Proper 7 seater with usable seats and a boot

[OttoMattik]

As per the title, looking to replace the 2 Series Gran tourer when the lease ends in 6m. Want to start the research now as it will take time to test drive, find the right car etc etc.

Occupants
4 adults (wife and I plus the grandparents)
2 kids - 4 and 2 but growing rapidly
1 dog (labrador) - so space for a crate

Usage
Most of the time it will be short city driving but the car will be fully loaded
Boot to hold usual family stuff like a buggy and a couple of foldable scooters plus the supermarket shopping
2-3 times a year we do a 7-10 day driving trip to Europe. Like to travel heavy so usually have an XL roof box loaded up and the boot up to the brim

Must haves
At least 6 proper seats for the adults with enough legroom
ISOFIX points in the 2nd and 3rd row
ULEZ compliant

Budget is £30k-£50k. Haven't really bought a car for the last 6 years due to good lease deals but the market has changed.

Really like the look of the new LR defender but know next to nothing about it. Other options are Discovery, XC90 or Q7. Again, no first hand knowledge but starting the research phase now so any opinions are welcome.

[jaydeeuk1]

So you need space for 6,plus a dog in a crate, plus scooters etc all at the same time?

You need a van, not a car. Probably a hyundai i800 or similar

[georgeyboy12345]

Brand new in stock Kia Sorento 1.6 T-GDI hybrid
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212082...


Nearly new Hyundai Santa Fe 1.6 T-GDI hybrid with one mile on the clock
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212222...


Brand new in stock Mercedes GLB200
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210190...


Audi Q7 55 TFSI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212012...


BMW X5 xDrive 40i
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210170...


Land Rover Range Rover Sport P300 HSE
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208098...


Ford Transit Tourneo Custom 1.0 Ecoboost PHEV
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209089...

[edc]

jaydeeuk1 said:

So you need space for 6,plus a dog in a crate, plus scooters etc all at the same time?

You need a van, not a car. Probably a hyundai i800 or similar

Yes, one of the van based mpvs is going to give you the most space. I can't see you getting a dog crate plus luggage plus buggy/scooters in a Sharan/Galaxy size MPV.

[OttoMattik]

I’ll be honest - driving a van/MPV is definitely not my thing.

The space in the boot when the car is fully loaded can be adjusted to drop the buggy/scooter as the kids are walking and will probably be giving up the buggy completely in the next 6m.

A large SUV is where I’m generally looking. Not sure if the GLB fits that bill as I’ve been in my brother’s when he had a lease one last year - felt very cramped.

I guess the main criteria are to see which of the SUVs offer a proper seat in the middle of the 2nd row and also legroom when the car is full of people.

[Yomamaisasnowblower]

We've managed a dog crate (folded flat, behind seats), the dog, three kids, plus full holiday luggage in an S-max and it wasn't a squeeze either. The cars are huge and loading cleverly will get you even better results. Had to leave the grandparents to follow in their own little Kia which they probably appreciated given the noise made by our three children

[jfdi]

OttoMattik said:

A large SUV is where I’m generally looking. Not sure if the GLB fits that bill as I’ve been in my brother’s when he had a lease one last year - felt very cramped.

A GLB is not a large SUV, it's probably about as small as 7 seat SUV's get.
A GLS is as big as you'll find other than going to an American SUV and will give you 7 adult seats, whether leaving one of the rear seats folded will give you enough room for dog crate and kids stuff you'd have to try.

[ZX10R NIN]

GLS350d is the pick:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211141...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212072...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211101...

At the lower end of your budget you'll get a nice GL:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212152...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210100...

I would say test drive the Transit as it really is a good steer:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209290...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207258...

[magpie215]

Some of the larger JDM mpvs such as the Alphard or Elgrand might be worth a look?

[jonwm]

I have 3 kids, the wife and a dog and go camping / outdoor stuff, we had a Peugeot 5008 which was great but in August got a transporter kombi highline with 6 seats, it's great and has plenty of room for all. Yes it's a van but I can't think of anything better to transport us all with everything with ease.

