3Rd Row Vehicle - How on Earth??

I just don't think you can beat the minivan when you have 3 kids- sorry! I have an Odyssey and I have one of my 5 year olds in the back row, and the other 5 year old and 2.5 year old in the captain's chairs. All are still in 5pt harnesses, since they don't weigh enough for boosters, but I can get to all of them to buckle them easily. The other thing to consider is that minivans have the sliding doors on the sides, making them MUCH easier to deal with in tight parking spaces.
Sorry, I know you didn't want a minivan sales pitch. I just know so many of my friends who were really anti-van ended up loving them once they had them!

Get a model with "captains chairs" in the middle row rather than a bench seat. Then you can get into the back row without having to move the middle row.

Hello!

we were in a similar situation 3 years ago, my oldest was 2 and we were expecting twins. we did a lot of research and finally found the Mazda CX9. i also had my parents with us, so it was 4 adults and 1 carseat and 2 infant seats! its super easy to get to the 3rd row, no gymnastics required and with the 3rd up, we could fit a double stroller in the trunk. we have had no problems with this car and I would highly recommend it!
hope this helps, good luck with everything!

The new Odyessey can fit 3 large (britax) carseats in the middle row....and the middle seat slides up to be closer to the driver if needed. As far as I know it is the only car out there that can do this. This car is quite possibly the best family car ever made IMO. Oh, and the cargo space is bigger than most SUVs. I have had both and much prefer the van. But I am at a point in my life that I am secure enough in myself that I don't need my ride to define me for people. I need function in my vehicle much more than coolness.

I also love my Honda Odessey. I got after I had my third child and had three kids under the age of 3...now I have four kids and still have lots of room inside. The model with the captains chairs in the 2nd row makes it easy to access the 3rd row. I gave up a new Lincoln Navigator for this car and have had no regrets. Happy shopping!

I would do the Kia Sendona Mini van or the Honda Odyssey. If you are hard pressed for an SUV style - get the Suburban. AWESOME storage and ample room for 8....however, gas mileage won't be great in the city - we got GREAT mileage on road trips!!! 25MPG

My GF has twins and has a Tahoe - HATES it - has to open doors WIDE in order to get seats in and out.

SUVs are a pain in the rear with car seats! Mini vans ROCK!! Doors auto slide, YOU can GET IN and buckle them up !! BADA BING BABY!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Honda Odyssey. And kudos for keeping your kids out of boosters....I think too many children are in them WAY too early. I still harness my 4.5 year old too!

I have three boys and I wanted and SUV so bad then I fell in love with minivans I thought cuz I drove a van I wouldnt be a hip young mom forget that girl a van is practical for a mother of 3 children especially when the start having friends over and playing sports. I wish I would of let my husband buy me a minivan instead of a car. My husband works for and on Fords and recommends them because of the safety rating. Ford Escapes are not very practical but the Explorers and Expeditions and Chevy Suburbans are nice to but Vans seem so much easier. Good Luck

Only cool mom's drive mini-vans. Wanna know why? Three words: automatic sliding doors.

It's heaven, trust me. Seriously consider it, especially if you have three really LOs.

I have an older model Honda Odyssey and it has captain's chairs in the second row. I put my infant in one and he is now one and doing great, I honestly never thought about it being unsafe. I plan on putting my older son who will probably be about 5 by the time #3 is on the scene, in the back seat and my two smaller ones in the captain's chairs on the second row. I already have my son who is 3.5 now, crawl in and get in his own chair while I am putting his baby brother in and then I go to his side and buckle him up securely. I figure when #3 comes along I will just have he and his brother crawl into their seats and then I will slip in the middle of the captain's chairs and buckle them both in. The Honda Odyssey is pretty roomy, so you might want to check it out when you are looking around, we bought ours bc we do want three kids and when I was prego with #2 we had a PT Cruiser!! I also really like it bc it has doors on both sides, so you can crawl in on the side that doesn't have the infant carrier to get things etc. My hubby is 6'1" and I am 5'9" and we are very comfortable. I have a single stroller and a double stroller in the back at all times and can pile up two weeks worth of groceries on top of them and still have room to spare. We actually bought ours off Craigslist for $4,000.00, we figured why spend $25,000 on something destined to be puked on, colored on, in short extremely lived in. Good luck and congratulations!!

