best car... family 4 + dog

[ryan381]

Hi

We recentely became a family of 4 and have a dog, and currently have a Toyota Auris.

I have been looking at mid size 4x4 VW Tiguan, Ford Kuga and the likes also the big car/MPVs the Toyota Verso, Ford Grand Cmax and estates VW passat, Toyata Auris etc

I have an affordable budget but cant look at mercs, audi or BMWs so above styles only really.

Anyway the 2 main things I really need is enough room in the back for 2 car seats (2.5y/o and 3 month, room for another adult in the back i.e Grandad and secondly a boot good enough to be split in half, one half for the dog the other half for buggie and day bags etc that go with kids day outs!!

We really struugle with the Auris as we cant get anyone else in the back, grandard takes his car at the moment but would be nice to go all together. Also with the dog we cant take him and the buggie, which means we also need to take another car, or if just going a short trip he can sit in the front footwell, but hes a choc lab and absloutly hates this spot in the car!!!

So what would people recommend big enough for 2 car seats and adult in back, boot big enough for day trips with the dog and some day packs?

I realise that a roof top box is going to be a must for anytghing overnight or longer, but for now just going away with the dog and kids for the day and grandad all together would be great.

[ryan381]

Hi

Thanks for all the posts and comments.

Not keen on the volvo and also cant stretch to the pice, I dont want to go above £15k if I can help it, and looking to but 2nd hand 3 year old maybe.

Getting an adult in the back with 2 car seats will be a bonus but if its not possible on the budget and styles then it is what it is, but I defiently need a boot space to take a choc lab and double buggie spilt 50/50ish

What has the best boot space out of the 3 styles estate, 4x4's meantioned or MPV I cant see us ever really using the 6/7th seats to be honest

[ryan381]

If I could afford an audi estate, yip I'd go for that, but I cant.

Need to try and narrow the search down to style, what is the better boot sapce for what I need and estate or s-max, c-max grand styles?

I think the 4x4 what I would call city/school run 4x4 like the Ford kuga, the boot is just not going to work for what I need?

[ryan381]

Honda CRV looks good and with budget, not sure about putting the dog up top in teh boot tho, hes a 30kg lab, and isnt a huge fan of getting in the boot.

Would need a vertical split in the middle

Which has the bigger boot between CRV and tiguan?

Edited by ryan381 on Tuesday 9th June 15:14

[ryan381]

Having a look on google and the Honda CRV does appear to have the bigger boot from its rivals the sportage, kuga etc, its within price range and I have had honda before so this could be a good option.

How does the CRV boot compare aganist a vw passat estate , ford mondeo estate and toyota avenis estate

[ryan381]

avensis 543 l so passat is bigger at the 650l as you said

I dont think for my budget I'll get a bigger boot than the VW passat in the estate catogory, or Honda CRV in the 4x4 catogory

The MPV cmax grand and verso are coming in at 450l approx

The c max standard is about same size as the grand boot over 20-30 L in it

Edited by ryan381 on Tuesday 9th June 16:43

Edited by ryan381 on Tuesday 9th June 16:56

[ryan381]

Which would people recommend out of the below for my set up?

I dont think for my budget I'll get a bigger boot than the VW passat in the estate catogory, or Honda CRV in the 4x4 catogory and the C-max or S-max boots appear smaller than the above.

I am siding with the estate?

[ryan381]

Which would people recommend out of the below for my set up?

I dont think for my budget I'll get a bigger boot than the VW passat in the estate catogory, or Honda CRV in the 4x4 catogory and the C-max or S-max boots appear smaller than the above.

I am siding with the estate?

[ryan381]

Thanks for the replies

I know I will need to compramise somewhere so for me the bigger boot space is going to win it for me, I understand its going to be hard to get 2 car seats and an adult in the back.

I would say my best hope for this is a CRV or S MAX, but for the bigger boot an estate, as long as the CRV can take 2 car seats and an adult and the boot meets my requirments then I may side with thr CVR, however if the boot doesnt work for us then I'll need to go with the bigger boot

[ryan381]

My mistake the guide I found on S MAX only cover the size with all seats down, so if I was to run this as a 5 seater the boot would be 1051 / 1171 lts depending on positons of back seats.

Thats a massive incease in size to the passat at 650 l and teh Cmax grand at 448L...although another search on google states Cmax grand as a 5 seater with 965 L boot space

Edited by ryan381 on Wednesday 10th June 11:30

Edited by ryan381 on Wednesday 10th June 11:43

[ryan381]

My mistake the guide I found on S MAX only cover the size with all seats down, so if I was to run this as a 5 seater the boot would be 1051 / 1171 lts depending on positons of back seats.

Thats a massive incease in size to the passat at 650 l and teh Cmax grand at 448L.

Edited by ryan381 on Wednesday 10th June 11:44

[ryan381]

pisdonthread said:

worth also looking at the Mazda 5 as you may get a more modern car with lower miles than the S MAX. the 2.0 petrol engine is good and the sliding doors help a lot with getting kids in the back

The CX5 you mean? Its a bit pricy looking at auto trader

[ryan381]

What about the KIA Sportage... would appear to have a bigger boot that CRV and CX5 altough I did read on another site the CRV boot was biger

[ryan381]

I just poped round to a garage on my lunch for a quick look.

Had a look at a sportage boot and rav4, I dont think the 4x4 option is going to work for us with the dog and buggie plus bags in the back

I think I will have to rule out the SUV/4x4 and focus on the estates or Smax, Cmax types

[ryan381]

any views on the Hyundai i30 estate

[ryan381]

Within the estate range the below are in my price range

Vauxhall Astra
Hyundai i30
Hyundai i40
Kia ceed
Toyato Avenius
Seat Leon

Top end
VW passat
Honda Civic


SUV/4x4 although ruled out for now
Hyundai ix35 would appear to be the biggest boot in my range

MPV
Ford SMAX
Ford CMAX Grand
Vauxhall Zafira

[ryan381]

Within the estate range the below are in my price range

Vauxhall Astra
Hyundai i30
Hyundai i40
Kia ceed
Toyato Avenius
Seat Leon

Top end
VW passat
Honda Civic


SUV/4x4 although ruled out for now
Hyundai ix35 would appear to be the biggest boot in my range

MPV
Ford SMAX
Ford CMAX Grand
Vauxhall Zafira

[ryan381]

pisdonthread said:

no i mean the MPV model Mazda 5 this one http://www.mazda.co.uk/cars/mazda5/

they have been making it since 2005 so you will find one in budget

I'll add it to the list

[ryan381]

Yeah the S-Max does look a good option for boot size, how would you say the back 3 seats are could you fit 2 car seats and an adult or would it be a squeeze.

[ryan381]

Thanks for the info

Getting an adult in the middle was a bouns and by the sounds of things S-Max is one of a few that will tick this box, however boot space is more important on the final decision.