4 children- do we need a bus?!?

[KenIsAnAccessory]

All will be in car seats for at least the first few years. 1 x infant, 1 x toddler with 3 point restraint, 1 high back booster, 1 booster cushion. We currently have a '7 seater' which is really a 5 seater with an extra row that leaves no space for a buggy/coats luggage etc.

Could buy a doona and keep same car, but then still no dedicated boot space as can't have the parcel shelf in with 1 child in the back row (can leave one seat folded down but would mean any luggage unrestrained so would fly about in an accident).

Any recommendations for a car that would suit us? We generally go second hand and relatively budget.

When we had this issue I typed it all into chatGPT and it was really helpful. Tell it your children’s ages height, current car seats etc. your budget, country

When I had 5 kids all in car seats I had a Zafira and it worked well for us.

I have a Volvo XC90.
2 in car seats on the middle row and 2 behind.
we had a galaxy before that. Both fitted a double (baby jogger) in the boot.
we do have a roof box for holidays though.

Xc90 is amazing. Pricey but plenty of room.

We managed with a qashqi+2 when we had dts. With the double buggy, we had an umbrella fold cosatto and it fitted in the boot space that was left. Shopping was done when the big kids were at preschool/school. Holidays meant we used a roof box. 2 in rear facing in the middle row. Then hbb for dd and a harnessed hbb type for ds until he was old enough for just the seatbelt. We've still got one now the twins are 12 and the older two are 14 and 16. Rear boot seats are a little cramped so looking at the xc90 or Skoda Kodiak. Just because of the miles I do. Otherwise I'd be looking at the hyundai i800 as its more bus like and space for extra kids/relatives plus shopping or luggage.

I don’t know whether Fiat Multipla is still available, or the Honda FRV. They worked brilliantly when I had 4.
Failing that a zafira, with a luggage net to keep the boot contents secure for the child in the back.

We have 4 now grown dc's and the best family car we've ever had is a Chrysler voyager with stow and go (underfloor storage). Was an amazing car, so much room!

I had 6 kids in 8 years. We had a zafria and it was brilliant. We also had a 9 seater Mercedes Vito.

I had 6 kids in 8 years. We had a zafria and it was brilliant. We also had a 9 seater Mercedes Vito.

I drive a 14 seater mini bus. We upgraded when we had our 8th child, we use to have an 8 seater toyota tarago van but it was obviously 2 small and we had to take 2 cars everywhere if my husband joined us. In the toyota hiace bus We keep the very back row folded up so the car has 11 usable seats and we have all that huge back space for grocery hauls, we pick up furniture, we get all our renovating stuff. Plenty of room. I must say it's not the most comfortable for long trips. And here is Australia you have to have a small bus licence to use all 14 seats but once you learn to get around and park it (need to reverse park into all parking spaces or you can't get in or out) its quite a great bus. We also can't park undercover anywhere so parking in like city areas gets a bit of a pain in the butt.

If you’re using one seat in the boot row, bungee down any luggage so it’s not a hazard. This is what we plan to do when number 4 arrives.

Still need a bigger car though but can’t decide what to go for

Have you seen the Multimatic childens' car seat?
It fits 4 kids across the back seat, leaving the third row/boot for luggage.
You wil probably still need a van or larger car when the kids grow out of car seats.

We have an xc90 and a VW Sharan. Both brilliant cars and as we go old too cost between 6-8k each.

VW has 5 isofixes but a smaller boot with all seats up. The sliding doors are brilliant though.

the Volvo is awesome too and has slightly more boot space, plus we have a roof basket (cost £80). The xc90 has a built in booster in the middle of the back seat too.

the Volvo xc90 is more expensive to run as it’s diesel and our VW is petrol.

VW caravelle........plenty of boot space and three proper rows of seats suitable for when they are teenagers, (they last a very long time, mine lasted for 25 years).

Look at the i800. We had three of them. So much room and 8 seats plus a full sized boot.But yes, like a bus!

We can fit 5 children (not all ours!) in big car seats in our Seat Alhambra - 3 in the middle row and 2 in the back.

Plus it's cheaper to run and not as bad for the environment as an SUV.

My friend has 5 kids ranging from toddler to early teens & has a minivan with lots of boot space:
www.autotrader.co.uk
7 Seater Mercedes-Benz V Class cars for sale

Ford Tourneo is the same size as a Vito or I800 but can be more flexible with seat orientation and set up. And is cheaper! Even with all 7 or 8 seats up the boot is massive.

ETA we upgraded from Sharan/Galaxy size car and it turns and parks more easily. The sliding doors are brilliant.

We had a few over the years but the best was a Mercedes Viano, now called the v class. It had 8 full size seats and meant that the kids could have a seat in between them for long journeys. And space to carry a couple of others if required whilst still having a useable boot.

Peugeot Travellers/ Toyota/Vauxhall version sort of thing. 8 seats.
plenty of space for pushchairs.
Isofix on 6 seats.
Full size seats for room for adults and no real climbing over each other.
Plenty of space for potties and toilets 😂
Much cheaper than VW (if not as cool) and slightly more sophisticated than the Hyundai version.
Maybe the Ford version but I have no experience with that.

We have a i800 and love it- 8 seater & still loads of room in the boot. Just be careful what year you buy as pre 2019 I think have higher road tax.