Mazda CX 9. Just bought it since we are expecting number three and we did alot of shopping around. You get the best trunk space and gas mileage. The second row slides forward so you can walk into the third row to buckle up the kid in the last row.

I know you don't want a minivan, but I really think you should look into the Town and Country. I was so against getting a soccer mom vehicle, but I am in love with my van now. The seats actually all have the ability to fold down into the floor, so I can put the infant seat in the seat behind the driver, put the seat behind the passenger down into the floor, and the other two carseats in the back. They fit wonderfully, there is plenty of room to get all kids in, and we're all happy. My favorite feature is the mirror located directly above the rearview mirrow that lets me watch the kids in the back. No turning around to see what they want!

If you're willing to buy a used car, you might consider a Ford Freestyle (also called Taurus X) which has convenient 2nd and 3rd row seats. Both can be partially or completely folded. 3 kids could fit in the 2nd row and 2 in the 3rd row. We went to an auto show and the whole family climbed into about 10 vans/SUV's/crossovers. The 3rd row is much more spacious than the ones in the Hondas. Gas mileage is like a minivan (19-20 on short trips around town and 27 on long highway trips) but it looks more like an SUV. If you want a new car, the Ford Flex seems to have similar seating options.

Basically, with any of the suvs, you are going to lose the cargo space if you have the third row up. There is nothing wrong with having the baby seat by the door if you think you have found something wide enough for three seats across - I am curious to know why you think it is less safe to have a 2 year old absorb the impact of a potential collision than an infant in a carseat...Also, not entirely sure why catpains would not be safe for an infant seat...what is your thinking?

I have a friend who has a VW wagon, she is able to fit three regular (britax) carseats in the main row, and is able to leave the rear for storage. Other than that, I would check the Acadia.

We are basically in your position, and I think that a van is the best solution in terms of being able to get everyone in and still having space for stuff! Our second choice is going to be the highlander...pilot seats.

I don't know about putting all three in the third row. We have a GMC Acadia. Right now we have two year old twins, and baby #3 will be here in June. Our plan is to put the baby in the 3rd row (by reaching over from the back of the car) and putting the twins in the bucket seats in the second row. When the third row is up, we can barely fit our double stroller in, but it fits. Honestly, though, I don't know if there is an SUV where three car seats can fit in the back. Something to consider...do you want your two year old sitting right next to the newborn baby? I love my boys (they will be 2.5 when the next one is here), but I don't trust them yet to not hit, pinch, or play with the baby. Even if the car seats all fit across, I don't want them sitting next to the baby. The four year old would be fine, but your two year old may not be (especially if any jealousy issues do arise once the baby is here).

I have the volvo XC90 love it. But it wouldn't work with 3 cars seats. You can't slide and tip the seat to get to the 3 row. Unless you put 2 car seats in the 3 row. That would be really hard to get them in and out if they cant do themselves. It does have a built in booster in the center that might be ok for your 4 year old could use. Then a car seat on each side. The height of a SUV vs a mini van is a issue too. It is hard for the little ones to crawl into it. Serious think the mini van. Not as cool, but so much easier.

I dont know how you young kids do this either. Rules werent this strict when I had my kids.
This is WHY MONEY is such a factor when you plan to extend your family, you have to have a car to tote them in :)
Good luck, I have no advice to offer.

Your only options are a suburban or a minivan. I anti minivan myself butvtgey really are the way to go with three kids..
.especially since they will soon be wanting to bring a friend or two along u will need the space

I really did not want to drive a minivan! I ended up getting a suv with the third row seating, after a few months I was ready to get the minivan. That was with just two kids. We have a big stroller, groceries, traveling, and dogs. You just can't beat a minivan. We will have 3 very young kids soon all in car seats and we still have tons of room for everything else. Suburbans and expeditions are nice and I have friends who have them with little ones, but they are pricey and the gas mileage is horrible so we went with the mini.

I have a Volvo XC90 and I don't see myself driving anything else for a very long time!!! I LOVE it! I have two toddlers of my own and I care for others during the week.

For a mid-sized SUV, this sweet baby has a lot of room and happens to be one of the top safest! I think they call the third row "jump row" seating, but it fits a car seat very comfortably. Now, I only keep one seat up in the back and the other remains down like it's an extension of the trunk; and I do open the back hatch door and let my oldest walk through to get into that car seat. He's 4 and learning how to buckle himself up. I just observe to make sure it's done correctly.

