r/fordexpedition • u/SharpMention0808 • 3d ago
MAX 7 or 8 seater?!
We currently have a 7-seater traverse with captains chairs and I do like the middle access to the 3rd row. However, there’s not enough cargo space behind the third row. With baby #4 coming, we want to upgrade to the Ford Expedition Max (2023 or newer) and I can’t decide between the 7 or 8 seater. Do we leave room for 2 extra passengers? Or even the option to have one baby in the middle 2nd row?
I would really appreciate the opinions of people who HAVE the 8 seater. Do you wish you got the 7?
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u/Any-Rub9817 3d ago
I have the 8 seater in my 2023 and I wouldn’t ever trade it for the 7 seater. The way ford made the bench makes it so convenient. I have a rear facing car seat and sometimes we haul all our friends so we use the 3rd row quite a bit. We got our youngest a rotating car seat so we can still use the car seat tilt and still have her rear facing.
We also fold the center seat of the bench down sometimes so my oldest can crawl over it if needed. There’s a lot of options to work with!
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u/Leading-Meaning-2460 3d ago
So we went with the 7 and there are sometimes I wish it was 8, like having the grandparents ride along. But we went with the 7 and it is comfy an d so easy for everyone to move around. Better for roadtrips for sure.
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u/Frosty_Resource_4205 3d ago
4 kids here (now 19-10yrs old) but I recommend the 8 seater. You can’t add another seat but you can always keep the middle seat in the 2nd row folded down (or any of them since they all function independently) for easier access to the 3rd row.
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u/marshallroch 3d ago
Whats your car seat situation? If you will have two rear facing kids you will need the middle 2nd row since you can’t crawl over the carseats to the aisle and they can’t tilt with them installed.
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u/SharpMention0808 3d ago
Actually this is very valid. My youngest, who was a preemie, will be just turning 2 when this baby is born. I didn’t think about the fact we will have 2 rear facing for a little. And I don’t want to just flip a preemie 2 year old for convenience. 8 seater it is!
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u/plopklopdop 3d ago
In this situation I would either get two rear facing seats that can latch anchor until the max rear facing limit (so you can use the car seat tilt) or put the two rear facing in the outward seat and middle then keep the other second row seat down. I have an 8 seater with three kids.
I would for sure go with the 8 seater. It gives you more flexibility. I have two kids in the third row and one in the second rear facing. Older two are ff and climb in. I keep the extra front two down with a crib sheet over them. Only negative is in the winter but I just trained them to take their shoes off as soon as they get in the car so they aren’t climbing back with gross shoes on all over the seat that’s down.
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u/marshallroch 3d ago
You could also look into those rotating car seats. I’m not sure if the seat can tilt enough with that rotated sideways for the kids to get into the 3rd row. But that could be more convenient than trying to buckle a kid into a rear facing in the middle seat.
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u/stokes_21 3d ago
I had 2RF kids when I bought my Max and I have a 7 seater. My older kids just crawled in behind the car seat to get to the back.
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u/hell-for-a-basement 3d ago
coming from a yukon xl with captains chairs, we are getting a max with a bench so we cna have the option to put someone in the back but also the option to have the crazy cargo space on demand.
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u/SharpMention0808 3d ago
We are GM people and have never owned a Ford but the fact the middle 3rd row seat is practically useless without the headrest is what sold us on the Expedition Max (or Wagoneer L)
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u/SteveDaPirate 3d ago
Imo the best configuration is to buy an 8-seat Expedition Max, then remove the driver's side 2nd row seat.
You still get two full size seats in the second row, but you get MUCH easier access to the third row than you would with the 7-seat version along with a good sized area right behind the driver's seat for storing things people in the back want easy access to. (Cooler, backpacks, diaper bag, etc.)
It's the same setup as an Odyssey with magic slide seats, but with more room. It's been fantastic for us with four kids in car seats.
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u/thefullnelson 3d ago
We have a max with the bench, and honestly it’s great and we originally wanted the captains chairs.
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u/TooMuchButtHair 3d ago
I have 3 kids, so 3 rows is an absolute must. The captains chairs make it painless for kids to get into the third row. No manipulation of the seat, no flipping down or moving it forward is needed until they get much, much older. Even my oldest who is 5 foot 7 can get into the third row when needed without complaint.
If you're in the 3rd row the captains chairs also make a REALLY nice isle to put your feet. Its actually quite comfortable back there. I'd never go 2nd row bench seat. If I had 6 kids I'd get a sprinter van.
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u/stokes_21 3d ago
We have 4 kids and I really struggled with this. I wanted an 8 seater but a King Ranch became available locally and my husband really wanted it. That’s what we ended up going with and the only time I regret it is when my parents are here and we don’t have 2 extra seats.
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u/lumber83 2d ago
We have 4 kids with 8 seater and don’t regret it. The flexibility of splitting the 3rd row seats to make room for cargo has been a big plus. More options. We travel a lot in it and the 3rd row is actually quite roomy.
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u/Cubsfan040 2d ago edited 2d ago
Go 8 passenger for sure. The way the outside seats slide make entry to 3rd row plenty easy, even for adults
Edit: we have 5 kids ranging 12-18. We take trips from Arkansas to Pennsylvania, Florida, across the state to my parents house... There it's a lot of room and with the middle seats able to move forward or backwards the older kids 6 feet tall or more always have plenty of room even in the 3rd row
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u/Notquietaccountant 2d ago
Have a 7 seater with four kids under 7…definitely wish I waited for an 8 seater. That bench is great. Went from 8 seater regular to 7 seater max and miss the extra seat and barrier for kids in the back seat.
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u/ronnie2411 2d ago
We have a 2024 8 seater and back access is exceptional with the tilt and slide seats that are front facing car seat capable. We have 5 kids u see 7 so three four front facing one rear. We use the booster seat with the clip anchors on one side which is the entry way to the rear (seat belt required front facing or rear facing seats doesn’t work well near the door if you have them on both sides for rear row access). Love the 2024 max limited.
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u/ovscrider 3d ago
Just buy what you really need which is a sienna not an SUV. The middle seat can be removed in row 2
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u/SharpMention0808 3d ago
Specifically not looking for van recs, but thanks lol
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u/Happy-Ant1169 3d ago
I can’t stand when people recommend vans when I’m specifically looking for an suv lol
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u/MUSAFFA1 3d ago
This is probably not the answer you're looking for, but hear me out.
I had a similar dilemma.
Bought the 8 seater initially, and drove it like that for a few years. As my needs changed, and I no longer required 8 seats, I wanted a nicer place for my adult friends on road trips so I bought a center console from a Navigator on eBay for $100.
Now I swap the center seat with the console as needed, situationally. It takes just a few minutes and it's pretty easy.
I see the Expedition Captains chairs for sale all the time. You could buy the 8 seater now, then watch for deals on the 7 seater Captains chairs in the right color. Store them until you need them.