COMPACT 7 Seater Family Car, under $15,000

Hoju on 06/08/2018 - 13:18
Last edited 06/08/2018 - 13:24

Sorry, ANOTHER 7 seater thread, but a little different as we are looking for the most compact 7 seater, hoping to avoid the SUV / people mover vehicles that are in the Poll.

We've stretched the life of our 2001 A class hatch a while, and fit 3 kids in the back, the pram in the boot and so on.
With a 4th on the horizon and some costly repairs to the hatch coming up, we've thought about just ditching it and getting something for 4 kids + 2 adults a bit earlier than needed.
Plus we are finding now that we are unable to have the kids' friends over or take them home easily as we don't have space in the car.

As the A class (long wheel base model) is a real Tardis, huge on the inside but a really compact car measuring 3776mm, easy to park and drive, we are hoping for as small a 7 seater as possible.

Criteria are really:
- Small as realistically possible
- under $15,000
- around or under 100,000km
- back row and boot space not a huge issue as it will be for kids < 10
- will need to have access to back row with 2 x car seats in the middle row though

Trawling Carsales I found that the smallest 7 seaters are:

  • Peugeot 308 XSE (4500mm long)
  • Kia Rondo (4545mm)
  • Nissan Dualis +2 (surprisingly as it's an SUV?)

  • Citroen Picasso (pre 2013 facelift 4590, after that probably too expensive

  • The Nissan Cube was another option, but we feel we might be buying into trouble as they are all >10 years old from what I can see

The Odyssey and Kia people movers just seem like driving a bus to me.
Sorrento and Santa Fe are options but are bigger than we'd like.

We are leaning towards the Nissan mainly because having had a Volvo and Mercedes and been stung by huge repair costs, the Peugeot and Citroen have us a bit worried.

If anyone has any thoughts on the above models and what they would add to it, please comment, it would be much appreciated.
Thank you!

Automotive

Comments

  • freakthe on 06/08/2018 - 13:33
    +2

    I do wonder what are the options - other than JDMs …

    • Cheap Charlie on 06/08/2018 - 16:23
      +8

      JDM is not a term to describe anything manufactured in Japan.

      • welfoj on 07/08/2018 - 22:45

        … for the Japansese Domestic Market…

      • WhatWouldBiggieDo on 08/08/2018 - 09:42
        +5

        Incorrectly downvoted. Freakthe is referring to Japanese Domestic Market cars that have to be personally imported (such as the Toyota Alphard).

  • Randxyz123 on 06/08/2018 - 13:36
    +6

    Surely getting a Odyessy is more of a future proof option.

    Your kids won’t be small for that long.

    • Hoju on 06/08/2018 - 13:39
      +1

      Is the odyssey the standout in terms of reliability?

      They kind of will be small for a long time. At least 2 of them will be <10 and backrowable for the next 9.3 years, so that's long enough.

      • Randxyz123 on 07/08/2018 - 10:21
        +1

        How old are they ?

        Realistically you’ll have to take 2 cars if you go anywhere on holiday, because you’ll have so much stuff. I’d recommend getting a roof pod for what ever car you get. Is this going to be the main car or a second car?

        Your kids aren’t going to want to be squished between 2 baby seats in the middle seat not go in the 3rd row. As soon as they are 8 or 9 they’ll be completely aware how uncomfortable it is and make a huge fuss each time. This is coming from someone with 3 younger siblings. The middle seat was just the worst place to be for any trip over 20 minutes next to one baby seat let alone 2.

        Also the boot space in those mini suvs is terrible. Have you tried to get a pram in the back with the 3rd row up if it doesn’t split? How about shopping, other baby s*** you need to carry around ?

        • Hoju on 07/08/2018 - 12:58
          +1

          They’re baby, 7 & 9. The roof box is a good idea, I have thought of it before as a useful addition for trips.

          I’m amazed at the number of people saying the kids will complain in the back. They do fight, as siblings always do, but never complain about the space and enjoy being with the baby.
          We actually get no complaints in a tiny A class. The 9 year old sits in the middle between 2 child seats when it’s all 5 of us in the car, and in the front when only one parent is around. The boot has the pram and the shopping usually goes at their feet. I can’t imagine the boot space in a 7 seater is that much worse than the A class, from memory the Dualis has 150L boot with the seats up. Can always pop 1 seat down too.

          Essentially we would be buying a car thinking of the 99% of driving situations not the 1 or 2 holiday trips a year when maybe it’s a bit tight. We have to street park in a tight inner suburb area and a giant car is just not something we are keen on

  • yoonibear on 06/08/2018 - 13:43

    Only cars I could find were the JDMs - was there a reason why you wanted small?

    • Hoju on 06/08/2018 - 14:08

      I have no idea what a jdm is. Japanese domestic market?

