car buying-- how important is trunk space with a baby?

jupiterthecat · June 2011

We're looking to buy a new car soon (hopefully we can decide in time to do it this weekend). I think we've narrowed it down to a Nissan Versa hatchback and a Honda Civic. The Versa is cheap and the seats fold down for lots of storage space, and it'd be good for city living (we are urbanites and hope to stay that way, and try to keep things as minimalistic as possible). BUT the trunk is pretty small when the back seat is up. Everyone I talk to seems to equate having an infant with needing loads of trunk space. How true is that? We borrowed my sister's Bob Revolution and tried it in both trunks-- in the Civic there was almost half the trunk left, but with the Versa it took up most of the trunk (granted, that's a huge stroller and we're probably not going to get anything that big). Our other car is an old Volvo sedan with a big ol' trunk.

Sorry for the advice solicitation...I'm just having the hardest time deciding-- I keep thinking that the Versa is the better option, but then wonder if I'll truly regret not getting the trunk space. I need advice from experienced moms!

megpeg01 · June 2011

I say go for more trunk space.

When we went to the carseat inspection people a few weeks ago, the guy mentioned some things that I just hadn't thought of. Like that basically whenever you have your baby in the carseat, you don't want anything else in the backseat because if you are in an accident those things can fly around the backseat and cause injury. He said you basically want to put everything else in the trunk. If you put your purse in the backseat, you can use the seatbelt to buckle it down.

Anyway, I never would have thought of other items in the backseat (groceries, etc) as dangerous projectiles without him mentioning that.

Mereou12 · June 2011

I'm not the type to run out and buy and SUV just because I'm having a kid, but I definitely value trunk space. I drive a Toyota Corolla, which has a surprisingly good sized trunk. Our stroller is a City Mini (single for now, double soon), and I have plenty of space left for groceries...but I'm not sure I'd be happy with something smaller.

One thing to think about -- will you be using the car for travel? Babies require a lot of gear when going away (stroller, PNP, etc), so that's something to consider.

But really, if you like the car, I say go for it. Trunk space is nice, but it's definitely not a necessity. You'll make it work!

memali26 · June 2011

I think it depends on what you plan to do with the baby. We travel frequently to visit family 3-6 hours away, so it's important to me to have trunk space for the stroller, P'nP, and our luggage. For everyday type stuff, all I really need is room for the stroller and some groceries.

chargermama · June 2011

strollers are not the most compact item, so trunk space is important once you add a baby to the mix.

julygal · June 2011

Something else to consider is the long term family plans and if you will have more kids and still be in this car. I didn't need as much trunk space with one as I need with 2. With one the stroller was smaller, her clothes fit in our luggage for trips, etc, so the trunk space wasn't a big deal. With two the stroller got bigger, we had to pack an extra suitcase, etc, so the trunk space became more crucial.

hisaak · June 2011

memali26:
I think it depends on what you plan to do with the baby. We travel frequently to visit family 3-6 hours away, so it's important to me to have trunk space for the stroller, P'nP, and our luggage. For everyday type stuff, all I really need is room for the stroller and some groceries.

This - it really depends what you will need it for. We also travel regularly, and cart DS around everywhere. So if we are out at friends for an evening, we bring a fold up chair for eating, his stroller if we will be out and about, and the pnp for putting him down. We need that space!!

That said, if you aren't planning on a lot of that, and don't travel long distances, it isn't nearly as big of a deal.

JaninneAlvarado · June 2011

I'm thinking its not such a huge deal but think about outtings, trips, grocery shopping. If there's hardly room left after just the stroller, where is anything else going to go? I'd go for more trunk space. This is why I am getting a suburban vs a tahoe. I love the tahoe but to be realistic I am thinking a few years ahead when I have to have seat space for 5 kids and football pads, and ice chest, etc. I don't want to buy something just to have to trade it in and possibly be upside down because I wasn't happy with my first choice.

TheFannins729 · June 2011

i'm a minimalist, have a city mini (one of the best when it comes to not taking up a ton of trunk space) and I still feel like we need more space in our car. And our trunk is not small. And now with two, it's just going to get worse.

cheezemonger · June 2011

I know some of the versa type cars have the option to fold down 1 of the back seats, or 2 and leave 1 up. This might give you that extra space. Last summer I made the switch from a little Ford escort to a small sized minivan for business reasons. It changed my life. Gas is pricey and that sucks, but I never want for space. Another car we looked at was the Kia Rondo. They are more of a cross over, but they're huge inside.

jupiterthecat · June 2011

Thanks for the feedback. Sounds like the consensus is that trunk space really is important. We'll be using the car for every day stuff-- shopping, commuting, day care, etc. We'll have the Volvo also, which has a huge trunk and may be better for trips, but part of the idea behind getting a second car is having something more gas efficient...and I guess there's no sense in getting something gas efficient and then leaving it at home for longer trips.

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