car recommendation . need 3 seats in the back

kestrel

New member
we need to replace our 2004 CRV.
Looking for 4-5 year old car with real 3 back seats, meaning being able to seat 3 kids in a booster or 3 skinny adults in the back.
Other requirements are a pretty large baggage space, and good performance in the Northeast winter (with snow tires)
Anything else out there, that is not a minivan, besides a newer CRV?

Thanks!
 
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jwilliams

New member
It sounds like you are looking for a sedan/wagon or crossover, correct? Something with just one back row?

The Ford Fusion, VW Passat and Subaru Legacy and Forester come to mind in the model years you are looking at. I have a newish Honda Accord and it's OK for three slim adults but you lose some space for boosters/car seats due to the design of the back seat.

Personally, I think three across with boosters is a pain unless you're talking about a big vehicle (van/large truck-based SUV). The buckling is irritating. As soon as I have three booster riders, I'm getting a third row vehicle. But if it's just an occasional thing for you, I could see it working [emoji3]
 

kestrel

New member
It sounds like you are looking for a sedan/wagon or crossover, correct? Something with just one back row?

Yes, this is what I'm looking for.

3 boosters in a row is occasional. it's mostly 1 or 2 boosters + one skinny pre-teen or an adult. It works great in the CRV.
Thanks for the vehicle recommendations. Good to have more options when looking for a used car :)
 

jwilliams

New member
Yes, this is what I'm looking for.

3 boosters in a row is occasional. it's mostly 1 or 2 boosters + one skinny pre-teen or an adult. It works great in the CRV.
Thanks for the vehicle recommendations. Good to have more options when looking for a used car :)
Then I think you'll be fine! Just take a booster or two with you when you go shopping. My personal checklist for a usable back seat includes non-overlapping belts/buckles (no belts crossing over neighboring seating spaces), a decently wide middle seat, and headrests that are either removable or non-intrusive for HBBs, and tall enough to provide support to to the ears for LBBs and 5 steppers. For example, my car has removable headrests all across, but the one in the middle is only tall enough for a seat-belt only rider not much taller than 5'2".
 

kestrel

New member
Then I think you'll be fine! Just take a booster or two with you when you go shopping. My personal checklist for a usable back seat includes non-overlapping belts/buckles (no belts crossing over neighboring seating spaces), a decently wide middle seat, and headrests that are either removable or non-intrusive for HBBs, and tall enough to provide support to to the ears for LBBs and 5 steppers. For example, my car has removable headrests all across, but the one in the middle is only tall enough for a seat-belt only rider not much taller than 5'2".

Thanks! This is very helpful. Will take with me 2 boosters to make sure they fit in.
Most cars I've seen that have 3 seat belts would no way fit 3 passengers, even kids without boosters could not fit in there. It looks like they just stuck in there a seatbelt in the middle of a 2-seat bench and call it "5 seat car" . Back seat ergonomics is such a hoax!
 

rin2809

Active member
I would recommend checking out the newer model Subaru Outbacks (2010 and newer). My parents have one and we have comfortably fit 2 boosters and a harnessed combo seat in the back seat (harmony HBB and Evenflo Maestro), we have also fit the Combo seat with two larger adults on either side without issue.

Plus it is great for the Northern winters (or at least what we see in MN)
 

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