This post is part of my first year with twins recap. Over the last 12 months, I have had the twins in a variety of cars and suvs. This is how the vehicles I tried out fared with 2 infant seats.
Mazda5 with 2 infant seats installed with base
Rear Seat configuration: 2 rows of captains' chairs
Access to 3rd row: The infant seats had to be removed to access the 3rd row.
In Car Feeding: Required contorting myself, balancing on the armrest and feeding the babies. Not comfortable at all
Comfort of 3rd row: Not comfortable for anyone taller than 5ft
Cargo capacity: Good with the third row down. This is my everyday car and it easily handles one double stroller, one single stroller and a cart full of groceries. With the third row up, it can handle the groceries but not the strollers
Mazda3 with 2 infant seats
Rear Seat configuration: 1 bench row. With infant seats installed, the front seats became uncomfortable for anyone taller than 5'5 (I'm 5'6). Probably could have got that extra inch if I used the infant seats without the base
Cargo capacity: The trunk of the Mazda 3 is actually quite sizeable for a compact car. and could comfortably take a single stroller and groceries. This was my pre-mommy, red, hot, sporty car. I tried to drive with the seats installed because I really loved this car, but it was impossible.
Buick Enclave with 2 infant seats
Rear Seat configuration: 2nd row captains' chairs and bench 3rd row
Access to 3rd row: The infant seats had to be removed to access the 3rd row but it was possible to walk down the aisle from the front passenger seat to the back
In Car Feeding: Even though the car was spacious, sitting in the third row and stretching bottles to the second row was not comfortable at all
Comfort of 3rd row: Very comfortable for adults
Cargo capacity: Good with the third row down. This was the car we rented for our first vacation
Nissan Rogue with 2 infant seats (No base used)
Rear Seat configuration: 1 bench row
In Car Feeding: The most comfortable of all the cars. I was able to sit between the two carseats and feed the babies, just like I would do at home
Cargo capacity: Just managed to squeeze 2 carryon suitcases and a single stroller in. This was the rental for our second vacation
Mercedes Benz R-Class with 2 infant seats
Rear Seat configuration: 2 rows of captains' chairs
Access to 3rd row: Easy. I actually installed the infant seats in the 3rd row with little discomfort
Comfort of 3rd row: Great
Cargo capacity: Didn't look like much. This was a car we test-drove in Carmax
Chevy Tahoe with 2 infant seats
Rear Seat configuration: 2 rows of bench seats
Access to 3rd row: Not great for an SUV this size
Comfort of 3rd row: Not comfortable for anyone taller than 4ft
Cargo capacity: Ok with the third row down, very poor with third row up. This was a rental that I kept for 5 minutes before driving back to request a change. This car was a major disappointment considering it's external size.
Dodge Grand Caravan with 2 infant seats (No base)
Rear Seat configuration: 1 row of captains' chairs and 1 bench row
Access to 3rd row: The infant seats had to be removed to access the 3rd row but the middle aisle was very generous for a walk from the front passanger seat
Comfort of 3rd row: Good
Cargo capacity: One word describes this - IMPRESSIVE! This was the car that we used to the Houston airport for our move. With the third row down, we packed 2 single strollers, 7 suitcases and 3 carryon bags AND still had room. I honestly could not believe that
Ford Explorer with 2 infant seats (No Base Used)
Cargo capacity: This was the rental car from when we landed Calgary. It could not do as good a job as the Grand Caravan with the same amount of luggage - 2 single strollers, 7 suitcases and 3 carryon bags. We had to squeeze some items behind the front row seats
Final Notes: The seats used were the Chicco Keyfit30 which can be purchased here
Disclosure of Material Connection: (Because the government said so)
Mazda5 with 2 infant seats installed with base
Rear Seat configuration: 2 rows of captains' chairs
Access to 3rd row: The infant seats had to be removed to access the 3rd row.
In Car Feeding: Required contorting myself, balancing on the armrest and feeding the babies. Not comfortable at all
Comfort of 3rd row: Not comfortable for anyone taller than 5ft
Cargo capacity: Good with the third row down. This is my everyday car and it easily handles one double stroller, one single stroller and a cart full of groceries. With the third row up, it can handle the groceries but not the strollers
Mazda3 with 2 infant seats
Rear Seat configuration: 1 bench row. With infant seats installed, the front seats became uncomfortable for anyone taller than 5'5 (I'm 5'6). Probably could have got that extra inch if I used the infant seats without the base
Cargo capacity: The trunk of the Mazda 3 is actually quite sizeable for a compact car. and could comfortably take a single stroller and groceries. This was my pre-mommy, red, hot, sporty car. I tried to drive with the seats installed because I really loved this car, but it was impossible.
Buick Enclave with 2 infant seats
Rear Seat configuration: 2nd row captains' chairs and bench 3rd row
Access to 3rd row: The infant seats had to be removed to access the 3rd row but it was possible to walk down the aisle from the front passenger seat to the back
In Car Feeding: Even though the car was spacious, sitting in the third row and stretching bottles to the second row was not comfortable at all
Comfort of 3rd row: Very comfortable for adults
Cargo capacity: Good with the third row down. This was the car we rented for our first vacation
Nissan Rogue with 2 infant seats (No base used)
Rear Seat configuration: 1 bench row
In Car Feeding: The most comfortable of all the cars. I was able to sit between the two carseats and feed the babies, just like I would do at home
Cargo capacity: Just managed to squeeze 2 carryon suitcases and a single stroller in. This was the rental for our second vacation
Mercedes Benz R-Class with 2 infant seats
Rear Seat configuration: 2 rows of captains' chairs
Access to 3rd row: Easy. I actually installed the infant seats in the 3rd row with little discomfort
Comfort of 3rd row: Great
Cargo capacity: Didn't look like much. This was a car we test-drove in Carmax
Chevy Tahoe with 2 infant seats
Rear Seat configuration: 2 rows of bench seats
Access to 3rd row: Not great for an SUV this size
Comfort of 3rd row: Not comfortable for anyone taller than 4ft
Cargo capacity: Ok with the third row down, very poor with third row up. This was a rental that I kept for 5 minutes before driving back to request a change. This car was a major disappointment considering it's external size.
Dodge Grand Caravan with 2 infant seats (No base)
Rear Seat configuration: 1 row of captains' chairs and 1 bench row
Access to 3rd row: The infant seats had to be removed to access the 3rd row but the middle aisle was very generous for a walk from the front passanger seat
Comfort of 3rd row: Good
Cargo capacity: One word describes this - IMPRESSIVE! This was the car that we used to the Houston airport for our move. With the third row down, we packed 2 single strollers, 7 suitcases and 3 carryon bags AND still had room. I honestly could not believe that
Ford Explorer with 2 infant seats (No Base Used)
Cargo capacity: This was the rental car from when we landed Calgary. It could not do as good a job as the Grand Caravan with the same amount of luggage - 2 single strollers, 7 suitcases and 3 carryon bags. We had to squeeze some items behind the front row seats
Final Notes: The seats used were the Chicco Keyfit30 which can be purchased here
Disclosure of Material Connection: (Because the government said so)
I, Have no material connection with the products or services mentioned
Have affiliate links in the post but my opinions are my own and not paid
