Unless you can get the swing-out door wide open, it's going to be hard to get that infant seat in and out of the car. Sliding door is the best for the situation.
I was thinking that I could put the older girl in her foward facing seat in a couple of months in the second row, the twins in the back seats and use the non occupied 2nd row seat as the access point for the 3rd row. I use the Combi connection system so the strollers are not quite umbrella size but still pretty compact. I guess I could just go with a double stroller and just carry the older one around until she starts walking.
The new Alphard comes out next weekend and I will be crawling around in that thing with the baby seats.
With the standard Escalade (non ESV), the space behind the 3rd row is disappointing... I think it is smaller than the R class. Manuvering in the SUV is also difficult with the infant seats... step up into the SUV and then twist.. shimmy between the 2nd row seats while ducking and then place the infant seats into place. I was not impressed with the interior space.
I don`t think there is a perfect vehicle for my situation. I have resigned myself to very short trips until the kids get a little older.
So, now I`m getting the feeling that the R class might be doable.
That is what I have done. I have my car seat in one of the 2nd row seats, my older kids in the 3rd row, and use the un-occupied 2nd row seat as the access point. It's the exact same set-up you would have if you got a mini-van. Believe me...I compared them exactly the same. The better point of the R is the ease of entry/exit due to the lower body.
I have been experimenting with the set-up now that my youngest is getting ready to be forward facing at 1 year-old. I will have the car-seat in the passenger 2nd row seat, a booster in the driver side 2nd row, and the car-seat in the 3rd row. With the booster, the seat folds for access easily, and there is no impediment.
You'll get more bells and whistles w/ a van, including the hidden access compartments, etc. But as for cargo room...it's essentially the same.
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2nd place...is just the first loser.
Most of the cargo room behind the 3rd row comes from the recessed area where the 3rd row would fold down flat into. It comes in very handy, groceries and strollers (umbrella & single fold), but you won't fit a double(non-umbrella type) into any of them w/ the 3rd row in place. I tried, the rear hatch won't lock, and will open unexpectedly or you'll get a door open alarm.
Is there some more space? Sure like I said you'll get more storage and bells & whistles. You may even have a few more inches cu. ft. wise, but for all practicallity(sp?) for stroller and multiple kids stuff...it's just about the same in that it just won't fit in either.
I rode in a buddies Sienna yesterday and there is a little more room from the 2nd to 3rd row, but it's maybe about 6 in.'s difference. The biggest difference was the headroom in the 3rd row. However, when I'm taking my boss or know I'll have customers in the car, I've never had any complaints or have seen any problems for people under 6'2" sitting in the 3rd row. Getting out was fun...but that was another story for them.
if this is the primary child hauler, you would be CRAZY to get the R. you will be very unhappy. we have an odyssey and an R. The R doesnt hold even a fraction of what the minivan holds behind the 3rd seat. you can pack luggage for the family for a wknd and a full double mclaren stroller in the ody or sienna behind the 3rd seat. the R wont even hold the luggage let alone the stroller....With the kids in boosters now, we like the R for its road manners and power (both better than the ody), but only for long drives and the 3rd seat has to be folded for storage. The ody holds us and 2 goldens for wknd trips without a problem. With infants, you CANNOT move from the front to the 2d or 3rd rows. In an ody or sienna, you can just about walk back to tend to the kids....with car seats in the 2d row (and thus cant fold the seats), you are forced to squeeze between the center armrests to access the 3rd row.....horrible design and very hard to reach back and strap a 3rd child in. BUT THE PREMIUM MINIVAN. We are getting rid of the minivan soon in favor of a yukon xl but have never regreted the 5 years and 60k miles that we have driven it....it is nearly perfect with young kids....while the R500 is not nearly as convenient and not worth $60k, it was worth the $42k it sold for at the end of 2007 and is a very good backup family hauler. For skiing, 2 young children and 2 dogs, the new yukon Xl IS the car of choice....
For what it's worth, I'll throw my two cents in (again):
I drove vans (Chryslers and Fords) for 17 years with two kids (babies through to teens) and a dog. While I absolutely adore my R, I would not get one if I had two or more babies. Despite what anyone can tell you about "apparent" space, the total capacity of a van far outstrips the volume of the R.
You will get a LOT more gear into a van. Simple as that.
having a mini and the R was sort of the best of both worlds with infants and then toddlers. although now that the ody is 5 yrs old and the kids can get in/out easier, i m more than ready to ditch the ody in favor of a yukon XL.
Actually in the sienna you could take a graco side-by-side double stroller and a regular stroller no problem in the back, you could even keep the regular stroller open and fit it with the double folded! The rear of the Sienna/T&C and the Odyssey is HUGE. The other minivans are smaller. There are 3 size classes. And the T&C and Sienna have AWD options,.
I agree. The Odyssey and the Sienna have more room than the R.
I know nobody wants to be in any car accident but which one is safer in a car accident though?
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