Also, my husband is 6'3 and has always been comfortable! =) Good luck!

Well, we were in the same boat 3 years ago and the only thing we found that would work was a minivan. Not cute or sexy, but it saved my back tremendously. Our first 2 kids were 4 and 2 when our thrid was born, and now I'm fully adapted to the minivan life now! Good luck!

We have a GMC Acadia and love it! It is similar to the Chevy Traverse and Buick Enclave. We were in your same predicament! We had a Volvo XC90 and had trouble accessing the 3rd row. Our Acadia has bucket seats in the middle, so our 5 year old walks to the 3rd row. I can also fit back there comfortably. The infant seat is safe in the 2nd row bucket seat.

My husband has a GMC Sierra Denali and 3 car seats fit across the backseat. He has no trouble putting the baby carrier in the middle, but I struggle.

We had a 2006 honda odyssey and loved it....well for a minivan. It had way more room than any mid size suvs. Not sure about the new honda minivans but the 2006 had captains chairs with a console in the center in the second row. We were able to take out the console and push the two seat together which gave pretty good access to the 3rd row. So there is one option. Next, we have a 2008 chevy suburban with 2nd row captains chairs. Our carseats fit in there nicely. We also have a teenage sun so access to the third row was a must so thats why we went with the captains chairs. Not the easiest to get around, and I don't think I would have done that if I needed to buckle a little one in the third row. Finally, we just traded in our suburban to save a little dough and just bought a 2000 suburban. But this has a full size bench seat in the second row. I would think that all three car seats would be able to fit in the second row. It would be tight but it might work until you get to the point when your 4yr old can buckle themselves. Good luck!! Oh plus all three of these vehicles have more cargo room in the back with the third row up than what you listed in your question. Good luck!

I have had a minivan for 8 years now and LOVE them. We have 3 kids who are now 16,13 and 8 but I also have a home daycare and keep 2 car seats buckled in all the time. I keep the car seats in the third row and my 3 kids sit in the second row. The second row looks like a bench, but is actually 3 separate seats as each one can be folded up or just the back folded down onto the seat. Either way, I find it easy to access the third row and we have plenty of room. I keep a large stroller in the back some of the time and can still fit my daughters hockey bag and stick or plenty of groceries. If you choose a minivan, be sure to get the extended version, otherwise storage space is extremely small. We have been looking at SUV's as we are thinking of trading in the spring and so far the only one I really like is the GMC Acadia. I currently drive a Pontiac Montana, I have also looked at Pontiac uplanders (very similar) although they no longer make either one.

S.
www.LiveYourDreamsAtHome.com

We have a 2005 volvo xc 90 love it.. we bought it used in 2006 from dealer with warrenty package.. also easy to drive and not too big :) super safe..check em out.. we always buy our cars used like a yr. Or less old..saves so much money.. good car in snow too.

We have a gmc Acadia and love it! Our kids were newborn 2 and 3 when we got ours. The older one sits in the back and the two younger in the middle. Your 4 year old is old enough to buckle his/her own seat as to save you from diving into the back seat.

I beg to differ that a 4 year old cannot buckle themselves safely! I have a GMC Yukon with captain seats and 4 boys (8, 5, 4, and 2)...when we bought it, they were 6, 3, 1, and 3 mos). I have the older two sit in the 3rd row and the younger two in the captain's seats. The first year, my 3 year old was not old enough to buckle himself and the thing that worked best for me was to buckle him in from the back. It was a little tricky, but I am tall (almost 5'10") so it really wasn't a big deal. By the time he was four, he could buckle himself in and unbuckle himself- safely. I pre-adjusted all of the straps and he was FINE!! Now, I do have to admit that whether or not a child can do this varies from kid to kid...my now 4 year old (one of the younger two) still cannot UNbuckle himself, but he is a totally different child from my now 5 year old and fine/gross motor skills are different for each child. BUT, I am also not a mom who is going to leave her kid in a 5 point harness until they meet the 100lb weight limit on most convertible carseats- I find that ridiculous and uneccessary, so my idea of SAFE is probably not up to par with a parent that plans on doing that. That being said, I think my Yukon is a fabulous alternative to a minivan!! I also could not bring myself to buy a minivan for a lot of reasons including the fact that we really need to have AWD/4WD. Anyway, the only con to the Yukon is that there is very limited cargo room with the third row up. I was afraid to buy the XL at the time we purchased due to its size (didn't fit in the garage, afraid I couldn't handle that large of a vehicle, etc), but now I really wish that we had. Whether or not a double stroller will fit is really dependent on your particular model of stroller...I had a compact Jeep twin umbrella stroller and it fit fine...if you're using a graco duo glide or something along those lines, it may not fit. You can, however, fold down half of the third row to fit the stroller, which shouldn't be a problem since you will only have 3 passengers. Now that I only have a small single umbrella stroller, the only time I notice the lack of cargo space is on road trips. Also, I think the baby would be perfectly safe in a captain seat- mine was. I also know plenty of people that have minivans with captain seats that use those for their infants. Good luck!

