Third Row Seating

[njpilot]

Since the Pilot was trumpeted for having the extra third row of seats, I was wondering: Do you use the back row seats on a regular basis?

We try to, and have noticed, for example, poorer climate control, specifically with the AC.

IF yes, you use the seats, have you had problems back there?

[PrG]

No ... no problems ... given that they are folded down and covered with the cargo tray ... I haven't even taken the headrests out of the plastic wrap yet ...

PrG

[havasu]

The Pilot specifically got our attention because of the third
row seating. So that we can load up the luggage, drive to Florida
with two kids, dump the luggage, then flip up the seats and
take the relatives out to dinner in one vehicle (kids in back).
I wouldn't take fullsize adults in it for a long trip but it seems
perfect for what we want.

[r_hammel]

I think the third row of seats is an awesome feature. My wife and I have no kids and I have and will almost always keep the third row folded down. But since I bought mine (6/3/2002), I have used the third row 3 times.

My Parents and my wife's parents were going out to dinner, and rather than taking 2 or 3 cars, we picked everybody up in the Pilot.

The other two times were when a group of us at work were going out to lunch together. In the past, the most that could go in the same vehicle were 5. We packed 8 in last week.

If the seats really seemed to cut into cargo capacity, then I would not have been so happy with them. But since the cargo capacity is (or at least feels) larger than the capacity in the Jeep Grand Cherokee that the Pilot replaced, I am very happy with having the option of the third row seats.

[banningjr]

So far we have had the Pilot going on 5 weeks and used the third row once a week. In between I usually keep it folded. I haven't noticed any general changes in the temp but I also would not expect the temp in the second row to be the same as the third. The third row is farther back. I grew up with a custom van (full size) that had to wait for the air from the front to reach the rear, now that is a temperature change.

The biggest problem is forgetting to use the side handle to let people back there so the seat slides forward.

[VTM4]

We don't use the 3rd row seats to sit in, however we do love to show our neighbors and friends how easily they deploy and how flat they fold down when not in use. That alone is worth having them.

[Steve01]

I have a child's car seat installed in the single 3rd row seat on the passengers side and another child's car seat installed in the center of the 2nd row seat. I leave the drivers side 3rd row seat folded down for cargo and I usually just leave the passenger side second row seat folded down so I can get at the car seat in the back. This way I have 2 car seats installed but I still can take 2 extra adults in the 2nd row seats and I still have plenty of room for cargo. I'd be interested to know how others with 2 car seats have their pilot's set up.

[ROBDA]

We have both car seats in the second row--one on the passenger side and one on the driver side. I just don't feel comfortable putting the car seat in the third row because of how close the third seat is to the back window. We can fit one person in the second row between the car seats and use the third row for additional people if needed. Otherwise the third row is down for strollers, diaper bag, etc.

[03pilot]

We haven't had the 3rd row up much at all.. Only once when our daughter wanted to particularly sit in the 3rd row 'just to get in that seat from the back (cargo)'

Otherwise most of the times its folded flat. But its a great option to have, no doubt even for that occasional visit by parents (which makes the total number of people in the car to 6 and then one of our daughters will move back to the 3rd row (40%). And still have cargo space for luggage etc.

[bengelking]

It's folded down for the most part. However, it was REALLY COOL to have me and my wife, our two kids (both in car seats), my brother and sister-in-law, and my parents in one car for the fireworks on the 4th of July.

Much less of a hassle than taking two cars and everyone had a blast in one vehicle......like a "mini" road-trip!

[royalairforce]

One of the biggest features that made me wait for the Pilot was the third row.

Comes in handy for trips to the movies with several kids, and for short trips with adults.

No its not as big as a Surburban/Tahoe class vehicle, but I don't need the extra room every day, but I do need a relatively large vehicle that is EASY to drive everyday. There is no way my wife would drive anything in the next class (Tahoe/Suburban etc). We both love the size of the Pilot and feel that it doesn't drive as large as it looks/is.

As far as adults in the back seats if necessary, they can take it or drive themselves. Not to be rude, but I certainly wasn't going to buy something so large that I wouldn't want to drive it everyday, for the comfort of passengers that may ride along a few times a year at most.

For me it was a no-brainer to buy the Pilot over Pathfinder, Highlander etc.. I have more cargo room with the third seat down and have the option of using the third seat when necessary.

[jonnyk]

My wife is a girl scout leader and we can stuff 6 plus 9 and 10 year old girls in the back two rows - more than we could fit in our Odyssey. But, since the Pilot is a 5 passenger vehicle normally, we leave the third seat down in normal driving - which also gives us more usable storage space than the Odyssey, since leaving that third seat down meant it was only a 4 passenger vehicle.

[Spartanman]

That's why we bought it....3 kids. The main reason the Highlander was excluded from our short list.

[BEX]

My main reason for getting the pilot was to have seating for more than 5. I use the 3rd row 2 or 3 times a month. When I need the 3rd row it is great to have it, but when I don't it is safer for my kids to be in the 2nd row so that is where they sit.

[Howdy Ag]

Originally posted by njpilot
Since the Pilot was trumpeted for having the extra third row of seats, I was wondering: Do you use the back row seats on a regular basis?

We try to, and have noticed, for example, poorer climate control, specifically with the AC.

IF yes, you use the seats, have you had problems back there?

I notice an interesting "feature" related to climate control in the "way back" (i.e., the 3d row). In our EX, if, in a/c mode, you select floor air only (where the arrow on the display points only at the floor of the sitting human icon) you get rather significant air blowing under the 2nd row seats to the feet of the people in the way back.

Understandibly, if you select to have the a/c in the front and rear to come out of only the face vents, you get no air pumped directly to the way back. What does not seem right is that if you select "bi-level" air (i.e., air on the feet and on the face), the way back get sno air under from under the 2nd row seats. It seems the only way to get direct air flow to the way back is to have everyone's feet cooled--and no one's faces.

To me it seems strange that in "bi-level" mode you get no air to the feet of the way back.