[Ice_blue_tvr]

GLS is the only, almost, proper 7 seater with a boot. Though it's useable it might be a squeeze for the labrador..

When you aren't using it for ferrying people around, it's a big car , however.

[edc]

OttoMattik said:

I’ll be honest - driving a van/MPV is definitely not my thing.

The space in the boot when the car is fully loaded can be adjusted to drop the buggy/scooter as the kids are walking and will probably be giving up the buggy completely in the next 6m.

A large SUV is where I’m generally looking. Not sure if the GLB fits that bill as I’ve been in my brother’s when he had a lease one last year - felt very cramped.

I guess the main criteria are to see which of the SUVs offer a proper seat in the middle of the 2nd row and also legroom when the car is full of people.

Let's face it nobody is driving and mov or van as it's a sports car. Just buy one of those as well or keep one you have. The issue with most SUV is you will find, especially if you use isofix seats that in general you won't get 2 next to each other and if you use 2 in the outer seats the middle seat is either inaccessible or very small. Just look at the sizing and bench style seat of most SUV. This is is where most mpv excel as cars like a Grand Picasso and Galaxy etc have 3 individual even sized seats. You have to buy the largest of SUV like a Q7 or XC90 to give yourself the best chance of getting 2 next to each other or 3 in a row.

[lost in espace]

My 2014 Transporter is lovely to drive, and has masses of space.

[David87]

There’s not much out there that’s big enough, really. Only thing I’ve been in that’s not a van with seats is a Chevy Suburban, but unfortunately you can’t get those here. Well, I suppose you could, but it’d be a LHD pain in the arse!

X7 and GLS are probably the closest thing we get, but they’re smaller and significantly more expensive.

[OttoMattik]

Thanks, the GLS and X7 are good suggestions and were not on my list earlier.

Any ideas on how they compare to the Q7? The big winner for the Q7 so far in my research is that it has ISOFIX on all rear seats and a proper shaped middle seat in the 2nd row. Most others seem to have a 40:20:40 split. Which means that if I have the 2 child seats on the outer ISOFIX points, my wife generally has to squash herself on half a seat for some journeys which is quite uncomfortable.

[jon-yprpe]

Do you need room for a crate with all 7 seats in use? I can’t think of anything that does that?

If not, Discovery 5.

[rllmuk]

OttoMattik said:

Thanks, the GLS and X7 are good suggestions and were not on my list earlier.

Any ideas on how they compare to the Q7? The big winner for the Q7 so far in my research is that it has ISOFIX on all rear seats and a proper shaped middle seat in the 2nd row. Most others seem to have a 40:20:40 split. Which means that if I have the 2 child seats on the outer ISOFIX points, my wife generally has to squash herself on half a seat for some journeys which is quite uncomfortable.

I have a GL - the two outer middle row, and two rear seats, have ISOFIX. If you have two ISOFIX in the middle row you’re always going to get squeezed in my experience between them. In the past I’ve split them between 2nd/3rd row to mitigate (have 3 kids). Note the 3rd row in the GL/GLS is comfortable for adults plus you get a usable boot with them up - I doubt a pram will fit though!

I think you need to seek one of each model you’re interested in to compare and see which is right for you, only you know the answer there.

[Ice_blue_tvr]

I'll check but I'm pretty sure all rear seats in the gls have isofix,including the 3rd row which is handy as its a pain putting child seats in the second row and then having to fold them down to access the rear.

Regarding space, any generation GL/GLS has more space in the 3rd row for passengers and Iirc more boot space with all seats up, when compared to a gen 1 Q7.. Not sure about the newer Q7s though.

Space is compromised of course, but I can sit in the 3rd row of a GLS pretty comfortably. Getting in and out is another story, but common across all 7 seat SUVs.

[tendown]

This thread contains some useful info

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

The galaxy has an extra 10cm between isofix seats in the back compared to xc90, disco and others, plus you can fold them forward to access the third row without removing isofix child seats.

We fit a folded (wheels on) out n about buggy behind the third row in the galaxy.

[jason61c]

A new landcruiser. 10 year warranty