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There are many seven or eight-seater SUVs on the market today that you would presume you would be able to fit five child seats in, but as I have found in my testing this is not the case! Some will only hold 3 child seats across the second row of seats and they have no top tether or ISOFix in the third row at all.

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Here is a list of all the seven and eight-seater SUVs that I have reviewed and found would fit three child seats in the second row with the child seats used in BabyDrive testing:


2023 Hyundai Palisade

Hyundai Palisade

The Hyundai Palisade is available as a seven-seater or eight-seater SUV and will fit three and four child seats in the back respectively. The seven-seater has two captains chairs in the second row and the eight-seater has a bench seat split 40:60 in the second row. See the full review here.


A blue SUV with 3 child seats parked in front of a building.

Mitsubishi Outlander

The New Mitsubishi Outlander seven-seat SUV will fit three Infasecure child seats in the second-row seats nicely. Priced around $42,000 the Outlander has been modernised and includes a lot of family-friendly features like built-in rear window blinds. See the full review here.


A woman opens the trunk of a 7 seater SUV.

Nissan Pathfinder

The Nissan Pathfinder is available as a seven or eight-seater. The seven-seat model has two captains chairs in the second row and the eight-seater model has a bench of three seats in the second row. Both the seven and eight-seater models have a bench of three seats in the third row. In both seating options there are ISOFix points in the two outer second-row seats and one in the farside third-row seat. The seven-seat model has three top tether anchor points, in the backrests of both the captain's chairs in the second row and the eight-seater has them in the back of all three second-row seats. There is also a top tether anchorage in the back of the far side third-row seat. This allowed me to install four Infasecure child seats in the eight-seater model Nissan Pathfinder and three Infasecure child seats in the seven-seat model. The second-row seats have a mechanism that allows you to move an outer seat forward with a child seat installed (The child seat MUST be using the ISO Fix, not the seatbelt.) giving you enough room to climb through to the third-row seats. See the full review here.


2023 Ford Everest Trend 4x4

Ford Everest

The New Ford Everest is a great seven-seater SUV that is full of family-friendly features. It will hold five child seats comfortably in the back. Three across the second row and two in the third-row seats. It has great storage throughout a modern media system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and generous boot space. See the full Ford Everest review here.


A woman standing next to a 2023 Nissan X-Trail e-Power SUV.

Nissan X-Trail

The New Nissan X-Trail seven-seat SUV will fit three Infasecure child seats in the second-row seats nicely. Very similar to the new Mitsubishi Outlander the X-Trail doesn't have top tethers or ISOFix in the third-row seats. It has been modernised and includes a lot of family-friendly features like built-in rear window blinds. See the full review here.


Jeep Grand Cherokee L

Jeep Grand Cherokee L

The seven-seater Jeep Grand Cherokee is a great option for large families. Ranging in price from $83,000 – $115,000. The Grand Cherokee is full of great features for families, including an interior rear seat camera so you can watch your little ones in the back two rows while driving along!

There are ISOFix and top tether anchorages in all three second-row seats and three Infasecure child seats fit easily across the spacious second-row seats. In the third row, there are top tether anchorages in both seats and you can install two Infasecure child seats back there. You can bring the second-row seats forward and climb through to the third-row seats if you have used the ISOFix to install your outer child seat rather than the seatbelt. Read the full review here.


2021 Kia Carnival SLI

Kia Carnival

The Kia Carnival is a fantastic family car! With FIVE top tether anchor points and five ISOFix! It can very comfortably fit three child seats across the second-row seats and two in the third-row too. Third-row access is very good in the Kia Carnival too, you do not have to uninstall a child seat in order to access the third-row seats. Read the full review here.


A woman standing in front of a 2023 Mazda CX-90 with a baby in a car seat.

Mazda CX-90

The Mazda CX-90 is a premium family SUV with five top tether anchor points! It can very comfortably fit three Infasecure child seats across the second-row seats and two in the third-row seats. Access to the third-row seats is good in the premium Mazda CX-90, you do not have to uninstall a child seat in order to access the third-row seats. (as long as you use the ISOFix rather than the seatbelt to install a second-row outer seat). Read the full review here.


2023 Hyundai santa fe hybrid baby car seat review.

Hyundai Santa Fe

The seven-seat Hyundai Santa Fe has top tether anchorages for all three second-row seats and ISOFix in the two outer second-row seats. Three Infasecure child seats fit comfortably across the second-row seats. There are no top tether anchorages or ISOFix points in the third-row seats so you can't install any child seats back there but you can put an Infasecure Versatile folding booster seat back there for slightly older children. Access to the third-row seats requires you to uninstall a child seat in the second-row if you have three across the second-row seats. Read the full review here.


2022 Mazda CX-9 GT SP

Mazda CX-9

The Mazda CX-9 is a great family SUV with FIVE top tether anchor points! It can very comfortably fit three child seats across the second-row seats and two in the third-row too. Access to the third-row seats is very good in the Mazda CX-9, you do not have to uninstall a child seat in order to access the third-row seats. Read the full review here.


