Car seats that fit 3 in the back!

[elrao]

Just some more info I found, confirming what JMB7 has already said. The minimum length of the leg on the Maxi Cosi 2wayFix is 280mm, on the Easy Fix it is 365mm. Those 85mm would make a big difference, so if buying for the middle seat, then get the 2wayFix!

Unfortunately Britax don't show the same level of detail on their website with regard specification and dimensions.

[Jambo82]

Not sure if I should be reading this ! The reason I have ordered the Q7 is to get the the 3 under 3's in ! The bigger lad will be happy enough in the 3rd row but for trips away etc I was hoping the 3 would all fit in the middle row.

[elrao]

You should be OK with three under threes, if they are in harness seats. These tend to be thinner and you don't have to worry about access to the lower seat belt connector.

Problem comes when they move to high back boosters and you want them iso fixed in. I did manage to get three seats physically in maxi cosi cabriofix (new baby isofix base and rear facing seat) - Jane quartz (isofix high back booster) - Jane quartz (isofix high back booster)... But we couldn't get between the two boosters to fit the seat belts!

You could sort of get to the one for the middle seat as it's longer, but the lower connector on the outer seat is tiny and while its possible.... You wouldn't want to do it a few times everyday for the school runs.

Am very disappointed, as the three isofix was a key factor for us (still expecting child #3 any day) and they are only really usable for early stage seats with harnesses.

I spent hours in halfords and mothercare with a tape measure at the weekend and there are no isofix high back boosters in either store that were narrower than our Jane Quartz, so can't see how you could fit two of anything next to each other and get to the seat belts.

Also be careful if using an isofix base in the middle. Most bases the leg is too long to fit properly without tilting the base, as mentioned before the maxi cosi 2way fix has a shorter leg than most and this seems to be the best fit (note I've not tried this myself).

I shall be writing to Audi at some point to express my disappointment.

[sm02fly]

I too had this as a main consideration for buying a Q7. At the moment we have the 3 month old using the front passenger seat with a ISOFIX base, then a 3yr old in a ISOFIX rotating chair (front/rear facing and sideways to ease entry/exit) and a 6yr old in a booster. Leaves a middle row seat for one of us adults for day trips, but easier for trips in the week.

Normally I would hate not riding up front, but there is so much space in the Q7 it is not a problem at all, especially with the rear climate control.

Once the baby is a little calmer we will think about putting them all in the middle row, so I currently envisage the 6yr old's booster will go in the middle as he will have no problem getting past the isofix base.

[elrao]

Yes, we are thinking something similar - putting one child up front, although we had been thinking about the eldest, but can see why putting the baby up there may be better. Like you say, enough space in the middle for an adult (my wife, not me) for short trips, but we would need an alternate setup for longer trips. Main issue is going to be a long trip when we need the full boot space, as we will have to put three kids in the back. We may have to resort to a booster cushion for those trips. My eldest (6.5) is nearly 125cm now, so close to the point where that is acceptable, even under the new regulations.

[P13TR0]

I am another one who has ended up going down the Q7 route on account of my 3 under 2. Audi should add a vasectomy to the options list!

i can confirm that 2 maxi cosi pebbles on family fix bases with a 2 way perl on a 2 way fix base all fit across the middle row. I ended up getting a be-safe izi instead of the perl as it is a couple of inches narrower than the perl and I was hoping to get the two baby seats and the toddler seat in the back of my M5 (not a chance!).

The Diono Radian is a very narrow toddler seat that can do birth up to 25Kg, but it isn't isofix.

Am I the only one who thinks this car seat business has got out of hand? I didn't even have seat belts in the back of my parent's car when a I was a child and I was riding a 25cc motorbike at 5 years old.... Now you are supposed to sit in some sort of car seat up until 12 years old. I wonder how far back the statistics on car accident related child or infant death/ injury go back. I remember seeing a TED talk on it a while back.....Steven Levitt: Surprising stats about child carseats | TED Talk | TED.com

[srbsq7]

I definitely think car seat manufacturers have created the market. They even make sure you don't by pre-owned