I have a Volvo XC90 and currently two kids - 3rd is on the way and I don't know the safest / best way to put in the carseats...3 across might be tight - could it work? Is the 3rd row seat OK for a toddler carseat? (I have a 3 year old and a 1 year old now).

I'd appreciate any information you might have or resources to go to - does not directly say in the owner's manual (as I also read in another Oct post)....

Thanks!

Hi momtobe3.

I thought that the XC90 second row centre seat had an in-built pull-out booster in it, that would accommodate a nearly 4 year old (if 15kg or over)? Both second row outer seats should have Isofix mountings between the bench cushion & the seat back, suitable for infant/child seats with Isofix fastenings.

Otherwise yes, the 3rd row should be suitable for an infant/child seat, best to check your owner's handbook to confirm this.

BB
:57:

Oh, so the Volvo has IsoFix and not LATCH?

Will two car seats fit in the back row or is it too narrow?

Certainly UK models have Isofix & I'd be surprised if US specification differed in this respect - a look in the original sales brochure, your owner's manual or a call to your local dealer should confirm this.

Isofix is mentioned as being present in the following UK link: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/crashtest/car/149/

Regarding width of the third row of seats, there should be room for 2 infant/child seats, since Volvo claim on their UK site that "two passengers up to 160 cm (I guess that's 5' 4" tall) ride as safely and comfortably here as in any other seat...children from the age of three to about ten should be seated on a booster cushion and wearing a safety belt."

Again, stressing that it is from Volvo's UK site, regarding the second row centre integrated booster cushion they say it "helps position a child from the age of three up to ten (15-36 kg) at the correct height for the safety belt to function effectively. It is so easy to raise and lower that the child can do it him or herself. The seat has extra forward adjustment so a child sitting on the booster cushion is closer to the adults in the front. And to provide added legroom for the child, simply remove the rear section of the centre console."

Hope this helps momtobe3. I know how cautious I was about my 2 kids' safety in cars, back in the days when on older models you had to drill holes in the floorpan to secure child seats to!

BB
:thumbsup:

Okay, so I got the user manual yesterday and realized I was mixing terminologies. The second row has tether points for all three positions, but only has LATCH/IsoFix anchor points in the two outside positions.

LATCH and IsoFix both use the same anchors at the base of the seat. LATCH adds the use of the top tether

The third row does not have LATCH or IsoFix connects at all - only a standard seat belt. (I didn't see anything in the manual about installing car seats in the third row.) If you want LATCH connections for the third row, then you will have to go with something like a Honda Pilot.

I think I should also point out to momtobe3 that mounting car seats in the two oustide positions of the second row, makes the third row inaccessible - unless you want to remove a car seat each time you need to slide the second row forward.

If one of your children can use the middle seat built in booster, then you best bet is to go three-across the second row and use the back row for storage.