3 child seats + 2 adults in a V70 or XC70?

[mcooke999]

We currently have a V60 which suits our family of 4 perfectly so far... However, with a 3rd little one on the way, I'm starting to stress out that it might not be big enough for all 5 of us!!

Would a V70 or XC70 fit 3 child seats (plus 2 adults?), Either 3 kids across the back or one in the front with the wife in the back with the other 2 children?

Has the XC70 got any more room across the back than a V70 or are they identical inside?

Children's ages & seat combinations will be:

5.5 years - booster seat
3 years - high backed booster seat (forward facing)
0 years - carrycot car seat (rearward facing)

Any real world experience of trying to fit 3 young kids into a Volvo would be appreciated!

I did also post something very similar on the V60 forum but thought it might be worth asking here too as we may well need to change to a V70/XC70 depending on the outcome!

[Sotosound]

Originally Posted by mcooke999

We currently have a V60 which suits our family of 4 perfectly so far... However, with a 3rd little one on the way, I'm starting to stress out that it might not be big enough for all 5 of us!!

Would a V70 or XC70 fit 3 child seats (plus 2 adults?), Either 3 kids across the back or one in the front with the wife in the back with the other 2 children?

Has the XC70 got any more room across the back than a V70 or are they identical inside?

Children's ages & seat combinations will be:

5.5 years - booster seat
3 years - high backed booster seat (forward facing)
0 years - carrycot car seat (rearward facing)

Any real world experience of trying to fit 3 young kids into a Volvo would be appreciated!

I did also post something very similar on the V60 forum but thought it might be worth asking here too as we may well need to change to a V70/XC70 depending on the outcome!

The XC70 and V70 share the same basic body shell and the rear seats are the same.

What you can fit in the back will be partly determined by the width of the booster seat. They come in varying widths, and the wider ones can cover seat belt anchor points.

[Whyman]

Probably not quite possible to get three child seats across the back as previously stated.

You have to be aware of the regulations regarding the age or size of children that can sit in the front.

From my experience with my 3 grandchildren, you need to be aware of occasional “child wars” that will break out in the rear if you have all 3 together.

[Accelebrate]

A friend with three young children opted for one of these, originally in a Skoda Superb, and I recently helped him move it to a Tesla Model Y…

https://www.multimac.com/p/multimac_1000_3_seater

Not cheap, but a good solution if you want to drive a ‘normal’ estate car.

[mcooke999]

Originally Posted by Accelebrate

A friend with three young children opted for one of these, originally in a Skoda Superb, and I recently helped him move it to a Tesla Model Y…

https://www.multimac.com/p/multimac_1000_3_seater

Not cheap, but a good solution if you want to drive a ‘normal’ estate car.

Thanks for that, yes I think I've heard of these. Very pricey but cheaper than changing cars I guess! I'm going to trial fit the car seats we've got in the near future to see if it's doable.

My thoughts are that a V70/XC70 will be bigger across the back but others have said they are the same?

[reggit]

We’ve got a V70 with the family pack, booster seats are built into the outer rear seats.
I no longer have a full child seat to try that, although occasionally my wife will sit between the kids to stop the wars.

If you want to look at ours and are in the Preston area sometime, I’ll tidy some of their crap out the back 😂.

To be honest though, if you want to go with Volvo, I’d be thinking along the XC90 lines as the kids will soon out grow sitting 3 abreast in a 70.

[100K+]

My daughter was in same position as OP about 5yrs ago, three kids all needing seats not boosters. She also INSISTED that the seats be isofix....the only car that fit the bill, 5 seater as opposed to 7 seater was a citroen P4 picasso. Despite my serious reservations at buying a citroen, and it resembling a dust bin since purchase , it has proved remarkably reliable and suited to purpose. Even if its like dish water to drive,look at,etc etc.
Cheers Bob

[Tatsfield]

The built in boosters in my XC70 are a godsend. No more need to remember if we need to take child seats/boosters in the boot in case we have to seat our two grandchildren. They do fight over who sits in which seat but there are strict seating rotation protocols! There is room between the built in boosters for another booster so we can take 3 kids in the back is needed.

[mcooke999]

Originally Posted by Tatsfield

The built in boosters in my XC70 are a godsend. No more need to remember if we need to take child seats/boosters in the boot in case we have to seat our two grandchildren. They do fight over who sits in which seat but there are strict seating rotation protocols! There is room between the built in boosters for another booster so we can take 3 kids in the back is needed.

Ah yes the inbuilt booster seats might be the answer then if there's still enough room between for a car seat / access to buckles?

[mcooke999]

Originally Posted by reggit

We’ve got a V70 with the family pack, booster seats are built into the outer rear seats.
I no longer have a full child seat to try that, although occasionally my wife will sit between the kids to stop the wars.

If you want to look at ours and are in the Preston area sometime, I’ll tidy some of their crap out the back 😂.

To be honest though, if you want to go with Volvo, I’d be thinking along the XC90 lines as the kids will soon out grow sitting 3 abreast in a 70.

Reggit, thanks for your reply. My wife is actually from Preston so we do find ourselves over there a lot! I might take you up on that offer at some point if you don't mind, would be good to compare.

I had thought about the XC90 actually or an S-Max perhaps if the V60/70 XC70 wasn't wide enough... The new shape XC90's are coming down in price now as they get older, although they aren't cheap by any means... But saying that, not a lot is at the moment, a decent 2015/16 low miles XC70 are knocking on £20k too at the moment!