X5 storage space with third row seats

[3Series]

Nope.

The seats ar smaller, the space is narrower and has less padding. But interesting idea.....

[SBB]

I also have the 3rd row and it works great for the kids, we only use it when we have more than 4 people in the car. Love the flexibility and the back seats separating and moving back and forth.

[NOX 3.2]

I don't know if they come standard or not, but when I ordered the rear climate control, my 3rd row seats also came with AC/Heat vents between the seats. that's great if you are seating back there...

[SBB]

I don't have the rear climate package but I do have the 3rd row vents, and I agree those are great when you are "cuddled up" back there.

[MRV99]

I had/have the third row option in my 07, 11, 12 and it is very handy. The space is small but It is mainly for kids. A full car seat will not fit but a booster seat with the back will just fine. I had a full car with luggage one time for a short 20 min trip and it saved us huge, 3 adults and 5 kids plus suitcases...

Some scenarios which I never thought would happen but was saved by the third row.

We were at Ikea and the wife had to have some book case(70 inches long) for the kids play room. I put one kind in the third row, one kid in the second, folded down 1/2 the seats and every thing fit like a glove.

Boys would not stop fighting in the back seat (45min left in the trip). Just pulled over, threw one in the third row, and BOOYA no more fighting.

[Spanky Deluxe]

Thanks everyone for all the feedback, really appreciated!

We'd be buying a second hand X5 so the cost premium for it isn't nearly as dear as on a new one. It wouldn't be for regular use but might add a bit of flexibility. For example, if we're going skiing with say 12 people in three cars but at the last minute one car can't go anymore then we could still squeeze all the people into a regular car and a seven seater or if we want to squeeze an extra person in on a trip. My fiancée and pretty much all her friends are short anyway, 5'2" etc.

The loss of a spare wheel seems to be the only real downside that I'd care about since I did have a tire blow out on our X3 a few years ago but that was because the previous owner put old tyres on the car.