Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many times are you having people in the back? If it’s just occasionally then they just deal with it. If you can’t deal, then get a minivan.

Really rarely. My question is-- is it physically possible to get into the back without uninstalling a car seat (even if it's a PItA)?

Yes, you climb in the back.

There is an Infiniti that has seats that can bend forward with a car seat installed. The 2nd largest crossover one.

Anonymous wrote:Get a minivan.

Don't get a minivan. Get the MDX.

The new VW Atlas. We just got it because it was reasonably priced and has a third row of seats. You can access the third row very easily by pressing a button that tilts the entire second row -- and it tilts even with a convertible car seat in place!

Look at crash tests and see how the 3rd-row passengers fare. It's devastating. I would not get a third row.

I have a Pilot Touring which has the sliding seat, but the Elite has captains chairs so that could work but I think it would still be a tight squeeze. The Acura MDX has captains chairs but also has a fixed center console, so you can’t get to the 3rd row through the middle. The Highlander is like the Pilot where you can get captains chairs in the second row with access down the middle to the back, but imho, the access is so tight even without car seats that it’s not at all practical. That’s why I ended up going for the 3-sears-across version of the Pilot. Our older one is 5 and in a high back booster (Britax, Sony’s not small), and since he reliably buckles himself it works well for us. Infant bucket (before) and now the convertible are in the 2nd row, middle seat for the younger one.

Carpool works out fine as I can grow a no back booster in the empty 2nd row side seats and/or in the 3rd row.

If I needed two convertibles and they fit in the 2nd row middle and drivers side seats, and still allow smooth operation of the passenger side sliding seat for access to the back, I think that’s actually more functional than center access with two cars seats on the outside seats.

The Mazda CX9 has a fold down seat that allows you to get to the third row.

Anonymous wrote:I looked for a while for this. I needed a 7 seater for a carpool and wanted a walk through to the third row for safety and convenience.

Most of the high end brands don't offer this choice. Your choices (if I recall) are the Buick Acadia, VW Atlas, and Toyota Highlander. No doubt there are a few more, but not many more. We went with the Highlander, which holds its value better.

This is super helpful, thanks. I'm looking at potential replacements for my current hybrid, and 3 row SUV hybrids are limited. The 3rd row is a nice to have vs must have, so may stick with what I have (5 seater)

We have the 2018 Pilot Elite. It has captain’s chairs in the second row. My kids and I can squeeze through them to access the 3rd row, without moving our installed toddler seat. Be forewarned that’s it will be very difficult to install a convertible or booster seat in the third row. Even my 6 yo’s Graco backless boosters are too wide for the seat belts in the third row.

I looked for a while for this. I needed a 7 seater for a carpool and wanted a walk through to the third row for safety and convenience.

Most of the high end brands don't offer this choice. Your choices (if I recall) are the Buick Acadia, VW Atlas, and Toyota Highlander. No doubt there are a few more, but not many more. We went with the Highlander, which holds its value better.

Anonymous wrote:How many times are you having people in the back? If it’s just occasionally then they just deal with it. If you can’t deal, then get a minivan.

Really rarely. My question is-- is it physically possible to get into the back without uninstalling a car seat (even if it's a PItA)?

Get the MDX with the captain seats.

How many times are you having people in the back? If it’s just occasionally then they just deal with it. If you can’t deal, then get a minivan.

Get a minivan.

Looking for a new car in preparation for #2, and it looks like most of the 3 row SUVs require the second row seat to fold forward to access the third row. I think this might work with the infant seat (particularly if we let people into the back before snapping it in, but it seems like it might be impossible once both are in convertible seats-- particularly forward facing (2 yr old is still RF, but obviously will flip at some point during the life of the car).

Anyone have a 3 row SUV with two carseats in the middle row? Particularly interested in the new three row Lexus RX450hL or the Acura MDX hybrid.