True 5 seater for 3 adults plus 2 kids in child seats.

lukester

In my ongoing research for a change of car because we have baby number 2 on the way-we already have a 2 yr old- I find myself in a slightly odd situation. We regularly need to carry one of our parents, occasionally on long trips, and I'm trying to figure out if we can get by with a saloon/estate, or do we have to go down the route of MPV. Problem is that most saloons don't have a proper middle seat in the back, which is where granny would travel. Also getting her in and out between 2 car seats would be a bit tricky, even though she's pretty sprightly at 63. In fairness, I'd have to do some spectacular gymnastics to get into that middle seat myself.

I've mainly been looking at the Accord, the A6 and Avensis , an eclectic grouping I admit. Sounds like the A6 middle seat in the back is not great as there's a large transmission tunnel in that car. Haven't looked properly at the other cars yet. I've had a cursory look at MPVs, and I'm not a fan, so they'd really be a last resort.

Any suggestions? Thanks

CiniO

Why don't you fit one of the baby seats in the middle?

unkel

CiniO wrote: »

Why don't you fit one of the baby seats in the middle?

+1

lukester, the Avensis and the Accord are quite small saloons. Why don't you buy a larger saloon like a BMW 5-series or a Mercedes E-class?

Absurdum

the middle seat usually doesn't have ISOFIX as far as I know

CiniO

Absurdum wrote: »

the middle seat usually doesn't have ISOFIX as far as I know

1. He never said he was using ISOFIX.
2. It depends on make and model. Some of them have isofix in the middle.

tom traubert

Afaik the C4 Picasso (not the Grand Picasso) has 3 full size seats (all with isofix) across the back.

lukester

CiniO wrote: »

Why don't you fit one of the baby seats in the middle?

I'm not sure they'll both fit side by side. The one we have for our 2 year old is very wide, although it's not an isofix one. The one for the infant will have an isofix base- it's one of those maxi cosi infant seats that clips into an isofix attached base.

@unkel will look at those options, although I don't really like the 5 series. E class could be worth a look, although budget is only up to about 24k.

@tom traubert I have concerns over the reliability of the C4, based on previous experience and every review I read. Shame, as I've always liked the marque.

ffocused

You can take the accord off your list, I have one with 2 child seats in the back. No chance of fitting another person in there.

romperstomper

I got 5 adults (none of which was less than 200lbs or under 6ft) into a e60 5 series for a 4 hour drive and no one complained. should easily accommodate you with its 3 iso-fix points in the back bench

R.O.R

You are going to have a leg room issue for the middle seat in the back on the Merc, BMW and Audi, as they all have the transmission tunnel running through. If the child seat will fit in the middle then it's not an issue, otherwise Granny could end up a bit uncomfortable with a leg in each passenger footwell.

I can't remember whether the Volvo S80 has the transmission tunnel all the way through the car, but I suspect it has because there were 4x4 models available.

You know what will fit your requirements, with a mahoosive amount of space in the back? If you can get over the badge and the questionable looks, the new Superb would fit the bill.

Del2005

unkel wrote: »

+1

lukester, the Avensis and the Accord are quite small saloons. Why don't you buy a larger saloon like a BMW 5-series or a Mercedes E-class?

Not too sure about the others but the E60 5 series won't take 2 child seats and fit an adult comfortably.

lukester

Shame about the accord, I like it.

Can't say the same for the superb- badge us not an issue, but saw one the other day and could only think of the KGB.

Lex Luthor

problem i see with most cars is the comfort for the middle rear seat passenger with their feet either side of the transmission tunnel.
If i was that person i wouldn't like to draw that short straw.
My missus has a verso and the rear floor is flat all the way across. We regularly travel at weekends with an adult in the back between my two lads and its a doddle for them.
Dont rule out the mpv's until you've looked at a few. I was never a fan until i went and saw a few and think they are not to be ruled out

dixiefly

What about the Skoda Superb? It is getting great reviews & has plenty of room.

lukester

@lex luthor, is that the new verso or the corolla one?

BostonB

People carrying an extra one or two adults (grand parents) with 2 kids is pretty common which is why MPV's are so popular. Also they tend to have a bigger boot for buggies, and bikes etc. They can also double up as a small van for DIY stuff.

Dilbert75

Citroen Xsara or C4 Picasso. 3 full sized seats in the back, with 3 point belts and (I'm pretty sure) Isofix in all 3. Perfectly flat floor, big boot. We have our (Xsara Picasso) 5 1/2 years and its brilliant.

unkel

romperstomper wrote: »

I got 5 adults (none of which was less than 200lbs or under 6ft) into a e60 5 series

Reminds me of the time we got 5 army sergeants (none of which was less than 200lbs or under 6ft) into an old mini. We didn't complain either but it was a tad cramped in there alright

Sorry for off topic...

frank gooding

I know the Skoda Superb is long but not sure how wide.

