[amalji]

Ever since I got introduced to an MPV ( The innova Crysta ), I have been exposed to this new world of flexibility in seating arrangements in a vehicle. Many of it has been of great use to us. I thought of sharing a few of the seating configurations that we have found very useful.

Please feel free to use the same thread for sharing seating configurations used on other type of vehicles as well which you found very useful. And it doesn't even have to be an MPV. The humble Honda Jazz with Magic seats or even the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R could put many of our modern SUVs to shame in terms of seating flexibility.

[amalji]

The Relax Mode

If there are only 3 travellers and 2 of them want to be in the most relaxed position, this is the seating configuration we use.

Configuration for the 2nd passenger

• Slide left 2nd row seat to the rear most position.
• Remove headrest from front passenger seat.
• Slide front passenger seat to the front most position.
• Recline the front passenger seat so that the top of the seat joins the 2nd row seat.

Configuration for the 3rd passenger

• Adjust the recline of 3rd row right side seat to maximum recline.
• Slide the 2nd row right side seat to the rear most position to close the gap as much as possible between rear and 2nd row seat.
• Adjust the recline of the 2nd row right side seat so that it gets converted into a footrest as shown in the photo.

We have family members with knee issues and this seating position has been such a blessing for us on long trips. A typical drive to my hometown is 11 hours and it's this seating position which gives us the confidence to drive home without 2nd thoughts. A few hours of the journey on this kind of seating is enough to get the stretching needed for the knees.


The front seats are kept slightly above the rear seat to make it more comfortable.


The headrest is placed under the seats so that it doesn't turn into a projectile in case of an accident. Generally we try and give it more packing by placing a small luggage as well along with it.


This is how close the 'foot rest' is from the 3rd row seat.


View from the 3rd passenger's sitting position


View from the 2nd passenger's sitting position


Safety precautions

• I will not recommend reclining the 2nd row seat completely since the seatbelt might not hold you with proper grip in case of an accident.
• Any loose objects inside the car is a potential projectile in case of an accident. So, make sure that the headrest removed is properly secured.

[amalji]

Dining Mode

When you want to take a break during a trip and have home cooked food that you have brought along.
or
When you have senior citizens travelling with you who have difficulty getting down into a street shop and instead want to enjoy the street food from the car.

Configuration

• Set both the 2nd row seat's recline to 90 degrees to make it upright.
• Slide the 2nd row seats to the front most position to make it closer to the 'table'
• Open up the small food trays.
• In case the person is claustrophobic, remove the head rests of the 1st row seats.

[amalji]

Sleeping Mode


When there are 2 travellers including the driver who want to stop and take a nap in between a trip.

Note: For seating configuration, refer the relax mode seating for 2nd passenger.

[amalji]

Luggage Mode / IKEA Mode.

[GTO]

In all my cars, I am only at the front. Either I am driving...

OR

...on the front passenger seat. Even when I am being chauffeur-driven, I sit only on the front seat (not the back seat). Reasons = more legroom, seat is way more adjustable than the backseat, the front seat is safer (more airbags & proven in crash tests), I can control the music and the AC is cooler in the front seat.

You'll usually see me working on my laptop in the front seat, if its on a weekday.


In terms of seating configurations, I mostly have sedans so it's standardfare. However, with my Jeeps:

This is how 3 of us travel in the Thar, due to zero boot space. Later learnt that we can wrap the seatbelt around the luggage to hold it in place:


With the Classic, the seating configuration is just for 2 . Have thrown the rear seat away:

[condor]

2 + 3 is what I want. 3rd row expendable most times.

Bench for 2nd row because it allows my mom to sleep when travelling long distances. And a bench here allows for 3-4 people, based on the situation.

In the possibility of a reclining position by combining two seats on the left, I still would not use that since: either a co-passenger would sit there, or I use that space to keep stuff when I am driving.

[SmartCat]

A few seat configurations we have used:

2 adults/ 2 kids/ 2 bicycles mode:



Note that third row seat is still useable. Note that the green bicycle does not budge because of bicycle lean & front tyre angle. But it can be tied to folded 2nd row seat if needed to make it even more secure.



