Flexible family car with big boot... Settle our 'debate'!

[Indecisivelurcher]

I want an estate. Dh wants a hatchback. An mpv might even be an option. We just can't agree! Hit me up with your recommendations please mumsnet!

Must be able to fit 2 car seats without getting kneed in the back. D-dog must be able to fit comfortably and jump in himself. I'd like to be able to sling kids bikes in the boot. Got to be efficient and comfortable, style optional!

We've currently got a dying Renault megane estate which has been brill but dh thinks too big / defo no bigger. And a seat ibiza hatchback which is pretty cramped. We're going down to one car.

Renault kadjar for mpv? Roomy, big boot and low enough for ddog to hop in.

The 3008 boot is able to be swapper between having a lip and not having one (for more space vs easier loading) :)

You could perhaps get one of those fold out steps or ramps.

We’ve got a Ford grand C-Max and love it. A good bit smaller than the S-Max, but still a big boot, extra seats for occasional use, no boot lip for the dog and slidey back doors that are brilliant for kids in car parks.

Most of the people carrier mpv types like the Ford grand C-max, I'm not finding any automatics, which seems bizarre. I'll probably still go look. But was hoping to not have knee pain.

Jeep renegade?

You can get an auto Zafira, I briefly owned one as it was good for a double buggy.

There seem to be a few Toyota Verso automatics about?
A Mazda 5 auto might also be possible, but they are few and far between?

I found that there are very few cars of the type you are looking at that came in the holy grail of petrol automatic.... the Verso does, the citroen grand picasso and the ford S - max, also the golf estate some of the Japanese models like the Toyota Avensis.

The Peugeot 3008 the skodas and lots of others only do either petrol manual or automatic diesel. Its a real pain.

On my list are available locally so can see in the flesh - all petrol automatics in price range just about.
Vauxhall astra /estate
Skoda octavia /estate
Seat Leon /estate
Honda civic /estate
Ford focus estate
Toyota auris estate (hybrid)
Vauxhall Zafira tourer
Ford grand c-max

Have a look at the BMW 2 series Active Tourer. It's their version of an MPV. We've got a 2018 plate automatic diesel. It's a beautiful car to drive. Spacious but doesn't feel massive, easy to park and we can fit two suitcases and a wheelchair in the boot.

I have got a Volvo v50 - it’s a smallish estate. It is great. Years ago I had a Volvo v70 but I thought that was 2 big but I did have a caravan to tow at the time.

I have a Volkswagen Tiguan. I love it have two older children and 3 dogs. X

And the Volvo v50 is quite low at the back so dogs can jump in easily.

On face value I think the boots of all the recent recommendations sound small, all in the low 400s. So I'm thinking not much more than our ibiza which is 355. Our estate is 580. Would like something between the two in theory so mid 450-550 ideally with roomy back seats. Will write it all down 😉

I previously had a VW Tiguan (SUV) and as much as I liked it I never really got used to how poorly it handled, like a cruise liner going round a corner, basically just wallowing everywhere

I now have an Audi A4 estate, handles much better and the boot is far superior to the Tiguan. The problem with the boots on the SUV's that I've seen is that although they are high, they aren't very deep

An estate has a deep boot. No plans to buy an SUV again but will definitely be looking at estates from now on. Why would anybody want a saloon when you can have an estate?

Any VAG estate will be ideal.