"Looks good up to #4... What exactly do you mean? If you measure the distance between the back of the third seat in a Volvo and a typical minivan, the distances are very comparable."


Well, not sure what exactly you mean. I assume you mean the distance between the back of the 3rd seat and the bumper of a Volvo is comparable to the distance between the 3rd seat back rest and the bumber of a typical minivan. I am suggesting that they are not nearly comparable. I lack measurements, but have visually compared them side by side. If anyone has a tyical minivan (eg Dodge Caravan, not Grand Caravan), it would be interesting to compare the actual measured distance.

We can infer the dimension from published specs this way: The cargo volume behind the 3rd seat of a Dodge Caravan (*not* Grand Caravan) is 15 cubic feet. If the cargo area were only 3 feet wide and 3 feet high (we can be sure it is wider and higher), that gives us 20 inches (15 ft^3 / 9 ft^2) between the seat back and the tail gate as a very high estimate. If the cargo space were 4 feet by 4 feet, that gives us just under 12 inches as a more realistic estimate. The vehicle is 6.5 feet wide overall and if you subtract total height from rear lift-over, you get 3.75 feet as the height of the cargo space. So, 4x4 is still a low estimate on the area and the distance is likely less than a foot, which is what I have estimated visually.

So, no matter how you cut it, the seat back -- and passenger's head -- of the 3rd seat in a Caravan is closer to the rear or the vehicle than the back of a rear-facing 3rd seat in a stationwagon.

-Eric