MPV/SUV for family with 4 kids under 5

Scruff

going to have 4 under 5 years of age in a few months (5, 3, 14months, 0) so will need a bandwagon to accommodate us all and at least a double buggy for the 2 youngest.

will need to fit the following child seats so will need relatively easy access to the 3rd row for 1 of the older kids:
1 x Group 0 + base (isofix probably if easier)
1 x Group 1
2 x Group 2/3

Room for a double buggy, preferably without having to collapse/remove on of the 3rd row seats. Bit paranoid about safety of having it beside one of the kids but guess i could put the seat belt over it (if 3rd row seat belt isnt coming from removed/collapsed seat!)

So far have looked at a Ford Galaxy and a Peugeot 5008. Ruled out the 5008 as it was a too small in 3rd row and boot and the way the 2nd row seats are moved to allow access to 3rd row.

Galaxy: might be able to squeeze in a double buggy and the 2nd row seats slide forward and seat back tilts forward to allow access to 3rd row. will need to check if they still do with an isofix seat base attached.

Anyone have a Galaxy or other recommendations?

ba_barabus

I've just test driven the new X-Trail (7 seat Qashqai) and before it's suggested it's way too small in the rear most seats. It's very hard to find a full size 7 seater and the only mainstream suggestion I have is Galaxy or a VW Sharan.

JC 3.14159

Have a look at a Honda FRV, if you're happy with something a few years old (they're no longer in production). The 3+3 layout gets rid of the kid-sitting-in-the-boot and car seat removal niggles.

Ours fitted a Phil & Ted buggy at least. Maybe a side-by-side buggy would be too big, although the boot is a fairly decent size.

The middle seat up front slides back to keep the middle passenger out of airbag-range (a safety feature intended for kids in forward-facing car seats). Sliding it back fully means the middle back seat has to slide back too which eats into your boot space a bit. The full range always seemed like too much to me though (about 30cm).
Maybe it's necessary for a Group 2 car seat (9-18kg), but sliding back 10-15cm is probably enough for a 5-yr old in a booster. Then a small kid would fit behind with little or no requirement to slide back the second-row seat.

I'd recommend you bring all carseats to a test drive.

I'd highly recommend it as a family car.

edit: Group 2 may be the wrong number - I didn't realise there are group 0 ones (from OP)

MAJJ

Maybe a citreon C8?

I have posted this one a few times not because of my love for Citroen but had a friend with 4 kids under 3 (2 sets of twins) and this was and still is 5 years later their workhorse.

Scruff

will need to get at least a new isofix base and baby seat to test. Bit of a chicken and egg situation here.
Not too keen on the idea of a child in the front row of seats like in the FRV but if needs must...

PaddyFagan

Scruff wrote: »

Not too keen on the idea of a child in the front row of seats like in the FRV but if needs must...

The five year old will probably think all their dreams have come true!

I test drove an FRV, looking for a space for other kids/the mother in law bus - didn't like it, even with that middle seat in the front empty felt like the wife would be miles away - but that might be a plus for some buyers :cool:

Paddy

walus

We have got Honda FRV too. Fantastic family vehicle. We have twins 2 year old and a new born and the car is perfect. Not only allows for 3 isofix seats but also fits three seats across the back row no problem. On top of that the boot fits double buggy and a single buggy with carry cot at the same time! Can not recommend highly enough. Pity they do not make them any more.

walus

Scruff wrote: »

will need to get at least a new isofix base and baby seat to test. Bit of a chicken and egg situation here.
Not too keen on the idea of a child in the front row of seats like in the FRV but if needs must...

I'd say it is better to have the child in the front proper seat protected if needs to be by an airbag than sitting in the boot a few inches away from were the crush zone of the chassis is.

visual

walus wrote: »

I'd say it is better to have the child in the front proper seat protected if needs to be by an airbag than sitting in the boot a few inches away from were the crush zone of the chassis is.

Its a big concern that some vehicles have seating in the rear crush zone and rear impacts aren't part of NCAP

It is something I would guess most car makers wouldn't want tested as small hatches wouldn't fair well.

visual

walus wrote: »

I'd say it is better to have the child in the front proper seat protected if needs to be by an airbag than sitting in the boot a few inches away from were the crush zone of the chassis is.

Its a big concern that some vehicles have seating in the rear crush zone and rear impacts aren't part of NCAP

It is something I would guess most car makers wouldn't want tested as small hatches wouldn't fair well.

NIMAN

Happy owner of an FRV here.

pdstck

visual wrote: »

Its a big concern that some vehicles have seating in the rear crush zone and rear impacts aren't part of NCAP

It is something I would guess most car makers wouldn't want tested as small hatches wouldn't fair well.

If there is seats in the back they should be tested as part of ncap, i always had this worry about 7 seaters but did not know they were not tested, that's madness

I will be looking for an frv at the start of next year, something around 5k mark have started looking already (research), could someone do me a favor and give me dims of boot with the back seats in place, as there is noting local for me to look at, i am hoping it will be around 52inches wide!

Marcusm

Chrysler Grand Voyager is probably the only one with 3 rows of proper ears and a boot to easily hold a double buggy and other items. V expensive to run, older version not great to drive.

AMKC

Marcusm wrote: »

Chrysler Grand Voyager is probably the only one with 3 rows of proper ears and a boot to easily hold a double buggy and other items. V expensive to run, older version not great to drive.

Older version is also not great in a crash. Scored one of NCAPS worst ever results. Did not even get one star so if you value your life and yor family your much better staying away from them. The model that is out now is better 3 stars I think it got.

Markcheese

I'm guessing that the fiat multipla is too small for the double buggies? As well as being a bit long in the tooth,(think they stopped in 07/08) ,would any of the van based mpvs be any good ? Doblo , scudo/dispatch, transit connect? The only one I've driven was a dispatch and it felt like a car...

Yakuza

A mate of mine with 4 kids has a Q7, which has plenty of room. They are expensive to buy and run though

kiteman

visual wrote: »

Its a big concern that some vehicles have seating in the rear crush zone and rear impacts aren't part of NCAP

It is something I would guess most car makers wouldn't want tested as small hatches wouldn't fair well.

Interesting thread this. To anyone thinking of buying one of those 7 seaters, go measure the distance between the rear seat and the tailgate. I think you'll see first hand, they offer very little (if any) protection in the event of being rear ended.

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

Was going to say a Chrysler grand voyager too as it seems to tick the boxes for space etc.

Or a volvo xc90

GG21057

We have a 05 Hyundai Trajet which we bought when we had 4 kids under 4. Have it 8 tears now and it hasn't missed a beat. It has the 2l diesel engine so while not exactly economical, it isn't too bad. From a space perspective, we have taken out the 7th seat and this yields a huge amount of space in the boot. For example, the 6 of us holiday in Ireland and can easily accommodate all of us plus 2 weeks' luggage. I'd highly recommend it as an option but only in diesel. they are no longer in production afaik but I think they ran to 2008.
On the down side, it's fugly...