congratulations!
Sunshine Kids makes I think the only carseat that fits three in the back seat of a sedan. And they seem top of the line with safety. they fit more because they use more metal and less plastic.

I have a Ford Expedition XLT and I LOVE it!!! 3rd row seat folds down and comes out completely it I dont need it. Middle Row is large enough for 3 big carseats. The Middle row folds down in 2 pieces, you can either fold down just 1 side seat or fold down the middle and other side seat together. Or you can fold all 3. It folds flat so you can actually sit on it and it is level to the floor in the 3rd row, so kids can easily walk over it. If you only left the 1 seat up in the middle row you could put both the older kids in back and be able to easily climb up and buckle them and leave the baby in the middle. Or you could just fold down the 1 seat in the middle row and put the 2 younger in the middle and use the one spot to climb up and buckle the older.
My car has 166,xxx miles on it and still runs awesome! Mine is a 2001. I will not go back to a smaller car with less seats! Not atleast until my kids are teens lol.
Good Luck! Hope this helps.
BTW, I do have 3 kids. 6 yrs, 4 yrs, and 1 yr.

We are in the exact same boat right now. 3rd baby is on the way, and three carseats will not fit in any of our vehicles. We do have the advantage of our other two being older though. We haven't bought anything yet, but DH decided on a chevy traverse. Seats fold down so you can easily get to the back. You have the option in the front row to have two seats or a bench (and yes, baby is perfectly safe in a captains chair). The best part though is that this vehicle has enough trunk space to still bring all the things we need. Most with a third row had no trunk area. Also, we rules out the supersized SUVs because of size.

I bought a new Ford Explorer when I had my first son and loved it. easy to drive good gas mileage, BUT when the second baby came around and was a couple of months old I wanted BIGGER so I got a new tahoe and I LOVE IT. So nice I wont be with out a Tahoe or a Suburban till my kids are out of the house, and by then it will be grandbaby time. Good luck on your search!

We juSt got a ford flex. Looks kinda funny on the outside. But the mileage is excellent, very spacious. I have a 3,6 &9. The reason we choose that one is because they are supposed to go to 200,000 miles. There is alot of good things about them in several magazines. The back seat goes down just by pushing a button. the trunk is the same and u can put a stroller in the back with all three rows up. It's best to get white or black because other colors are two toned and almost look like a twenty year old should be driving it. I drove a BMW x5 before this so I was used to the fine things in a car and the flex is pretty darn fancy. Ohhh, how motherhood changes things! Good luck and test drive them all. The pilot is known for brake issues after 50,000 mikes. The Hyundai suv is also very nice and has the best 10 year warranty'

I can't help you with the SUV questions, but I know my life got a lot easier when my 4 year old learned to buckle herself. Unless your car seat is unusually complicated, there's a good chance you could teach the 4 year old to buckle and unbuckle himself by the time the baby comes.

Thanks for this timely question!

Can anyone comment on the Mazda5? Does the new, wider Subaru Outback really hold three car seats?

Last question first: no, such a vehicle does not exist in my hunt for similar. :) All the SUV's that we looked at had 3rd row's that were just simply too shallow and wouldn't let an adult (let alone a tall adult) to sit back there. Even with the thought of "well the kids are there", they're still going to grow and need leg room.

My husband is 6'4" so we needed to find something with legroom also. We ended up with an Odyssey. I didn't want a minivan, but the day to day convenience trades off. It was just the most practical choice for us and while I drive a minivan, life could be much worse.

In our van, we removed two of the middle row seats. One full size seat and then also the weird little one. We then slid the remaining full sized seat towards the center. If we had three kids, the youngest would go in the middle row, middle position. The older two would go in the back row, probably one on each side. There's a good bit of floor space to just get everyone out of the rain and it'd still be easy enough to buckle everyone.

