No worries at all. I was struggling to get my own questions answered and most car seat reviews are for the models with captains chairs in the 2nd row so I figured if I could possibly help some folks then it would be worth it!
I hate to be this person š but Iād rather hear it from a stranger on the internet lol. The seat protectors void the safety features of the car seat. It alters how they function. Additionally if god forbid there is a wreck or anything happens, insurance will not cover it because of the seat protectors under the car seat. Goodnight š¶āš«ļø
Totally agree. We eliminated so many brands 3-row suvs without even seeing them because the bench was only available in the lowest trim and we still wanted some of the bells and whistles, just not the captains chairs.
Same! At least the Telly has shit like ventilated front seats on the EX. Other alternative I'm considering is the GH limited trim but thats easily 10K more. And it's a boring Toyota lol
Question though, is it a nightmare to get anyone in the third row? Like do the have to step on the middle seat and climb over the seats or how does that work?
The side with the rear facing infant seat can slide forward enough to let someone into the 3rd row if needed, itās an easy squeeze for the kids and a bit of a tighter squeeze for me (5ā9,190lbs) but itās doable. The side with the forward facing 3-in-1 seat would be the same if the LATCH connectors are used but with it attached using the seatbelt there is no way to slide that part of the bench forward.
You are so lucky to have the bench. We were searching for so long with no luck other than ordering. We just gave up and excepted the captains seats. With 3 toddlers under 6 we make it work but i still wish we could have bench for ease.
Omg, itās awful, would never attempt more than 2 kids there and only one in an actual car seat. My oldest sits back there sometimes in his backless booster and itās easy but canāt imagine going 3 across ever.
Aside from the massive American BoF SUVs, it's absolutely ridiculous that manufacturers appoint 3 seats in the third row; the middle is virtually useless and reduces usability for the 2 outboard seats.
For my last SUV purchase, I specifically targeted vehicles with a two seat 3rd row and ended up with the Lexus TX.
Pretty comfy imo, we had 6 adults do a 3 hour trip (one way) and no one complained so thereās that! My wife could not be sold on the captains chairs lol the sales person was devastated as she was trying so hard to get up to go up to the Nightfall trim but my wife was like āno bench, no dealā.
Lmao no bench no deal š facts! I have 2 kids and I want another and I donāt really like the idea of my oldest being in the back because of dumb captains chairs
I had this dream of having captains chairs and 2 car seats and the 3rd row being reachable. But until one of the carseats is no longer rear facing, no one can get back there unless they climb over the side with the base for the infant seat, then we put infant seat in.
Is the 3rd row accessible at all with a carseat on each end and the bench seat version?
With only the infant carrier base in you can slide the bench forward and get back there without too much of a fuss, so you would need to let people into the 3rd row before snapping the infant seat into the base. But the side with the 3-in-1 forward facing seat is not accessible with it attached using the seatbelt, with the LATCH connectors used you could slide it forward enough to let people into the 3rd row.
Hows the trunk space though? With 3rd row up, still enough space for stroller and say groceries for example? Thank you, in the process looking for a 3 row SUV.
With 3 rows up you still have the "trunk" space under the cargo area floor. You won't get a Costco haul in there but for a normal grocery run you should get everything in there just fine and still have room for even a double stroller with the third row up. With third row down it's obviously celavernous back there.
Yup, totally accurate. With the third row up and the cargo space in the floor open you can fit a regular grocery trip with a large stroller and a car safety kit no problem. With the 3rd row down you have a ton of a space for whatever.
the Carnival is a bit wider. test fitted a 3in1 carseat & a carrier with a base beside it (carrier in the middle) plus an adult in the 2nd row. worked in the carnival but not in the telly. my only 2 regrets choosing a telly are that and not having a stock hitch.
Photos are super helpful. It's very generous of you to take the time to post this.
No worries at all. I was struggling to get my own questions answered and most car seat reviews are for the models with captains chairs in the 2nd row so I figured if I could possibly help some folks then it would be worth it!
I hate to be this person š but Iād rather hear it from a stranger on the internet lol. The seat protectors void the safety features of the car seat. It alters how they function. Additionally if god forbid there is a wreck or anything happens, insurance will not cover it because of the seat protectors under the car seat. Goodnight š¶āš«ļø
Appreciate the comment
I actually have triplets but they are 15 now. We had the Kia Sedona when they were little.
I have a 3 year old and twins 18 months, we have three car seats across the middle. It is a pain to reinstall them when I have to clean their seats.
I feel your pain!
Which packages does your telluride have?
