Are you looking at used seven and eight-seater cars for your family? There are lots of seven and eight-seater SUVs out there that you would expect you will be able to fit heaps of child seats in, but as I have found in my testing this is not the case! Some will only hold three child seats across the second row of seats and they have no top tether or ISOFix in the third row at all, or can only take two child seats in the second row and another in the third row.
- Looking for five-seaters that will take three child seats across?
- Which dual-cab utes are easiest for fitting child seats?
Here is a list of all the used seven and eight-seater SUVs that I have reviewed and found will fit three child seats:
Nissan Pathfinder
In the Nissan Pathfinder, there are two ISOFix points, one in each of the outer second-row seats. There are four top tether anchor points, in the backrests of all three second-row seats and there is one in the right-hand third-row seat! This allowed me to install four child seats using the seat belts and top tether anchorages. 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 ISOFix, not the seatbelt) and have enough room to climb through to the third-row seats. See the full review here.
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, (from 2018 onwards when they updated the mechanism) meaning you do not have to uninstall a child seat in order to access the third-row seats. Read the full review here.
Honda CR-V
The seven-seater Honda CR-V SUV will house three child seats across the second-row and in seven-seat versions you can fit two in the third-row as well, however, the second-row top tether straps go across the third-row passengers' faces so this is definitely something to consider. There is good air ventilation to all three rows of seats which is good. See if the Honda CR-V will suit your family here.
Holden Acadia
The 2019 Holden Acadia LTZ-V has FIVE top tether anchors!!!! WOO HOO!! They are all in plastic guides in the rear seatbacks and it has Isofix in the two outer second-row seats. I could install five big child seats which is fantastic! Legroom was very good in the Acadia too and the boot was space is good when using only five seats I could fit 18 shopping bags in or when using all three rows of seats I could fit five shopping bags in or a single or twin stroller fitted.
Mazda CX-8
The Mazda CX-8 has ISOFix in the two outer seats in the second row, there are top tether anchors in the back of all three second-row seats AND in the back of both third-row seats 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.
Ford Everest
The Ford Everest is a very practical seven-seater SUV that will hold five child seats. Three across the second row and two in the third-row seats. It also has a good media system and boot space. See the full Ford Everest review here.
Lexus RX350L
I did manage to install four child seats in the Lexus RX350L. The large boot of the Lexus RX350L takes away from the space inside the car and when I came to install child seats, I discovered there is not really enough legroom in the car for it to be used as a genuine seven-seater. There are three top tether anchors across each of the backrests in the second row of seats and one in the third row of seats, in the backrest on the passenger side See the full review here.
Infiniti QX80
I could install three large child seats into the Infiniti QX80 and there was so much space between two ISOFix seats in the second row (you cannot install one in the middle of the second row)! In the Infiniti QX80, the only way to access the third row is by folding forward the second-row outer seat so you would have to uninstall any child seat fitted there, which is totally impractical! On the upside there is a lot of room for a child seat in the third row (which has one top tether anchor).
Note: The rest of these SUVs will hold three child seats across the second row but have no top tether anchorages for fitting child seats in the third-row.
Isuzu MU-X
The Isuzu MU-X has ISOFix in the two outer second-row seats and top tether anchorages for all three second-row seats. Three child seats fit nicely across the second row. Full review here.
VW Tiguan Allspace
In the VW Tiguan Allspace, there are ISOFix points in the two outer seats in the second row and top tether anchors in the back of all three second-row seats. There are no top tether or ISOFix connectors 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.
Mitsubishi Pajero
The 2019 Mitsubishi Pajero, fits three child seats across the second-row when you use the seat belts with the top tether anchorages to fasten the child seats in. There are not top tether anchorages in the third-row. Legroom is excellent in the front with rear-facing child seats installed we could easily fit a 182cm passenger. See if the 2019 Mitsubishi Pajero: Top 3 Family-Friendly Features.
Kia Sorento
I managed to fit three child seats across the second row of seats in the Kia Sorento. There are ISOFix points in the second row's two outer seats and top tether anchors for all three second-row seats, but there are no ISOFix or top tethers in the third row so it limits the number of child seats you can install. The 2017 Sorento is a few centimetres longer and wider than the previous model, Â which would account for the amount of interior cabin, boot space and legroom. This car is seriously spacious for a seven-seater and we could fit a 184cm driver in front of a rear-facing child seat with a tall passenger in the third row too! The head and shoulder room was the only limiting factor in the third row.
Haval H9
The Haval H9 is a big SUV with a small price that fits three child seats across the second row and doesn't have top tether anchorages in the third row. See if the Haval H9 will suit your family here.
Toyota Landcruiser 200
The Toyota Landcruiser 200 Series, has ISOFix in the two outer seats in the second row behind velcro flaps, there are top tether anchors in the back of all three second-row seats (the central one is right down the bottom so you may need an extension strap for some child seats). The third-row seats don't have any top tether or ISOFix anchors. I managed to fit three child seats across the second row of seats two forward-facing and a rear-facing, legroom was very 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.
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