[-Stardust-]

I dont even know where to start looking.

We currently have a Camry but its just to small. Getting the kids in and out at the moment is a huge task and i absolutely dread it. I have 7 month old in reward facing seat, 2 yr old in maxi rider and 5yr old in hi-liner booster. Miss 5 has only just turned 5 so still has another 2 years before we can even think about no car seat and she petite too so i'll probably keep her in it longer.

Those who have a few in car seats still, what have you found to be the best. some 7 seaters dont have anchor points in the rear row.

[Mamabug]

I am biased and love my VW Multivan, seven-seater. It has five rear-of-seat anchor points so we can put anyone anywhere and there are no tethers getting in the way!

When we only had three in car seats, we actually moved the bench seat to the second row and put the two captains chairs in the back (accessible by squeezing past the bench seat or very easily by walking - yes, walking, not climbing! - through the back door). That way we had the three within reach.

There was a S'n'S capsule (which was replaced by a Compaq Delux rear facing), a MR and a S'n'S Royale comfortably across.

Now we have four, we have put the captains chairs back in the second row and have a Compaq Delux a MR and a Hi-Liner across the back and the Royale on one of the captains seats.

One thing I really love is that the outside seatbelts buckle up to the outside, so you aren't fishing about for a buckle inbetween seats.

When we were looking in 2010 the iMax had anchors on the two second row seats, but you had to get a CRAB (child restraint anchor point) installed for the backrow. This, along with the fact that we couldn't get a deisel and that the VW had so many more safety features as standard compared to them being options in the iMax, if available at all, pushed us towards the VW. Not sure if there have been any improvements in the iMax in the past three years though.

[brazen]

we had an avensis, the middle row has 3 anchor points. we loved our avensis and are parting with it reluctantly

[cecy]

We have a mitsubishi grandis, fits 3 car seats across the middle seat beautifully, and has great boot space/2 extra seats. With number 4 on the way, and the others still in car seats for some time, thinking about trading it in for an 8 seater kia grand carnival though... and, it has sliding doors in the back! Much less stressful in carparks!

[lsolaBella]

Citroen C4 Picasso. The interior height of the car is big. The middle seating row has 3x 45cm seats so easy to fit three across.

6/7th seats fold flat in the boot. no rear anchor points though. Massive boot space. Still room for small suitcase and Quinny Zapp behind the 6/7th seats when in use.

Sorry did not realise this was large families section. I think the Picasso is great for three kids. Would not recommend for more then three though. That way I would only go big people mover



This post has been edited by lsolaBella: 05/02/2013, 05:09 PM

[podg]

We had an avensis verso 7 seater. When we got a Camry we ended up with the 3 across there rather than the hassle of the Avensis. It was hard to do up the seat in the back, and it felt unsafe having someone climb in through the boot who couldn't get out easily once the pushchair was loaded. We had to get a tether point placed in the boot which reduced boot space. We could not fit 3 people across the middle row whether we had 2 carseats or 3 in there.

We now have a fourth child and a Kia Grand Carnival. We can walk through between the seats and it is altogether better to use.

If you are looking at a 7 seater I would advise looking hard at the configuration and the future of your use of it. Look at leg room, access, boot space, safety features as well as the 7 seats.

[-Stardust-]

Thanks everyone, its hard to know where to start so hearing from others is extremely helpful.

Im really liking the Kluger at the moment, they seem like a roomy car too. I've only ever owned toyotas and love their reliability.

Think i'll head off to a few dealers now and check out different makes and see what options they offer.

Appreciate everyones input

[brazen]

wow, we never had a problem fitting 3 carseats across our avensis and we used a variety of different seats and boosters over the past 7 years. found it much easier to do seatbelts etc because there's less bending over than in a sedan.

only reason we're moving on from the avensis is because it's engine isn't powerful to pull the camper trailer we want. we're upgrading to a tarago

[elle-M]

We have a new Toyota Prado (only had it for 3 weeks!) and it's huge. You can easily fit three seats across the back and when I got mine fitted the Kidsafe lady said Prados (and I assume Klugers although they're not quite as big) are one of the easiest to fit three across because they're wide and the seats aren't very contoured. We wanted a Prado because we want diesel but my good friend has a Kluger and loves hers.

Good luck!

Edited to add - I have a reward facing Safe and Sound Premier, a Maxi rider, and got a capsule recently fitted. There are no anchor points in the third row, but if you ever need them you can get them fitted by Govt./Kidsafe approved companies.

This post has been edited by elle-M: 14/02/2013, 02:21 PM