New family Car suggestions

Green_Martian

Hi all,

Looking at trading in and upgrading the family the car, baby number 2 is on the way so need the usual space in the boot along with decent space in the back for passengers and a 2 year old. Current care is the new shape Opel Corsa and boot definitely wont be big enough to carry stuff for 2 kids.

I was looking at the new Hyundai Tuscon and the Nissan Qashqai. Was looking at the hybrid options but i dont see much for the Nissan and also it is only a 1.2ltr engine where the Tuscon is a 1.6ltr. Would like something that can do both city and long driving.

Any advice is greatly appreciated and any other model of cars also welcome.

Thanks,G

bazz26

The Qashqai is a mild hybrid rather than a full hybrid like the Tuscon. The mild hybrid system used in the Qashqai allows the car's electrics to use saved energy in a small battery from braking. The battery doesn't actually send any power to the engine.

Being honest if you need boot space and rear passenger space then an estate will be more useful than a crossover. The boot in these crossovers are no bigger than medium sized family hatchbacks. If they are hybrids then boot space if reduced again because of where the batteries are stored. The only advantage a crossover has over a family estate car is the higher driving position and easier access to baby seats in the rear.

You might want to give that more thought.

redlough

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058265492/new-family-car-suggestions

Are you mostly doing city or long driving? a hybrid could end up costing a fortune if you are doing loads of long distance

The Corsa has a 309 ltr boot, Qashqai has 504 and Tucson has 620 or 558 in the PHEV.

Still, I don't see any reason why you would need to swap the Corsa for 2 kids? we have a Golf and only has a boot size of 380 with 4 kids. In reality 99% of the time you have very little in the boot apart, maybe the buggy and thats it. On trips a roof box is a better investment for carrying items.

As baby is only probably due I would wait till they arrive. See how you go then.

I do admit when we had our second we moved into a Qashqai(old old model now) but that was to give height rather than boot space. My mate at the time told me to buy the Qashqai+ which was the 7 seater version so I just had a big boot, I laughed but he came back 2 years later and he was right BUT, and it's a big BUT, we only had issues a few times on hols and should have just bought a roof box which I have now and is a far better investment

jellybear

We recently welcomed baby number 2 so similar situation. We changed our VW Golf for a Skoda Octavia. Fantastic boot space and plenty of room in the back for baby and 3 year old.

Mac-Chops

Echoing some of the above and in a similar situation with 2 kids under 2, I'm currently waiting on delivery of an Octavia Estate to replace a Golf. Double buggy we have just about squeezes in to the boot but then immediately out of space for anything else substantial so we have a roofbox on it currently to tie us over. Does the job but it's a pain in the hole really and the roof bars leak with heavy rain as they have to clamp inside the door frame.

Initially, I was looking at an SUV/Crossover option but was surprised during my research to see just how small the boots were in comparison to an estate and seeing also that they lose a further 50L - 100L when you go PHEV.

Octavia Combi comes out on top in terms of boot space so hopefully it doesn't disappoint overall when I eventually get my hands on it after almost a year's wait!

redlough

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119704532#Comment_119704532

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119694998#Comment_119694998

Correct me if I am wrong but the Octavia is the same as a Golf just in a saloon version instead of a hatch back?

So the interior space is the exact same but yes the boot is bigger?

bazz26

The Octavia is longer, wider and slightly taller than the Golf> https://www.ultimatespecs.com/car-comparator/118821,119338/Volkswagen-Golf-8-vs-Skoda-Octavia-4.html

BTW the Octavia is also a hatchback, not a saloon.

redlough

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119710616#Comment_119710616

But its the same car? just a Skoda badge. Or a Seat badge etc

If you want a bigger car then you go for Passat/Superb/A4 etc

That would be my opinion anyway, maybe wrongly

barneygumble99

Octavia or superb for space for rear passengers and luggage compartment , nothing comes close.

bazz26

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119713009#Comment_119713009

Nobody is arguing that it's not the same car. But being based on the same car is not the same as being the same size. The Octavia is the biggest of all those cars sharing the that platform. The point being you don't need to go Passat or Superb size to get something bigger than a Golf.

redlough

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119713086#Comment_119713086

My point is that you are not buying a bigger car, you are buying the same car just with a couple of tweaks to give you a little bit of extra space. If you actually need a bigger car and are spending money you are better off investing in a car that is built on a platform that provides additional space.

I swapped a Golf to A6 years ago to provide extra space for instance.

bazz26

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119713204#Comment_119713204

I'm not dwelling on this but the logic still seems to be escaping you. The Octavia is still the biggest car in the segment that it competes in, including the Golf, Leon, etc. Yes there are bigger cars in the next segment up but the poster was not talking about the next segment up. Maybe your definition of a bigger car means it has to be in the next segment up but as per the link I already provided, the Octavia is still wider, taller and longer than a Golf. That makes it physically bigger to me but maybe not according to your definition.

Marcusm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119713915#Comment_119713915

Agreeing with Bazz here, the passenger compartment and boot on an Octavia are equivalent to a few segments higher up than a Golf albeit that it’s on the same VAG group platform.

redlough

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119714560#Comment_119714560

Golf = Octavia

Passat = Superb

You would swear VW and Skoda are different companies, they are the same just with different tweaks.

The Octavia is not equivalent to a few segments higher up. If you have a Golf and want a bigger car then buy the Superb/Passat/etc.

mr_edge_to_you

Octavia is perfect for a family of 4. I have one myself.

We've had Octavia's for years. The most practical family car out there. Back seats are plenty big for adults and kids. Boot can handle a Quinny buggy with room to spare.

You can transport loads with the back seat down. At one point we had a 5 seater patio set (flat packed) in it and then ok another occasion I had a Berg gokart in it.

Aso, the 1.0l TSI is a very practical engine. It's efficient, reliable and actually fun to drive. On a related note, we've driven to France with it twice with full loads and it's well capable.

MakersMark

Ford Smax, perfect family vehicle.

Wossack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119716317#Comment_119716317

You would have gotten more boot space if instead of your A6, you’d swapped your Golf for an Octavia

mr_edge_to_you

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119716492#Comment_119716492

At one stage in recent years, I was driving an i40 saloon. Never ever will I drove a saloon car again. The boots are useless in them....lift/hatch back or estate from here on.

Marcusm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119716317#Comment_119716317

Did you read what I said? The rear space and boot space is equivalent to that which generally persists in a car a few segments above. I stand by this. At no point did I suggest the car as a whole was segments above.

ForestFire

My vote is for Octavia estate, Hugh room throughout the car , including a massive and very flexible boot, with very easy access.

And yes it's bigger than all other cars in the same segment, and even some in the segment above, as others have stated, and the estate offers more over the hatchback also.

You do not have to go up a segment for space with Skoda.

My car before my current Leon estate, was the Octavia. Was looking at loads of crossovers, etc and had it narrowed down to 2, but when someone suggested the Octavia to me and I went to view it, it was immediately the only option for me, I was that impressed.