I also have room to put my double stroller AND our wagon in the "trunk" with remaining room for a beach blanket and some groceries. Other groceries can be put in the middle row gaps.

I loved our expedition, but with most third row seaters you'll be sacrificing on gas mileage or cargo space. My four year old could buckle herself in just fine. I would just check it. So you shouldn't have to worry about climbing over. We kept our third row split for cargo space, so she could also have climbed in the back, which was easier. I think with captains chairs the baby would be in the third row bench. I'd say a minivan would be your best bet though for everything you need and want. My friends who ended up getting them actually really love them!

highly recommend the 2011 honda oddessey!!!! It has just what you are looking for and the middle of the second row where you would put the baby comes forward some you have more easy access to them. good luck in your search!

You will NEVER catch me in a mini-van! I HATE them for a couple reasons. Plus, I need the towing capacity of a SUV, which no mini-van offers.

I've got a Tahoe with the 3rd row seat and LOVE it, but since you need the cargo room for the stroller I would recommend going with the Suburban (there isn't much cargo space in the tahoe with the 3rd row set-up).

My middle row has the 2-1 split bench seat. My recommendation would be put the newborn in the middle of the middle row and put the older two in the 3rd row. You can leave the 1 seat folded down allowing easy access to the 3rd row for getting the kids in and out (also convenient for changing diapers!).

The 4 yr old should be able to buckle in without a problem, and is most likely big enough to go into a high back booster with shoulder belt.

I have a '09 Suburban, and I love it. I keep my BOB dualie in the back, with the 3rd row in place. Luckily, the 4 year old will soon be able to buckle himself in and you wont have to worry about climbing back to do it for him. I have a bench for our 2nd row, but the side seat flips up and forward very easy. I am sure captains chairs would be easier to get in the back with, but I preferred a bench for the extra seating.

I am 5'9, and my husband is 6'5, so there arent many vehicles that will be comfortable for you with 3 rows! The Suburban was the most comfortable for myself, and my husband.

GOOD LUCK!

Yes, it does exist. Dodge Durango (2005-2008 models)! I have had 2, one got driven off a cliff with my father-in-law driving. But all four grown men (including 2 over 6' tall) survived the 200 foot tumble. Not to scare you with that, but its proof that they are safe vehicles.

This SUV has carried high school wrestlers, grown adults, infants, toddlers...I have had 6 kids all under 7 years old in it before. it seats 8. Each of the 2nd row seats independantly collapse forward (unlike most with the 60/40 split). I will tell you that the 2nd row will not fit 3 car seats (neither will anyother SUV)...

Here is what I suggest (if you get this SUV), put the 4 and 2 year olds in the 3rd row and the infant on the passenger-side 2nd row. Then leave the driver-side 2nd row seat collapsed forwards. You can easily climb in the vehicle and strap everyone in...

I also recommend these carseats (no matter what vehicle) because they take up very little room (no more than a backless booster but they are a 5-point harness up to 65 pounds!!!). They are the only "booster" seat rated by the National Highway Traffic Administration. It is the last carseat you will ever buy. It converts to a backless booster once they are too old for the harness...which wont be until they are 6yrs or 65lbs.

http://www.albeebaby.com/safety-1st--go-hybrid-booster-ca...

www.nhtsa.gov

Sorry to say but you really want a minivan if you expect to be able to easily get in the back. I love the Odyssey. Looks aren't everything!

You can insist on an SUV if you want, but if you get a Sienna or an Odyssey, you will be TRULY satisfied and happy! Automatic everything, tons of cargo room, easy access to all seating -perfection! Get an SUV when they're older -for now -convenience is king.

Thats what minivans are made for. I know there is a stigma attached that they are kinda nerdy but they are luxury vehicles for families.

Minivan is the way to go. There is no better vehicle for hauling kids and cargo. I can't think of a single thing that makes an SUV better than a minivan unless you need to drive off-road or tow something heavy and most people don't do either of those things. I think it's silly that people let their choice of vehicle define who they are. I'm not a "soccer mom" just because I drive a van. That's ridiculous. The sliding doors rock! I can't count how many times I've been out in our 4Runner and when I come back to the car the jerk next to us has parked so close that I can't open the door wide enough to get the carseat in.

