3rd child on the way - time to upgrade to 7 seater

magic_murph

Looking to upgrade to a larger car, ideally a 7 seater.

7 seater to have the larger boot as ideally the 3 kids would remain in the 2nd row

I was looking at the Tiguan Allspace but I don't think I would get 3 safety seats in the back.

The Kodiaq has the same problem

5008 looks like the natural choice as can fit three seats in the back.

Any other suggestions / considerations?

AMKC

Ford S-Max. Much nicer to drive than them SUVs and more practical too as well as more stylish and classy.

Renault Grand Scenic. Again the same as the Ford more stylish than an SUV, better to drive than an SUV and more classy too.

arsebiscuits82

We went the Citroen c5 aircross route. Our kids are older though at 8,7,5. A bit tight for seats but we manage fine, picked up a narrow high back booster for the middle and we’re happy out. Granted we don’t have the baby bits and pieces to deal with anymore so the boot might be too small.

We had a scenic for 5 years before that which managed everything perfectly. Didn’t want a big bus. To be fair the scenic didn’t give a days bother in time of ownership and we put 110k km on it.

Akrasia

You don't actually need a 7 seater. A decent hatchback or estate has as much space as you'll need. Ford Mondeo got us through the buggy and car seat stage of our 3 kids (2 years apart)

I never liked 7 seaters just from a drivers perspective. Too wallowey

brogiebears

Dacia `Jogger is an option with a chicco fold and go high back booster in the middle - its a nice narrow base

Larbre34

Mercedes GLB/EQB.

Best value 7 seater around.

wotzgoingon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120793584#Comment_120793584

I mentioned that car in another thread on here and someone said you will not fit three child car seats in a row in that car.

AerLingus747

Just get a transit... missus and baby seat in the front... other 2 floating in the back somewhere... bonus point for loose tools or building equipment they have to contend with each corner

spuddy

Have a look at this

https://www.carwow.co.uk/best/cars-with-three-separate-rear-seats#gref

brogiebears

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120793619#Comment_120793619

These 3 car seats work across the middle.

Britax Adventure Group

Chicco Fold and Go

Joie Spin 360

Maxi cosy as a baby seat works too.

GerardKeating

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120793584#Comment_120793584

Problem with the Jogger, with car seats in the middle row, there is no real access to the third row of seats, unless ye enter/exit via the boot

kirving

Dacia Jogger is also a 1-Star Euro NCAP rated car. Now admittedly it's way safer than an old car - but things have moved on.

https://www.euroncap.com/en/results/dacia/jogger/45231

wotzgoingon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120797231#Comment_120797231

It's still way safer than an older car as they changed the rating system. It is all about the electronic safety toys now which more expensive cars would have. Look it up I'm not joking. In the past it was all about side impact safety regarding how the occupants would do when in a wreck now as I said it about blind spot awareness of the car and auto braking etc...

standardg60

I wouldn't be seen dead in a Dacia, if they decide to make hearses i will put that in my will

Akrasia

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120797256#Comment_120797256

the safest car is the one that doesn't get into the crash in the first place

But the Dacia getting 1 star indicates that they do neither crash avoidance, nor passenger protection very well

wotzgoingon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120797431#Comment_120797431

It does passenger protection very well. Better than older cars on the old system and same as current cars now that I think of it.

kirving

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120797483#Comment_120797483

It may be better than old cars, sure, but the Dacia scores 70% for Adult Occupant, and 69% for child occupants.

A VW Polo in comparison, scores 94% and 80%. This is a comparison hitting a static barrier, and it doesn't necessarily translate to the Polo being safer in a car on car collision it must be said.

It is also true that Euro NCAP applies heavy weighting to ADAS, but it's far better to avoid a collision than be saved by the crash structure.

Just something to consider when buying.

magic_murph

Thanks for the above

Any thoughts on the Hyundai Santa Fe - the internal styling is much nicer than then 5008 but it will really come down to the space in the back seat.

Looks at the 5008 over the weekend - its the leading contender so far but will be checking out the options from Ford / Hyundai also

AMKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120798974#Comment_120798974

Check out the KIA Sorento too.

