Big boot, 7 seats, 4WD

[Brian9600]

Hello

Any recs for a new car? I need an enormous boot (current car is E class Mercedes estate which is just about big enough), a 7 seat option (5 + flip up seats in the boot, ideally, as we only need the extras occasionally, 4WD and plenty of headroom as DH is 6’5”.

Budget is about £20k second hand. Need two be ULEZ compliant for that price which is a bit limiting- I think a Discovery ticks all my boxes but might be too expensive. What’s like a Discovery but cheaper?

Thanks.

To not two 😂

4 wheel drives should be banned. Unless you're a farmer.

Why?

Why do you need/specify 4WD though?

Volvo XC90 seems the obvious choice or maybe the Nissan Pathfinder which is a behemoth.

I'm watching with interest!! I have this same dilemma- need a large amount of boot space- which writes of pretty much all the suv's currently on the market- which has left me feeling the Volvo XC90 vibe as well- but they are expensive - the other option was the WV Toureg- but apparently their back axel is prone to problems- and quite expensive to boot- and even more expensive to fix when it breaks apparently

I am not sure of the costs but this article gives recommendations for the 10 best SUV 4x4s
inews.co.uk/essentials/lifestyle/cars/car-features/10-best-7-seat-suvs-4x4s/

How much do you really need 4 wheel drive? I live in rural Sweden and drive on gravel tracks all year and ice for 5-6 months but have never owned a 4x4.

Your DH will need to test drive to check the driving position - my DH is 6'8 and drives a Corsa to work.

Hi OP it's funny you ask this as there is currently a thread running regarding 4x4s (and their drivers) and it's been kicking off

If four wheel drive is not essential the Seat Alhambra is amazing. Really spacious.

Thanks for these answers- I’ll have a look at the recommendations.

Bad timing for me to ask about 4x4s 😂 We need to be able to get to a remote bit of Scotland year round and I’ve found 4x4 makes a huge difference in snow and ice, especially on hills. I take my hat off to Lunde for managing without- do you use chains?

4WD is great for driving in snow and ice, but so are the right tyres. I own a large 4WD which I needed for towing a large horse trailer but no longer need to tow, so will be downsizing this year. I want a capable car as I live a ways down a dirt track in a forest at the top of a very steep hill, and I would like a big boot, but a large 4WD is not top of my list. They are very heavy, guzzle fuel (if I downgrade to something like a Mitsu Outlander I will save £1500 a year in fuel alone, plus the tax) and you really only need something that big if you are going to be towing or driving seriously off road through deep mud and rivers. Otherwise most cars, competently driven and fitted with the correct tyres, should get you over gravel and snow.

Further to what Lunde says, I hired a Skoda estate in Sweden in the depths of winter. It wasn't 4WD and other than winter tyres there were no alterations made to it. It performed very well on roads that were very snowy, including some steep hilly parts. Most of the other drivers in Sweden were just driving ordinary cars too.

4WDs are fab, but you are not going to get one that complies with the ULEZ due to the size of engine and associated fuel consumption needed to power a vehicle of that size. I think you would be better off looking at some of the lighter weight 7 seat SUVs. These are designed with fuel economy and family life in mind.

Watching with interest.

I currently have a Mercedes ML, which is grand but only five seats. Am considering a 7-seater, but also need room for big dogs as well as six people. Also need to get to and from a remote rural location in all weathers.

Having driven abroad in plenty of snow and in normal cars there are two things I found made a major difference - winter tyres and that the countries are set up for bad weather. The UK isn't, as a rule, and that makes a whole heap of difference. Plus, having snow tyres on here is a pita as one day it could be deep snow and two days later its all gone.

I’ve got all terrain tyres on and really only need to engage 4WD when I’m towing a heavy trailer out of a muddy field. The right tyres make more difference than 4WD - not long after I got my car (it still had its old low profile road tyres on) I drove it into a field. We nearly got stuck and no amount of 4WD was getting us out. I think if you are buying into the ‘I really need 4WD’ mentality you should be prepared to have the right kit too. A big heavy 4WD will cost you more in fuel over the year than a less thirsty car and the right tyres.

Ssangyong Turismo for space including some when 7 seats in use. Don't know about Ulez. Ssangyong Rexton more typical 4x4 size, has 7 seats but not much space behind when all in use, excellent towing vehicle.

Hey guys I just saw driving on this can someone help me with my car insurance ..I've had to change over to a seven seater and my car insurance is saying the can't cover for that .. ok fine well I put down 600 and there saying that they won't give me that back because I'm cancelling . Well I wouldn't be going anywhere of they could cover so technically it's not my fault how do I get the money back please someone help me?

As for the insurance question. When did the policy start and what was the cost. If it was 12 months for £600 and you're on month 11 then the cancellation fee could wipe all that out.

Also you are cancelling. Changing the car is not like moving house. You had a policy for a specific car. Getting a new car means cancelling the old policy and starting a new one

Did they give a reason why they wouldn't insure you on a seven seater? What were you driving.

We have the Tiguan Allspace which I think you can have 4WD option. We love it. Boot is small when the 2 additional seats are up though. The XC 90 has one of the largest boots with the 7 seats up but unlikely to get one registered after June 2017 to meet your ULEZ requirements with your budget.

What about a double cab van? We have a BMW saloon for every day and a double cab Vivaro which doubles up for DPs business and holidays etc. Huge boot space in that and 6 seats (not sure whether you need the 7th).
There are quite a few options in that market and they're being used for family vehicles now more I think.

we have this exact same problem. We need a 4x4 as we tow with it, but need to get through ulez as I drive in to central brum once a week. I can't find anything under £15k except mitsu outlanders which makes me worry there is something wrong with them.

What did you get op?

@Brian9600

The Skoda Kodiaq meets all your requirements including ULEZ. Not sure how the boot works for you but it borrows a lot of its underpinnings from the same modular system that produces the Superb, which is huge and pretty much the only car which competes with the E-class for cargo space.

Where you might struggle is getting one under budget - there are plenty around at the £20k mark or just over it, but not all will have 7 seats or 4x4.

Left field suggestion here: Citroen Berlingo.

The XL version of the new model has seven seats (rearmost ones are completely removable) and an absolutely enormous boot area without them which would shame the E-class estate. Being based on a van means headroom is not an issue - a 6'5" bloke could probably wear a top hat inside.

There's no 4WD option but if you go for mid-range Flair trim then it is available with something called Grip Control, which uses the traction control system to keep you going in snow/ice/sand, plus Hill Descent Control like you get on Land Rovers. The Grip Control option means the car comes with all-season tyres too. The (few) reviews I've read about the set-up, which is also what Citroen/Peugeot fit to their SUVs (which are not 4WD) suggests it works very, very well. I remember 20-odd years ago that Volvo were doing a lot of research on such systems rather than heading down the four wheel drive route.

I can't imagine many used third generation Berlingos are available at the moment, and few will have Grip Control, but with a decent discount you may find a brand new one is within spitting distance of the £20k budget.

All versions meet Euro 6 emissions standards, so are ULEZ-compliant, but you have to go for diesel to get Flair trim and thus the option of Grip Control.

Ford Expedition, Chevrolet Tahoe or Suburban all fit the requirements. I love our expedition

We have a 16 year old discovery 3 and I love it. Well, well within your budget. You will get a discovery, just go older. They’re built to last for years!

But an older disco won't be OK for ulez?

The Ford Explorer is a good car for this but I don't think available in the UK?

The Ford Exhibition is larger still if want maximum space as is the Suburban.