Another rear legroom car discussion

[solamanda]

Hi, I'm realising my much loved E91 335D isn't big enough to handle a rear facing car seat with us needing lots of legroom up front (being 6ft2). I want something comfortable for long European road trips.

I'm looking at my options, I've heard even big estates like a E class (E63 was my first choice) don't really have enough space, is that right? I don't want a people carrier! I'm considering a 7 series LWB version and fit a tow bar for carrying bicycles. My budget is upto £25k.

[kiethton]

Something liek an E-class/5-series should be perfectly fine - failing that something like the V90/S90 volvo.

One which you shouldn't rule out is the Skoda Superb/Ford Mondeo - the leg room in these will often exceed an E-class - not the badge you're looking for but they do the job very well at the price point - the last thing I'd want is a baby in a uber exec car, kicking/scuffing the seats and grinding sick/food into the extra deep pile carpets....

[journeymanpro]

Skoda superb. I'm 6ft2 and can sit in the rear behind the drivers seat set for me with leg room to spare.

[Gareth1974]

VW Arteon has loads of rear legroom and huge boot.

[quinny100]

I have a 2017 E Class Estate. I'm 6ft 4 and I cannot fit a rear facing i-Size child with an Isofix base behind me. It will fit behind the passenger seat but it's a little tight for a 6ft adult in the front seat. It was impossible in the 2017 C Class saloon I had previously.

Seats do vary in size though, and if you're happy to use the seatbelt instead of an Isofix base it's far less of an issue. Once they get to 12-18 months they will probably want to move to a forward facing seat and these are much more compact - we have no issues in a Focus with our 15 month old in a forward facing seat and she's much happier because she can see out - so it's quite a short term issue. Likewise with boot space - when they're in a pram ideally you need a massive boot, once they're in a pushchair it's not so much of an issue.

I'm at the point I don't really need the estate now and I'm seriously considering selling it. If I had my time again I'd seriously consider picking up a previous gen Superb for £5-£7k and selling it after 18 months.

[Tall_Blk]

E class estate has plenty leg room. I’m 6’5” (very long legs) and it’s the first car my tall daughter can sit comfortably behind me. Like you i was dreading having to own a people’s carrier or SUV until I tried the E class.

[tomsugden]

journeymanpro said:

Skoda superb. I'm 6ft2 and can sit in the rear behind the drivers seat set for me with leg room to spare.

This.I believe it's also available in LWB.

[StevieT735]

ERF car seats can vary a bit in the amount of length they take up, ISOFIX bases don’t help in this regard either. I’ve been eyeing up Britax Maxways or Axkid Minikids for when we need new seats as they look like they’ll be more upright and less space consuming than our current Joie Tilt and Joie 360.

It’s not legroom you’re really after either, more the space between the top of the front and rear seats that governs how far back you can get the front seat. The space for your legs in the rear is dead space when using rear facing car seats.