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Crossover advice

1jim
1jim Posts: 2,683 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
Hi everyone

Starting to think about getting a new car, quite like the look of a crossover like the Kia sportage or similar. Have looked at an ix35 and 3008 and am starting to think they may not be suitable for us

We really need a car that can take two car seats in rear, preferably highball isofix for age up to 11. Would like to fit an adult in the middle rear seat reasonably comfortably. The ix35 could get bottom in but shoulders were an issue, the 3008 couldn't get bottom in!

Don't really want a 7 seater, will be getting rid of our xsara Picasso so would be nice to have a "nice" car now. Any thoughts on this? I know ix35 and sportage are same car but different trim so wondered if there was any more space on seats or what about qashqai? Or do I need to widen the search?

Thanks
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Comments

  • Hintza
    Hintza Posts: 19,420 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    These car seats always cause hassle and makes life difficult, one is normally OK but two! My youngest who is 8 is now over 135cm tall so all booster/car seats have gone which makes everything so much easier.

    Why not keep what you have just now? Or is that years away?
  • 1jim
    1jim Posts: 2,683 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Keeping what we have is the fallback plan, if I'm honest there is nothing wrong with he Picasso, it's only done around 50k and is on a 55 plate. Have heard a few stories that it's around 8 years when things start to go wrong and the bills start coming in so thought could head that off, and to be honest I think we would both like a nice, attractive car, rather than a work horse of a thing :-)

    As for kids, ages 7 and 5 but 7 year old is small for her age, so no getting away from the seats anytime soon, I suppose we could use those little boosters with no back but they always seem so uncomfortable so not sure they'd be great for holidays, and not sure about safety of them compared to what we have now
  • shortdog
    shortdog Posts: 322 Forumite
    1jim wrote: »
    As for kids, ages 7 and 5 but 7 year old is small for her age, so no getting away from the seats anytime soon, I suppose we could use those little boosters with no back but they always seem so uncomfortable so not sure they'd be great for holidays, and not sure about safety of them compared to what we have now

    Can't advise on the car, but keep your kids in decent high back boosters as long as you can - they little booster cushions don't give them any side protection, and won't give your kids anywhere near as much protection in case of an accident. They are OK for occasional short journeys, but not really for any more.
  • wba31
    wba31 Posts: 2,189 Forumite
    I'd be wary of the 3008, it faired really badly in a recent MSN cars reliability chart they had...
  • 1jim
    1jim Posts: 2,683 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    shortdog wrote: »
    Can't advise on the car, but keep your kids in decent high back boosters as long as you can - they little booster cushions don't give them any side protection, and won't give your kids anywhere near as much protection in case of an accident. They are OK for occasional short journeys, but not really for any more.

    Agreed (sorry have to put in a few more letters to be able to post)
  • Quentin
    Quentin Posts: 40,405 Forumite
    shortdog wrote: »
    ....9they little booster cushions don't give them any side protection, and won't give your kids anywhere near as much protection in case of an accident. They are OK for occasional short journeys, but not really for any more.

    Would you also advise us not to bother about seat belts on short journeys as well? ?
  • System
    System Posts: 178,374 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Crossover fall into three categories-

    1) Off roaders that are made to be family vehicles - Grand Vitara and RAV4 are examples. Obviously refinement will be an issue as these have their history in off roading

    2) Middle of the road (the actual crossover) - These will be your CRV and X-Trail types. Fall bang in the middle of a car and truck. Good road manners and off roading is 'soft' but OK.

    3) The car based crossover - These are you Quashqai, Kuga and 3008 types. These are very much car based crossovers and at began life as car platforms adapted to 4x4 looks. These are excellent for the 'I want high riding position and to be able to get around in snow' types as these crossovers are no different in driving than a car.

    So really you need to make your mind up and decide which segment to look in.
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • 1jim
    1jim Posts: 2,683 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Walcott wrote: »
    Crossover fall into three categories-

    1) Off roaders that are made to be family vehicles - Grand Vitara and RAV4 are examples. Obviously refinement will be an issue as these have their history in off roading

    2) Middle of the road (the actual crossover) - These will be your CRV and X-Trail types. Fall bang in the middle of a car and truck. Good road manners and off roading is 'soft' but OK.

    3) The car based crossover - These are you Quashqai, Kuga and 3008 types. These are very much car based crossovers and at began life as car platforms adapted to 4x4 looks. These are excellent for the 'I want high riding position and to be able to get around in snow' types as these crossovers are no different in driving than a car.

    So really you need to make your mind up and decide which segment to look in.

    It's the car based crossover that we are really after, the high driving position is favored by the wife so that's why we are looking at this group of cars, just starting to find that they won't suit our needs in the back
  • System
    System Posts: 178,374 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    1jim wrote: »
    It's the car based crossover that we are really after, the high driving position is favored by the wife so that's why we are looking at this group of cars, just starting to find that they won't suit our needs in the back

    The Quahqai, Kuga etc are not really family based vehicles. For babies/toddlers family size they are too small in terms of boot space. For families such as yourself these are a hassle for rear seating.

    The CRV or X-Trail are probably more suited to your needs.
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • 1jim
    1jim Posts: 2,683 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Thanks, might need to look at alternatives.... Would an octavia/mondeo etc fit 2 kid seats and an adult? To be fair, I think we've got to the point of wanting a nice car to drive now, not sure wife considers mondeo or octavia as nice and certainly won't like the lower driving position. I suppose compromises will have to be made
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