Family car - room for three baby seats

Supercell · 11-02-2015 1:36pm #1

Looking for a family car that will fit three normal size baby seats at the back.
Car will be used mostly around Dublin and suburbs , short distances.

Price range < 8K, lower the better to be honest. Main criteria are fits three baby seats and is is reliable. No preference for automatic or not.

Any advice greatly appreciated!

NIMAN · 11-02-2015 1:39pm

Honda FR-V.

bladespin · 11-02-2015 1:45pm

Mondeo/Galaxy would fit three fairly comfortably, boot's big so should be able to carry all the bits required as well.

3 babies :0 congrats.

goldenhoarde · 11-02-2015 1:47pm

We have a Ford C-max which does take at the moment 3 seats across the back - one rear facing with isofix (group 1) , one full sized seat (group 1-2-3) and one group 2-3. Note when buying make sure to try the actual seats in the car - we did and they work well - can be a bit fiddly getting the belts in but not too bad! Salesman left me too it so took my time. One thing in the C-max you cannot have the rear facing seat in the front as the air bag cannot be turned off as standard - think you can have it fitted but not sure!

bazz26 · 11-02-2015 2:18pm

VW Golf Plus is worth checking out too, might take 3 seats in the back.

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Volkswagen/Golf-Plus/1.4-COMFORTLINE/140514233116558460/

bladespin · 11-02-2015 2:56pm

bazz26 wrote: »

VW Golf Plus is worth checking out too, might take 3 seats in the back.

It would be a hell of a squeeze, back seat is no bigger than a regular golf.

January · 11-02-2015 3:29pm

Citreon C4 Picasso. Definitely takes 3 seats across the back, boot is huge.

Fey! · 11-02-2015 3:41pm

We have a c4 Picasso (the 5 seater, not the 7 seater c4 Grand Picasso), and it has 3 isofix points in the back and one in the front. We currently have a rearward facing maxicosy cabriofix rear facing baby seat in the centre, and it will take a maxicosy axiss (the one that swivels toward the door) on either side. It also has a decent boot.

Ours is a 2008 1.6 diesel (couldn't get petrol) automatic "exclusive" (very good spec) model, which we paid €8,250 for last summer. It does decent mileage, and is very comfortable on long runs. It only had 40k km on it when we got it. It took us a long time to get the spec we wanted, but it was worth the wait. The 2.0 would have been lovely, but the 1.6 has adequate power.

If it is being run mostly around town then the dpf light (particle filter) will come on every so often; according to the handbook it then needs to be driven at 80kph for 20 minutes. This does not seem to be uncommon with modern diesels.

We also looked at the 2010 Renault Scenic (advice from a Renault mechanic friend was to avoid pre-2009) which was also quite nice, and the Opel Zafira (the experience at the dealership put us off, but we know several people who have them and like them). The Grand Picasso is also lovely, and the rear 2 seats fold completely flat to the floor when they're not needed.

We also looked at the Skoda Superb 2010 model, Mazda 6 2008 model, and the Freelander 2. The Skoda only has 2 isofix in the back and, while fantastic for adults, I couldn't see it taking 3 seats comfortably. The Mazda is tight. A friend has the Freelander 2, but he had to modify it to take the 3 seats in the back (it helped that he is a mechanic so had the skills to do it properly). We were replacing a Freelander 1, which also would only take 2 seats in the back.

Hope this helps. Good luck with the search.

Family car - room for three baby seats

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