MPV or 7 seat estate?

carsfan

Hi,
Currently have a Ford Smax and thinking of trading.
We have 3 kids and use the rearmost seats once or twice a week ferrying other kids.
Was considering a secondhand merc E class estate with optional rear facing seats, instead of another mpv.
Does any body have any experience of these? i.e. are they practical enough or would we lose loads of space?
Any opinions welcome.

Tea 1000

Three arguments in their favour is that they look better than an MPV, Drive much better than one, and are safer in the hopefully never to be encountered rear end collision due to the fact that your kids heads aren't at the very back of the car.
Practicality wise, it depends on what they're being compared to. Best to testdrive one.

R.O.R

The rear facing seats are very small. For the size of child who would actually fit in them, I'm sure you'd now legally need a booster seat for them, and I'm not sure you'd fit 2 side by side.

Worth checking if they are only for occasional use, but anyone over 4ft is going to really struggle in them.

FrontDoor

Tea 1000 wrote: »

safer in the hopefully never to be encountered rear end collision due to the fact that your kids heads aren't at the very back of the car.

Surely this risk is no better or worse than a side impact collision where the passenger doors are compromised?

Anan1

FrontDoor wrote: »

Surely this risk is no better or worse than a side impact collision where the passenger doors are compromised?

Out of interest, do the kids sit inside or outside the safety cell in a 7 seater estate?

FrontDoor

Anan1 wrote: »

Out of interest, do the kids sit inside or outside the safety cell in a 7 seater estate?

I couldn't tell you.

I presume MB do a little more than stick two extra seats in the boot.

Anan1

FrontDoor wrote: »

I couldn't tell you.

I presume MB do a little more than stick two extra seats in the boot.

One would hope, and yet the rear crumple zone incorporates the boot in pretty much any car i've ever seen.

FrontDoor

Anan1 wrote: »

One would hope, and yet the rear crumple zone incorporates the boot in pretty much any car i've ever seen.

How is that different to the side impact protection though? Surely it is no better or worse?

carsfan

I would have thought Mercedes would have the safety side sorted and I never thought that in any mpv the rear most seats could be that safe anyway in a rear end collision.

Anan1

FrontDoor wrote: »

How is that different to the side impact protection though? Surely it is no better or worse?

The doors are designed to withstand impact without deforming. The boot of a car is generally designed to crumple.