2022 HYUNDAI STARIA

Hyundai Staria

The Hyundai Staria is a new eight-seater AWD people mover and a great option for large families. Similarly priced to the Kia Carnival it ranges from $49,000 – $67,000. This car is packed full of amazing family-friendly features, including an interior rear seat camera! So you can watch your little ones in the back while driving along!

Three child seats fit easily across the spacious second-row seats and you can bring the second-row seats forward and climb through to the third-row seats if you have used the ISOFix to install your outer child seat rather than the seatbelt. There are no top tether anchorages or ISOFix in the third row (unlike the Kia Carnival) but I was able to easily fit three Infasecure Versatile Folding Booster seats in the back there for older kids. Read the full review here.


A woman standing next to a silver 2019 Kia Sorento.

NEW 2021 Kia Sorento

The Kia Sorento is priced similarly to the Kia Carnival, ranging from $46,000-$63,000. A great seven-seat SUV the Kia Sorento has four ISOFix points and five top tether anchorages. The central second-row seat is the only one to use the seatbelt instead of ISOFix for securing child seats. See the top 10 family-friendly features of the Kia Sorento here.


Audi Q7 2021 family car review

Audi Q7

The Audi Q7 is a luxury seven-seat SUV that fits five child seats comfortably. It ranges in price from $102,000-$165,000. A great seven-seat SUV for families with lots of features and luxuries that make it practical as well as enjoyable to drive. The Audi Q7 has five ISOFix points and five top tether anchorages. See the top 3 family-friendly features of the Audi Q7 here.


Mercedes-Benz GLB 2020 top 3 family friendly features

Mercedes Benz GLB

The Mercedes Benz GLB is an affordably priced luxury seven-seat SUV ranging from $60,000-$89,000. It has four ISOFix points and five top tether anchorages fitting five child seats nicely in the back. See the top 3 family-friendly features of the Mercedes Benz GLB here.


A woman standing next to a red Mazda CX-8 suv.

Mazda CX-8

The Mazda CX-8 has ISOFix in the two outer seats in the second row, there is top tether in the back of all three second-row seats AND in the back of both third-row seats… five top tether anchors!!! I managed to fit three child seats across the second row of seats and two in the third row as well. Boot space was good with all three rows of seats in use I could still get a single stroller in the boot.


Land Rover Discovery 2019

Land Rover Discovery

The Land Rover Discovery has five top tether anchorages and four ISO Fix and fits three child seats across the second-row and two in the third row which will not leave you Disco-pointed!! See if the Land Rover Discovery will suit your family here.


BMW X7

The BMW X7 is a GREAT seven-seat family SUV that ticks all the BabyDrive boxes. It very comfortably fits three child seats across the second row of seats and two in the third-row as well and has excellent third-row access. The BMW X7 is full of family-friendly features like rear window blinds and ventilation and has excellent boot space even when using all seven seats. See if the BMW X7 will suit your family here.


A woman standing next to a Toyota Highlander, one of BabyDrive's Best 5 Electric Cars of 2021, in a parking lot.

Toyota Kluger

The New Toyota Kluger Hybrid's second row of seats has ISOFix in the two outer seats and top tether anchorages for all three seats. Three Infasecure child seats fit nicely across the second-row seats and access to the third-row seats is good too but there are no top tether anchorages or IOFix points. Full review here.


A white suv is parked on a beach.

Isuzu MU-X

The Isuzu MU-X ranges in price from $48,000 to $67,000. It has ISOFix in the two outer second-row seats and top tether anchorages for all three second-row seats. Three Infasecure child seats fit nicely across the second row but there are no top tethers or ISOFix points in the third-row seats so you can't install any child seats back there but you can put Infasecure Versatile Folding Boster seats back there for slightly older children. See the full review here.


MITSUBISHI PAJERO SPORT 4X4 top 3 family-friendly features

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport ranges from $45,000 to $60,000. You can have three top tether anchorages for the second-row seats in the Pajero Sport but I had to install two of them myself!! The anchor points are in the ceiling above the third-row passenger's heads so the straps go in their faces, unfortunately. See if the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport would suit your family here.


The red Toyota Land Cruiser, a 7-seater vehicle with 3 child seats, is parked on rocks near a lake.

Toyota LandCruiser Prado

In the Toyota Prado VX, there are ISOFix in the two outer seats in the second-row and top tether in the back of three second-row seats and the third-row seats don't have any top tethers or ISOFix. I managed to fit three child seats across the second row of seats in the Toyota Prado VX, two forward-facing and a rear-facing, it was actually a bit tighter fit than I was expecting for a car of this size. Boot space was good when only using five seats but it really lacked boot space when using all seven seats.


7 seater Volkswagen Tiguan parked on the grass.

