Are you looking for a comfortable and affordable family SUV that can fit three child or baby seats in the back?
Lots of cars will carry a total of three child seats, but only a select few are large enough to cope with three child or baby seats across the rear bench.
In the UK, it’s the driver’s legal responsibility to ensure that all children under 12-year-old or 135cm are in a child seat that’s suitable and safely installed. That’s why we’ve searched the market to find the best five SUVs for carrying three child seats across the rear seats.
You should also read our pick of the Best cars for three child seats, the Best MPVs for three child seats, Best EVs for three child seats. Once you have a child seat in mind, our Car Seat Chooser will show you which seats will fit your car.
Audi Q7
Year launched: 2015
Large, luxurious and capable of carrying three Isofix child seats across the second row, the Audi Q7 is a practical and stylish SUV.
Few cars come close to matching the Q7 for family car useability. The interior is vast and will comfortably fit seven large adults. Each of the middle-row chairs slides and reclines independently, while the outer seats tip and tumble to provide access to the third row. You can also fold the rearmost seats flat into the floor, which means you get a large boot that will swallow pushchairs, buggies and large suitcases.
The majority of buyers choose their Q7 with 3.0-litre V6 diesel-power. Powerful petrol engines and a potent V8 diesel are also available, but we’d stick with the standard V6 to get the best balance between performance and fuel costs. The Q7 is good to drive, with responsive steering and good body control over rough road surfaces. For the best comfort, we’d recommend buying the Q7 with air suspension.
Volvo XC90
Year launched: 2015
The Volvo XC90 is a large and plush seven-seat SUV that delivers class-leading comfort and safety. All models will carry three child seats across the middle, but only the outer seats in the second row have Isofix points - meaning you’ll have to buckle the middle child seat in with the seat belt.
As a premium family SUV, the XC90 is very difficult to fault. The interior is large, well-made and extremely comfortable. All three middle-row seats can be slid, reclined or folded independently, which means access to the third row of seats is easy for children and older adults. Standard equipment is very high, too, with leather seats, climate control and touchscreen infotainment fitted to every model.
Despite its colossal size, the XC90 is easy to drive. The speed-sensitive steering is light at low speeds but responsive as you increase the vehicle’s momentum. The XC90 is offered with a comprehensive choice of petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains. All models are quiet and refined on-the-road, which means the XC90 has a tendency to waft you (and your family along) with hushed silence. As a family-friendly seven-seater, we rate the XC90 as the best there is.
Peugeot 5008
Year launched: 2017
The Peugeot 5008 started life as a van-like MPV family car that prioritised space and practicality over style and luxury. However, in 2017, the 5008 was reborn as a smart seven-seat SUV.
Despite its redesign, the 5008 majors on space and practicality. This means you get lots of head and legroom, with three separate seats in the second row that recline, fold and slide. Each middle seat has an Isofix mount and top tether points that make it easy to fasten three child seats. The third-row has top tether points but no Isofix mounts, so these can only be used with seat belt-secured child seats.
The 5008 is available with a 1.5-litre diesel or 1.2-litre petrol engine, the former a good all-rounder for performance and fuel economy. However, if you need a large SUV-like bus for the school run, the three-cylinder petrol is better for short urban journeys.
Citroen C5 Aircross
Year launched: 2019
The Citroen C5 Aircross is a large and quirky SUV that majors on comfort and practicality. We particularly like the interior, which has three individual rear seats and a large boot that will cope with everything your family can throw at it.
You Isofix mounts for the two outer rear seats, plus two top tether points for these. The three rear seats all slide back and forwards independently, too. Although you can't use an Isofix seat in the centre rear seat, you can fit one using the seatbelt.
Unlike some of its rivals, the C5 Aircross doesn’t pretend to be a sporty car. The handling is soft and comfort-orientated, which means the suspension will soak up the lumps and bumps in the road without passing any unpleasant rattles or movements to the cabin.
Land Rover Discovery
Year launched: 2017
If you want a rugged SUV with true off-road potential then the Land Rover Discovery will be the car for you. Great to drive and backed by Land Rover’s proven 4x4 technology, the Discovery is one of the most rounded seven-seaters you get.
All versions of the Discovery will carry three child seats across the middle row of seats with three Isofix mounting points. There is plenty of head and legroom in the rear, too. The third row will also accommodate two large adults, without too many complaints.
The Discovery is offered with petrol and diesel engines - most cars on the second-hand market will be powered by the latter. The petrol option isn’t bad, by any means, but the higher running costs - 25mpg - makes it limited to car drivers who only use their cars for short distances that don’t justify diesel-power.
The Audi Q7 is capable of carrying three child or baby seats across the second row. All models get three Isofix anchor points in the second bench, which means you can carry three child seats in a row.
It is the responsibility of the vehicle driver to ensure all passengers aged 14 and under are using the correct child seat or seat belt. A child must use a suitable child car seat until they're 12 years old or 135 centimetres tall, whichever comes first. Children over 12 or more than 135cm tall must wear a seat belt.
It depends how old the children are, but as the best all round family SUV, the Skoda Kodiaq is hard to beat with masses of space, a huge boot and lots of Skoda's 'Simply Clever' features dotted throughout.
