Family car recommendations?

[Oneflewover]

My wife and I are going round and round circles....we need your help! Our current car, a VW Touran, needs a fair amount of money spending on it so we are looking to replace it. We've been happy with it, in particular the size, versatility and solid build. We've got 3 kids between 6 and 14, want petrol because we don't do huge numbers of miles and want 3 proper seats in the back. Could be labelled SUV, MPV or estate but we want plenty of boot space.

Got up to £15k to spend. What do you recommend? Cheers!

 

[Clint]

Biggest boot space I found was a Zafira. Best overall Nissan Quashqai...I've had four "squashies " as I call them..I too need a petrol engine...the best engine before DPF I thought was the 1.5 diesel,I now got the 1.2 DigT petrol which is great. In holiday mode we do just fine with enough gear for me and her and the two kids..three dogs, metal detectors and fishing stuff...you get a real nice one for your £.

 

[Benfleet Brewery]

Hmm, we are in a similar position. I’ve been looking at the Mitsubishi Outlander Plug in Hybrid. It has a range on battery of 30 miles which would cover 90% of our journeys and petrol to do longer and make sure we never get stranded. Can’t vouch for what they are like in practice though I’m afraid.

 

[honeymonster]

I've got a Dacia Duster, plenty room in the back and the boot is massive. No kids to put in it but I could if I wanted to, haha! You'd get change off of £15,000 for one of the basic models.

 

[Oneflewover]

Biggest boot space I found was a Zafira. Best overall Nissan Quashqai...I've had four "squashies " as I call them..I too need a petrol engine...the best engine before DPF I thought was the 1.5 diesel,I now got the 1.2 DigT petrol which is great. In holiday mode we do just fine with enough gear for me and her and the two kids..three dogs, metal detectors and fishing stuff...you get a real nice one for your £.

Thanks Clint, I too need room for the fishing gear!

 

[Oneflewover]

I've got a Dacia Duster, plenty room in the back and the boot is massive. No kids to put in it but I could if I wanted to, haha! You'd get change off of £15,000 for one of the basic models.

Safety ratings is the one thing that I've been told to be wary of....

 

[Oneflewover]

Hmm, we are in a similar position. I’ve been looking at the Mitsubishi Outlander Plug in Hybrid. It has a range on battery of 30 miles which would cover 90% of our journeys and petrol to do longer and make sure we never get stranded. Can’t vouch for what they are like in practice though I’m afraid.

Cheers, why the outlander in particular?

 

[marshbrewer]

Skoda Octavia hatch. I've got one, it's like a tardis. I've got the thrilling 1.6 derv, and it's fine; the petrol version might suit you. Great MPG. Lots of toys. Comfy. Reliable. Handles well Perfect family car.

More boring than John Major.

 

[Oneflewover]

Skoda Octavia hatch. I've got one, it's like a tardis. I've got the thrilling 1.6 derv, and it's fine; the petrol version might suit you. Great MPG. Lots of toys. Comfy. Reliable. Handles well Perfect family car.

More boring than John Major.

Yes it was already on the list of possibilities as it happens. Room across the rear seats for 3 in comfort? Boring not a problem for us, a car is a functional item not a fashion accessory as far as we're concerned

 

[Pennine]

I had a Ford Tourneo out there, fits a family of 6 fine with some room for luggage. Decent mileage too.

 

[Benfleet Brewery]

Cheers, why the outlander in particular?

Well, I just went with the criteria we needed and put It into an autotrader search and most of the cars in my price range were Outlanders.

 

[IainM]

'17-'21 Quashqui here, and my old man has a Dacia Duster. For both I'd say one car seat and two other kids in the back is fine. Two car seats and a kid would be a squeeze. Boot space is good.

 

[marshbrewer]

Yes it was already on the list of possibilities as it happens. Room across the rear seats for 3 in comfort? Boring not a problem for us, a car is a functional item not a fashion accessory as far as we're concerned

The rear seat legroom is fantastic for a car that is allegedly in the same class as a Focus. The boot is huge; two dead bodies worth easily. Drop the seats and I can get any of my bikes in without removing the front wheels, something have struggled with in an A6 estate. 3 in the rear in comfort? You will need to try it out, but I would say unless they are very large people, it's a yes.

I also don't treat a car as a status symbol, but mine just leaves me unmoved. It's bland. It's also pretty frigging faultless, so I'm being very unkind to the thing!

 

[Oneflewover]

I had a Ford Tourneo out there, fits a family of 6 fine with some room for luggage. Decent mileage too.

Great, thanks, had briefly looked online at them. Not much about with a petrol engine unfortunately

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Have a look at Hyundai and KIA they come top in the JD power survey every year, the Tuccson is my favourite.

5 year unlimited milage warranty not that you will need it.

Older version top newer below

 

[Oneflewover]

Have a look at Hyundai and KIA they come top in the JD power survey every year, the Tuccson is my favourite.

5 year unlimited milage warranty not that you will need it.

Older version top newer below

Thanks, we were definitely considering the Tucson. Video helpful cheers for that

 

[An Ankoù]

Plenty of power here. Cheap to run. Trailer (boot space for your Molotovs if you insist on using petrol) is optional. You know it makes sense.

 

[Class68driver]

We have 3 kids and a couple of years ago bought a Skoda Kodiaq, brilliant car, 7 seats if needed, huge boot, excellent mpg, very comfortable and you would be able to find a used one within your budget.

 

[Graz]

We have 3 kids and a couple of years ago bought a Skoda Kodiaq, brilliant car, 7 seats if needed, huge boot, excellent mpg, very comfortable and you would be able to find a used one within your budget.

I'd have had one of these if there were any in my price range at the time of our last car change. As it is we have a Kia Sorento which is also a pretty decent car though in the model year we have only comes with one engine choice and that's diesel.

The thing about the Sorento that makes me a bit nervous is the part time four wheel drive system, there's a few known issues and it can all be quite sensitive to tyre wear. I believe the Skoda has a Haldex system so at least all the wheels are being driven to some lesser or greater extent most of the time rather than the Kia where it's only really there for slow speed maneuvering when the system detects it's required (i.e. dragging my caravan out of a muddy site).

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Our family car circa 1980. Working for British Leyland the choice of company car was limited.