Maybe a little off-topic for this forum but I would appreciate any input. I am currently leasing a 2019 Alfa Romeo Stelvio that terms in early Sep 2021. I have a 7 and 5 year old and just learned that we’re expecting a third. Obviously, that threw my plans for a sporty sedan out the window! We have a 2020 Volvo XC90 with captain’s chairs so I’m hoping to avoid getting another really big vehicle.
Basically, I would like a vehicle that could manage an infant car seat and two boosters (decent driving dynamics to keep me interested, AWD preferred and potentially a third row, just in case).
With that, I was thinking of the following but would love some feedback:
Volvo XC60 Recharge - We already lease a Volvo XC90, but I could go for an XC60 with the built in booster seats and probably get an infant seat in the middle without issue. They seem to lease pretty well with Costco, etc.
Mercedes GLB 250/35 4Matic - Available third row that seems usable in a pinch with good leg room but might be too tight for 3-across.
Tesla Model Y - Lease horribly but seem to have great legroom and could squeeze three in the back (snugly)
As someone who had three car seats at once (and eventually 3 boosters and a car seat), I’d look at a minivan
We had an xc90 back in 2005, with 3rd row “just in case”. Then had 3 babies and realized for any small child in a car seat. Or any adult on a trip of any length. That 3rd row sucked.
Had a minivan till our first kids were bigger. Then went into the suburbans
That said if you are determined to get a more luxe vehicle. Take the car seats and kids with you and try them out on a dealer lot. See what fits and how, and how challenging it is to get in and out with them in each.
A minivan with 2nd row captains chairs is both cheaper and far more easy to get in and out of than pretty much any 3 row SUV
I’m actually a big minivan fan and the new Kia Carnival is interesting, but I’m hoping to be able to get three across in a single row and it seems that a nunber of minivans (and SUVs) force you into captain’s chairs.
I often drive to client sites for work, so having something that is engaging to drive and can also ferry clients in comfort to a meeting is ideal.
Kia carnival, and I would probably purchase it rather than lease. Last time I looked the mf was rather high on it and there weren’t any lease incentives to offset the extra cost.
When we did the minivan we only had 3 infants so it wasn’t bad with captains Seats. When we upgraded to the first suburban, it was with 3 in boosters and an infant, so for the last 10 years we’ve been getting the harder to find 3 row SUV where the second and 3rd rows are usable benches. Suburbans and now an expedition.
I know for the Mercedes. At least one of them. The 3rd row actually has a height warning, no one over like 5’6. and keep in mind if they are rear facing, you have to be creative with maneuvering.
With the van, we could have two rear facing on either side of the back seat. Adult in the middle. Plus one more rear facing on one captains seat and another adult next to them.
The Palisade in SEL trim, bench option with premium and convenience packages might be worth looking into. I prefer the look of the Telluride but it was actually cheaper to lease an XC90 last year than a Telluride. (Kia dealership experience was also pretty terrible)
However, that’s going to be a much longer/larger vehicle.
The passport is a great option. It has a ton of room in it.
With that said, 3 car seats across sounds like a nightmare to me. I’d much rather have an option of sitting next to a infant in a car seat if needed, so if I were in this situation, it’d be a Kia Carnival.
I have the same question, lol. Expecting a third and need something that can accommodate. Def not getting a minivan. My thoughts were a escalade, Tahoe, XC90, MDX or the new QX60. I think wifey likes the venza too. Ugh
Guessing the due date is ~7 months away and the OP’s 7yr old will be 8 by then or just shy of 8. Kids 8 and above don’t need to be in boosters per NJ law.
So the OP doesn’t need a car that can accommodate 3 car seats across. Just one infant seat and one booster.
Great point on not needing the booster, though my eldest is on the smaller side so will probably use a booster as long as I can but it does open up options.
In terms of just having a wide second row, seems that I’ll have to go see a bunch of vehicles for myself to sort out options. The MDX and new QX60 look promising but will fall in that larger category of vehicle. Ideally, I’d be able to get all 3 across in the second row without having to squeeze anyone in the front row.
Looking at different specs, it seems like hip/leg room doesn’t really translate to handling car seats well. The car seat check series on cars.com is helpful but there seems to be some faults with how they assess.
Although more expensive than many of the cars mentioned already, the Audi Q7 has an enormous 2nd row (the 3rd row sucks). It’s one of the very few vehicles that has 3 full latch setups in the second row. 3 across car seats works easily.
We’re expecting our 3rd kid in September (the other two are 5 and 2). I’ll either be purchasing a carnival, telluride or palisade, or will lease/purchase another q7. My current q7 lease is up in November.
