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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Small family car??

21 replies

Busybee91 · 20/12/2023 23:27

Hi all, planning to try for a baby in March and looking at cars.
We don't have kids yet, just a dog. I think an SUV might be too big for me.
I need a new one regardless as mine is too small and older now anyway.
Are there any good hatchbacks with decent boot space?
I have been looking at Hyundai i20, Mazda2, Ford fiesta, vw polo. But I think they might be too small if we had a baby?
Advice please 🙏

OP posts:

fingerguns · 20/12/2023 23:34

Honda Civic has an enormous boot for a hatchback. We have a 2017 model.

I've had a lot of people comment on the boot space, actually 😁

MyCatIsPlotting · 20/12/2023 23:54

Just make sure whatever you buy is a 5-door as no back doors are impossible/extremely difficult with car seats!

We have a Seat Ibiza, which we bought as it had a bigger boot than the Toyota Yaris and Kia Rio that we looked at. It’s very economical to run. Space is tight now we’re a family of four but it’s still perfectly doable.

We’re not in a position to upgrade yet but if we were, I’d look seriously at Skodas. We hired a Skoda hatchback in the summer but I can’t remember what type it was - it had a bigger boot than our own car though.

jellycat · 21/12/2023 00:56

Skoda Fabia estate has a massive boot. I think they are no longer making them though, so you won’t be able to get one new. I have the hatchback which has a decent boot for a small car but it would be a bit small for carting baby gear.

Or you could look at the Skoda Scala which is a bit bigger than the Fabia.

Used to have a Golf and could fit travel cot and stroller in the boot of that, with room for other stuff.

BabyHobnob · 21/12/2023 01:00

We have a hyundai i20 and the boot is small! The i30 looks much better if you like the style of the car! We also have a mazda 3 and that has a good sized boot and much more space in the back than the i20 :)

Copperoliverbear · 21/12/2023 01:01

Vw t cross. Once you've driven any car for a few weeks you get used to it.
I have a Tiguan never thought when I first started driving I'd be able to drive anything as big as that, but I love it and would never drive anything else now. X

pitterpatteroftinyfeet · 21/12/2023 01:05

I've got an old Toyota Yaris and absolutely love it. I had a large dog ('had' because he's just passed over the rainbow bridge) and a baby and assumed I'd have to change cars, but no, I still managed to fit everyone in. Dog in the boot, pram in the rear seat next to baby and partner at the front. Without the large dog you'll easily get a pram in the boot and then have plenty of space for everyone! I'd do a Yaris again in a newer model! 👌🏼

Puffthemagicdragongoestobed · 21/12/2023 01:08

Golfs are great. We have an estate which has a huge boot. I would definitely check out the hatchback.

RoseMartha · 21/12/2023 07:47

I would say Yaris too

Sirzy · 21/12/2023 07:53

I had a corsa when ds was a baby and had no issue getting prams that would fit into it. Only had to change bigger when he moved to wheelchairs as they wouldn’t fit as easily!

KeepYaHeadUp · 21/12/2023 07:54

Honda jazz!

margotrose · 21/12/2023 07:55

I have a Hyundai i10 and the boot is surprisingly large for the size of the car. Mechanically it runs like a dream and has never let me down.

Mimikyuu · 21/12/2023 07:55

I have Mercedes GLA which I fit 2 kids and a pram in with plenty of space and it’s actually quite a small car!

Lavender2021 · 21/12/2023 07:57

We went from a ford focus to an estate and I wasn't keen on driving anything big!

It's been great if you have a dog and a child you will need one. Unless the dog is tiny as pushchair and baby stuff fills the boot and it's not very fair to put the dog in a tiny boot. With estate cars you can buy dog guards with split the boot in half - one side for stuff and one for dog.
I wouldn't have dog and baby together in the back seats unless it's a tiny dog and you can it a cage to travel in.

We don't even have a dog but the estate has been a great buy and made life more simple!

Mummyme87 · 21/12/2023 07:57

We had a Honda civic when we had DS1, boot is massive, it’s a good car. Then we upgraded to a VW Tiguan which is a medium SUV, felt massive initially But you quickly get used to it. Good boot size, looks nice, and reliable. We have 2 children now 9 and almost 6, and about to have #3 plus have a sausage dog so needed something bigger as we have outgrown the Tiguan. We are getting a Volvo XC90 as need a decent 7 seater

SecondHandFurniture · 21/12/2023 07:58

Our buggy (Cosatto) fitted into the boot of our Suzuki Swift if you popped a wheel off. It will fit a couple of suitcases, or loads of shopping. Honestly the baby phase is pretty short anyway!

Original poster

Busybee91 · 21/12/2023 09:25

Thanks all

OP posts:

YogiYogiBear · 21/12/2023 09:29

Think about legroom as well for rear facing car seats. If either of you is taller you might struggle to fit a rear facing car seat in a small hatchback.

LikeItOrLumpIts · 21/12/2023 09:30

I’ve got a new i20 and the boot isn’t small. Hyundais are lovely to drive.

Bohemond23 · 21/12/2023 09:31

Mini Clubman - I wish I'd had mine when I had a pram to get into a boot.

Kwasi · 21/12/2023 09:32

Polos are massive these days. Golfs are bigger and really good cars.

xILikeJamx · 21/12/2023 09:38

Check a few of the cars you like out on youtube for an idea of how practical they are - CarWow do videos and a lot of them have a 'practicality' bit where they fit car seats and see how big the boot is etc.

I had a previous model BMW 1 series (and loved it) which is Golf/Focus sized and looks plenty big from the outside, but I had to get rid of it as I couldn't fit rear facing seats in the back with the front seat at my settings. There's a newer version now that might be better. VW Golf and Audi A3 were both much more practical inside (although I ended up with an A4 estate! (which was great))

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