VW Tiguan Allspace

In the VW Tiguan Allspace, there are ISOFix in the two outer seats in the second row and top tether in the back of three second-row seats. There are no top tethers or ISOFix in the third-row seats. I just managed to fit three child seats across the second row of seats, it was nice and flat which made installation easier yet the seat base was only just wide enough for the combination of three child seats I used.


A woman standing next to a Toyota Land Cruiser with a baby in a car seat, featuring 7 seater capabilities.

Toyota Landcruiser 300 Series

The Toyota Landcruiser 300 Series, has ISOFix in the two outer seats in the second row, and there are top tether anchorages in the back of all three second-row seats. The third-row seats don't have any top tethers or ISOFix. I could fit three Infasecure child seats across the second row of seats in the 300 Series. The legroom is good with rear-facing child seats installed a 183cm passenger could sit in front and I could sit behind and I'm 162cm. Boot space was good with all three rows of seats in use I could get all styles of strollers in the boot. See the full family review here.


Skoda Kodiaq Sportline 2020 family car review

Skoda Kodiaq

I recently retested the Skoda Kodiaq as part of a seven-seat comparison with Carsales and it did, in fact, fit three child seats across the second row of seats. I used less bulky child seats this time and three squeezed in! The two third-row seats do not have top tether anchorages so no child seats could fit back there. See if the Skoda Kodiaq will suit your family here.


Peugeot_5008

Peugeot 5008

In the Peugeot 5008, there are ISOFix and top tether in all three second-row seats!! Woo hoo!! The third-row seats don't have any top tethers or ISOFix. I managed to fit three child seats easily across the second row of seats in the Peugeot 5008, the second-row seats are all individual seats making them easy to move and slide independently.  Boot space was good when only using five seats but it lacked boot space when using all seven seats.


2022 Volkswagen Caddy Review Featured Image

Volkswagen Caddy

Perhaps more a people mover than SUV, the Volkswagen Caddy is a fantastic family car for those who need to fit multiple child seats in the back. With two ISOFix in the outer second-row seats and top tether anchorages in all five rear seats, the spacious Volkswagen Caddy fits five Infasecure child seats in the back with generous legroom. If you only need three child seats across in the second row, then you have a very big boot space that is perfect for family life. You can read the full review here.


Volkswagen Multivan

Volkswagen Multivan

The Volkswagen Multivan is a fantastic car for families, the boot and interior space are fantastic and for families that like watersports you can easily fit your paddleboards and surfboards inside with the kids! You can even fit a pram standing up in the boot without collapsing it down which I have seen many parents doing! With four ISOFix and five top tether anchorages across the two rear rows of seats, you can easily fit five Infasecure child seats in the back with no problems with legroom or personal space. You can read the full review here.

 

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Tace Clifford
About Tace Clifford
Tace Clifford founded BabyDrive in 2017 after discovering a huge information gap in mainstream car reviews that left new parents and expanding families in the dark when it came to one of the biggest purchasing decisions of their lives.

21 Comments

  1. I have to disagree with the Mazda CX-9. Just tried to fit a maxi cost capsule with the drivers seat going back and wouldn’t fit. I’m 6:3 and didn’t think I’d have an issue with capsules but they are pretty much useless if you can’t get the front seats back with enough leg room. All reviews I’ve looked at are claiming the seats in the forward position not rear facing which has become a nightmare for me as I’ve a 4 yr old and new twins and cannot find a car that will take capsules or rear facing without crushing the capsules

    • Hi, If you are still looking then I know other audience members with the same problem have been very happy with the Skoda Superb. 🙂

      • Hi all, which car would you choose if you had just born twins and a 2 year old, plus the occasional ride with grandparents?
        Thank you for your help, we’re checking all possibilities and it’s taking so long to go over the models and specs without being able to find a solution 🙁

      • Would also live to know. 2 year old with twins due Jan. Took a sorrento to carseat specialist today and in 3 mins said nope, middle seat is too narrow and that the carseat would be sitting over the middle buckle. So frustrating

        • Hannah, out of interest is your Sorento the 2017 model or the new 2021 model that’s just been released. My understanding is the new model is wider

    • We are about to face the same situation and had ordered a new Kia but unlikely it will be delivered until next year. Please tell me what you ended up deciding on.

  2. There are companies that can install top feather points in 3rd rows. The mux, trailblazer and c7 have steal frames in 3rd row . I got top tethers installed for a comparatively small fee. Has been very handy can have better combination of adults and children.

  3. Has the new 2021 Kruger been tested yet for 3 seats across the 2nd row and access to 3rd row seats without removing babyseats in row 2!
    Thanks

  4. Hi all, any older SUV’s that can fit 2 high back boosters and one Group 1 baby seat across 2nd row. Say from 2014 to 2018 maybe?

    Thanks

  5. Hi I saw a question about the new Kia Sorento model and whether it’s wider etc.

    Has the new model been tested? We are thinking of getting the 2022 Sorento for 3 kids

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