We have 3 boys (9,6,4) and are looking for a third row vehicle to give them some more space — thinking 9 and 6yr old in back and 4yr old car seat behind driver.

We really like the Defender 130 but it is substantially more of a PITA with heavy folding middle row and narrow access path to get into the third row (and return the seat) than some competitors, especially which offer mid captain chairs or electric ones. Can I remove the single passenger side middle row seat and its rails to give simple rear seat access? Is there seat sensors that will throw dash errors if unplugged and what will the floor space look like?

We thought about having them climb in via the trunk or folded middle seat, but in MI salt winters that’s gonna make a gigantic mess. I really wish the defender was offered with captain chairs the kids could just walk between like many competitors have.

Thanks for any thoughts on making 3rd row more accessible!

 

I don't know the answer to your main question (I have a 2-row 110), but are ANY competing SUVs in the US offered with captain's chairs? I think of that as exclusively minivan territory.

I do like your idea of removing the right side short seat, though. Obviously it comes out and even if the floor is gnarly under there with no carpet and wiring, etc, I'd think you could having something fabbed to cover it, a thick carpet mat of some sort. But the big question, as you state, is will that throw all kinds of IP hysterics. I wouldn't be surprised, given the rest of the nanny monitors on the truck for things like being in gear with the door open.

 

You cannot remove the middle seat, as the seat cushion extends to the driver's side outboard seat. Removing the middle seat would require the removal of the outboard seat. I wish they were still a true 40/20/40 split like on the L319, but unfortunately it is what it is.

 

Competing is a bit relative, but for a midsize (ish, not full truck frame bus my wife will hate parking) 3rd row the X7 and aviator have captains. So does Palisade and Telluride and surprisingly in top trim the interiors of the South Korean cars are much nicer than a defender with alcantara headliners and more extensive Napa leather — but they are overall way less x-factor cool. This car is for my wife, coming from a Cayenne GTS and I have some exotics, an XFR, and a Raptor, but we need a third row for long road trips with the dog. I generally make car decisions by the heart, not head else a 10yr warranty 2023 used telluride prestige offers everything we are looking for and drives fine for 1/3 the price ($40k vs $80-100k).

I can certainly fabricate something to cover rail bolt holes, but I did test removal of mid row captain chair in a aviator and explorer ST years ago and they certainly cause a dash light and bong about weight sensor. I’m sure with enough effort that can be defeated, perhaps as easy as tricking brake pad sensors by twisting the wires (ie when worn it cuts the wire connection and triggers the brake warning — the seat weight sensor likely works in the same fashion).

 

Not sure I'm tracking you. The middle ROW is what he's asking about, which is divided into a double seat (middle and drivers side) and a single seat (pax side). It still might not be doable but he's not asking about removing the middle seat, but the pax side seat of the middle row.

That said, I am talking about the 2-row D110 I have -- the middle row of the 3-row trucks might be completely different. If so, I'll shut up.

 

Not the middle seat. The middle row passenger single seat. That is seperate cushion and rail movement than the paired driver side and middle seat as you note.

said another way, I just want straight back walking access to the rear row via the passenger side.

It’s literally 4 bolts and a wire plug to take a seat off and see what happens, so maybe I can demo one and bring it home for an afternoon and test. Of course, I cannot go splicing wires on a demo vehicle, but maybe can talk to service department or someone technical to know how to defeat the rear seat sensors. Might also be a software adjustment available like ford’s Forscan has for beeps and bonks and warnings.

 

Huh. Who knew? Having never owned a 3-row SUV, only looked inside a few, I didn't know any had that feature.

 

ya, plenty choices. The merc gls 63amg can have center captains chairs too. I think the side styling of the gls looks like a mini van though, monster V8 aside, and one day when my gracefully aging Jag XFR is totally unusable for 5 of us on shorter trips (or I get tired of wrenching on nanny issues), I want the 21+ GLE 63s (but that’s just a 2 row).

Im steadfast anti mini van, but close second don’t want a navigator or Escalade size vehicle for her to park. Im willing to pay substantially more for the defender looks and panache but cannot live with the heavy sliding middle row seats burden that gets put on mom and dad 2x every trip. Also, really only a kid can climb in the back row in the defender bc of limited entry space, despite the fact it’s plenty roomy once back there. I like that they are manual (way faster than automatic) but the telluride fold button and slide can be done with one finger (if you don’t just walk through the middle space captain chairs) vs yanking on the defender middle seats and squirming in 1/3 the entry space. Really don’t get that, the defender 130 is 15” longer than a telluride but feels less space in every regard inside including trunk.

 

Ah, I see. Sorry, I misread you! I donl't know if you'd get any warning lights or anything. I'd try it out just to see what happens.

 

Why not just hop through the back?