I just want to chime in to a response I read. A 4 year old is NOT ready to buckle themselves in. Please, moms, don't allow this. Yes, they can click the buckle, but it needs to be situated on the body correctly so as to prevent internal injuries, be nice and snug and not twisted and double checked to make sure the buckle is fully engaged and clicked in.

I love my Honda Odyssey. Mine were 3 and 4 when the 3rd was born. I stuck them in the back row, took out one of the middle seats so I can crawl in to buckle them, and put the baby in the middle seat. If you don't need 4WD, then minivans are really great once you get over the "I'll never own a minivan" stage. Trust me, you'll get over it quickly when you see how convenient they are - the sliding side doors and DVD player are a must!

OK, I know that everyone's pushing you towards the minivan and you don't want to go there. I understand. I didn't want one either, but with knowing we wanted to have three kids, it just seemed to make sense. I've got the Kia Sedona, and although it took a LOT of getting used to, I now see the benefits of such a vehicle. Sure, I daydream about the day that I drop the last kid off at college and get to downsize to a cute little 2-door roadster that no kids will ever be allowed in, but for now it's the minivan.
Anyway, I'm in the same boat as you. Kid #3 is due in May, and my other two will be just turning four and two. I plan to put the four year old in the third row since she'll be able to walk back there and put her buckles on by herself. However, she's not strong enough to click everything together yet, so I'm also worried about how to squeeze myself back there to buckle her in and out. I have had some other parents tell me that if I strap her in from the back it's much easier. They lean over the back of the seat from the trunk and buckle straps that way. I think that's going to be my plan too, but who knows when I actually have to start doing it.
I wish you the best of luck. I know, minivans are so uncool, and they're like driving a mack truck. The automatic sliding doors make it all worthwhile though.

I have a Mitsubishi Montero Limited. Unfortunately the last year they made them was 2006, which mine is and I love it! From the back, it opens like a door, not swinging up and the third row seat leaves about a 6" gap that my kids can easily walk and access the back 3rd seat and i can reach over & buckle them without having to climb. under the seat is a compartment, where the seat folds down into if needed and can be used for groceries and then the stroller is stored on it's side. The stroller is a tight fit and when i used one, I couldn't keep in the car all the time, only when I knew I would need it. It gets about 18 MPG and we have plenty of room. I have gotten 3 larger adults and 3 carseats and a booster and fairly comfortable as we were carpooling. So yes they are out there, just hard to find. Be vigilant and keep looking. You'll find the right car for you. when I get ready to buy a new vehicle, which won't be for awhile cause I am so happy with mine, i always check the reviews from this site. this is moms reviewing cars for moms. hope it helps......www.motherproof.com lots are really hilarious to read and so so true!

You need to hit the pavement and start looking at different models. Do some
research on line. The cars that have the aisle in the middle work well.
Capt seats and car seats should work fine. As long as that car seat is
in correctly you are good to go. I think the Honda Odyssey would work, or
is that an older model. Good luck in your search.

I have an expedition. It's a liittle bit but as tons of room and when my son was 4 he cluld walk between the 2 middle seats and get into his carseat himself. I could easily fit and buckel him in. My sister had great luck with the forester,

I did not read all of the posts, so forgive me if I am repeating someone! We have a ford explorer and absolutly love it! the middle seat is big enough for 3 car seats without having to squish. hope you have luck in your car search!

Please check out the Buick Enclave, It has 2 captains chairs in the 2nd row with an aisle between making it very easy to reach the 3rd row bench seat. Fold down half the third row seat and have plenty of room for stroller and groceries, etc. Gas mileage is 19 - 24 mpg. This vehicle is also very nicely appointed. I had 5 Lexus vehicles prior to the Enclave and so far I'm very impressed with this vehicle.

I have a Tahoe. When we need to put a kid in the 3rd row seat we pop the back hatch and he climbs over. Loves it. I also taught him to do his own seat belt so all I have to do is double check it. He can undo it as well. Or, if you get a bench seat in the 2nd row (that's what I have), you can always do the 60/40 split and put the single seat down and have your 4 yr old climb in that way. Leaves the middle and driver side seat available for the other car seats. Much as it pains me to say it, if I had 3 kids, I would have to go for the minivan. Good luck!

