7 seater suitable for poor roads and tall people - Skoda Kodiaq?

[askingaquestion1]

Hi we are looking to get a new car. We have 3 kids so want 7 seats. We live on an unmade road so need decent ground clearance but not necessarily a SUV as our existing car has coped ok. Our kids are tall. We thought Skoda Kodiaq was the answer but I sat in the back on a test drive and couldn’t get my legs in. Not sure if teens would be comfy in the back. All advice welcome! Thanks!

Xc90, Audi q7 or a ford galaxy. Failing that, a van might be a good option for increased roof height, such as transporter

We have same situation (tall people, unmade road) and have this car. It works well for the latter but the boot seats are not great for long journeys for 6ft plus son!

He did hit his head the other day when I went over a new pothole!

Ford Galaxy! Sooo much space, it’s fab

We're on our second Kodiaq. Really love them as cars they're easy to drive, comfortable, well made, reliable and the boot is huge without the seats up. Third row is not suitable for adults unless they are the size of a 12/13yr old and smaller (I'm 5'1 and can mange in them ok). As a size we live in rural lincs and even without the 4x4 version we manage great!

xc90

third row is a bit tight but works.

The Dacia Jogger has a ground clearance of 20cm and fully sized adults can sit in the third row no problem. Access is easy too. Our final shortlist had it straight up against the Kodiaq (last model) and the decision was easy once we actually tried getting in the back. The £16k we saved was just a bonus.

We regularly use ours on MILs unsurfaced access road and it's fine. The Extreme spec comes with 'Extended Grip' function for improved traction in loose and slippery conditions; we've not had to use it yet.

Thanks to everyone who commented. That’s given me some new options to research. @Pastlast the pothole comment made me laugh as my kids already moan if I hit the many potholes too fast!

Hi thanks so much for recommending this option. Been researching and looks good. The only downside appears to be the boot-how do you find it?

We’ve got a hyaundai Santa Fe. Found the Skoda too tight in the boot seats ( youngest already 5’6)

We have a Discovery for the same reason, plus a massive towing capacity.

We have only used the 2 boot seats for kids' friends so far, and not over massive distances. We needed 3 full seats in the rear for car seats, and now both teens are taller than me and I'm 5'8". The youngest won't be far behind them. It's a great motorway car as well.

We have had a Kia sorrento, Skoda kodiaq and now on xc90.
xc90 is my favourite by a long way. But also the most expensive.
Sorrento was massive. Not as nice to drive as Kodiaq or XC90.
Kodiaq felt the smallest out of the three, but equally maybe as (didn’t really think about this before buying it), we had a sporty model so the seats were a bit more bucket seat like? The three kids (two teens and one in a HBB) moaned there wasn’t enough room.

We only have two DCs so don't often have the third row in use. The third row is two individual seats which can be folded down and tumbled forward, just like on 7 seater estates from the 80s like the Peugeot 505 and the Renault 21. Like this, the boot is as is useful as any car on the market - it's huge, and has a low floor compared to the SUVs. Each seat can also be removed completely, making it even bigger.

When the third row seats are up and in use, the space left behind is about what you'd get in something like a Hyundai i10 or Kia Picanto - you can get a few shopping bags in, but not much more. But most mid size 7 seaters are like this - we didn't think the Kodiaq was any better, nor was the Peugeot 5005. If you want luggage space as well as 7 seats you'd be looking at one of the huge SUVs or perhaps a long wheelbase van-based MPV.

I'd strongly suggest you get down to your local Dacia dealer and just have a climb around. This is a car you either 'get' or you don't.

Thank you, that is sound advice!