Best car for 4, 2 and 0

[Rubbishdriver]

I know there are loads of similar threads on here, but I’m still seeking help.

Baby 3 due soon. Others will be almost 2 and and almost 4.

Currently don’t have a car at all, so I’ve no clue where to start! Haven’t driven for years as was living in London. Am almost certainly going to need some lessons.

Husband wants a 7-seater. I can see why. BUT will it be like driving a tank?! I’d be prepared to put up with the inconvenience of squeezing myself in for longer journeys in order to avoid something that’s too big to even take to the supermarket.

Any recommendations, wise MN people?!

I was always told the ford S-Max as you can get three car seats in a row. Otherwise it’s pricer jump to other cars like the Q7

Definitely agree Ford S Max, was amazing car, still miss ours...!!

Ooh this looks like it could work! Is it less chunky than something like eg. Volvo V90? Seems to be cheaper too, which appeals! I really don’t care about cars at all, just want something safe and functional.

We've got 3 kids and also the S-max, it's big but definitely not too big to be used every day (we do). It's our only car. Flexible, massive boot, the 3 full seats is an advantage obviously for car seats, with ones so little you will be using car seats for a while. We got ours when they were 5, 3 and 0 and now they are 10, 8 and 5 and starting to come out of car seats it's still brill. When you put all the rear seats down it's also basically a van, which is awesome for tip runs and when we moved house. We can get a 7 foot Christmas tree and all 5 of us in there with one child in boot, take friends to places with the extra seats. When it dies we will probably get something smaller but it will be a sad day

do you care about cars and specs? If not Dacia jogger has 7seats and is reasonable. 3 car seats across the back is tricky but if getting a 7 seater I’d want to know about crash safety at the rear.

Less chunky, the extra boot seats are so useful and loads of storage, all over the place! We had 3 in succession and loved them.

Yes the boot seats look handy! Kind of a compromise between having the full seven seater, but gives the option of extra space if we have someone over!

We are on our second Ford Galaxy - we bought our first with a new born, 2 and 4 year old. We now have a 14, 16 and 18 year old. Whilst it is 'big' I love it. All 7 seats are full sized seats so plenty of room to take grandparents, friends, etc. I know that at some point my boys will leave home and I will have to get a 'normal' car but I will miss the Galaxy!

Mine are 9,5 & 2. Would also recommend an S-Max.
Still have 3 car seats in the back. Great boot space. Flexible with the extra seats and it doesn't feel huge to drive.
I feel like I might downsize to the C-max at some point as eldest doesn't 'need' a car seat anymore.
I really like the S-max and at one point had a baby car seat, 360 spin seat and booster seat across the back.. loads of room!!

I don’t like the S-Max and Galaxy type cars because a) it feels like you’re driving a bus and b) unless you have them all in the middle there’s not much boot space and even if you do have them in the middle, the rear seats aren’t easy to move out the way.

we’ve got the Peugeot 5008 which is a 7 seater but usually we have our three all rear facing in the middle row and then have the rear two seats folded down so we have a massive boot. It’s perfect

Also we don’t do lots of long distance driving and do a lot of short city trips instead so a diesel wasn’t ideal for us. Peugeot 5008 is easy to get as a petrol model whereas S-max and Galaxy are mainly diesels. Same for Seat Alhambra

Vw touran

Ford Galaxy everytime

Mercedes EQB and GLB are space saver 7 seaters. Pop up seats in the back if you don't want a bulky one.

We had a VW Touran for those ages. I absolutely loved it and still drive one now the youngest is 18. It feels very much like a normal car rather than a van, and its footprint is small enough (for that class of vehicle) that it's fine in some surprisingly tight spaces. My 6 foot 20 year old still wants to sit in the pop up seats in the back, and they were hugely useful when the kids were little and we were ferrying friends around.

Go for one with sliding doors as it is so much easier in tight car park spots. And with a car like that all the spots are tight.

Seat Alhambra or VW Sharan fit the bill

Yes they are huge but with three kids and luggage you need huge.

Mercedes S class.

Got the same ages across the middle of a 5008 with maxi cosi baby and toddler seats and a joie upright for nearly 5 year old. Back seats are easy to pull up and the, now two, upright seats can go in there quickly. Only thing is ours a diesel but hey ho

We got a citroen spacetourer. I love it, so comfortable. 3 isofix across the back, 2 extra seats in the boot folded down so huge boot. It's practical, not sexy at all but exactly what we need.

Nothing would be sexy with me carting three kids about in it, so v happy not to even try 😂😂