[MPG Mom]

Is it possible to move the rear bench seat from a Gen 2 Volt and mount it in the Gen 1 Volt?

If not, has anybody had an upholstery shop craft a filler to convert the back seats into a bench?

(Before anybody jumps me---I only want 1 more seat, and I've researched the legalities in my state.)

 

[Fyodor]

Is it possible to move the rear bench seat from a Gen 2 Volt and mount it in the Gen 1 Volt?

If not, has anybody had an upholstery shop craft a filler to convert the back seats into a bench?

(Before anybody jumps me---I only want 1 more seat, and I've researched the legalities in my state.)

I would say it can't be done. That's the main battery between the back seats and it comes up too high.

 

[freshcut]

I was under the impression the Gen 2 had a similar battery profile, or did they reduce the battery height to allow for a 5th seat? I can definitely see where the OP is coming from as it looks like it could be doable. Perhaps not comfortable due to the lack of seat padding that could be placed in the 5th seat position, but certain should be workable in a pinch.

 

[MPG Mom]

Oh, yeah. I have no delusions of fitting three adult men in the back. I've sat in a 2017 and it's tight back there.

I am looking to put a 4 year old between a 6 and 8 year old. Plenty of room for small people.

 

[Barry]

It seems like if you could remove the center console, you could do something to pad the bottom.

More significant problems include:
-The two backrests have a large gap between them that would need to be filled.
-To be safe, a center head restraint would have to then be added, and properly engineered for the appropriate strength to tolerate crash forces. I realize the Gen 2 lacks this, but that seems like a silly compromise of safety for a parent to make for their child.
-You would need to add a lap belt and a shoulder belt, also properly engineered for strength.

And after all that, you would still have an insufferably cramped seat there. A couple of years from now, your kids will be 6, 8, and 10. Would they still fit?

All in all, I think that if you need a 5th seat, the best thing would be to trade the Gen 1 Volt for a different car.

 

[El Dobro]

The Gen 1 battery assembly is physically bigger, so goes the tunnel.

 

[Fyodor]

There is about 70 cm between the top of the console (2012 without an armrest) and the roof just ahead of the seatbacks.. There's no way I could or would squeeze my four year old grand-daughter in there. The console can't be cut down. You have to find room for two more legs. There just isn't a practical way to fit another seat.

In Ontario you can't place a child in the front seat, and child seat laws are strictly enforced. If I wanted to carry three kids I'd have to find a bigger car.

 

[freshcut]

The console can't be cut down. You have to find room for two more legs. There just isn't a practical way to fit another seat.

If you look at the Gen 2 back seat, the center tunnel is still there and the 5th person has to straddle the console. I imagine that's what the OP had in mind.

I do agree though that due to the level of modification needed to fit a square plug in a round hole, it's probably best to give up on the idea of a Gen 1 seating 5 and look for something more suitable. Laws and whatnot aside, keep in mind this is also a safety issue in which you are putting your child into a position you "designed" without the resources to research how safe it may be. If you really want to stick with a GM EV/Hybrid your options might only be to upgrade to a Gen 2, look at the Bolt, or perhaps a Malibu hybrid.

 

[srmarti]

I was under the impression the Gen 2 had a similar battery profile, or did they reduce the battery height to allow for a 5th seat? I can definitely see where the OP is coming from as it looks like it could be doable. Perhaps not comfortable due to the lack of seat padding that could be placed in the 5th seat position, but certain should be workable in a pinch.

Similar, but not identical. That's why Gen 2 has 4-1/2 seats.

 

[Barry]

I think the Ford C-Max Energi has a pretty good rear seat. And it has been out long enough that you can probably get one off lease for a good price.

 

[MPG Mom]

What I had in mind was just putting a booster seat where the center console currently sits. The booster already has its own back, headrest, and seat. All it would really need is a seatbelt to snug it down and keep it from moving. Padding and a filler between the seat backs would be mostly cosmetic. Certainly I wouldn't try to put in 3 occupants without that booster seat.

I already have a gas powered 5 seater and 7 seater, and eventually want to get a Bolt. There are just a few trips a week where I could use that booster in the Volt.

 

[Barry]

I don't think you have enough space between the two seats to fit a booster seat without overlapping both of the side seats so much that the side seats would then be too uncomfortable. The side seats would probably also be unsafe due to having the hard outside of the booster seat overlapping the passenger there. And a restraint for the center passenger is still a problem. I can't see any practical way to do it without serious safety issues. Just not worth it to save an insignificant amount of gas. Take the other car.