Top 3 options in 7 seaters right now please?

Mango Joe

Hi All,

This site is the best guide/authority on cars that I know of - Do you mind me asking please, what's the best seven seater on the market right now?

Family car is a 2008 2 litre diesel S-Max which has been great and have loved the practicality/layout etc.

Now thinking of maybe going for PCP on a new 7 seater?

Would you car experts have a top 3 ranking perhaps? With advice on spec and engine choice?

Also if you've any thoughts on HP versus PCP etc.

Thanks for the help and advice.

Joe

Theboinkmaster

Mango Joe wrote: »

Hi All,

This site is the best guide/authority on cars that I know of - Do you mind me asking please, what's the best seven seater on the market right now?

Family car is a 2008 2 litre diesel S-Max which has been great and have loved the practicality/layout etc.

Now thinking of maybe going for PCP on a new 7 seater?

Would you car experts have a top 3 ranking perhaps? With advice on spec and engine choice?

Also if you've any thoughts on HP versus PCP etc.

Thanks for the help and advice.

Joe

What's your budget? If it were me and I had the money I'd go BMW X5.

Mango Joe

Thanks for the reply - I'm kinda wary of BMWs, I've a family member who has tennis elbow from handing Garages silly sums of money to repair his last 2 BMWs.

I've only begun researching this - Is €30-35k reasonable?

I'm also open to buying something 2-3 years old & also wouldn't mind travelling to UK at all.

I'm (clearly) no expert so am keen to get the benefit of all the available advice on here.

kerten

How many kids do you have and how old are they ?

Do you need 3 same size seats in 2nd row ?

How frequently do you use 3rd row ?

Do you need large boot space when 3rd row is up ?

carsfan2

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/best-cars/top-10-best-seven-seater-mpvs

Mango Joe

kerten wrote: »

How many kids do you have and how old are they ?

Do you need 3 same size seats in 2nd row ?

How frequently do you use 3rd row ?

Do you need large boot space when 3rd row is up ?

4 Kids - Just one left using a car seat - Not having 3 independent seats in row 3 would be an unwelcome step backwards allright.

Usually just one seat used in 3rd row meaning that one of the rear seats could be left flat 99% of the time for boot space.

kerten

Mango Joe wrote: »

4 Kids - Just one left using a car seat - Not having 3 independent seats in row 3 would be an unwelcome step backwards allright.

Usually just one seat used in 3rd row meaning that one of the rear seats could be left flat 99% of the time for boot space.

I feel like anything smaller than s-max would be disappointing for you so this leaves you with S-Max, Galaxy, Sharan, Alhambra and 5008(smaller outside but interior should be similar size to s-max minus some boot space).

I would also look at likes of Kia Sorento/Hyundai Santa Fe as they are bigger than other 7 seater SUVs like Kodiaq etc.

Mango Joe

Thanks Kerten - Now wondering on the key determining factor between a Touran and a Sharan?

Is the Alhambra a more economical path to getting VW spec and reliability under a different badge?

kerten

Mango Joe wrote: »

Thanks Kerten - Now wondering on the key determining factor between a Touran and a Sharan?

Is the Alhambra a more economical path to getting VW spec and reliability under a different badge?

Touran is much smaller than Sharan and S-max. If you are ok with Touran, there are options like grand picasso, zafira tourer etc but those are smaller than S-max too.

Never driven alhambra and sharan so can't comment about their differences.

bazz26

The main difference between a Touran and a Sharan will be the ability to carry stuff in the boot of the Sharan along with fully using the 3 rows of seats. The 3rd row of seats in the Touran eat into boot space so if you have 4 kids then chances are you will need to bring all their stuff in the car with you and them. Also there is not a huge difference in used prices of Alhambras over similar Sharans to be honest, Alhambras are better speced and more plentiful however.

Another one to look at if going brand new is the Ford Galaxy as it's a fresher design than the Alhambra or Sharan which haven't changed much in the last 9 or 10 years however the Galaxy is an expensive car new and Ford probably won't be as competitive as VAG on the PCP front.

Shefwedfan

Touran is similar size to most MPV- Citroen, Peugeot, Opel, etc. The back seat really are only for children. Max I would say you will get a 12 year old in them. They will have 3 seperate seats in the back row for car seats

You then have 7 seater Crossover, X-Trail, Kodiaq, Taracco, Sorento, Santa Fei etc. These are smaller in the back row of seats so really you will struggle to get 3 childrens seats into back row. Some people will install a Multimac to get around this. The back seats again would be similar to the Touran and only fit for kids

You then have Galaxy, Alhambra and the VW Sharan. Sharan and Alhambra are the same car with different badges. I have Galaxy and got 7 adults into car and all where comfortable. You would still have space in back as well for a buggy.

The SMAX is an odd one because it is bigger to the Touran but smaller than the Galaxy. No real other manufacturer have come out with a similar vehicle size, maybe the new 5008. The huge advantage of the SMAX over the bigger vehicles is that it is a better drive.

Now my wife wanted the Alhambra, main reason was we have small kids and they have the built in booster seats. But as mentioned it hasn't massively changed in a long time. They have done some upgrades on the interior, I think it was the 2016 model which got a new touch screen system.

PCP on the alhambra was pi** poor when I went to look at it. I also looked at the Tarracco and I just think the guy had no interest in selling that day. Now if you dont want automatic they had a lovely full leather model ex demo available which would still go under PCP.....but your 40k+

Fr Tod Umptious

Sorry to hijack the thread OP

We too need a new 7 seater, our 2010 Gran Picasso has had it's day

Just on the PCP thing

I have done some research on it and one place mentioned that the vehicle has to be in pristine condition when the contract is up.

Now I have noticed that with 4 kids and their buddies the interior of a car gets lots of abuse, bits broken, stains, scuff marks everywhere etc
It's just the nature of the beast.

With that in mind is PCP really a no go for a busy family 7 seater or is a good valeting at the end of the term enough to stop one getting penalised ?

evolving_doors

Before the Renault haters get in :pac:... just test drive the grand scenic OP.

kerten

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

Sorry to hijack the thread OP

We too need a new 7 seater, our 2010 Gran Picasso has had it's day

Just on the PCP thing

I have done some research on it and one place mentioned that the vehicle has to be in pristine condition when the contract is up.

Now I have noticed that with 4 kids and their buddies the interior of a car gets lots of abuse, bits broken, stains, scuff marks everywhere etc
It's just the nature of the beast.

With that in mind is PCP really a no go for a busy family 7 seater or is a good valeting at the end of the term enough to stop one getting penalised ?

I guess you will have less trade in value based on car's condition hence lower deposit for the next pcp. Only penalty i can thinknof is exceeding mileage if you would like to give car back.

Shefwedfan

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

Sorry to hijack the thread OP

We too need a new 7 seater, our 2010 Gran Picasso has had it's day

Just on the PCP thing

I have done some research on it and one place mentioned that the vehicle has to be in pristine condition when the contract is up.

Now I have noticed that with 4 kids and their buddies the interior of a car gets lots of abuse, bits broken, stains, scuff marks everywhere etc
It's just the nature of the beast.

With that in mind is PCP really a no go for a busy family 7 seater or is a good valeting at the end of the term enough to stop one getting penalised ?

Standard wear & tear will be ok on interior from what I know, unless you make it into sh*t :P a proper detailing with someone like Spirit Detailing will take out all the kids gruby stuff


I think for PCP they wont want the exterior all bangs and bump so they don't have to do loads of body work