It'll work until you put sports practices in the mix. Once one or two of your kids are in after-school sports, you won't necessarily want to drive to/from every practice with each kid, and you'll need to be able to fit an extra kid or two in there. Believe me, the first time you look at a travel practice schedule that includes 3 weekly practices, with one starting at 4:30 p.m. all the way across town, that 3rd row will seem like the greatest idea ever.

I only have one child so I have a normal car with seating for 3 kids, and at times, I've wished for more seating.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t have a third if you don’t want a minivan. The cool part of your life is long since over...

OP here. I am absolutely aware the cool part of my life is over (e.g., I currently drive a volvo). For me, I would prefer an SUV over minivan for height on the road and perceived better safety in case of crash. I also used to drive my mom's minivan while I was in college and I HATED parking that thing.

Go test drive a mini van or rent one for a week. These are not the Dodge Caravans of the 80s/90s.

Mini vans are the perfect family car. It's the ENTIRE POINT of mini vans. 3rd row SUVS are for people who somehow think they are holding onto any sort of cool from their previous life.

Just get a minivan and in 10 years when it dies you can go back to an SUV.

Agree with all of this. So true.

Anonymous wrote:I think you need to think about what it will look like when you have a 12 year old, a 10 year old, and a 4 year old.

This this this. OP, how long are you planning to own this car? If even 6 years, think about how crowded it will be for a 14yo, 12yo and 6yo. I've been 5'9" since I was 12.

I recently test drove two small 3 row SUVs, the VW Tiguan and the Kia Sorrento. They will only barely be longer than your current Volvo. Three rows doesn't have to equal a huge car.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t have a third if you don’t want a minivan. The cool part of your life is long since over...

OP here. I am absolutely aware the cool part of my life is over (e.g., I currently drive a volvo). For me, I would prefer an SUV over minivan for height on the road and perceived better safety in case of crash. I also used to drive my mom's minivan while I was in college and I HATED parking that thing.

Go test drive a mini van or rent one for a week. These are not the Dodge Caravans of the 80s/90s.

Mini vans are the perfect family car. It's the ENTIRE POINT of mini vans. 3rd row SUVS are for people who somehow think they are holding onto any sort of cool from their previous life.

Just get a minivan and in 10 years when it dies you can go back to an SUV.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Omg just get a freakin Honda Odyssey and move on with your life. You can thank me later.

+1000 This.

Yep, otherwise you’ll waste money on a new car now that you’ll just trade for the Odyssey in a year or two. Seen several friends do that.

Anonymous wrote:Omg just get a freakin Honda Odyssey and move on with your life. You can thank me later.

+1000 This.

OP, believe me, as the kids grow you will want more space-for example, let's say you have your 3, Larlo's best friend, their school bags and soccer practice stuff. Where's that going?

I drove minivans for years. Mine were older, but you should rent a new one for a few days and try it out. I rented one on a trip last year and I didn't want to give it back!!! I also did a trip a few years ago in a rented Suburban and I hated that thing-it was hard to get in and out of, and park. The minivan was much more user friendly.

PP poster here... we did 3 across in the Subaru for 4 years. However, once the kids were 9,7 and 4 it was not working anymore. It was definitely better when they were smaller.

I had 3 kids all in car seats or boosters for in my Subaru Outback (no 3rd row) before recently getting a minivan. To answer you question, it is certainly possible, however, we are all so much happier in the van. The kids were constantly fighting as they got older in the Subaru. I went with a van over an SUV because of the larger trunk in the van.

I have three kids and they fit in both our cars, a Toyota Highlander and a Honda Accord. The Highlander does have a 3rd row, but we don't use it for the kids regularly (takes away too much of our trunk space).

In the Highlander, we have the oldest, 6.5, in a low booster in the middle seat; the middle, 4, in a Britax Frontier on one side, and we use the lap belt to buckle the baby, 10 months, in her rear-facing infant seat on the other side. The oldest has no trouble buckling herself into her booster in the middle.

In the Accord, we have a HBB for the oldest on the driver's side, a Diono Radian for the middle in the middle seat, and buckle the baby in on the passenger side. There, the oldest does have some trouble buckling herself in because the Radian is in her way, but she can manage it about 1/2 the time. We're going to shift the oldest to a low booster soon in this car, and the middle DC to the HBB, to give them some more room.

They don't squabble much, at least not physically, and I find that they can be helpful with the baby (handing her a bottle, reinserting pacifier, etc.).

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know any 8 year olds still in boosters.

We have a minivan but when we take my DHs car short distances all 3 are miserable. The lack of sliding doors means every time they open the doors they could ding the car next to them. Your oldest two are about to start hitting growth spurts and they will need leg room. My 12 yo is 5’6 and can barely cram into the backseat with three across-nowhere for his legs to grow and he is not nearly done growing.

Agree with this. You need to think about whether whatever you buy will still fit your children in one year, two years, five years etc. The car will stay the same size but the kids keep growing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t have a third if you don’t want a minivan. The cool part of your life is long since over...

OP here. I am absolutely aware the cool part of my life is over (e.g., I currently drive a volvo). For me, I would prefer an SUV over minivan for height on the road and perceived better safety in case of crash. I also used to drive my mom's minivan while I was in college and I HATED parking that thing.

Minivans all have cameras now, so they are pretty easy to park. And the sliding doors make them so much easier for the kids (and adults) to deal with the this crowded area.

If you can't handle parking a minivan, you really should NOT get a 3rd row SUV. Also, most minivans have the same safety features if not more of an SUV (plus won't tip over as easy in an accident). My BFF just traded her SUV in for a minivan and loves it.

I think you need to think about what it will look like when you have a 12 year old, a 10 year old, and a 4 year old.

Anonymous wrote:I found it difficult not to have three rows. The baby had to go in the middle because that's how the configuration worked best with the others in boosters, but then the ones in boosters had difficulty buckling their seat belt by themselves because the baby's seat was in the way. Then, as my kids got older, it seemed like everyone was too big. You can try a smaller 3-row SUV like the Mazda CX-9 - it drives like a car (it's on a sedan's chassis), but can comfortably seat 7. Or you can get a minivan. We had to buy a minivan when we were overseas (it was the only car available at the time) and while I hated the "idea" of driving one, it was very practical!

I just got rid of my cX 9. I bought it for the third row when we had our first knowing we wanted more kids. For 2 it was fine. For 3 it was horrible. No access to the third row sucks. We had 3 in the second row and it was such a pain. Gave into the minivan.

I would get an SUV with captains chairs like the Acadia if you don’t want to go minivan.

We didn’t get a 3rd row until the 4th child and still will never get a minivan. The only issue is if you want to bring a friend for the older kid(s).