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Original poster

Please help me choose the right 7 seater!

61 replies

LazyDoll · 15/12/2019 21:59

I have a Honda FRV which I love. 6 seater. 3 full adult seats front and back. Massive cabin. Good size boot. Need to replace it as it’s getting old. Need 3 full seats as we travel to France in the summer and to Devon regularly and need plenty of room or my 3 sons will drive me insane bickering. We can’t downsize to a 5 seater as we always need room for friends so guessing I need a 7 seater. Need massive boot as we do a lot of active camping holidays. Don’t like typical mpvs like CMax as feel I’m driving a ‘mum bus’ Blush. Have thought about Volvo and also VW caravelles/shuttles. Can anyone help. Budget does not stretch to a Disco or a Lexus and I don’t like Mercedes or BMWs Confused. Also I hear bad things about parking the XC90s ....

OP posts:
Rainingdogsandcats · 15/12/2019 22:01

Vw Sharan. I've had no e 6 years from 13 miles on the clock and I love it. Sturdy, safe, workhorse.

Canyousewcushions · 15/12/2019 22:05

Seat alhambra- basically the same as the VW sharan (same design/components etc) but cheaper as it doesn't have the VW badge on it!

Original poster
LazyDoll · 15/12/2019 22:08

BlushI'm afraid I just can’t face those sort of cars. I feel like I’d be entirely selling my soul to parenthood. I find them really pedestrian and I want something a bit less Mum (but also got to be practical!). Don’t want to offend anyone’s choice of car and I know the FRV isn’t to everyone’s taste but that’s The furthest my line goes and I can’t cross it Hmm

OP posts:
MakeLemonade · 15/12/2019 22:10

Have you looked at the seven seater CRV?

RoxanneMonke · 15/12/2019 22:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ImADadButThatsOKIsntIt · 15/12/2019 22:11

Just bought a Toyota Verso. Absolutely love that I feel like I am driving a car not a van. However if your kids are aged over 10, the back row might be a struggle and the boot is tiny with the rear row of seats up.

Original poster
LazyDoll · 15/12/2019 22:11

Make is the oldest one 18 plate? I think we’re looking at 16 plate ish budget wise but I DO think that ticks my other (very fussy Blush) boxes perfectly Grin

OP posts:
AnneElliott · 15/12/2019 22:12

I've got a 7 seater VW Tiguan and I really love it. Easy to park as well.

Kerberos · 15/12/2019 22:12

I'm on my 3rd smax. Honestly I love it.

Original poster
LazyDoll · 15/12/2019 22:13

12, 10 and 8. Need 3 full adult seats in back. Extra 2 not so fussed about as they’ll only be used taxiing to footy etc.

OP posts:
mollibu · 15/12/2019 22:13

Just came on to also say the Tiguan Allspace! (7 seater version of the Tiguan)

Original poster
LazyDoll · 15/12/2019 22:15

Mollibu thank you I’ll check it out.

OP posts:
Original poster
LazyDoll · 15/12/2019 22:16

And Anne Flowers

OP posts:
KellyMarieTunstall2 · 15/12/2019 22:17

Volvo XC90 is the best car we've ever had. We've taken it all over Europe with a caravan, 3 kids and 2 dogs. It's spacious comfy and lovely to drive. No probs with parking, it's got a camera and sensors.

HotSince82 · 15/12/2019 22:22

I've got a citroen grande C4.
Its a total fam wagon but its very spacious inside and a pleasure to drive, however as I said; stylish it is not.

HereForTheHelp · 15/12/2019 22:23

I've just ordered a Peugeot Rifter and I loved it. I took it out for a test drive and didn't want to bring it back! I've gone for a higher range one so I can have a bit of tech and it doesn't feel like a 'Mum car' Grin

My fave bit about it is the fact the bank window opens like a mini boot so you don't have to worry about a tonne of clearance when parking in the shops!

Please help me choose the right 7 seater!
HereForTheHelp · 15/12/2019 22:23

And it's got 3 full seats in the middle row, all with isofix!

Guineapigbridge · 15/12/2019 22:24

VW Sharan. It is a mum car, I can confirm it. Drives like shit. Interior configuration is flexible and large though. Which justifies it.

Guineapigbridge · 15/12/2019 22:25

I love the sliding doors on the Sharan.

For real cool points you could go for a Tesla Model X.

LBOCS2 · 15/12/2019 22:26

Parking an XC90 is absolutely fine, as long as you can, you know, park. I suspect the rumours about them being difficult to park are spread by people who also couldn't park a Fiat 500 but it's less obvious because the space to car ratio is larger...

amibeingacunexttuesday · 15/12/2019 22:27

Seat tarraco

amibeingacunexttuesday · 15/12/2019 22:28

Or Mitsubishi Outlander

Elpheba · 15/12/2019 22:30

Love my Kia Sorento too- high spec and feels a joy to drive. Almost looking forward to the long drive to family at Christmas...

VaguelySensible · 15/12/2019 22:41

Toyota Prius+

Looks like a curvy estate car. 3 adult seats in middle row, but floor-space in front of the middle seat may be a bit tight for massive teenage hooves. 3rd row seats comfy for adults under 6'.

Boot is a small estate.

Really nice to drive.

christma5 · 15/12/2019 22:50

I recently had this dilemma, I ended up getting a disco but obviously researched everything. I like you didn't want a people carrier type thing. I actually really Volvo and we've had really good experiences with them (not xc90 though), they're really well made etc.
Since driving my disco I'v noticed that cars that I would have previously considered big are actually really quite small, I'm talking lots of the Kia's and nissans. So just watch out for that.