Outdoor plants +house moving mode:



The ability to partition the cargo area into separate compartments (like Jazz Magic Seats) helps here. Muddy/dirty/fragile pots can be kept separate from other stuff:



Kids play area:

[BoneCollector]

Originally Posted by amalji

Ever since I got introduced to an MPV ( The innova Crysta ), I have been exposed to this new world of flexibility in seating arrangements in a vehicle.

Thanks for sharing this informative thread. Currently I don't have a 7/8 seater but it's in plan and this will definitely help.

The seating in my Brezza is a little cramped in rear seat as a child seat occupies one of the corner seats and 2 adults sitting with the car seat is a problem over longer journeys.

As far as myself is concerned, I'm always on the driving seat of Brezza and barring a few occasions, I've always been on the driver's seat.

[Aakash118]

Originally Posted by amalji

The Relax Mode

If there are only 3 travellers and 2 of them want to be in the most relaxed position, this is the seating configuration we use

I personally love to be in the driving seat always but this is something I’ve been looking for in my next car for the comfort of my mom who has been suffering from severe knee pain for quite a long a time (even the knee replacement hasn’t helped). Stretching legs like this gives her a bit of relief.
Now the real problem is how to get this. Currently as per my knowledge the cars which have this configuration are Jazz, Crysta, Hycross, Hector & Jimny. Jimmy is not a family car, so not looking at it. So these are the two options as of now.
1- Modify the seats of Venue (our current car) at a local shop to enable the relax mode. But my biggest fear in doing this is that it may affect the working of airbag in that co driver seat.
2- Sell Venue (our current car) prematurely and get a Hycross non hybrid or Hector. But Venue has been working flawlessly and ideally I would like to go for this option after using Venue for another 3-4 years.
3- Look for a used Jazz and keep it along with Venue. Looks like the best option as it also means that when I shop for Venue’s replacement after 3-4 years, I will not be restricted to cars with relax mode seats. But finding a good Jazz isn’t easy in today’s booming used car market. Still I’ve looking for a BS6 Jazz on Cars24/Spinny.
4- Buy a new base variant of Punch or Magnite (they are cheaper than used Jazz) and modify it’s co driver seat.
Any other suggestions?

[hrk997]

I'm a tall person, so i push the seat fully back, fully down and incline it somewhat straight so I have a good view of the road. I'm never able to see the bonnet so i always lean forward when I'm in tight parking situations.

Passengers cannot sit behind me. The only car where they've been able to sit is in the e class, not even the endeavor. The position is super comfortable. I lean the seat even further behind in highways

[Osteon206]

I prefer a 2+3 layout with a large boot space and flat folding split rear seat which could be used effectively to rest. The cars that fall in this layout IMO - Hector, Harrier, XUV700 5 seater.

This way on road trips there will be ample luggage space and on the occasion we want to rest in the stationary car, can lie down comfortably. Added advantage would be if front passenger seat backrest can be folded down in continuity with rear seat - that way when driving continuously the second driver may rest wearing seat belt.

Another car I absolutely loved was the old Jazz with the magic seats.

If only Triber had a more powerful engine, I’d prefer that as well.

[dsr001]

Originally Posted by Aakash118

I personally love to be in the driving seat always but this is something I’ve been looking for in my next car for the comfort of my mom who has been suffering from severe knee pain for quite a long a time (even the knee replacement hasn’t helped). Stretching legs like this gives her a bit of relief.

I'm in a similar situation, for day-long travel with family of 4, I want 2 people to be able to stretch legs (plus decent space for luggage). Only one that can fit this is Force motors' Trax Citiline (some features more than the standard variant)

But that vehicle is too large to be used as a daily driver.

Image: Autocar

[Raghav07]

Most interesting thread I have read on team-BHP!

We also have an Innova Crysta but my grandfather prefers the front so no "boss mode" seating in our car, but definitely useful for other situations. My grandmother could use the 3rd row and stretch her legs out, but when coming to Chennai from our native, the boot is filled with rice, oil, essentials etc, so 90 percent of the time, the 3rd row is folded.

Also like how you named each of the seating positions!

[100Kmphormore]

We have a Scorpio SLE 7 seater (jump seats in the boot) and most of the times when our family travels one has to always be in one of those seats, I am always in the middle row thanks to its unsettling movement (less worse than the jump seat) or in the front seat.