https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 07 Jul 2026 15:40:11 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-car-seats-what-car-to-buy#post-2344900 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 02:06:30 +0000 HLK208 2344900@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had a Highlander and it didn't work. The second row, middle seat was only 12.5 inches wide, so my oldest was squished and his car seat barely fit in there safely. If we had the third row up, we couldn't fit strollers or groceries. </p> <p>I was so anti-minivan but we bit the bullet and bought the Honda Odyssey. We absolutely love it and I can't imagine going back to an SUV until our kids are out of car seats! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-car-seats-what-car-to-buy#post-2344875 Wed, 04 Nov 2015 23:49:44 +0000 Raz 2344875@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-car-seats-what-car-to-buy#post-2344856 Wed, 04 Nov 2015 22:41:41 +0000 MrsSRS 2344856@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I drove an MDX when I was a nanny and had no problem with two dionos and a britax infant seat. But the third row is tiny and if you're using it there is no cargo room. I loved that car though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-car-seats-what-car-to-buy#post-2344849 Wed, 04 Nov 2015 22:21:09 +0000 PinkElephant 2344849@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have an MDX and there's plenty of room for 2 convertibles and an infant seat. I think even three convertibles SHOULD work jigsawed together just right.</p> <p>We only access the third row through the trunk, so passengers need to be fairly nimble...and it's hard fitting in a biggish stroller when people are in one side of the back. You could never use both rear seats and still fit anything beyond an umbrella stroller, IMO. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-car-seats-what-car-to-buy#post-2344790 Wed, 04 Nov 2015 20:48:14 +0000 Canoli 2344790@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have the Pilot and will soon have 3. It will definitely do 3 across. I just got the CRV based on @rainbowsprinkles recommendation for 3 across. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-car-seats-what-car-to-buy#post-2344778 Wed, 04 Nov 2015 20:39:57 +0000 Mamasig 2344778@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're expecting #3 and just got a Honda Pilot with a bench seat. I'm anti mini van. So far two convertibles are in there and I think the chicco infant seat will fit. If not we will swap out one of the convertibles for a diono radian. </p> <p>Eta: I didn't want to use the third row for a car seat. I need that for storage and carrying my mom. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-car-seats-what-car-to-buy#post-2344751 Wed, 04 Nov 2015 20:22:51 +0000 gingerbebe 2344751@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Diono Radians and Cleks can go 3 across. </p> <p>Personally I would go with a minivan with captains chairs. You can remove one of the captains chairs, have an infant in the other and two convertibles in the 3rd row and be able to easily get in and out and buckle everyone in without moving seats and slide the door shut easy peasy. And the trunk space doesn't compare to the three row SUVs unless your in the Yukon XL or Surburban XL type class. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-car-seats-what-car-to-buy#post-2344737 Wed, 04 Nov 2015 20:09:53 +0000 hilsy85 2344737@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Raz: we have used it several times--it's ok for short trips for adults, but I personally wouldn't want to sit back there longer than 45 minutes-1 hour. Also it's accessible through the passenger side backseat, so you'd have to remove the convertible carseat on that side to get in and out (or maybe go throgh the trunk?). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-car-seats-what-car-to-buy#post-2344727 Wed, 04 Nov 2015 19:51:35 +0000 Raz 2344727@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: thanks! That's great news! Do you ever use the 3rd row? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-car-seats-what-car-to-buy#post-2344697 Wed, 04 Nov 2015 19:25:18 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2344697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We jumped to a minivan with #3 on the way. Fitting two rear facing convertibles and an infant seat in our old Forester wasn't doable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-car-seats-what-car-to-buy#post-2344682 Wed, 04 Nov 2015 19:04:08 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 2344682@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have 2 Diono Radians and a Chicco Key Fit in the back of our Honda CRV. Fits great! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-car-seats-what-car-to-buy#post-2344675 Wed, 04 Nov 2015 18:47:29 +0000 hilsy85 2344675@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have an acura MDX and so far only have 2 car seats (convertible behind driver and infant seat in the middle) but we would be able to fit another convertible behind the passenger no problem. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-car-seats-what-car-to-buy#post-2344647 Wed, 04 Nov 2015 17:44:14 +0000 Raz 2344647@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're expecting no. 3 in the spring when my twins will be 2. We need a bigger car. Has anyone here had success fitting two convertibles and an infant seat in the second row? Or fitting all that into a 3 row mid-size SUV? We like the Pilot and the Acura MDX so far, but I'm very concerned it's going to be much too difficult to make everything fit. Thanks for the advice! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/honda-odyssey-in-the-snow#post-1902589 Wed, 15 Oct 2014 20:02:47 +0000 dagret 1902589@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kpc324: I live in central pa and have an odyssey, we had a lot of snow this winter and it did just fine. Had to put it in lower gear, keep going low and slow a few times but nothing I couldn't handle//snow common sense.</p> <p>ETA: I have good tires, but not snow tires. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/honda-odyssey-in-the-snow#post-1902424 Wed, 15 Oct 2014 17:10:12 +0000 Mrs.KMM 1902424@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My family had one in Northern Indiana for a few years with no problems (and we didn't put separate snow tires on it either). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/honda-odyssey-in-the-snow#post-1902399 Wed, 15 Oct 2014 16:34:55 +0000 kpc324 1902399@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are thinking of getting a minivan...I love Honda and have only owned Hondas, but the Odyssey doesn't have AWD. Does anyone in a snowy area have one? How are they in the snow with snow tires? </p> <p>It looks like the Toyota is the only brand with AWD, so strange... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-a-mazda5#post-431186 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 12:26:23 +0000 mrs. wagon 431186@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh I forgot another dealbreaker with us on the Mazda 5... it only has front wheel drive and no option for all wheel drive. In New England that's a no-no for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-a-mazda5#post-431139 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 12:07:34 +0000 bschus 431139@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have one! After living w/o a car for 7+ years, we bought the M5 a year ago. It is great! Fits our carseat and dog perfectly. The only downside is the 3rd row of seats is a bit tight for adults, but would def be fine for kiddos. The van doors are SO helpful for city living and street parking. LMK if you have questions! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-a-mazda5#post-431129 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 12:04:13 +0000 abbydabbydoodlebug 431129@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lollipop: Thank you so much for the insight!<br /> We live in Austin, TX so snow isn't much of an issue for us. ;-) But good to know otherwise!<br /> I did find that going over bumps were a little noisy, but my old Honda civic is pretty noisy too, so I'm used to it! Thank you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-a-mazda5#post-431075 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 11:51:05 +0000 lollipop 431075@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a mazda 3 hatchback and loves it although there are a couple of things that bugs me abt it so thought i'd point it out to you.<br /> 1) we live in canada and with the salt, snow and crazy whether, i'm starting to notice little spots of rust on my car Only after 1.5 yrs so make sure you get rust protection. Smthing i should've done had i known. Apparently mazda is known for its rust problems<br /> 2) the car is quite noisy, especially on the highway. The sound proofing on the interior cabin isnt that well insulated. I drive it to work by myself so it's not that big of an issue but when we take it on roadtrips, it's quite annoying having to speak up.<br /> Gluck with your purchase :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-a-mazda5#post-431056 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 11:40:40 +0000 abbydabbydoodlebug 431056@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@tororojo: Me too! To everything you said, lol! I test drove one maybe 2 months ago and it seemed to be easy to park (as easy as parking my honda civic), acceleration seemed to be pretty good, and pretty comfortable! I mean, it's not super cushy, but it would be fine for us driving a ways to visit family. When the 3rd row is down, it has tons of storage space, so I'm looking forward to that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-a-mazda5#post-430990 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 11:13:44 +0000 tororojo 430990@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just wanted to say that I love the Mazda5! DH and I want to get one when we upgrade to a family car at some point. I haven't test driven one, but I have a friend who drives one and has great things to say about it. I love that it is cheaper, gets great mileage and isn't huge and bulky! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-a-mazda5#post-430854 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 10:36:36 +0000 HLK208 430854@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@abbydabbydoodlebug: nice! I would totally buy one for 16k over the others, haha </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-a-mazda5#post-430845 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 10:35:11 +0000 abbydabbydoodlebug 430845@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HLK208: Hmm.. From what I remember at the show, the Durango was cheaper, but maybe it was a lower model than the Highlander that they had there. I could be wrong!</p> <p>Yeah the Mazda5 has the leather seats in the GrandTouring edition, but I don't really want to spend all that extra money just for leather seats since the Sport edition has pretty much all I want. I can get a Sport edition for 17.200 without any negotiation. I'm gonna try to get them down to 16.200! lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-a-mazda5#post-430814 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 10:26:36 +0000 HLK208 430814@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@abbydabbydoodlebug: the Mazda 5 with leather was around 28k (but we didn't try to talk them down) we talked the highlander with leather down to 32k but I do like the look of the Durango! I thought they were around 40k though? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-a-mazda5#post-430801 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 10:22:46 +0000 abbydabbydoodlebug 430801@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HLK208: I saw the new Highlander at a car show at the state fair and I looooved it! I could never afford it though. I saw the Dodge Durango which is basically the same and I liked it just as much and it's way cheaper. It was actually a lot easier to maneuver into the 3rd row in the Durango. </p> <p>But yeah, the gas mileage is way better with the Mazda5 which is another reason why I chose it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-a-mazda5#post-430429 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:27:21 +0000 HLK208 430429@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I test drove one and loved it. But, I'm still a bigger fan of the Toyota Highlander since it seats more. The Mazda definitely has better gas mileage though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-a-mazda5#post-430410 Mon, 03 Dec 2012 23:56:45 +0000 brownie 430410@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We got leather seats but not navigation. We had our cell phones. That was the top trim with no accessories. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-a-mazda5#post-430408 Mon, 03 Dec 2012 23:53:42 +0000 lemondrop 430408@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My IL's just got one, it is really nice. It feels a little smaller than our Forester, but we could easily use it with our baby, car seat, stroller, and dog :) Our Chicco car seat fit great in the center. </p> <p>Theirs did have leather and navigation, I know they got the top of the line model.</p> <p>ETA- My bad, I confused the Mazda 5 with the CX-5... they got the latter. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-a-mazda5#post-430392 Mon, 03 Dec 2012 23:29:07 +0000 abbydabbydoodlebug 430392@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah, I'd love to have the leather seats but I can't complain much since I'm currently driving a 98 civic! I'm just excited that I'll have windshield washer things that squirt! And tint that's not peeling off! Haha. </p>