MPV - anyone have a 5 or 7 seater? Also, those with 3 kids - which do you have?

[Elvisola]

I have been looking at the Grand C-Max. 7 seats and sliding doors.

I haven't seen one in real life on the road but the showroom one looks good.

I like the fact that the middle seat in the middle row lies flat so you can have 2+2+2 or 2+3+2

[myzzterri]

We've got 4 kids & have got a Volkswagon Caravelle... love love love it!

We've done the MPV thing (had a Mitsubishi Spacewagon, a Fiat Multipla & a Vauxhall Zafira) but really, we wanted the space that a van gives us!!!

[VivB]

Out of all the mpvs I've had the best by far is the Toyota Previa (Estima/Emina-imports and dearer to insure) they are usually 8 seaters and the boot is huge .

[Honey Dew]

Just googled Toyota previa, this is the one we have.
Tarago in Australia.

[Morphine]

I have three kids in car seats (4,2&2) and we have the Renault Grand Scenic and I love it. We regularly use the 7 seat option when my family visits and the boot behind the pop up seats (which fit car seats fine) is still enough for some bags and a mclaren type double buggy.
Its a sporty drive and has lots of optional extras on it (was a showroom model) so I can highly recommend it.

[Chickenlips]

We have 3 kiddies, one in a baby seat, one in a stage 2 seat and one in a booster, I have a Golf, which is just about ok as Lucia sits in the front seat, but on a short journey we have Lucia in the middle (without a seat) and DH sits in front.

DH has a Volvo XC50, which is fab, because it has the built in booster seats in the back, Jude fits in the middle fine with his Stage I seat.

I loved the SMax too and may get one next year once J is in a front facing seat.

[Chickenlips]

XC60 ruddy volvo....

[Gerbera]

We had a Zafira at first but when all the seats are up there is little to no boot space, so we invested in a roof box.
We then had a Ford Galaxy, Fiat Multipla, followed by a Renault Espace.

[VivB]

Just googled Toyota previa, this is the one we have.
Tarago in Australia.

I did wonder if it was the same :0)

[jobey]

I have 3 girls and we have a Nissan Qashquai (normal one not the +2) We can fit 3 carseats across the back *just*, atm we have 2 Graco high back boosters and a Britax Evolva in the middle for the little one. Boot space is decent, plenty of room.
I do wish we'd gone for the +2 now though but i wanted something smaller than the Touran we had before as it felt huge to drive.
The Qashqai is lovely to drive has loads of cool gadgets too, our is the N-Tec model so has a camera to help with reversing, sat nav, cruise control, 18" alloys etc.

Funnily enough though we were talking about getting another Touran the other day. I think for a 7 seater they are the nicest looking cars out of all of them. The extra seats come in handy and the boot space is amazing. Handy if you're going to Ikea!

We would have kept our Touran if it wasn't for the mega expensive fault it developed (ABS module fault £1300-£1500 to fix- common fault).

[smiley]

Thank you everyone.

We test drove the Audi Q7 which was very luxurious but the middle seat on the 2nd row isn't wide enough for a booster seat. It is also very expensive.

Having spent most of yesterday at garages (fun with 3 kids in the rain ) we have decided on the VW Touran, mostly because we get so much more for our money. Its very nice to drive and loads of space inside. I like the fact that the 2nd and 3rd row of seats independently move forward/backwards and you get a decent boot with all the 7 seats (so space beteen the bumper and back row which is always a worry of mine)


s xxx