I see all these posts on here about people being crazy for buying an SUV just because they had kids....but now I kind of get why it might be a good idea. When I got pregnant we had no plans on changing up our vehicles. We have a 2007 Subaru Legacy (mine) and a 2013 4 door Toyota Tacoma (his). We were incredibly surprised to find that my car was impossible to drive with two infant seats in the back. The front and passenger seats had to be so far forward that I couldn't actually drive the vehicle or have a passenger for that matter. I'm 5'9" so taller than average (husband is 6'2'')...but a person would literally need to be 5'2'' to drive my Legacy with the seat like that. We couldn't pull the trigger on a different vehicle at that time because all of the baby expenses were pretty overwhelming to us. I just purchased new convertible carseats that will be rear facing for as long as possible (5X safer than forward facing) and they're just as huge as the infant seats front to back.
Now, 8 months later, I'm driving my husband's truck with the babies and he drives the Subaru. The babies fit in the truck fine but it's not ideal now that winter is approaching. I need somewhere to put the giant double stroller and in the back where it gets snowed on really isn't ideal. I suggested to my husband that we could get a topper for the truck (I don't know how much those are but definitely cheaper than a new vehicle). He's been looking at them but isn't excited about them.
If I had my way we would sell the truck and get an SUV that better meets our needs. I suggested this to my husband and he isn't budging. He loves his truck and we saved for 10 years before finally getting a new vehicle (I realize not entirely mustacian but we aren't as hardcore as some on here). I don't really want a truck and an SUV...two expensive to maintain and insure vehicles. It would make more sense to trade the truck. Help!
Funny story.
I have a very good friend who has a little boy. She and her husband "take turns" getting cars. Her 1993 Honda Civic lived a very long time (in fact someone else still is driving it!). Her husband had an old Jeep. She upgraded to a RAV4 when she was pregnant.
Fast forward a few years. When her son is 2 she gets pregnant with twins! She says "I need a new car, my RAV won't be big enough." First, I suggested she check to see if she could fit 3 Diono radians. (She's 5'1", so there was less of an issue with leg room). However, I'd already done research, and knew that many of these "SUVs" aren't actually configured well for 3 car seats across. So before you do anything, for sure check car seat forums.
I told her "Time to get the minivan!" She said "no, it's hubby's turn for a car, not mine. He will NOT get a minivan." So, they traded in his Jeep for an Explorer with the third row.
Months go by and I don't see her (which is sad, I know, but we were both in the throes of motherhood. My younger child is less than a year older than her twins.) I stop by to drop off some baby clothing, and what do I see? A Toyota Sienna in her driveway.
So of course I tease her about it. "I told you to get the minivan!" She said "MM, it was awful. With the two baby seats in the car, the ONLY way to get our son in his carseat was through the back/ trunk. It was too hard to do that."
In any event, I kept my 2nd child rear facing for...eh...1.5 years I think. Maybe closer to two? Longer than *most* of my friends thought that I should. I eventually switched him because he kept kicking his brother in the face. The rear facing convertible seat was in the center - was the only way it fit into our small cars. Note that there are different convertible seats. I have used several Britax that work well, but the Diono Radians are REALLY tall and hard to fit.
So, that said - if you have two rear facing seats, they will be behind the driver's seats and passenger seats. You will need to have length in the car. Your honest best bet for space is a minivan, not an SUV. There are some SUVs that may work, but they tend to be the larger ones, which get worse gas mileage compared to a minivan. There *may* be some cars like station wagons that could work. Or, perhaps, a "full size" car like a Camry or Sonata or ...? Think cars with leg room in the back.
My friends with twins or multiple kids in carseats have gone with minivans. We made do without, but our boys are 6 years apart, so we could swing the rear facing seat in the center with a backless booster for short trips, and rear facing behind my seat (because I'm 5'2") for longer trips.