Modern car seats mean kids are much safer in an accident – but finding a car that fits at least three child seats can be challenging.
We’ve chosen our 10 favourite cars that fit three car seats. All choices have at least three Isofix mounts, although it's a good idea to arrange a test drive and take your particular car seats with you to check they fit.
Many of these cars are available as nearly new or used cars from Motorpoint.
Peugeot 5008
The 5008 is the largest car in Peugeot’s lineup and one of its best. Recent versions still have seven seats, but they've dropped down to two Isofix points. Meanwhile, older 5008s, like the one shown here, have three separate seats on its second row, each with a separate Isofix point. The wide rear doors mean there’s easy access to manoeuvre kids into place, while adult passengers on the second row will appreciate the individually sliding and reclining chairs. Where the 5008 really stands out, however, is in the cabin. You’ll find plush materials, eye-catching design and the brand’s distinctive small steering wheel, which makes light work of manoeuvring.
View used Peugeot 5008 cars or read our review of the new Peugeot 5008
Audi Q7
If you have a decent budget to play with, consider the premium Audi Q7. This sizeable SUV is the practical sibling to the sportier Q8 and features a spacious seven-seater cabin. What’s more, the second row has three separate rear seats, each with its own Isofix mounting point – something its direct rivals from Mercedes and BMW miss out on. The tall cabin and wide door openings make access to the back easy and the boot is simply enormous if you fold down the sixth and seventh seats.
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Mercedes GLB
Plenty of seven-seat SUVs are big and heavy, making them feel a little unwieldy on tight city streets. At just over 4.6 metres long, however, the Mercedes GLB is remarkably compact for a car with three rows of seats – shorter even than Mercedes' CLA four-door coupe. The third row is pretty tight, so your adult passengers won't want to sit back there for long, but you get four isofix points shared between the second and third rows. That means you can secure your two bulkiest child seats in the middle row, and your most compact seat in the third row. Plus, being based on Mercedes' smallest front-wheel-drive platform means the GLB achieves decent performance and economy from modestly sized engines.
Shop used Mercedes GLB cars or read our Mercedes GLB review
Citroen Berlingo
You'll spot a few MPVs based on vans in this list. These are usually the most affordable way to transport three child seats without shelling out for a massive SUV. Thankfully, cars like the Citroen Berlingo hide their commercial roots quite well, with plenty of interior tech borrowed from Citroen's regular road cars. You also have the availability of smooth turbo petrol and fully electric powertrains, rather than clattery diesel engines. The Berlingo features three Isofix points across the second row. As a result, you might need to select a slimline child seat for the central position to avoid interfering with bulkier child seats on either side.
See used Citroen Berlingo cars for sale
Volkswagen Caddy Maxi
The Volkswagen Caddy Maxi is one of the first models to come out of the Ford-VW commercial vehicle tie-up. As a result, you'll find a similar experience across this model and the related Ford Tourneo Connect. Its platform might be shared with a van but the Caddy drives just like a big hatchback, with none of the hard-sprung bounciness you find in some commercial vehicles. You'll find four separate Isofix points in the Caddy Maxi – two on the outer second-row seats, and two in the third row. The boot remains fairly large, even with all seats in place, so you should be able to squeeze a few pushchairs in there.
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Vauxhall Combo Life
The Vauxhall Combo Life is another affordable van-based choice that's perfect if you need to carry lots of child seats on a tight budget. It's based on the same platform as the Citroen Berlingo and Peugeot Rifter, but has a slightly more stripped back look. This helps keep the Combo Life's cost down – for example, we found an 18-month-old example at Motorpoint with more than £15,000 off its purchase price. Newer versions are electric only, while you'll find petrol and diesel examples if you search the used market. Like its platform mates, its three Isofix points are all across the second row, so you'll need a smaller child seat for the central position.
Search used Vauxhall Combo Life cars for sale
Citroen Grand C4 Spacetourer
If your budget is a little tighter, the Citroen Grand C4 Spacetourer offers fantastic value, especially since it's only available on the used market. Unlike many similarly sized family MPVs, the Citroen offers three separate rear seats on the second row – each with Isofix points. That means you can fit three child seats across one row, allowing the whole family to appreciate the Grand C4 Spacetourer’s quirky styling and pillowy soft ride quality. Grand C4 Spacetourers also gain a small third row for more passenger-carrying ability, or you can fold them down for a big boot.
Shop used Citroen Grand C4 Spacetourer for sale
Hyundai Santa Fe
If the Hyundai Santa Fe was a building, Kevin McCloud would be standing next to it talking about artisan windows and an overly ambitious Christmas deadline. Actually, the Santa Fe could double up as a building – it's massive and comes in a terracotta brick colour. Hyundai's largest engine-powered in the UK car comes with seven seats as standard, with Isofix points on the second and third rows. A pair of hybrid engines are available, both with enough power to get this big bus up to speed, and decent fuel economy so you're not matching a Porsche for petrol money. Prefer diesel? You'll need to opt for the related Kia Sorento.
Browse used Hyundai Santa Fe cars or read our Hyundai Santa Fe review
Land Rover Discovery
The Land Rover Discovery became an iconic family car almost from the moment it launched in 1989. While you don’t get three separate seats on the second row, you do have five total Isofix points – one in the front passenger seat, two on the outer second-row seats, and two on each third-row seat. Plus, there’s so much room in the interior, you don’t need to be a contortionist to secure your child in their seat. Once out on the open road – or off it – the Discovery impresses with a wafty, comfortable ride and go-anywhere 4x4 ability.
Check out used Land Rover Discovery cars for sale
Peugeot Rifter
While the 5008 above is stylish, it’s not the cheapest option for buyers needing lots of space. To get a practical, stylish Peugeot on a smaller budget, take a look at the Rifter MPV. It borrows its practical platform from the Citroen Berlingo and Vauxhall Combo Life, and fits it with either five or seven seats. This means loads of passenger and cargo space, and three separate second-row seats. The styling is more rough and ready than the handsome 5008, but you still get plenty of premium equipment from Peugeot’s car range.
Take a look at used Peugeot Rifter cars
Chosen the child-hauler for you?
Browse Motorpoint’s enormous selection of nearly new and used cars. For more great choices, see our favourite nearly new SUVs or our favourite family hatchbacks.
