3 car seats in back seat?
 

I drive my daily 110 mile commute in my 03 Honda Insight and love it! What I don't love is the horrible mileage we get in my wife's minivan.

Does anyone have experience with fitting 3 car seats in the back of an Escape?

My 3 sons, 17 mo, 4 yrs and 6 yrs are all in Britax car seats which are absolutely fantastic,, but take up a fair amount of space. I could barely fit them in my 98 Audi A8 that I sold when I got my Insight.

Before I waste my time treking to the dealer to try and fit the seats in an Escape, I figured I'd check in here first.

Re: 3 car seats in back seat?
 

I can't say for certain that three car seats will fit in the back but I do know that two will fit with an adult sitting back there as well. I have an almost 4 year old that sits in a big fancy booster seat and a newborn in a rear-facing car seat and there is still room in between for a normal sized adult to sit.

Since all three seats now have shoulder belts, I would think you would be able to come up with a seating arrangement that works.

Hope this helps.

Ray

Re: 3 car seats in back seat?
 

I think you could probably fit the two front facing seats on the left and right and the rear facing in the middle. Its just so hard to say because so many child seats vary in size. Can they fit across the minivan? How wide of a space do you need? See if you can set them side by side by side and measure the required space....someone could easily measure the interior room in the escape to compare.

Re: 3 car seats in back seat?
 

Hi,

This is not everythingsgonegreen--it is his wife. He passed this on to me as I am a car seat technician.

We have the 2005 Escape Hybrid, and we have 2 children, with plans for a third shortly. We took this into consideration when we purchased the vehicle. As a car seat technician, I get to see how different car seat configurations work in various vehicles, and I can assure you that it is possible to use three car seats in the Escape.
What you cannot do, however, is fit three Britax car seats in the back of this vehicle. It is not possible to do safely. If it is of utmost importance to you that you continue to use those seats, you will need to choose another vehicle. Keep in mind that while Britax has a good reputation and the seats are built nicely, all car seats must meet the same safety testing standards, and choosing different car seats would not result in any decrease in the safety of your children. You could probably sell your Britax seats for a good sum.

Since you're interested in the car seat compatibility/Escape issue, I should tell you that the Escape allows for the use of LATCH in the middle position of the rear, so long as you do not use LATCH on either outboard position. Most vehicles do not allow LATCH to be used in the middle position at all. Of course, with three car seats, it's up to you whether you use LATCH for the middle, or the two outboards, or none at all if you prefer to use the seatbelts.

Hope this is helpful,
Melissa

Re: 3 car seats in back seat?
 

There was a customer when I worked at a Ford dealership that had triplets and he had an Excursion. He said that was the only vehicle he could fit three carseats in a row in. But I don't have a clue about that sort of thing.

Re: 3 car seats in back seat?
 

It's the efficiency-buster (wife) again:

I have also put three car seats safely into the back of a compact sedan. It depends on the seats you choose. Many are quite slim.

Re: 3 car seats in back seat?
 

Can't you just stack two kids in one seat.... ;)

KIDDING!!!! very dangerous!!!!!! I don't have any of my own.

Safety experts will state they are always safer in the back... however at least this car has an airbag in the front that is supposed to disable if there is a car seat in there. But I'd try to wedge the little one in the back... safely of course (1 to a seat ;))

Re: 3 car seats in back seat?
 

i dont know what the size difference is between the back seat of the escape and the backseat of a mercury grand marquis, but my sons father can fit 3 large forward facing car seats in the back of his car. i would say go down to the dealership and give it a try, cant hurt nuthin

Re: 3 car seats in back seat?
 

When my wife is a passenger in either the '05 or the '06, unless she is sitting perfectly upright in the middle of the seat, the "Pasenger Airbag Disabled" light comes on. It must figure that due to her weight, she is either a child, real short or a car seat. She is 5'-8" and 115# - I would think that would trigger the airbag to work.

My state doesn't have any prohibition against children in the front seat (that I am aware of) but I believe some states do. The so-called "smart" airbags are supposed to allow smaller people to ride safely in the front passenger seat. Check with your state. You could always put one forward-facing seat up front and the other adult could be in the back tending to the babies.

Re: 3 car seats in back seat?
 

Just wondering if you might have specific suggestions for "slim" car seats. We just found out we're pregnant with #3, and we're not quite ready to part with our 2003 Civic Hybrid. I have fantasies of getting 3 car seats in the back seat, but I'm doubting this is actually possible. I'd be happy to buy new carseats for all if it means we can hold on to our car for a few more years. We'll need car seats for a newborn, 2 year old and 4 year old.

3 car seats in back seat?
 

The selection of car seats for children is a very personal safety decision.

We personally only use Britax seats as we feel they are the best in the world in terms of design and safety. That said, we were able to fit a Britax Companion (rear facing baby carrier up to 23 lbs.), a Britax Boulevard (forward facing convertible for my 30something pound 4 year old) and a Britax Parkway (booster that uses the car's 3 point belt for my 60 lb. 6 yr. old.) in the back of my Audi A8 (a verrry big and wide car). I can see no way this combo or anything similar would fit in a Civic.

Btw, the Audi was replaced by my Insight into which I had an airbag switch installed for the rare times I need to take one of the kids in my car.

Normally, they all ride in the minivan and when doing so my 6 year old is in a Britax Husky. The only booster with a five point harness good up to 80 lbs.

With a third on the way, it may be time to look for a reliable pre-owned minivan (odyssey perhaps) or a hybrid highlander if your budget allows.

Good luck and congratulations! :D

Re: 3 car seats in back seat?
 

On one occasion, I have had to have my six yr old daughter sit in the passenger front seat with her booster seat (had the back filled with cargo.) While sitting there belted in with her booster seat, the Air Bag deactivation light did illuminate for the passenger seat in my 05 FEH...


Rich

Re: 3 car seats in back seat?
 

Bill, Congratulations on expecting a new baby...I fully understand how you feel about the Britax line of carseats...
When my daughter was small, we used the Britax Roundabouts (convertable carseat.) Then when she outgrew that, we purchased the Britax Super Elite (which was replaced by the Britax Husky.) To my wife and I, the Britax line just seemed better made and more comfortable for the child. When we purchased the RoundAbouts, we were told that since Britax was a British company, their seats had to pass the British safety standards which were more strict than ours. Whether this is true or now, I don't know and I never researched it.

If you choose to look towards the Toyota Highlander, you will not be disappointed. The HyHi is fun to drive and Toyota mated their V6 ICE to their Hybrid Synergy Drive. This combination makes the HyHi a very peppy vehicle. Also, with the 2007s coming out, there may be some 2006s on dealers lots where they may just make you a deal you wouldn't be able to pass up. If trying to find a used one, you could try Hybridcars .com 's classified ads at http://www.hybridcars.com/classifieds/

If you choose to get a HyHi, I'd put the 2 forward facing children in the third row seat and the rear-facing child in the second row. This way if you or your wife would so choose to sit with the child in the second row, you could still do so comfortably