I’m thinking about switching from my Mazda CX9 to the Ford Explorer. The main problem I’ve had with my Mazda is that the third row is pretty much impossible to get to with my kids in their car seats in the second row (both forward facing). Plus, the middle seat is too tight for most adults to sit comfortably.
Here’s an idea… fold one of the 3rd-row seats down and let the kid get in through the back.
Sterling said:
Here’s an idea… fold one of the 3rd-row seats down and let the kid get in through the back.
That’s how we do it too!
The Explorer is pretty similar to what you’re describing, at least for my version (5th generation, 2015). With two car seats in place, there might be enough room for a kid around 10 years old to squeeze through, but that’s about it. The only way to access the third row would be to climb over the second row. If you go for captain’s chairs in the second row, you might be able to walk between to get to the third row. The CX9 and the Explorer are about the same size.
The best bet would probably be a vehicle that lets the second row fold forward with a car seat still in place. The Nissan Pathfinder and Grand Cherokee L have this feature, where the second row can fold and move forward, making it easier to access the third row. Car reviewer Alex on Autos (his Auto Buyers Guide channel) talks about this when reviewing three-row SUVs. For the Explorer, though, it doesn’t let you fold the second-row seats with the car seat still in place. You’d have to move the seats forward and climb between the captain’s chairs to access the third row. It’s fine for kids, but it’s a bit harder for adults. The Pathfinder and Grand Cherokee L are much easier for this.
I’ve got the captain’s chairs. Depending on the brand of car seats, it’s a tight squeeze to get through, but a kid can probably manage, especially if the front seats aren’t pushed all the way back. I can’t imagine it’d be super comfy though. Once you’re out of the car seat phase, the captain’s chairs are great. As an adult, I definitely have to fold the seats to get into the back, but it’s possible for kids under high school age to crawl through. If you only have two kids, it’s been a solid vehicle. If you have three or more, the middle row gets tough with car seats until they’re old enough for boosters. We always took all our stuff on test drives to see how the family would do with it.
My sister has two car seats in the second row, and she can still get people into the third row in her 2018 Explorer without much trouble. I think she has the bench seat though.
I have captain’s chairs in the second row with two forward-facing car seats, and I regularly climb into the third row from the front passenger seat to help with whatever the kids need, like picking up a toy that fell or anything they can’t wait for until we’re home.
With captain’s chairs in the second row, it’s definitely doable. If it’s a teenager or adult, you might need to move the front seat forward a little to get around, but it’s still manageable.