Talk to me about the XC90

We have a 2001 Volvo V40 now that we LOVE. However, we would like to upgrade to a car with more seating capacity in the next year or so. We are considering the Volvo XC90. Please share the gory details about car seat installation in this vehicle and anything else you'd like to share.

Right now, we have a Britax FixWay (Swedish seat) that our 5 month old is in. Our almost 4 year old is FF in a True-Fit Premier and/or Britax Boulevard. We will likely be buying a Britax MultiTech (Swedish seat) when we buy the car as we will be picking it up in Sweden and hopefully have the 4-year old in that until he outgrows it. We will also likely have another child at some point. How are rear-facing installs with big seats in the second row? How are car-seat installs in the 3rd row? We will also be transporting a 5 year old and 2 year-old in forward facing European seats and 3 adults total. Can we seat 7 people in an XC90 when 4 of them are in car-seats?

I have an XC90, and space-wise it doesn't come near comparing to my Odyssey. My big kids can barely fit in the back row. I wouldn't even dream of putting an adult back there. The back row would be good for a child in a booster, or a child under about 5'. The middle row has limited space for RF seats, but I've found it easy to install seats..a little slippy on the leather since it's more a bonded type (bi-cast) leather as compared to the softer leather in my Odyssey. Again--front/back space is limited, so the MT won't really be hanging over the seat into that space between front and back. There's just no room, short of the passenger eating their knees. In fact--my 14 year old isn't comfortable in the middle row AT ALL. The only place my 14 year old sits in the XC90 is in the front passenger seat, or the back row with the seat in front of it completely flipped forwards. If you really want to haul 7 people on any regular basis, it's not the best option. I'd get a van. It is, however, a great semi-sporty, safe and reliable SUV for a small family that needs to seat a couple of extra people the odd time. For us, it's a second vehicle and rarely do we ever need all six of us.. But yes, we could fit 7 here and there--I absolutely LOVE the built-in booster in the centre of the middle row. My 6 year old always uses that, and I've used it once for my 4 year old in a pinch. The centre row is definitely wide enough for three across (especially if you're using the built-in)...

-Nicole.

Thanks Nicole, I'm kind of confused about the space issue though. Isn't it based on the same platform as the S80? Our FixWay fits beautifully in my parent's S80.

We don't need to seat 7 regularly but will need to for about a month with 4 kids and three adults. I also want to be able to take grandparents, etc. are you saying no adults would fit in the backseat taller than 5 ft tall? We'll be checking one out tomorrow so I guess we'll see for ourselves.

If you don't mind eating your knees, it's all good.

Nom, nom.

-Nicole.