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Original poster

Recommend me a 5+2 seater car

36 replies

Laquila · 17/07/2019 15:14

We’ve had a Hyundai Santa Fe (which we love) for a few years but it’s coming to retirement age.

We don’t necessarily need a 4x4 hybrid but ideally I’d like an automatic. We like the convenience of the huge boot space and the flip-down third row seats. There’s only four of us but we do a lot of camping and appreciate the space.

We’d be buying second-hand and would be looking to spend around £10.00, I think.

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BigGlasses · 17/07/2019 15:19

We have a Seat Alhambra. It's huge and DH has been hankering after one for years. He loves it. Me not so much as its automatic (not my choice) and its a bit big for my liking. I prefered the previous 7 seater we had which was a C4 grand picasso. It was great.

We recently went on holilday and had a citreon Berlingo. It was ugly as sin, but it was cavernous inside. Was very impressed.

stucknoue · 17/07/2019 15:19

We have a Mazda 5, great car but not hybrid

Happyhusband · 17/07/2019 15:21

We have a Toyota verso for that exact reason. We're very happy with it.

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Yellowweatherwarning · 17/07/2019 15:25

My Chevrolet Captiva was amazing!

flouncyfanny · 17/07/2019 15:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bonzo77 · 17/07/2019 15:30

Toyota Verso too. Love it. Though mine feels a bit under powered. I’ve previously had a Ford C-Max which I liked less. And the Ford s-max which I preferred but was a bit big really.

Cannyhandleit · 17/07/2019 15:38

We have a bmw grand tourer and love it

Original poster
Laquila · 17/07/2019 22:06

Thanks all - appreciate your input!

I’ve been doing a bit of research and we could get a newer Grand C-Max or Grand Picasso with less mileage for the same price as a fairly elderly Santa Fe with 70k on the clock. The tax is pricey on them too and MPG not great so we might have to rethink. I think we’ll go and test drive a two mentioned above, and maybe a Touran, and take it from there.

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Original poster
Laquila · 17/07/2019 22:28

Does anyone have any thoughts on the Volvo XC90? The second-hand models at the same price as the Tourans/Grand Picassos etc are considerably older and with more mileage, but my husband is convinced they’re better value “because they’re Volvos”...

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Original poster
Laquila · 18/07/2019 15:34

I’m also interested in reviews of the Nissan Qashqai +2?

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ittakes2 · 18/07/2019 16:32

Also a BMW grand tourer fan. It doesn't even look like a 7 seater.

BrieAndChilli · 18/07/2019 16:35

We have a Nissan x trail 7 seater. I love it but before I had a zafira!!!

permanentlyfrazzled1 · 19/07/2019 00:19

VW Caddy Maxi: 7 proper-sized adult seats, v generous bootspace ( we camp too and take everything with us including the kitchen sink) seats can come out so it can be used as a van. Not the prettiest of vehicles, but v v practical and reliable. We bought ours three years ago when it was four years old, and cost us £10,000.

SudowoodoVoodoo · 19/07/2019 07:25

Friend has an X-trail and being in the boot seats is quite claustrophobic as the rear windows are tiny. At 5'2, there's barely any leg room, only really suitable for children in booster seats. All the boot space is gone.

I have a Zafira which has more space and a bit more open. A small boot is left with seats up. I got it for boot space, and the seats were a bonus. Comfortable for short driver.

DH has a Sharan, boot space great. I'm happy to be in the boot seats for a longer journey. Some boot space is left as it gains depth when the seats are up. Not comfortable for short driver.

StrongTea · 19/07/2019 07:33

Mitsubishi outlander, plenty space and good to drive.

WisestIsShe · 19/07/2019 07:57

I'm on my second grand c max. I really, really love it but it's not huge. The is absolutely no boot when all of the seats are up, and the rest seats are really only suitable for short journeys/people!
However, it's beautiful, reasonable to insure and run, good level of spec on a titanium and once you've had sliding doors you'll never want to go back.

Original poster
Laquila · 19/07/2019 15:12

Thanks all, this is really useful.

I do like the look of both the Grand C-Max and the Touran. To be honest it’s be rare that we’d use the two boot seats - it’s more that it’s a guarantee of good boot space when folded, I guess. And when we occasionally use them we do feel smug!

My husband thinks we might be better off with a 5-seater estate, though, and I’m wondering if the seats are what we should compromise on, rather than the automatic transmission (which is what I really don’t want to lose...)

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LyndaLaHughes · 19/07/2019 15:15

Kia sorrento. On our second one and they are fantastic and come with a long warranty. Really reliable and I had someone go into the back of me when I was pregnant and the front of their car was mangled and there was a faint tiny scratch on mine. So the safety aspect is a winner too.

RHTawneyonabus · 19/07/2019 15:16

Skoda Kodiaq, has all the features you are looking for. we really love ours thought it offered much the same as the XC90 but at a much better price

Lonecatwithkitten · 19/07/2019 15:39

We have two cars in our family a BMW 2 series gran tourer and a Vauxhall insignia ( CRSri - yes DP only you care about this). The insignia has a massive boot, but smaller rear seat space so as a family we usually use the BMW and DP mainly rides about in the Insignia by himself or just the two of us.
I love the BMW nice high driving position, really good view. You can make the boot space even bigger by moving the rear seats forward if you are only using 5 seats. On the rare occasion I have 6 teenagers in tow they all fit comfortably in.

Screamanger · 19/07/2019 15:44

Don’t know if they are available in the UK but a Ford Expedition EL is amazing! Seats 8 and still has boot space for 3 huskies.

xyzandabc · 19/07/2019 15:49

We've got a toyota verso, 12 years old, we've had it for 9 of those and still going strong. Super reliable and excellent boot space. Just a great workhorse but not as big as some of the larger people carriers.

pleasestoprainingplease · 19/07/2019 16:03

Love my XC90. Parts are expensive but it feels lovely to drive & is serving us well. Love the massive boot on weekends & holidays. Still plenty of room for a million car seats & double buggy during the week.

Collectorofcookbooks · 19/07/2019 16:11

I love my Qashqai +2.

Boot space is great, seats are easy to convert, but watch you get one with more than 1.6l engine - they need the extra power. Cheap to maintain and service.

Headroom in the boot is limited but overall - highly recommend.

Original poster
Laquila · 19/07/2019 16:54

This is so useful - thank you all!!

Screamanger I don’t know your life but I LIKE the sound of it 😂

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