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Road ,News
OCT 01st 2018

Goodwood Road & Racing

The 10 best cars for extra‑large families

You might think SUVs are the best choice if you need seven seats these days for your brood. But most seven-seaters are a compromise: you gain the extra seats but lose the boot, or gain the ride height but lose the handling.

Consider, then, the passenger van. My partner and I have four boys between us, aged five to 10 years old. We recently drove to Cornwall for a self-catering holiday, with kayaks, wetsuits, inflatable mattresses and clothes for all eventualities. Normally this entails a top box and massive early-morning arguments as we attempt to load and go. This year, we had a Mercedes V-class with seven seats, loads of leg room and, importantly loads of boot space. We just threw everything in, briefly considered the microwave as well, then shut the boot and drove off. Simples.

If you’re too much of a badge snob to consider such a horror, then we’ve included the pick of seven-seat SUVs too.

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1. Mercedes V-class

This is the daddy of them all. So much space, in seven- or eight-seat configuration, and with that touch of Mercedes luxury in the form of huge pop-up trays between the two second-row seats, soft black leather, blue interior lighting, and Merc’s good infotainment system. The boot has a power button to close the easy tailgate or you can simply open the rear window to load. Love, love love.

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2. Hyundai i800

Same scenario as the Mercedes V-class, but cheaper, which is reflected in the materials and equipment levels. On the other hand, if you're after a massive MPV, you’re not in it for the style stakes and the Hyundai has oodles of space and you won’t shed tears over scuffed plastic trim inside. Plus, Hyundai does one of the best standard stereo systems on the market.

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3. Ford Torneo Custom

The happy medium: more creature comforts than the Hyundai, cheaper than the Mercedes. Don’t ask us how Ford maintains its legendary handling and impressive chassis when the vehicles get this long and heavy, but it does. Nearest you’ll get in this class to feeling like you’re driving a smaller car.

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4. Vauxhall Vivaro Combi

On paper, the Ford has it, but our heart says the Vauxhall, if the £50,000-plus Merc is beyond reach. Proudly made in Britain, excellent value for money, and with the lovely driving ergonomics possessed by all vans – upturned steering wheel, raised manual gearstick and arm rests.

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5. SsangYong Turismo/2nd-hand Rodius

If budget is the main factor, look no further. Sadly the Korean manufacturer no longer makes the gargantuan Rodius, which reminds us of an Airbus as you walk up the gangway between rows of seats, so if you can get your hands on a used example for about £10,000, that’s what we’d suggest, Otherwise, the Tursimo is a disappointingly better-looking replacement.

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6. Kia Sorento

Ok, so you’re not convinced by our argument for a van, and insist on an SUV. If you must be boring, the Sorento is a sensible choice, Each generation of the seven-seater gets better looking, with more equipment as standard and good fuel economy.

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7. Land Rover Discovery

For those for whom the car is still a status symbol, look no further than a new Disco. The recent styling changes got some criticism, but you can’t fault the engineering and interior of this awesome premium off-roader. Handy styling points like USB charging slots for all seven seats, two proper seats in the third row and still room for a few bags of groceries in the rear give this the thumbs up.

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8. Volvo XC90

Space, space and more space. Three rows up and still a boot for luggage. The ultimate family weekend warrior: luxury, stylish Scandi design in the form of pale leathers and open-grain woods and a very comfy ride. Plus the big iPad-style touchscreen for all functions which actually works without glitches.

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9. Renault Grand Scenic

Renault took the old-school idea of the MPV with low-powered, frugal engines and turned it into this, a fantastic, good-value, handsome family car with groovy graphics, funky LED strips that change colour according to driving style, and smart black textured fabrics that prove leather is so yesterday.

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10. Skoda Kodiak

Remiss of us not to include a VW Group seven-seat SUV, when they have such a solid history in making the things. Better value than the Touareg, with the same pedigree but not so many premium touches, it still plugs the muddy rugby pitches on a Saturday without embarrassing you, and can take the dirty pack of under-Eights home for a bath. 

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