Hellobee Boards

I think it depends on the seats. You can get 3 seats across in almost any car, but they have to be the very slim seats-- the Diono Radian, Clek Foonf, combi coccoro, are the three I know. I know some seats "puzzle" well together but I don't know which those are.

My friend has a 2012 Honda Pilot and it fits 3 car seats across the middle row but her oldest is also in a booster seat.

We had a Toyota highlander and it just did not work with 3 kids. It didn't fit 3 car seats across the middle row and we needed the third row down at all times just to fit a single stroller. So we traded it in for a Honda Odyssey. I've never been a fan of minivans but I LOVE ours with 3 kids. So much room. We can fit all 3 car seats across the middle row, keep the third row free and hold 3 strollers if we needed to and groceries. It's amazing. It's super comfortable and we love the extra's like, the rear entertainment which is nice for long car rides. Most of all, the sliding doors are so helpful. In the highlander, DS would open the car door when my hands weren't free (usually holding the baby car seat carrier, diaper bag and DD's hand), I would have to close the door he opened, just to get by, and DD would wonder too close into the parking lot in the split second that I had to close that door and reopen it to get her in. It was really hard.

We have a pilot and have one diono rainier and two chicco Keyfits in the second row. We'll just replace the chiccos with two more rainiers when the time comes.

@HLK208: against everyone's advice I'm still pretty set on a highlander for three kids. My defense is that we need all wheel drive. How do you think it would work with a booster + 2 car seats? Our oldest will be 5 before the third is born.

@Silva: my oldest was 5 and in a backless booster. There was only one booster that fit in the middle with a convertible and the infant seat - it's called the Bubble Bum. It's the narrowest booster but it's inflatable. It's still suppose to protect them if it deflates but it made me uncomfortable. I felt like I was squishing my oldest in the middle of two car seats.

I have 2 infant carrier car seats rear facing and a convertible front facing in my Honda Accord. Our convertible seat is pretty slim (Graco Comfort Sport) so they fit if it's in the middle. I think the only way to truly know is to bring everything you want to fit on a regular basis when you test drive.

@Silva: I have a highlander and do not feel comfortable with a car seat in the center in my model (2009) because it's a small, removable seat. It is not as deep as the regular seats. I have no idea if this is the case with newer models or not. If you have the third row up then there is no storage in the back.