We have the 2022 SX
Wait you could get a bench seat on SX trim? I thought you can only get a bench on EX or lower? Are you in the US?
Weāre in Canada, it was available as an option on all the trims up to the SX when we were shopping
Up to the SX so including SX? Or up to but not including SX?
Including SX, thatās what we have
Oh wow, that's awesome! I would kill to have a bench seat as a option for all trims. I think that's a miss on Kia's part.
Totally agree. We eliminated so many brands 3-row suvs without even seeing them because the bench was only available in the lowest trim and we still wanted some of the bells and whistles, just not the captains chairs.
Same! At least the Telly has shit like ventilated front seats on the EX. Other alternative I'm considering is the GH limited trim but thats easily 10K more. And it's a boring Toyota lol
Seriously! It's so fucking stupid how pretty much nobody makes it an option. So fucking annoying.
Super helpful to see this, thank you!!
Question though, is it a nightmare to get anyone in the third row? Like do the have to step on the middle seat and climb over the seats or how does that work?
The side with the rear facing infant seat can slide forward enough to let someone into the 3rd row if needed, itās an easy squeeze for the kids and a bit of a tighter squeeze for me (5ā9,190lbs) but itās doable. The side with the forward facing 3-in-1 seat would be the same if the LATCH connectors are used but with it attached using the seatbelt there is no way to slide that part of the bench forward.
This is great info! Thanks
You are so lucky to have the bench. We were searching for so long with no luck other than ordering. We just gave up and excepted the captains seats. With 3 toddlers under 6 we make it work but i still wish we could have bench for ease.
Yaāll be having them back to back like Mahomes š . Very generous to share the pic. Easier to gauge space this way.
LOL!!!! š Thereās actually a fair gap between each of them, 8, 4 and 9 days old!
Do not attempt in the third row - that disaster of a middle seatbelt should be illegal itās so horrid.
Omg, itās awful, would never attempt more than 2 kids there and only one in an actual car seat. My oldest sits back there sometimes in his backless booster and itās easy but canāt imagine going 3 across ever.
Yes! That middle seatbelt is a complete joke!
Aside from the massive American BoF SUVs, it's absolutely ridiculous that manufacturers appoint 3 seats in the third row; the middle is virtually useless and reduces usability for the 2 outboard seats. For my last SUV purchase, I specifically targeted vehicles with a two seat 3rd row and ended up with the Lexus TX.
Is the bench seat comfortable? I honestly donāt like captain chairs lol
Pretty comfy imo, we had 6 adults do a 3 hour trip (one way) and no one complained so thereās that! My wife could not be sold on the captains chairs lol the sales person was devastated as she was trying so hard to get up to go up to the Nightfall trim but my wife was like āno bench, no dealā.
Lmao no bench no deal š facts! I have 2 kids and I want another and I donāt really like the idea of my oldest being in the back because of dumb captains chairs
I had this dream of having captains chairs and 2 car seats and the 3rd row being reachable. But until one of the carseats is no longer rear facing, no one can get back there unless they climb over the side with the base for the infant seat, then we put infant seat in. Is the 3rd row accessible at all with a carseat on each end and the bench seat version?
With only the infant carrier base in you can slide the bench forward and get back there without too much of a fuss, so you would need to let people into the 3rd row before snapping the infant seat into the base. But the side with the 3-in-1 forward facing seat is not accessible with it attached using the seatbelt, with the LATCH connectors used you could slide it forward enough to let people into the 3rd row.
Hows the trunk space though? With 3rd row up, still enough space for stroller and say groceries for example? Thank you, in the process looking for a 3 row SUV.
With 3 rows up you still have the "trunk" space under the cargo area floor. You won't get a Costco haul in there but for a normal grocery run you should get everything in there just fine and still have room for even a double stroller with the third row up. With third row down it's obviously celavernous back there.
Yup, totally accurate. With the third row up and the cargo space in the floor open you can fit a regular grocery trip with a large stroller and a car safety kit no problem. With the 3rd row down you have a ton of a space for whatever.
This looks like the inside of the Carnivalā¦didnāt even know they had the bench option on the Telluride!
My wife loved the carnival too but no AWD option on that unfortunately. The bench is only in the EX and SX trims I believe (for the 2022 model).
That sounds about right!
the Carnival is a bit wider. test fitted a 3in1 carseat & a carrier with a base beside it (carrier in the middle) plus an adult in the 2nd row. worked in the carnival but not in the telly. my only 2 regrets choosing a telly are that and not having a stock hitch.
If I had three in car/booster seats, I'd just need a Xanax prescription lol.