12/01/2025
Okay hear me out!! Captain chairs/bucket seats can be super convenient for some families- But don’t assume captains are always the most functional.
TLDR: Pros of a bench
-Easier loading/buckling
-An extra seat
-A spot for a parent to ride next to child
-More trunk space
A lot of families opt for a captain chairs for “third row access” but as you can see with car seats that makes difficult. Having a child in the third row also makes buckling more difficult if they can’t do it themselves. This example reel features a Hyundai Palisade and the buckling wasn’t to bad but also consider I’m very tall. Larger cars can make this more difficult!
And finally using the third row daily means limited trunk space. As a mom of 3 I’ve never seen a car with “too much” trunk. I’ve toured every midsize SUV out there and the trunk space with third row up is always to small. Having a bench seat allows you to put down the entire third row for more trunk space.
FAQ; Can’t I just put down half the third row? Yes- but it’s not recommended. Putting down a portion of the third row and then filling the trunk with projectiles is incredibly dangerous especially for the child in the third row.
Different stages come with different needs! My only hope is that this post empowers you to make the best decision for your family!
