3 Across in Prius V

gtdkate · Mar 25, 2012

Hi, All!

I've seen a few different postings about putting three across in a Prius and some in a Prius V, but all of those postings had an infant car seat which I do not need.

I have a:
- 6 year old who is 46" and 50 lbs
- 4 year old who is 41" and 47 lbs
- 2.5 year old who is 36" and 28 lbs

I'm happy to buy all new car seats (because I am going to be saving so much money on gas

.)

The six year old is mature enough to strap herself into any configuration and sit appropriately, but my 4 and 2.5 year olds are not (and not really close to either.)

I am so grateful for any advice you have for me!

aept · Mar 25, 2012

Hi!
Are you starting with all new seats or wanting to reuse what you already have?

My configuration is in the huge "successful 3-across thread" and in my signature.
It would probably work for you:
Driver side FF Radian (for middle child)
Center RF Radian (for youngest child)
Passenger side Britax Parkway SGL (oldest child)

Mine is in a regular Prius, not a Prius V. You should have quite a bit more room and it would hopefully be much easier to buckle a booster than in my car.

I would bet other high back boosters would also work, or if you wanted a harnessed seat for the oldest, try another Radian or a Securekid.

Good luck!

gtdkate · Apr 6, 2012

We ended up purchasing the Prius V and 3 Diono RXT car seats. I just want to double check that I can put my 6 year-old in the center, threading the seat belt through the back and having her use the 5-point harness. If I do, do I need to use the seat belt lock? (Please forgive my ignorance; I've always had LATCH-es.)

As it stands, I have:
Driver side FF Radian (for middle child)
Center FF Radian (for oldest child)
Passenger side RF Radian (youngest child)

Thank you so much for your help!

Jeanum · Apr 7, 2012

Yes, you need to engage the locking mode on the shoulder belt at the retractor when you install any 5-point harnessed carseat/harnessed mode carseat using the vehicle seatbelt in your Prius. Pull out the vehicle shoulder belt out slowly from the retractor until you hear the retractor clicking as you slowly feed the shoulder belt back into the retractor when you're tightening up your install. That clicking sound means the shoulder belt's locking mode is engaged. It's also important to double check that the shoulder belt remains locked by verifying you can't pull it out further from the retractor once you've tightened up the install, especially when installing a narrower carseat like the Radian.

cookie123 · Apr 7, 2012

Make sure to check that all 3 seats are independently tight.

Do you have leather seats?

zanne_f · Jun 1, 2012

I'm bumping this thread because I'm in a similar boat, and trying to decide between the Prius V and the Highlander Hybrid.

I have the following kids:
6 year old, 49", 51# boostered in a Nautilus
5 month old in a SnugRide 35

I will be driving various other 6 year olds at least 1x/week. I currently have a TurboBooster configured as a HBB as the spare booster. I will not be driving other babies or toddlers--the baby's too young to have drop-off playdates yet.

I'm willing to get new seats--that's certainly cheaper than the extra $15,000 the Highlander costs!

3 Across in Prius V

gtdkate

New member

aept

New member

gtdkate

New member

Jeanum

Admin - CPS Technician Emeritus

cookie123

New member

zanne_f

New member

Car-Seat.Org Facebook Group

Sponsors

Forum statistics