Three in carseats - what vehicle?

We're trying to figure out what kind of car to get that will fit our whole family once the twins get here. I'd love some suggestions on what you have that works for you. Here's our requirements:

~ Room for 3 carseats (right now it would be 1 ginormous Britax plus 2 infant carriers, but will eventually be 1 ginormous Britax plus 2 regular-size Britaxes)
~ Preferably easy access to all three carseats
~ Storage space enough for my son't wheelchair (he's only 4 so it's not a huge wheelchair, but it doesn't collapse much for storage) and a double stroller (we have a snap&go now, but we can assume that the next model won't fold down as compactly)
~ Preferably extra room in case we actually want to load something in the car like groceries or luggage in addition to the WC/stroller

So what kind of vehicle would meet those requirements? Do minivans have enough storage space for all that stuff? Do SUVs have easy access to various seat rows? Help! I don't even know where to start!

 

I would look at minivans with captains chairs in the second row, and Suburbans with captains charis. The Suburban definitely has the most room in the very back.

 

We just bought a honda odyssey with the captains row 2nd row and it fits the double stroller fine in the trunk and more than enough room for a lot more things. I don't think there would be a problem with fitting a wheelchair in there either.

 

We have three in carseats right now... one infant carrier and two britaxes. Soon it will be three britaxes! We have a Honda Odyessey and it's fantastic. We have our twins (22 months) in the back row and our singleton (3 mos) in the infant carrier behind the driver in the second row. The other captain's chair in the second row is folded down (I sit on it while I buckle N & G in), but could be taken out. That would probably be a great place for the wheelchair if you took out that extra seat. Though, the cargo area is quite large. I currently have two strollers (a double and a single), a bag of things I always leave in car (extra clothes, wipes, etc) and two high chair covers. I could fit more back there, too. Even with all of that in the car and three kiddos in carseats, we can still fit a full load of groceries. Just a few weeks ago, we went to costco and had a full cart and still managed to fit everything in with room to spare. I love the sliding doors and the fact that it's lower to the ground than my SUV was. It's so much easier getting everyone in and out now. Good luck with your decision. The best thing you can do is go and test drive the vehicles and get in the back and see how much room there is. I looked at them online, but actually getting in them helped me decide which would work best for our family. HTH!

 

We have a Volvo XC90 with one Marathon and 2 bases (Graco Snugrides) in place without much problems. Twins will go in the Marathons later, and I am getting my oldest one of those approved vests. She's already in the top slots of her Marathon and I don't want to buy a Regent. Too big.

 

We just bought the Honda Odyessey also - I can't tell you how impressed I am with it's features - I had a Lincoln Navigator before this, and there is MUCH more room in my van than there ever was in my SUV! It is very functional for families, I highly suggest looking at them!! I think it will have the space you are looking for.

One note about SUV's. The major problem I had with mine (loved the car prior to babies, btw) was the height. You have to stand on the running board to lift the infant carrier into the base. And in mine (I am assuming this would also be the case for Expeditions), you had to fold one second row seat flat to get to the 3rd row (or enter from the tailgate)!

I am VERY pleased with my minivan, and I never thought those words would come out of my mouth...LOL!

You might want to check out the Combi Twin Savvy stroller after your snap-n-go, my folds flatter than I thought it would. HTH!

 

We have an 18 month old & a set of twin boys 1 month old. We bought a Yukon with a bench seat, captains chairs would not work because my oldest can't get himself into the third row & buckle by himself. The britax & two bases fit great & we removed the third row & have a ton of room. You do have to step up on the running boards to put the middle infant carrier in, but I haven't had a problem with it.

Good luck

 

Just wanted to throw out the idea of different car seats. I love the Britax one's to, but Sunshine Radian Car seats are wonderful too. We have these in my van and the Britax car seats in my DH passat. Anyways, you can fit 3 of the Sunshine Radian Car seats in a row (the only kind of car seat you can). They work from 5-65 lbs (although I would use the infant carriers until they outgrow them).

This might give you some extra room if you get a mini van, you could put all three in the back row, take out the captins chairs in the second row to have room for a double stroller, and then put the w/c in the back "trunk" part of the minivan. Or even just take out one captian chair and have your older child in the first captain seat and the twins in the back row. The snap n go is great and small, but a larger double stroller takes up the whole back storage area in our dodge grand caravan. So you would have to be able to take out a seat to put a w/c in too. Good luck shopping!

 

Oh, the Raidan's are comparable in safety too. They are avaliable online from target.

 

I have a Ford Expedition. I have one regular carseat and 2 bases in the second seat. I use the 3rd row seating for my stroller right now most of the time. The seat folds down or it can come all the way out. I really like to for being able to hold all the carseats.

 

We have a Toyota Sienna and 2 carseats and a booster. The second row is 2 captain's chairs and that is where my twins are. My oldest DD is in her booster seat in the 3rd row. The back has a deep well with tons of storage space. Enough for the double stroller and other things. The captain's chair's come out easily, if needed and the third row folds down into the back. It has so much room inside and storage space, it's great!! I love it. And it is such a smooth drive. And definitely get a DVD player in whatever car you get.

 

We have a Dodge Caravan. The twins seats are in the second row, no room for anyone else. Emma's seat is in the third row. I don't like that because she is sitting alone and I think it bothers her sometimes. The Caravan doesn't have much trunk space at all, just enough for the double stroller and a few bags on top of it. We have to put grocerys in the thrid row next to Emma and on the side of the car. DH said that he was looking at a Dodge Magnum, that you could possibly fit three carseats in a row and it has lots of trunk space. I have never seen one though.

 

I have a Suburban with the bench seat on the second row. I generally leave the small seat folded down so my older son has easy access to the 3rd row. When we have company, I put one car seat in the 3rd row & don't have too much trouble getting that one situated. Plus with the Suburban, there's tons of room for cargo behind the 3rd row.
Another thing you might want to researc is that Ford is making a new Expedition EL (extra long). I have seen some on the road, but not the interior. I think they are slightly smaller that the Excursion that Ford discontinued.

 

We have a Subaru Outback, and we have 3 carseats in the backseat, with the twins in their bucket seats on either side of my 3yo dd. It's a tight fit! There's a fair amount of room in the trunk - certainly enough for a double stroller and a full load of groceries. I love our Outback - we live out of town so it's wonderful having 4-wheel drive.

 

Wow! Is there such a car! Heheh.. I think you can meet all the requirements except easy access to all three car seats... That I haven't seen yet, but certainly ones where it's doable.

My husband has an Avalanche, and it fits everyone nicely. With the wheelchair, that could be an ideal choice since you'd have a big covered bed for that. I have a Dodge Caravan... I don't know if I'd recommend it in your situation. It isn't all that easy to get to the backseat (and I'm worried how it will be when both babies are in convertibles... as there will be no room for my daughter to get in at the back door opening and walk to the back. If I have the double stroller in the back, it's hard to get more than a few grocery bags in. You could possible do it, but I don't think it would be easy.

Do they still do conversion vans? That might be another possibility, and probably leave lots of room for the wheelchair, groceries, stroller, etc.

 

Also, if I could make a suggestion, I would definitely recommend bringing all three carseats when you look at cars, and installing them to be sure they fit and you can get to the adjustment nobs. Even with measurements, car seats can be wider than they technically are with some protrusions and the way they sit on the seats.