Safety of 3rd Row in Volvo XC70 '07?

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I'm considering purchasing a 2007 Volvo XC70, with optional third-row seats installed. I would use them only occasionally (perhaps 10% of total usage), and likely with only my son's booster (either backless Turbo Booster, or preferably, Radian 80, if it fits). We would likely have to wait until my daughter is old enough to sit in a booster to allow her to sit in the back. Does anyone have any info. as to how safe this would be, and which boosters and car seats would fit there, if any?

David

[gwenvet]

Would these be rearfacing or forward facing seats? If FF, I don't see a problem with using any seats there as long as they have shoulder belts (for the boosters anyway). If it is a RF seat, which I know Volvo has done in their wagons in the past, there are no harnessed seats that are allowed to be used on RF seats. As for boosters, I'm not sure but assume that the same is true. It's just my pet peeve, but I've always wondered why Volvo would put seats/children in what is essentially the crumple zone. I've been in an accident where the front and back turned out to be 1/3 the size they used to be and believe me I wouldn't have wanted to be sitting there!

[joolsplus3]

It's not a crumple zone, those RF jump seats..it's definitely designed to be passenger compartment (I wish I could find the link to that....)

Yeah, I think in the xc70 they are only the RF jump seats, can't be used with any carseat, and only fit kids of a certain weight and height (and fit those kids great with no booster)

[southpawboston]

yeah, i highly doubt volvo would design a car with seats in a dangerous "zone". maybe some other car makers , but not volvo.

Yes, I am referring to seats which are rear-facing only. I believe that they can only be used with a seat belt (and not latch or top tether), but that common backless boosters (such as Graco's) would work, so long as the child is under a certain weight.

Dave

[joolsplus3]

No, boosters are not approved for use in those rearfacing jump seats, and they really aren't necessary, the seats are so small that they fit riders of the designated size just fine. (think of it this way... regular sized forward facing seats are truly designed for full sized adults, the seatbelt fits them right...like size 10 shoes... boosters are like shoving paper in the toes to make the shoes fit properly... those little seats in the back are like size 2 shoes, they FIT the children right, no boosters are necessary to make them work)

[UlrikeDG]

I considered the XC 70 when we were in Germany, and I agree that it is not the crumple zone. As for fit, it *should* be fine, but it's always smart to TRY BEFORE YOU BUY. The Five-Step Test would be appropriate for determining if the seat and belt really do fit your child:

The 5-Step Test.

1. Does the child sit all the way back against the auto seat?
2. Do the child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?
3. Does the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?
4. Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?
5. Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?