I would imagine it should fit the bill and the carvenous boot should be good for the extra stuff that goes with 2 kids.

Theanswers

Range Rover
5 Proper seats (4 heated), no leg room issues, proper 3 points seat belts in all....

useless

I have exactly the same problem to solve as the OP, a baby, a 2-y-o, missus & granny wont fit into an S40 and I need something to replace it. Would much prefer an estate over anything MPV-like.

My 2 cents...
- Touran has 3 individual sliding seats, so you can move the middle one slightly forward/back to enable you to fit the child seat without scraping your knuckles.

- Peugeot 308 SW also has indiv seats, but has the added neat trick of being able to take one out and put it in the boot, so creating more elbow room in the middle row. Here's a photo: http://tinyurl.com/34k42sc

- Santa Fe has 2 seats in the boot that fold out of the floor, and offers *reasonable* legroom in the third row.

-some E class estates and the old model Volvo V70 also had a 7 seat option with 2 rear facing seats in the boot. Problem with these two options is that the seats take up all the boot space, so v. little room for buggies & other paraphenalia (roofbox?)

The problem Ive found with most D-class saloons and their estate derivatives is that they've got 4 decent seats, with the 5th one being an afterthought thats often not wide enough to take a child seat. Even on the boards favourite Skoda Superb- small middle seat, and the big bolsters on the 2 outer seats mean the child seat gets pushed towards the middle of the car, reducing room for the 3rd occupant of the back seat. http://tinyurl.com/26v642m

Really interested to hear how this problem gets solved!

Ferris

Ford C-max and S-max are supposed to be the most car like to drive of the mpv's. A new C-max is around your budget afaik. Both models were updated recently so you could get the previous model for ok money

Honda FRV.
I'm 30 and single but in 10 years should I need something to transport the yet to be found Mrs RoverJames and some offspring along with a grandparent or two I reckon an FRV will do nicely. In 10 years time a 2005 one should be about €1200 too

BostonB

The C Max I drove was a 1.8 TDCI, nice enough to drive, (no GTI or anything) but its very narrow, 2.5 seats in the rear. I really don't see the point of it unless you had 3 small kids. Had a decent boot space. I really didn't think it was any bigger, perhaps even smaller than large saloon like a Passat or similar. The C-Max has the sliding seats. Not the Touran.

The FRV is 3+3 all decent sized seats. The boot didn't seem that big.

The Touran, we've on in the family, doesn't have sliding seats. Its basically a Golf, so could think of it like that. But with more room, and more practical for more people and loads. Drives well enough but more solid and secure than exciting. Just like older golfs. Its square sided, so all 3 rear seats, are like 95% full size, but 3 child seats, or 2 with an adult are fine. Theres also two fold out seats in the rear, which while a little awkward to get into, are fine for most adults. IMO. Though personally I would avoid anyone in there on a long trip, because they are so close to the back. Short trips are fine. Its like a small van for DIY jobs much better than an estate for that kind thing. Interestingly it seems to be shorter than most estates. Tiny boot with 2 rear seats up. So its no use if you want 7 seats all the time.

Another option is the Corolla Verso. Hard to find 2nd hand, and usually expensive. But seemed pretty decent. I never test drove one, as I couldn't find any at a good price, when I was looking.

Note: Most of the MPV's with 5+2 seats do not have a spare wheel.

Personally I got fed up of being squashed in a saloon. If I was doing it over I would have got a MPV as soon as no2 bambino was on its way. The MPV is just much more useful than a regular saloon. That said I don't use it for commuting.

R.O.R

Does your Touran not have the 3 individual sliding seats? The few I've been in all had this, think they were a couple of Trendlines and a Highline.

All new C-Max is due to arrive in to Ireland in late October for the 5 seat version and Mid-November for the 7 seat model.

BostonB

They all slide for adjustment, same as a regular seat. I don't think of it as the same as the C Max, which is intended for someone to sit staggered. You need to do it in the C Max. You don't in the Touran, as its wider. Maybe thats why I don't think of it as the same thing. Ours are all pushed right back, so its easier to put a child/baby in the middle seat. Leg space was never a problem in the rear seats either.

The Grand Scenic seems noticably bigger than the Touran. Not as solid, everything seems less robust. But more gadgets, and better equipped. The automatic handbrake is neat.

Lex Luthor

lukester wrote: »

@lex luthor, is that the new verso or the corolla one?

Its a Corolla Verso...thought they were all Corolla Versos?

BostonB

There was a bigger (Avensis) and smaller verso, but they stopped them a while back. Dunno if they've brought any of them back.

lukester

Lex Luthor wrote: »

Its a Corolla Verso...thought they were all Corolla Versos?

There is now just one Verso, launched last year. Looks much like the Corolla verso, and has the newer engines that are in the Avensis.

FRV, interesting offering from Honda. They seem rare here, hardly any for sale, and I think they only offered the petrol in Ireland. Honda have stopped producing them now.