We are a family of 5 - 3 kids (6 and under).
Currently we drive a Mazda MPV, with 3 rows of seats - so we have 1 of the middle seats rolled up and our two oldest climb in through the gap and our smallest is in the one remaining middle seat. We are rapidly realising that the MPV, is woefully underpowered, and the whole 3 row configuration doesn't work for us as a family. Getting into the back through sliding doors to do kids seat belts up isn't easy. There is NO boot space for stuff, lie a pushchair in the boot and that's pretty much it. Plus I've read the MPV isn't the safest vehicle out there in a crash and there isn't much of a crumple zone if someone was to drive into the back of us.
So we are reassessing our options.
Before we had the third munchkin we had a station wagon, and that worked quite well - loads of boot space, you can pile up with kids stuff.
So we are thinking of doing something similar this time. Perhaps a Station Wagon putting our oldest on a booster in the middle and a car seat either side. But its pretty hard to find a station wagon wide enough to fit three in a row. I've seen the Passat R36 seems wide enough and with decent performance to match could be an option.
Has anyone else got any vehicle recommendations for three across the back? With plenty of room for kids "stuff"...?