Car for 3dcs - Volvo XC90 or Land Rover Discovery or Ford SMax (or something else similar?)

[MrsJohnDeere]

Surprise/shock pregnancy means we are going to need a new car in the next few months. It will need to fit 2 children in booster seats (will be 5 and 7 years old) and one baby. Ideally we'd like the older ones not to be immediately adjacent to each other (out of hitting each other reach). Needs to have decent sizes boot that can fit a pushchair and at least one dog too.

Dh is a bit of a car snob and will not entertain anything from Vauxhall, Citroen, Renault. He doesn't like the look of whatever the big BMW is (too 'drug dealer' apparently).

He's reluctantly considering the SMax because our most reliable car in the past was a Ford. His heart is set on a Land Rover (I hate the look of them and the thought of parking one terrifies me) but we know quite a few people who've found them unreliable.

Any experiences - good or bad - of these cars? Any suggestions for alternatives?

If we could find a normal estate car that could for 3 seats across that would shit us far more. Seen mixed reports about the Mondeo and car seats.

Audi Q7 for the win.

No to Hondas - SIL has one and the ride makes me and dh feel sick. Not keen on the boot either.

Also no to any Audi. We had a an A6 until 4 years ago that gave us nothing but trouble. The local dealership/garage employs the rudest people you could ever meet, and we don't want to give them our money. Dh popped by a few weeks ago to see if they'd changed, but they hadn't!

I know one family who have a huge old Volvo, it's quite long, they fit three large-ish children in the back from toddler upwards, all in RF seats.

I'd LOVE one of these. But I appreciate it isn't very modern and with-it.

I think the Seat Alhambra is meant to be good too. Your DH won't entertain any of these will he

Also I wonder how reliable the Defender is, in terms of LRs. Probably even less - I don't know.

I'd be going for something a bit less fuel hungry anyway but sounds like you've ruled out those options.

My next door neighbour has a LR that seems to frequently leak oil/oily fluids.

What about a Mazda CX-7?

Nissan qasqai+2? Just got one ourselves recently and loving it for space so far, although only 2 dc but they're 2 and 7 months so need lots of space and obviously feels like kitchen sink comes with us on most days put! Also hybrid 2/4 wd so good compromise.

honda crv is great, but just seen you don't want a honda (shame, mine has been fab)

xc90 was ridiculously fuel inefficient, imo, when I had one.

what about a vw passat? not tried one yet, but eyeing it up as my next car when we change my honda, although will be sad to lose the crv, it has honestly been fantastic (and I drive a lot - 70+ miles a day just on school runs!)

Not sure why you need a bigger car? Mine, 4, 6 and 15 months are able to get in the back of a Volvo. You just need to get small booster seats.

We cannot fit 3 across the rear of our current car (Subaru estate). It is one of the narrowest estate cars on the market.

My friend had an XC90 which she loved until the electrics started playing up and it kept cutting out on the freeway (This was in the US). Volvo refused to acknowledge a problem so she ditched it for a Nissan Murano. Loves it.

By the way, another vote here for the CR-V. Never had a problem with the ride - could it have been your friend's driving?? Although the boot shape is a bit odd, I admit - and the tailgate drips on you in the rain. Apart from that, I love it.

oh god, the tailgate drips from my crv are infuriating. but still a fab car. wish they'd sort that design flaw though, 'tis a real bugger

We have an Audi A6 Avant estate and have fitted 3 car seats across the back. We LOVE this car; Audi's are so reliable and it has a massive boot. My DH is also a car snob! MY only gripe is that the suspension is quite low so it might not be good for a rural area (we're city dwellers), but have you considered the Audi Q3 or Q5?