How is Prius working as a family car?

Unless you bring very large suit cases you'll have plenty of room for those trips to the airport and such. I've got 3 kids (and 3 car seats) and we manage quite well on those kinds of trips.

Getting a 3rd adult in will be a problem. It might work if you put the car seats side by side (one by the door the other in the center) for very short shuttles (30 min. or less?), but it's really impractical to try for any kind of longer trip or routine use that way.

We still use our Minivan or Expedition for longer trips or when we need to haul a large amount of stuff. For instance, we're going on a cruise at the end of the month. With a Pack-and-Play, 3 suit cases, various strollers and such it's just much much easier to get that in the mini-van. I'm not saying it wouldn't be possible to do it in the Prius, in fact, it probably is possible. But, as a matter of ease and convenience the minivan just makes more sense for that kind of use.

But for routine trips to go out to dinner, taking the kids to daycare, 3-4 hour drives for same day events the Prius is the vehicle of choice for our family.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Prolene\";p=\"80809)</div>

I believe the original poster was saying a 3rd adult plus 2 kids in car seats.

But, you are, indeed correct that without car seats the back seat is quite good for leg room, a little low for head room, and a bit narrow for hip room for 3 across, but very comfortable with 2 adults.

 

You know, now that I think about it....

Just a week or so ago I had 3 adults in my Prius. My wife in the back seat with my baby in one car seat/baby carrier in the center position. I removed the car seat directly behind the driver's seat and left the one in directly behind the passenger seat. My wife sat in that open space.

I didn't quiz her about the ride comfort, but she didn't complain and seemed to fit in fine for what was about a 25-30 minute trip to dinner each way.

She was able to rest one arm in the baby carrier all the way and play with the baby, so an upright forward facing seat that didn't allow that little extra shoulder room and arm rest space might've been a bit less comfortable, but it certainly seems that that ride was fine for her.

 

Are you even sure there's more room in the back seat of your Altima?

 

Altima:
rear hip room (mm): 1,339 (52.7 inches)
rear leg room (mm): 925 (36.4")
rear shoulder room (mm): 1,425 (56.1")

Prius:
rear hip room (inches): 51.6
rear leg room (inches): 38.6
rear shoulder room (inches): 53"

Ok, so a little more hip room (1.1"), 3+" more shoulder room, and 2.2" less leg room in the rear of the Altima.

 

BTW,
Cargo capacity
Altima: 15.6 cu ft
Prius: 16.1 cu ft

And, I think you'll find that cargo space much easier to access due to the hatch design than the trunk type cargo space of the Altima.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tripod137 @ Jan 26 2007, 07:18 AM) [snapback]381075[/snapback]</div>

PM efusco. He'd love you show you his pic.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tripod137 @ Jan 26 2007, 10:18 AM) [snapback]381075[/snapback]</div>

Here's an old one when we had the baby in the middle rear facing....the seat isn't in at the moment, just the base.
http://www.pbase.com/efusco/image/38106940.jpg<img src=\"http://www.pbase.com/efusco/image/38106940.jpg\" border=\"0\" alt=\"IPB Image\" />://http://www.pbase.com/efusco/image/3..."IPB Image\" />

Guess I need to take a new one, all the kids are in 5 point restraint seats though the boys' seats are technically boosters but they have fixed backs, just no sides/arm rests.

The width in the back seat of the Prius is only a few inches narrower than the back seat of our Highlander SUV and is wider, I think, than the Corrola.