We are in the market for a new car. We have two kids but would like the option to also seat a couple adults and perhaps a third kid down the road. I know a minivan is an obvious answer, but I really would prefer an SUV. I am having trouble figuring out which SUVs have good access to the third row seats when there are two car seats installed in the second row. I know the new Honda Pilot and Acura MDX have an option for captain's chairs in the second row, but it looks like they also have a console in between them that may block easy access to the third row. Has anyone investigated these options? Am I overlooking others? Googling has not provided me with answers. I would prefer not to drive a huge SUV, like a Suburban, and would also prefer a vehicle with the highest safety ratings possible. I'd appreciate any advice. We live in NYC, and going to all of the various dealers is nearly impossible so I'd like to really narrow our options before we test drive.
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You're describing a minivan.
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Pretty much what @oliviaoblivia said.
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Have you looked at the Toyota Highlander? When we test drove it, the model we sat in had two captains chairs in the second row with an optional console in the center. If you didn't have the console, an adult could walk towards the back.
Other option is the Tesla Model X. You can stand up in the car when the falcon wings are open and easily get to the back. Elon Musk thought of everything with that SUV.
But I'll be honest, for older adults, like my parents, it would be challenging and they are extremely mobile and fit.
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I have a Chevy Traverse w/ captains chairs (I believe it is available both ways). We will have 2 car seats and an older child in the back and it should work perfect for that.
Others would be a Buick Enclave and a Nissan Pathfinder (I think they offer captains chairs?) -
SUVS with second row captain chairs.
All 2016 models from the link...
Buick Enclave
Chevy Traverse
Dodge Durango
Ford Flex
GMC Yukon
Hyundai Santa Fe
Infiniti QX80
Lincoln Navigator
Nissan Armada
Toyota HighlanderWe did rent a minivan once and we had so much room to fit everything in the back with the seats flush to the floor. With room to spare! It was awesome when traveling. I know we had trouble fitting everything our highlander before we went to the airport. No where ready to buy one but I like the idea of renting one for trips.
We have the 2013 highlander with 3rd row, but it's always folded down because we need the trunk space for the double stroller. We knew we bought the highlander in case we need the 3rd row. It wasn't need. It was a good option to have if we needed it.
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We just went through this, ha. Yeah the pilot does have a console and it only allows captains chairs on priciest trim. Tried out the Highlander and found it quite cramped in the back. We ended up choosing between a Ford Flex (super roomy but only seats 6 w captains chairs) and a Nissan Pathfinder (no captains chairs but has a seat that can slide forward enough to allow easy access without uninstalling a car seat in the second row). Pathfinder won!
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@josina: I forgot about the Traverse. The one we rented was like that.
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we resisted the minivan and got a Kia Sorrento with a 3rd row seat (really liked it) but the third row was useless with 2 car seats. and with it up there was no cargo room.
so we bit the bullet and got a minivan, never going back.
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We drive an Acura MDX and love it! (my husband is obsessed). We only have one carseat in the back that we keep in the middle seat and we use the third row every so often, it's pretty easy to pop up. Very roomy. I'm not sure how it would be with 2 carseats. So I'm no help
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We have the highlander and it has captain chairs for the second row with a third row option. There's a console/cup holder between the captain chairs but it folds up and down easy so you can get to the third row by going between the captain seats
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Yeah I'm ride or die about our Sienna. The Highlander was a joke in terms of leg room and cargo space with the 3rd row.
But this might be helpful:
http://thecarseatlady.com/2015familyvehiclebuyingguide/#3ROWSUVTESTED
If it were me, I would just reinstall the car seats in the 3rd row if you have guests coming and let them use the 2nd row. You can pass the kids to the back row and buckle them up from the trunk of you are still rearfacing.
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The cup holder console bw the captain chairs looks like this and you just fold down flush against one of the seats if you want to get through bw the chairs
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My sister has a GMC Acadia and needed the easy access to the third row. They tried out the Pilot and absolutely hated it. They love the Acadia. Theye used to have a minivan and prefer the Acadia except for trips because there is not as much storage space with the third row up.
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I opted for the sport version with only a 2nd row, but the Hyundai Santa Fe has this option and I LOVE mine.
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So we have an Acura MDX (the 2013 version, so no captains chairs in the 2nd row). We have two carseats in there right now, a convertible and a high back booster, and they are installed behind the driver and behind the passenger. We can still access the third row, you just have to climb in through the trunk--which sounds kind of crazy but is actually totally fine. Another option would be to take out DS' high back booster to let people into the third row and just re-install after. Which we could also do, bc it's super easy to put in and take out. I don't know if you can install seats in the third row...maybe the booster? I wouldn't want a baby back there though, too far away. We really like the car otherwise!
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I have a flex. We have one seat installed third row and one second row and can easily sit four adults as well.
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We love our Ford Flex.
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We have a 2015 Dodge Durango with captains chairs in the 2nd row. Access to the third row is pretty easy. Both sets of grandparents have used it. We have a RF and FF car seat in the 2nd row.
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Had a 2013 Highlander that we loved and with one car seat it was great and easy to access the 3rd row. After we had our second car seat installed, there was no way the third row seat could be accessed bc the seats couldn't fold down. The seat in the middle was also tiny space with two car seats and an adult would have a tough time sitting in it. Got a minivan and I can't remember why we loved the highlander
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