Captiva SUV to seat 7?

I wasn't sure were to put this one so mods please feel free to move if necessary.

DH and I are currently looking at buying the Captiva Holden SUV to accomodate our growing family needs. Although we only have 2 kids now, we anticipate a 3rd in the not too distant future and often give lifts to grandparents, other kids etc so would like the option of a 7 seater. Plus we would appreciate the ample boot space when back seats are not in use for a pram etc.

Anyone have this car, or have any advice/recommendations - for or against?

Cheers.

Interesting as we have also spoken about buying a Captiva also.

We have a friend who has one and they have 2 girls, and a phil and ted pram she said with seats folded down pram fits in fine and can stack stuff up on top of pram if need be if going away. Not as easy when back seats are in use as very little boot room.

Someone I know has one and said that they are very limited in space when you uses the 3rd row of seats....

:)
Good Luck
xx

We've had our Captiva for nearly three years and love it. Comfy, easy to drive - love it, love it, love it :D.

We've only used it in 7-seat mode a couple of times (tho with the imminent arrival of bub #2 it will be used more regularly in this mode), and I'd go along with the comments about boot space when the back seats are up. Yes, it is limited, but we did have room for our son's stroller plus a couple of bags. Also, there's a bit of space on the floor behind the two front seats if your kids legs aren't too long!

However ... when I got our baby capsule fitted last week, the ambo fitter wouldn't put it in the middle because the seat belt clasp (for middle seat) isn't flush against the edge of the seat iykwim. It's an inch or so "inside" the edge of the seat, which would effectively push the seat further over into the third seat. Hope this makes sense. This could cause a prob potentially with three baby/child seats. Two seats behind the driver/passenger are just fine but there isn't much room for anyone to sit in between them, let alone a third capsule/car seat.

HTH.

Andie

We bought a Captiva when Jett arrived. It doesn't have the boot space of a station wagon eg Holden Commodore or the power but it really is a nice easy family car to drive. I love the fact that those 2 back seats are flush with the floor so while they aren't in use the space isn't compromised. We have a Phil&Teds Vibe pram and it fits in one half of the boot while the labrador sits on the other side - plenty of room!!

When the back seats are up there isn't room for the pram or the dog - but it would fit a stroller and a few bags without too much issue.

You wouldn't fit 3 full sized child seats in the back, but by the time you have your 3rd, perhaps your eldest would just need a foam booster seat which will go in the back row without any dramas. And if you get slimline car seats you could probably fit someone small in the middle seat.

To be perfectly honest if you want a 7 seater to fit everyone equally as comfortable then you are probably better off with a Tarago van. But if the car is really for 5 people with the occasional extras then the Captiva can certainly meet your needs. Plus the Captiva is good value for what you are getting with the money you are paying.

Thanks heaps for the feedback. My only niggling concern is that we buy the car - and then do something accidentally radical like conceive twins a year or so down the track! As there are no anchor points in the back 2 seats, we probably would need all 3 middle seats to be taken up with car seats......until DS1 is out of a booster, at least. Mmmmm.... I definitely hear where you are coming from mummytummy re: the tarago van (DH and I have discussed this), as we only want to make 1 car purchase for the next 10 years or so. Although I'd feel a little silly driving around in such a large vehicle now with only 2 kids - (ie: before the need presents itself).
Mmm... probably leaning toward the Captiva.. :doh:

Once your first child is old enough he can go in to a foam booster seat - that is all they need at that age and they are actually safer than 'proper' structured car seats with 5 point harnesses in the event of an accident. I know that sounds silly but my DH is a registered car seat fitter and has done the training!! So the foam seats are only there to boost your child to a height so that the seatbelt fits, and need no anchor points. He will be fine in the back seats then.

And as for twins.... deal with that if it happens!! :lol:

If you have a larger gap and have older children that do not require a car seat/booster then it is an awesome car - we have the LX and we LOVE IT! but we only have one in a car seat and one in a booster you cannot fit a 3rd car seat across the middle row of seats and it is illegal to use a car seat on the third row of any car as they are collapsible. If you are looking at having children close together then a KIA carnival or tarago is probably a better option as the seats are full size.

Mmm - interesting points there Trillian.

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Seems we have some thinking to do. Its hard to plan for something that involves taking into consideration a child that does not yet exist, but hey - that's forward thinking!!