I have two kids under 3 and I’m thinking about buying a 2022 Palisade. We plan to keep it for 5-7 years. Would you go for a 2nd row bench or captain chairs? The kids will likely be in car seats or boosters for most of the time we’re keeping the car. The bench would let one smaller adult squeeze between the car seats when the 3rd row is down for extra gear. The captain chairs would offer more room, especially if I want to carry a surfboard without folding the seats. We were active before having kids and hope to get back to some of that once they’re older. 99% of the time, the 3rd row will be down.
First, I don’t think you’d be able to fit an adult between two car seats in the middle row, even a small one. If you need 5 people in the car, you might want to use the third row instead. I have the 2022 with the bench seat. My kids are out of car seats now, but I find it easier to handle car seats on a bench. I have 3 kids, and the third row is mostly down unless there are two adults in the car. Good luck! FWIW, the 2022 SEL Premium does offer a bench seat. It’s the right balance of features for me.
2 kids - captains chairs. 3 kids - bench.
Donna said:
2 kids - captains chairs. 3 kids - bench.
Helpful. Thanks .
Donna said:
2 kids - captains chairs. 3 kids - bench.
Helpful. Thanks!
Unless you specifically need 8 seats, your kids will enjoy having their own separate chairs. Less fighting.
Donna said:
2 kids - captains chairs. 3 kids - bench.
Helpful. Thanks!
But not with car seats… With 3 car seats, captains chairs work better. You can’t fit 3 car seats together, and it’s easier to move one to the back row with captain seats.
Mine are 8 and 11. I wanted a bench for when we have a grandparent with us, but it wasn’t available on the higher trims, so we went with captains chairs. My kids get along well, but for some reason, when they’re in the car, they bicker a lot. The captains chairs have been amazing because they each have their own space and don’t bother each other. It also works better for things like backpacks. They can put one between the seats, and it doesn’t bother them. My 11-year-old can easily climb through to the third row when needed.
@RooneyOnWheels
Lol, great point about them getting old enough to bicker.
HyundaiAnn said:
@RooneyOnWheels
Lol, great point about them getting old enough to bicker.
Like I said, they get along well, but something about being stuck in a car turns them into little animals. ‘I can’t buckle my seatbelt because his backpack is on it!’ ‘Stop pushing your stuff in my way!’ ‘Don’t touch me!’ We’ve had our Palisade for about 6 months now, and the captain chairs might just be my favourite feature. Also, the seats are a bit hard to slide back, so it’s great my son can walk through the two chairs to the back. It helps him stay independent.
@RooneyOnWheels
This is the answer. When they’re older, captains chairs are way better. Parent of two tweens.
We got a 2022 SEL Premium with captains chairs when we had two kids in car seats and loved it. Now we have three (ages 1, 3, and 4) in car seats. Two forward-facing and one rear-facing. The captains chairs make it hard to get one of them into the third row, and it’s to the point we’re looking for a new car, even though we planned to keep this one for a long time. With two kids, the captains chairs are great, but with the third kid, I wish it were easier to get them into the third row.
@AccentAddict
Very helpful. We’re planning on two kids, so I think it’s captains chairs for us.
Same situation, kids a bit older, but went with the two captains chairs and no regrets.
2 kids here and love our captain seats! It’s so easy for them to walk to the back and get their shoes on, backpacks sorted, etc.
2 young kids and 2 full-size car seats in our 22 SEL Premium, and the bench was the way to go. Mom could fit between the two car seats while they were tiny if they needed something.
FAITH said:
2 young kids and 2 full-size car seats in our 22 SEL Premium, and the bench was the way to go. Mom could fit between the two car seats while they were tiny if they needed something.
That was my use case for the bench. And if the 4 of us drive with our German Shepherd anywhere.
There’s no perfect configuration. Sometimes you’ll think one option is better than the other. I had a 2023 SEL premium with a bench. Switched to a 2024 calligraphy with captains chairs, and I miss the bench sometimes.
@NinaCaldwell
Probably a very accurate answer for me and my family. I’ll try not to stress too much about it. Thanks .
We’ve had captains chairs for our kids in all our cars since they were born. They’re 17 and 15 now, and I don’t regret it. If we ever needed an adult to sit with them, they’d sit in the third row to reach forward and help. For reference, we’ve had a 2007 Hyundai Entourage Limited (minivan with 3 rows), a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe limited (has 3 rows), and now a 2024 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy. All had captains chairs in the second row with a third row that folds down. I’ve never wished for a bench seat and like having the floor space in the middle for bags or walking to the third row.
Captain seats all the way! One infant car seat and one booster seat. My oldest doesn’t…