I have 3 kids. We have a 2004 Toyota Sienna minivan. We actually bought it after our second because we just did not fit in the Honda CRV we had at the time. We have the 8 seater and have all 3 kids in one row, the middle row. We bought the Sunshine Radian seats for all 3. We never used infant seats for any of our kids. Too many recalls for the part you actually have your baby in detaching from the base which is the only part actually attached to the car. Those things scare me! And a car seat belongs in a car, not to carry a child around all the time. But I digress. The Sunshine Radian seats are narrower than pretty much everything on the market. We bought ours from Target.com. They often have different colors on sale (not typically the "standard color" of black, we got red which was fine since our minivan is red LOL) and you can usually find coupons and they offer free shipping a lot. If you are a AAA member you can go to the AAA website and shop through the link off that page (they offer various shopping discounts) you save I believe 10%. It made the price a lot better.
The amount of stuff we can fit in the trunk with 3 kids is amazing! If we didn't have the minivan we'd never be able to get our grocery shopping at Costco done and fit us all in there.
The gas mileage is amazing! We didn't want a car that got crappy gas mileage, it costs far too much in So Calif to not get the best mileage you can. It was very important to us so that left out all the big SUVs.
My husband and I are both in the 5'9"-5'10" range and we have plenty of room. We put my third rear facing behind the passenger seat, my second child in the middle and the oldest behind the driver seat. There was still room in the front seat to sit comfortably.
We didn't want or get any of the "bells and whistles". There is no DVD player, and no power doors and we love it that way. We made the choice intentionally. We love it! We spent an insane amount of time driving and we've never had problems.
I know you said no mini-vans but with 3 kid and all their gear and if you ever need to go anywhere you really can't beat the space.

I have to say, I'm probably in the minority here, but I HATE my mini-van. I gave in to reason + purchased a Nissan Quest last year, when I was expecting my 4th child. To me, it's bulky and awkward. I feel like I dont have full visibility + there are a ton of blind spots. I'd much, much rather have an SUV w/ 3rd row seating. I mean, cargo space, with the exception of our one vacation a year, how much cargo am I really hauling? Also, to me, the extra space really just means more space for my kids to fill up with their junk that always seems to make the trip with us. I'm looking to trade my mini-van in + get a larger SUV.

A 4 year old is really old enough to buckle themselves. It's the unbuckling that baffles me, that is the main reason we switched to boosters at 3 years old. I got tired of climbing everywhere doing buckles.

Exhuasted and Loving it has it right! We have a 2004 Durango and love it. My oldest 2 (just turned 5 and the other about to be 4) sit in the 3rd row and the baby (almost 3 months) sits in the middle bench. I just leave the one seat in the middle bench always flipped over so the kids can easily get back there on their own and all I do is put one foot in and I can easily reach them and buckle them up. When we do long trips though - we bring one of the kids up to the 2nd bench and then we have more room in the back for luggage. We got the split 3rd row bench which makes it nice. And same when I need to bring my stroller - its a monster in itself, lol - I bring one child up to the second row and put down one side of the 3rd row which gives me the room for the stroller and still plenty of rooms for all the kids.

We love our Durango - down fall tho - gas guzzler.. can't avoid it unless you can find a flex fuel one with the 4.7 L engine.

Congrats on baby!

I used to have a Honda Odyssey when mine were little. I loved it. I was also, one of those moms who would NEVER drive a minivan. You just can't beat the convenience.

Now, I have a 2005 Chevy Suburban. Our Odyssey had over 165,000 miles and the transmission went out. It is now being rebuilt and we will eventually sell it. I miss it. We had a surprise baby and while I was very resistent to an SUV, my husband convinced me of it. (Btw, he was the one who pursuaded me to get the minvan, first). I do have more room in the SUV for my kid's football equipment, guitar, baseball bags, stroller and groceries. I will admit, that was difficult with the minivan. The suburban is just so much bigger, really. I also love the 4WD. I got stuck in my own driveway several winters. I think I got about 16mpg with the van and the average right now for the suburban is 13-14.

As far as seating, one of the reasons we went with the 8 passenger, is because one of the seats folds down, allowing access to the back. You could put the 4 year old in the back and it's just a high step onto the folded seat. We have extra kids all the time, so more seating was a must. The seat stays folded unless we have enough extra kids to warrant folding it back up.

If it were just my older kids, I may not have missed the van so much. However, getting my toddler in and out of the SUV is much more difficult than it was with the van. Just sayin. Good luck in your search!!