3 kids
 

Hi

Can the X5 accomodate three kids? I am thinking of buying a 2005 one, which does not have 3 rows (not that the 3rd row is big).

My configuration would be one 6 year old, one 3 year old and one infant. So one Britax car seat, one booster seat and one graco seat turned backwards.

Can two car seats and one booster fit in the back? How about 3 car seats across?

Thanks!

Yes! it can fit 3 car seats in your back seat.
I have 2 car seats in my X5 now . Between the two car seats, there is still plenty room there!!!

That might be an exaggeration :)

The back seat is very wide, you can seat them, however cargo space is limited .

Really? I thought it has a pretty decent cargo space. I mean they can fint a 3rd row on it.

My other car for consideration is Sequioa. Obviusly a different type of a vechicle, bigger, but terrible on gas and not a BMW. I have an 3 series and it rides so well even after 7 years of ownership.

As much as I love my X (and thats alot), as far as space, it is little more than a 5-series wagon. 3 across the rear is not only tight, but your kids will have little on the side of personal space (especially with a Britax, which are huge), and no adult can sit back there to assist.

Of your two choices, I think you ae better off with the Sequoia, or an E70 with a 3rd row.

i would do the sequoia - or my fav - the nissan armada

I don't see why it wouldn't work. The 6 year old could be in the middle and the seat would use a regular seat belt for mounting. The 3 year old would be on one side and depending on their weight they could use the LATCH points. The infant on the other side in a seat using the LATCH points. The 6 year old would have to do a little climbing to get in and out, but that's about it. They should be familiar enough to belt themselves up properly. The other 2 would need assistance and so should probably be on the sides as I mentioned before.

Don't forget to have the side door airbags deactivated if you have them. Also don't forget to attach the car seat tethers properly (so many people seem to skip these for some reason). Good luck (and congratulations!).

I have two in boosters and just tried today to sit a reverse facing infant seat between them. Way tight....Go the Yoda route. For two kids its fine. Room to put stuff in the middle for them and so forth. If you have any ideas of taking vacations in this vehicle you pick, you will need to consider something bigger. Again, like the toyota.

Just my 02.......

I'm not sure what you mean by the "Yoda route." In any case I have a buddy with a suburban and 3 kids in forward facing car seats (not boosters) and it's super tight on that back seat too. You could try buying a narrower car seat (Britax just introduced one). But otherwise I'd be surprised if you could find a car wide enough to easily accomodate 3 car seats.