Bigger car but not suv

[billandtedsexcellentadventure]

I’ve got a fiesta. Lovely but I want a newer slightly bigger car. I don’t want anything huge like a sportave but cannot think of what sort to get. It’s mainly to cart my kids around and get to and from work. Any suggestions.

I have a Seat Arona and love it. Previously had a Seat Ibiza but needed something with more space in the back to accommodate teens. It’s bigger than the Ibiza both in the cabin and the boot, but not as big as a Kia Sportage, Nissan Qashquai etc.

I love my Ford Puma

Focus?

Golf

How many kids and how old are they?

What's your budget?

If you like the Fiesta I would look at a Focus.

I was going to say a Puma. They look cute but have a bit more space than a fiesta.

If you like your fiesta I'd get a focus. There are some great deals on them and they come with a very high spec. I'm on my 3rd one and love them.

I didn't like the Puma they look like an ugly bug and space for the price is poor.

About 12k for a used car. Got a 12 and 8 year old

All things being equal, I would have suggested a Dacia Jogger: MPV rather than SUV and plenty of space for the kids (and their friends) in a vehicle that looks big and is extremely big inside but actually fairly small externally when you get the measuring tape out. But your budget would limit you to the earliest, high miler 1.0 petrol versions.

If that doesn't appeal, have you thought about a Skoda Octavia? Archetypal family car, plenty of space, plenty around on the used market with lots of engine/transmission options.

A few have suggested the Ford Puma which is an SUV-crossover based on the Fiesta. You'll be hauling around a lot more metal for a vehicle that looks big but without any more in the way of actual space.

@InveterateWineDrinkerooh thank you!! Going to look at those online now. Thank you

I think next up from a fiesta without having an SUV would be things like a golf, focus, astra, mazda 3, Seat leon, Honda Civic

Mini countryman. Much bigger than you’d think, stylish and well made.

Look at the Skoda Octavia. We have had 2 now, over the last 12 years, reliable, reasonably priced, huge boot with seats up, and massive when they are down. We have been delighted with them.

Mazda 2 sport ❤️

Hyundai Kona?

@billandtedsexcellentadventureA mini countryman. High build quality and spacious. Easy and fun to drive. Much better than a Ford!

Love my Suzuki S cross. Not as big as my mokka but that was dying on us so had to go. £13k 21 plate. It’s so good on petrol as well, as it’s hybrid.

Seat Arona, Mini Countryman and Suzuki S cross are all SUVs OP

We have a Focus and love it. Lots of space. Puma is a Fiesta base so unless you need boot space I’d go for the Focus (and the leg room). We also have a mini but I prefer the Focus.

Octavia Estate

Recommend Mazda 3 or Mazda 6 depending on preferred size and current market selling. I have had several Mazdas and they are super reliable plus come with many features as standard

The thing is a lot of SUVs are just smaller cars made taller. They probably aren’t as big as you think - certainly not on the inside. My car is a 3 series estate and it looks massive on the outside but the inside isn’t much bigger (excluding boot but even still) than my previous one series. Another example is that a Nissan pulsar is longer than a qashqai but you couldn’t tell from looking.

test drive a few. It’s the only way you’ll know but look for medium hatchbacks or estates (which will be bigger than an suv but not as tall)

@Noshowlomo The Vauxhall Mokka is a Do Not Buy on the What Car analysis. It’s crap. Any 4 or 5 star car rated by What Car is up to the job. Depends on whether you want a high quality build and interior or something adequate that doesn’t wear well. Same with equipment. Some basic models have a poor level of equipment. I’d always read magazines on line for detail as they compare every car. Not just a few owned by MN posters who own and drive very few cars and cannot easily make comparisons.