Which compact 7 seater? Think I’ve narrowed it down to Touran or Zafira...

[Cancellingadvice]

Hi

Due to having 3 kids we want to get a compact 7 seater (relatively small, narrow driveway)

I think we’ve narrowed it down to a Volkswagen Touran or Vauxhall Zafira but Zafira seems to be a lot cheaper. Does anyone have any advice / experience? Thanks

We had a Touran which gave us problems, it was second hand & high mileage so probably why but put us off... went for a Renault Grand Scenic next time.

I had a Zafira new in 2005 and just solids it last month having done 237,000 miles and never having broken down. Brilliant affordable car in my opinion and I'd get one again. Although obviously I'm basing my opinion on an older model and some people might have different thoughts on the newer ones.

Personally I am also considering a Ford S-Max, or a Skoda people carrier for my next car.

Sold it, not solid!

We've had a touran for 12 years. Bought for 3 rd child / carseat. It's been very reliable. It doesn't feel like a huge car to drive. Big boot.

The middle seat of a zafira tourer can't used for any car seat, if your children are small enough for car seats.

Always check the manual for any car online if you do have car seats as they look like family cars but some don't allow car seats in all seats.

Love my Zafira C (replacement for a Zafira B I accidentally totalled) but got the 170bhp version rather than the standard 134bhp. So worth the extra effort to find it. Great for elderly mum to get in and out, loads of room for kids (really notice the difference when in their dad's smaller car), good driving position and HUGE boot. Easy to park thanks to all the sensors. So far only repairs have been for wear and tear on a 15 plate we've had 3 years, when pre-covid I was doing around 16,000 miles a year.

No experience of the other two, but we have an Smax and it has been a very reliable workhorse. It’s also a tardis car; DH once managed to bring home an entire Pax wardrobe set from IKEA—several units in the the tallest 236 cm height plus all the interior fittings—in one go (obviously still in the boxes, not yet assembled). We love that each of the three middle seats can move independently and has its own isofix. The two back flip-up seats are also comfortable enough to put kids in them on a long road trip if you have the grandparents with you.

Look at the BMW gran tourer 7 seater. Similar price range, I'm happy with mine.

@VestaRose

Look at the BMW gran tourer 7 seater. Similar price range, I'm happy with mine.

We replaced our Touran for one and are thinking, two years on of getting another Touran. It’s not as responsive to drive and has a much bumpier ride, giving three car sick children.

Another vote for the SMAX. It’s a workhorse but also a very nice car to drive. Easy to put seats up and down, for load carrying or taxiing 7 people.

I have a Kia Sorento and it’s great. 7 year warranty and full size safety seats in the boot-which is massive. Loads of extras etc for the price.

@Linguaphile

No experience of the other two, but we have an Smax and it has been a very reliable workhorse. It’s also a tardis car; DH once managed to bring home an entire Pax wardrobe set from IKEA—several units in the the tallest 236 cm height plus all the interior fittings—in one go (obviously still in the boxes, not yet assembled). We love that each of the three middle seats can move independently and has its own isofix. The two back flip-up seats are also comfortable enough to put kids in them on a long road trip if you have the grandparents with you.

I agree with everything said here!

I have a zafira and the middle seat doesn't have room for a car seat and the back two flip up seats aren't allowed to have car seats either.

We've got a Zafira and Sharan as both of us want big boots. For us, the rear seats are an occasional bonus rather than necessity. I have managed two belted in stage 1 seats in the rear (Zafira) and 3 HBBs across the back for a one off trip (I got the car at 2HBBs, now down to 1.)
There is a size difference between that and Sharan and it is that little bit neater. My main issue is being a short driver with a bigger taste in cars and getting a comfortable driving position.
Fuel economy (1.4 petrol) isn't great but I don't routinely do high mileage and most longer journeys tend to be in the Sharan.
I've had Vauxhall before and my last car was still going well at 11 years old, but it was time to upsize before hitting the leggy teenagers stage.

We have a Toyota Verso and managed to fit 3 ca seats in, and use the ones in the boot occasionally. It's been very reliable and has room without feeling too big.

BMW Gran Tourer!

We have a Zafira. Like @FartleBarfle we bought it from new in 2005 and have never had any trouble with it (we still have it). We found it extreme flexible: brilliant for when grandparents came to stay and for when children had friends round, but also a decent size boot when we weren't using the rear seats.

We only had two children so didn't worry about car seat issues others had described - though I don't think it was a problem in those days anyway as car seats were smaller and children didn't stay in them for as long.

We wouldn't buy another as we no longer need a 7 seater, but I'd definitely recommend them to someone who wanted a small one.

We had a Zafira and a 220 BMW Gran Tourer.
The Zafira was slightly wider, I preferred the BMW though. Much nicer to drive.

I had a Zafira until a couple of years ago.

Mine was 20 years old when I bought it, and was brilliant. I got rid of it as the parts had started becoming prohibitively expensive, but I’d have another one.

Nice to drive, comfy seats, plenty of room. I’m not sure I knew car seats weren’t meant to be used at the back or the middle, although I can’t actually remember how old the children were when we got it.

We had a vw touran for 10 years from new. Absolutely no problems with it. Lovely to drive, park and spacious too.

Just as an update, we ended up getting Zafira Tourer on price in the end (although slightly preferred the Touran)

Very happy with it, drives nicely and fits on the drive fine. Also, our 3 HBB fit fine across the middle row.

According to the manual it’s fine to have a child seat in the middle, plus it’s only rear facing seats you can’t have in the 3rd row (page 34 here: www.vauxhall.co.uk/content/dam/vauxhall/Home/PDFs/owners/owners-manuals/zafira/zafira-owners-manual-january-2014.pdf )

Sorry, I meant page 64!

Hi, just so you know that’s the zafira manual not zafira tourer, you can’t have any seat in the middle seat middle row and can only have rear facing in boot seats 😩 I am having the same issue that I can’t properly fit 3 car seats in my tourer 🙈 we are now just thinking of swapping it for a sharan or Alhambra as they have isofix on all back seats! It’s a nightmare trying to make sure everyone is safe and I’m so annoyed they didn’t tell me when they sold me the car! 🙄

Singing the reluctant praises of the Zafira here.
I have a 12 year old model which is ugly, uncool, smelly, bashed and not at all up to date with in-car gadgetry. However, it just... goes. Had a repair or two over the years but never broken down.