RINO87

Any thoughts on a Skoda Yeti folks? Could you fit two infant seats and a booster across the back?

richardbradley

Have a 5008 for last few years and delighted with it - so far maintenance low, cost effective and reliable.

Also, (and clearly it depends on lifestyle and future lifestyle) the 7 seats is incredibly more useful than you would think. Everybody is different but we use our extra seats regularly enough for:

• Sports Training - by lift sharing and filling the bus with local kids I have to do half the journeys as other parents will do the same. This is true for lift sharing of kids for all kinds of activities. I also coach so if any kid is stuck for a lift I will collect them on way rather than have them miss training.
• Can I bring a friend? - even if we just off somewhere local for a walk one of the 3 kids will often ask to bring a friend or neighbour - sure pull the seat down and hop in!
• Days out when grandparents/friends visit - we have grandparents that live abroad so when they stay with us it makes it very convenient for all 7 to head out in 1 car
• Doing my bit as designated driver - we live fairly rural - there are some nights out that someone needs to drive - if its my turn i can fill the car and don't need to do it as often if we have 3 couples.
• Our Kids parties - admittedly only 3 x a year but being able to bus a significant number of kids to wherever we go also helps

jon1981

If one of the kids is 5+ you can you get a booster seat in the 3rd row easy of most 7 seater SUVs.

?Cee?view

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058302901/3rd-child-on-the-way-time-to-upgrade-to-7-seater

If you're not going new, woudl you consider a Touran? Can get 3 seats on 2nd row.

drunkmonkey

What age are the kids? Some of the Volvos have built in booster seats, either 1 or 2 depending on the model. They just pop up from the back seat. XC60 has 2 in the old and new model.

jimbobmalones

As always it comes down to money. If you are loaded you can buy whatever you want no issues.

Many of the recommendations made by posters are not related to budget.

If you are on a budget then things change...

Jogger is circa 28k brand new

Next up is Kodiaq, 5008, Tarraco at around 48k - 50k for the lowest spec models

Sorento and Santa Fe are 55k+ but more realistically 60k

Then you have the luxury brands

Volvo, BMW etc 70,80,90,100k etc

You can also look second hand but there is little value to be had imho. That's where jogger comes in

as it is essentially a brand new car for the same price as a 3 - 4 year old kodiaq etc...

Hope you get a good car that suits your needs and budget

J

Bubonic

I have a Seat Alhambra for the last few years and its excellent, same as a Sharan basically but cheaper.

Its fits the three seats and even has up to two integrated. Also has sliding doors which is very handy when getting kids

in and out.

The stopped making them in 2021 but there are still plenty around.

ofcork

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120793604#Comment_120793604

First time i heard mercedes and value together must be north of 50k.

spuddy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120809925#Comment_120809925

The Touran is an unsung hero, 3 independent seats in the rear so more space than the Kodiaq / Tarraco / Tiguan, and even the third-row has ISOFIX points.

https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/touran/mpv/review/n17348

figtoffee

Note alot of the MPVs are are no longer available as new and are relatively expensive 2nd hand so depends on your budget e.g. Alhambra & Touran. I was between a 2nd hand Skoda Kodiaq and a new Dacia Jogger, ended up with the Jogger as felt it was better value for money given the flux in the car market. The following 3 seats fit in middle row: Maxicosi with belted isofix, Britax Adventure HBB and belted Halfords seat which does both toddler seat and HBB.

wotzgoingon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120820366#Comment_120820366

You were right I took the same decision in 2021 with a Sandero. I was fed up with NCT's so said I will get a brand new car. It's nice not having to rock up to the NCT test centre.

photosmart

Interesting...

I also went with a Jogger to replace my aging verso. The only other options for my budget were

3 - 4 year old tourans, smaxes, grand scenics etc or I could have added 10k for a 3 year old

kodiaq!

Be interesting to see if the new Dacia SUV will be a seven seater (Bigster I think it's called) but

it's not out for another year or so.

V happy with Jogger so far. Was in a VW T-Roc recently and found the interior no better and in many ways

worse than the Jogger and that's not a cheap motor