If you’ve got a growing family, or simply need a more spacious car for long journeys with friends, an MPV or SUV with an extra pair of seats can be a very handy thing to have. But before you dive in, take a minute to mull over these pointers so you can find a car that’s the perfect fit.
Consider your passengers
You might need to consider head and legroom if you’ve got older children who need space to stretch out. However, if you’ll only be carrying small children on an occasional basis, then you could opt for something more compact. You should also think about whether any of your passengers have limited mobility. If so, consider how easy the car is to get in and out of.
What luggage will you be carrying?
There’s no point buying a car to accommodate a whole football team if there’s no room for their kit. Check out the car’s boot size and make sure it fits your requirements. Families might also consider cars with handy storage spaces, such as the Renault Grand Scenic, which has some neat features such as the sliding centre console with a 13-litre capacity.
Fitting child seats
If you’ve got young children, the number of ISOFIX points will be a huge factor for you, especially if you need to fit three child car seats in one car. When taking a car for a test drive, have a go at fitting the seats to make sure that they’re easy to access. The Ford Grand C-Max is a great option with three ISOFIX seat mounts and sliding rear doors.
What extras will you need?
Keeping kids entertained on long journeys is not an easy task. If you’ll be transporting restless children regularly, consider an option with plug sockets in the rear so they can keep their iPads/Kindles/tablets charged. And for drivers in need of a helping hand when parking a larger vehicle, a reversing camera could be a lifesaver, too.
Safety
Are there airbags in the back? If you’re a big family, you’ll want to make sure your most precious cargo is safe at all times. For ultimate in-car safety, look to Volvo’s slick XC90, which guarantees protection for every single passenger, with airbags that deploy along the full length of the interior in the event of a collision. Add that to its world-first auto braking functionality when other cars, pedestrians, and cyclists are detected in front of you.
Budget
We’re not just talking about the upfront cost of the car here, but it’s important to consider your running costs too. Make sure you’ve selected an option that’s going to get you from A to B without burning a huge hole in your pocket. 7-seat MPVs need large engines to carry heavier loads, but economical options are still available. For example, the practical Citroën Grand C4 Picasso can return 74.3mpg with its economical Euro 6 1.6-litre diesel engine.
Reliability
As with any car, it’s important to look up its reputation and check out some customer reviews (especially if buying used). Sites like Honest John and Parkers are a great place to start for impartial advice.