Small vehicles with 3rd row seating

cstrain

New member
We are in the market for a 2nd car. This will primarily be my DH's work car, but very occasionally (like 1-2 times per month) he might need to drop off or pick up our kids from the sitter. He prefers small cars and hates feeling like he is "driving a boat". He hates our Sienna (which I loooooove) and would rather not get another van or a big SUV.

We have 4 kids - in the van they are 8yo in booster, 5yo & 3yo FF convertible seats, 1yo RF.

I know about the Mazda 5 and we definitely plan on checking that out, but I am looking for some recommendations of smaller crossover/SUVs that my husband wouldn't hate driving but would function as we need it to. I am willing to have both the 5 and 8 yo in boosters if that would be necessary either to access the 3rd row, or because of lack of tethers.
 
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canadiangie

New member
Seven passenger Sante Fe has an in-a-pinch 3rd row. No tether anchors back there, tho.

You would need to verify that you can still flip the 2nd row 40 portion forward with a seat (ie: Radian) installed 2nd row middle. Otherwise I'm not sure how you would access the 3rd row for your 5 & 8 year old.
 

unityco

Ambassador - CPS Technician
We have a Kia Rondo which is serving us well. It's comparable in size to the Mazda 5 (but seats 7.) The Chevy Orlando is another 7-seater in the class.
 

Dillipop

Well-known member
We have a Kia Rondo which is serving us well. It's comparable in size to the Mazda 5 (but seats 7.) The Chevy Orlando is another 7-seater in the class.

Neither of these are available in the US, iirc. The Rondo used to be but was phased out a few years ago.

I'd consider getting a 5 seat vehicle if it's rarely used for all 4 kids and put either the 5 year old in the front seat in a radian or put the 8 year old in the front in his booster.
 

emntheboys

New member
A dealership about 30 miles away from me is/was selling the Orlando. So they are available in the US, but probably really hard to find.
 

cstrain

New member
I'd consider getting a 5 seat vehicle if it's rarely used for all 4 kids and put either the 5 year old in the front seat in a radian or put the 8 year old in the front in his booster.

This is what we are doing now (8yo in the front in her booster) but I *hate* it. I just feel so uncomfortable with her in the front seat. Our sitter is 20 minutes away down two major highways. If it were just a mile down the street I would be okay with it.

I hadn't thought about putting the 5yo in the front seat though. I didn't even know front seats had tether anchors (do they?). The car we are thinking of replacing is a 2004 Hyundai Elantra.
 

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