Which car for a large family

[Debs75]

We have 4dc's, 16, 13, 3 and 1 and currently we have a KJia Sedona through Mobilty.
That goes back in September and we can't get it again as they have changed the rules.
What car is good for these ages where one dc can sit in the boot area comfortably and safely and still has enough room for 2 car seats, 1 extended rear facing in the middle?

Ford galaxy.

Volvo XC90?

Ford Galaxy, VW Sharan, Seat Alhambra (basically all the same car, but Galaxies are my preference). Full size adult seats in the third row (unlike Zafira's which are tiny and unusuable by anyone over 4ft 9), but you'll need to shove the middle row seats forward to give them enough leg room.

Have heard good things about Fiat Multipla too but I just can't bear the look of them.

Can you sit a tall child/young adult comfortably in the rear seats?
The Sedona has loads of room in the rear so ds can sit in one seat and we take the other seat out for dd3's pram. Can you do that in the Galaxy?
Do they have isofix fittings?

Galaxy you can comfortably fit adults in third row. About the same interior length as the Sedona but noticeably narrower. We own a Sedona & I loathe it for the width & lousy turning radius. Seats come out easily, I know cyclists who bring 1 child + 2 adult bikes in back of their Galaxy, room for another passenger in back, even.

Yes, as Ragged says, adults fit comfortably in the third row. You can fit a pram in the boot area if it's folded up. I had an Urban Detour in mine.
All seats come out and you can move them into different combinations.
Newer models have Isofix I think.

We have an Alhambra - you can fit kids or small-ish adults (up to around 5'6) quite comfortably in the back seat. It's got a really good seat folding facility, so if you only have 4 kids using it regularly you can keep one of the back seats folded down most of the time which makes it much easier to get in and out of the remaining back seat via the boot.

I have a Nissan Qashqui +2 and i have children aged 17, 16, 12 and 11 and we all fit in and manage to put hubbys wheelchair with wheels off in the extra seat x

Whilst our family are now teenagers and more we have had an 8 seater Ford Transit Tourneo for 8 years. It has been brilliant. There are/have been at least two other large families in our area with the same or 9 seater version.

It may just look like a box on wheels but they it is comfortable and roomy. Three rows of seats plus a good sized boot. You do not have to choose between either people or luggage. Think of calling the boot the "crumple zone" and wonder about the safety of those in the back seat of your car. I have no worries.

Yes it's wide, but it can take an adult bike no problem. Yes it's a bit high, but we still get into the car park at Bristol IKEA! The wing mirrors are absolutely fantastic. All cars should have them!

It's Ford, so no problem with spares or service.

I would say that you need to look around for decent insurance.

If Torneo is a 9 seater, doesn't that put it into own awful insurance band? I'm sure I've heard a horror story.