SUV with biggest boot

[sleepfortheweek]

We are thinking of getting a new car this year, and looking for your wisdom!

We currently have a Peugeot 5008 which has been a great car but there's a couple of things wrong with it now and so we are thinking of trading it in.

We have 2 kids and two large dogs. Boot space is the top priority, as both dogs travel in there. We often do long journeys a few times of year, so plenty of space in the middle row is ideal too.

Other than that, something that drives well and is safe and reliable with a good infotainment centre.

I'll not give a budget as I'm interested to hear people's opinions without a budget in mind.

Have been looking at ones such as (but not necessarily new) :

Volkswagen Toureg
Land Rover Discovery
Volvo XC90
Mercedes GLS

If boot space is a priority would it be better to check out estates? I’ve always liked the look of Subaru outbacks or Volvo xc70.

We have a focus estate that we use regularly for long journeys, transporting large canvas bell tents and it’s easy for our basset hound to jump in and out of.

We looked at SUVs as boot space is our priority and they just weren’t ideal compared to an estate.

Yes I would definitely consider an estate although I don't find them as roomy for other passengers. I love having the three full seats in the back

I think budget would help so people know what sort of age vehicle you'd be getting.

I'd stay away from anything Land Rover. They aren't great for reliability anymore and when there are safer, more reliable cars out there I would just wipe them from the list. There will always be someone to say they never have a problems but I find even Peugeot can sometimes create a car that just keeps going.

I went for an estate as I prefer to be lower to the ground. Newer estates do seem to be much smaller nowadays. I have a 55kg dog and can't fit him in the boot of my 330e which I've always seen as a family car.

From your list and even others not listed, I would go for the xc90. They are reliable but also extremely safe. Search for videos of Volvo safety and they survive anything. Infotainment is a personal thing and I'm not hugely keen on theirs which is why I didn't pick the c40. It looks good but the bmw ones are a lovely, easy to use large screen that bends around the cabin. Could you get an x5/7?

VW are not as reliable as they used to be but lovely, spacious with all the kit if you get the right spec.

I would look into the Volvo v90 as SUVs can be hard for dogs after a certain age.

Kia sorento?

Also, Skoda Octavia or superb (VW underneath do the reliability is still lower than expected) are huuuge in the boot. Unfortunately, they have the sex appeal of Elon musk so seem to be grandads and reps only.

I’ve had both a Toureg and an XC90 and I loved that the Toureg back seats slide forward to give you more boot space, however the middle seat isn’t as big as the XC90.

but I also loved the XC90 lowered when parked so it’s not such a big jump for dogs to get in and out (especially as they get older, they’re heavy!)

the comfort of the Toureg is unmatched in my opinion but the XC90 is still very nice.

if I had to buy again I would find it hard to choose, I think I would pick the Volvo for the seat flexibility, cheaper servicing (marginal) & better gadgets

We used to have an XC90 and we loved it. Absolutely huge boot. Seats folded flat when needing even more space.

Dog, several bikes, 3 kids, furniture, Xmas trees etc; they all fitted in no issue (not all at the same time!). We used to even move large tables and chairs for charity events and could fit so many in.

It’s very reliable, incredibly safe, economical and yet has decent drive and performance (I mean it’s not a sports car but it really goes when you want it to, and it feels good to drive)

Volvo XC90 here too. The boot is cavernous. Even with the extra seats out there's a lot of room but when it's just set up as the regular 5 seater it's the biggest boot I've ever seen.

Volvo for me!!

Volvo all day long. I've had 2 and they are unmatched. I've also had VW's/BM's etc etc, and would choose the Volvo every time.

We're campers and dog owners and are on our 2nd Mercedes ML250 - chosen mainly for the huge boot.

They've been great cars, very reliable and comfortable. Our current one is a 2014 model, we've had it around 3 years.

I was going to suggest the KIA Carnival but then found that they don’t sell them in the UK.

What about a pickup? You can customise the huge rear load space with different tops and many now have opening rear windscreens so you can still interact with the dogs.

They are much less agricultural these days and more SUV like inside. Also more economical to run than many SUVs.

I have an xc90 and have had it for 12 years.

Boot space is second to none.

The boot can be quite high though which may be an issue with elderly dogs?

Land rovers have a reputation for being unreliable.

Love my xc90.

Oh, infotainment is shit in the Volvo.

Sort your own laptop/ipad whatever out.

Yeah, I've got a 15yo XC90 and the boot is massive. I also like the fact that you can just fold down the middle seat (in its entirety) to fit longer, bulkier things in the car lengthways - I got 4 reclaimed doors in like that on one occasion.

Thank you for your responses - the XC90 was top of my list so it's good to hear your experiences with them.

Good point about the height of the car for the dogs. One of our dogs is quite elderly and sometimes struggles with the Peugeot 5008. They are both quite big dogs (lurchers). We do have a dog ramp but it's big for transporting and she doesn't really like using it.

Budget would be about £700-800 a month and able to put down about £10,000 deposit so depending on the car that might get us a new one or one a few years old.

Perhaps it's best to go see the Volvos (estate and SUV) in person to see the space difference. Unfortunately due to our location that's a 6 hour round trip though!

Also like the look of the BMW X5 and Audi Q7.

Good to hear the Volvos tend to last a long time too

https://www.ridc.org.uk/features-reviews/out-and-about/car-search

Thus website is great for detailed measurements for most cars on the road. It's also very handy fot checking if Marketplace purchases will fit in the boot!

I have a Hyundai Santa Fe with 5 seats and extra boot space where the other 2 seats would’ve gone in the 7 seater version. Boot space is very decent.

Ah yes, I've seen the Santa Fe and it looks a good size too!

My preference is definitely a big car, only because I feel safer and the roads we have to drive aren't the best.

Will look that up as well as the Kia Sorento

@sleepfortheweek
Are you wanted brand new or second hand?
Mitsubishi Outlander has a huge boot. Is a PHEV

I had my heart set on a Touraeg and test drove it. Really liked it but dh convinced me to test drive an Audi Q7- it was incomparable and there was no going back after that!! Audi Q7 all the way.
Have also had a Kia Sorrento and again there I'd a vast chasm of difference between that and the Audi.

Toyota Alphard or some other Japanese minivan. You can fold or remove the third row of seats for loads of space. Externally it's slightly wider and 20cm longer than our old estate car.

We easily fit all our camping gear in the back including a big air tent.

This is why I ended up with a fuck ugly Zafira. Can't beat it for practicality. Has a flat lip boot which is so go good for the dogs, changing kids out of wellies etc. One day, when they grow up I'll have a nice car.

I agree with what you're saying, but I have a Ranger now after years of having volvo's, and it really is still worlds apart. Comfort is nowhere near the same levels, and they absolutely DRINK fuel. They're great vehicles for agricultural/commercial use, and ours has been invaluable for renovations etc, but as a family car it's nowhere near as convenient.

Toyota RAV4 has a very big boot, we can fit dog, pushchair, shoppings, bags etc and still have space. It's also a tall boot as our dog doesn't lie down