I'm gonna end up with a Grand Voyager ain't I

 

[NVP]

Discovery4. I'm 6ft 3" and I could sit in the 3rd row. Just can't remember if there were isofix points for middle row...isofix seats always budge out so had either side, and my wife sat between them in 2nd row...like above, the 3 seats were independent of each other, so you could fold middle down and clamber in the back

Thanks for this, I hadn't thought of a disco4. I think I'm going to have to check a few of these out in person first just to see.


Is there any way I can find out the middle row legroom specs of each car?

 

[NVP]

A bit of both. They definitely stop the dents from being so sharp.

 

[NVP]

Get a car with split seats in the 3rd row, that way you can have one folded down and can get to the other through the boot - leaves 3 seats for child seats in the 2nd row, and more luggage space on the folded seat.

Thanks, but I feel it would make traveling on holidays a little difficult if we have to unload the boot to get to the back seat.

In the newer S-Max the whole seat (including base) tilts forward so there may be room with the child seat attached... maybe. The middle row is 3 full width seats too so you can easily fit 3 ISOFix seats (check because some older models don't have it in the middle, but then they don't have the whole seat tilt entry).

Oh that's an interesting design, thank you, I will go check one out

 

[NVP]

Thanks Yeh someone mentioned the same for the Q7 in this thread also. It is an interesting idea, and potentially one I may go down, it all depends on the rest of the space in the car and which one works best if I can't get something ideal with default captain seats.

 

[NVP]

We have a VW Touran. Real good, but probably not ideal for youself. As a wierd choice there's always something like a Nissan Elgrand.

Thanks, yeh back in the day inbound have loved an elgrand, but I think they're a bit dated today in terms of options and interior.

The massive idea which will make your kids love you and feel as though they are on tour - a high spec V-Class. I went in a V-Class today (a transfer car for a client i work for, they also use them for transferring VIPs to their events) - they are obviously a van, but they are hilarious to be a passenger in. Not sure that i'd want to trade my SUV for one, but i dont need loads of seats - reclining captain chairs with tables and all sorts all round, seats can face each other, they do screens everywhere in them etc

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=v...XPi1wKHRPvDe0Q_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1920&bih=961
LOL at some of the interior configurations

Caveat - no idea if they even count as a normal car for insurance etc!

Haha yeh I had seen one for over 100k fully spec'd lounge interior, wouldn't need a house if I had one of them but I think they're a bit out of budget of a family tourer.

If you want similar but are more budget constrained, try a Toyota Vellfire. Still get a 3.5 V6 AWD, recliner seats, DVD screens etc.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TOYOTA-V...p2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

Wow! I did not know these existed! It is meeting my spec perfectly (although looks to be 6 seats instead of 7, but that is ok)! I've found one not too far from me, messaged to see if it has ISOFIX, if so will go check it out thank you!
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111259925292?atmobcid=soc3

That goes back to the caravelle also
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2020-Vol...2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

Yeh the Caravelle is also another great option, something in me just doesn't think its worth the premium it seems to go for.

 

[NVP]

I just had a look on AT, you can get some pretty cool looking ones for about 30, a private one in Cheltenham outside a decent looking house caught my eye - quite new with light electric interior and looks pretty decent with low miles too. Will be very slow though, they look to only have the 4 cylinder diesels in them

Yeh, there are some really nice ones about - just seems a lot to spend on a family tourer

 

[NVP]

So I was quite interested in the Vellfire until I found out that with the captain seats spec'd there was no isofix points, unfortunately.


Today I just dropped a deposit on a Grand Voyager. It's a face-lift model and also has the latest version of the 2.8 CRD engine. Being the Limited spec it comes with all options included like all round heated seats, twin screen dvd player, upgraded 9 speaker stereo etc. Still quite a dated car but fits the spec perfectly other than not being ULEZ, but got other cars whenever I need to go into the cities so no biggy.



It's got the two captain chairs for the middle row, with isofix, and it's roomy enough for people to climb in and walk through the gap in the middle to get to the back seats - so no need to remove kiddie seats etc.

It has the electric stow and go seats which fold into the floor (both rear and middle row fold flat into the floor) so can be used as a van if ever the need arise.

Garage are just fixing a couple electric and cosmetic issues like one of the passenger heated seats not working and the chrome on one side mirror bubbling.

Kids should be happy with it, plenty of space for them even into adulthood I reckon. Can't wait to drive the whole fam to Disney land in it