      • yoonibear on 06/08/2018 - 16:22

        Yup - cars like the elgrand, tarago..etc.. but then they're all bus like

        • Cheap Charlie on 06/08/2018 - 16:25
          +7

          JDM refers to vehicles exclusively avilable only to the Japanese domestic market rather than any thing that was ever manufactured in Japan.

        • HighAndDry on 06/08/2018 - 16:37
          +1

          As C.Charlie said, JDM specifically refers to Japanese cars (or car parts) made for the Japanese domestic market (and typically not available elsewhere).

        • Euphemistic on 06/08/2018 - 21:06

          @HighAndDry: more accurately a model that was sold in the Japanese market, not necessarily only in japan. They often had the same shape/engine etc available in other market but may have had specific features or components for the JDM. Just as au spec cars are designed to meet our markets and might have AC as standard and different suspension setup.

          Eg Subaru wrx jdm spec is slightly different to Au spec but mostly the same car.

      • yomama on 08/08/2018 - 12:47
        +1

        If you are open to importing have a look at toyota mark x zio, ticks a quite few boxes.
        You can get the already imported one too.

        4705mm length
        under $15,000, even already imported ones.
        Plenty under 100k milage
        6 seat instead of 7 but you get easy access to back row. Mid row centre console is bolted to floor and can be removed.
        Decent space behind 3rd row.
        Camry/kluger/aurion engine depending on engine size - no issue to find parts/service

        Some links:
        Samples from j-spec
        Samples from carsales

  • dexx on 06/08/2018 - 14:14
    +1

    Toyota Prius V?

    • Hoju on 06/08/2018 - 14:17

      Really sits $5-10k out of budget :(

      • usmanyousaf on 06/08/2018 - 16:44

        Toyota Prius is a nice option considering the fuel economy will save you alott over the years. worth waiting for few months before organising 5k-10k. It comes with latest Tech features as well.
        Honda Odessy is also a good option.

        • Cheap Charlie on 06/08/2018 - 16:46

          Toyota Prius is a nice option considering the fuel economy will save you alott over the years

          Depends on the OPs driving conditions.

  • ShortyX on 06/08/2018 - 14:27
    +2

    The Odyssey and Kia people movers just seem like driving a bus to me.
    Sorrento and Santa Fe are options but are bigger than we'd like.

    As mentioned earlier, kids don't stay small for long. It's probably worth spending a bit more to get a 7 seater SUV or van and make it last a good number of years. We've been happy with our Sorento.

    By the way, didn't even know about the Rondo!

  • SnoozeAndLose on 06/08/2018 - 14:28

    Nissan you may also stung by huge repair cost.

    I think Odyssey or Kia would be your choice as you really need a people mover. you will need a larger car when you kid start to grow up.

  • chumlee on 06/08/2018 - 14:30

    The dualis is a 5+2 so once the 3rd row seats are up there's no boot space.

    • duckworth on 09/08/2018 - 00:06

      Totally agree. All mid sized SUV will have this problem. The only way to solve this will be roof racks or go for a people mover or bigger car.

  • Cartman2530 on 06/08/2018 - 15:41
    +3

    6 people? You'll need a people mover unless you enjoy the kids complaining that they are squashed in when they get older.
    Look at a car and think to yourself, can this fit 6 adults comfortably? If the answer is no then I wouldn't recommend it.

    I have 4 kids between the ages of 3 to 10 and there is no way I would squash them in now, let alone when they become teenagers.

    We have the import version of the V6 Tarago, the Estima which we got for under $15,000 and its the same as the current shape tarago with extra Japanese electronics that the local version doesn't have. Same as you, my wife was initially skeptical of driving it but she got used to it really quickly, it feels more like driving a car than a bus despite outward appearances.

    If you want 4 kids then there is really no way around a people mover, unless you want to take 2 cars.

    • SnoozeAndLose on 06/08/2018 - 15:43

      Did any of the extra electronic break?

      • Cartman2530 on 06/08/2018 - 15:58

        Nope, still works fine.

        Ours is a 2008 model, and all the parts are compatible with the local tarago so I don't have to worry about rare or hard to find parts or anything. I would use the import wreckers in sydney if there was some factory part I couldn't get, they have Estimas there.

        • SnoozeAndLose on 06/08/2018 - 16:08
          -2

          Problem is not the part, it is how to fix it if it is not local car, dealer wouldnt help even if you pay for the repair

        • Cartman2530 on 06/08/2018 - 18:34
          +1

          @LoveBargain15: I repair stuff myself, its pretty easy, been doing it for years!

          Plus as I said, mechanically and electrically its the same as the local tarago so most mechanics will be fine to work on it. If I change the badges over they wouldn't know the difference!

        • abb on 07/08/2018 - 15:28
          +2

          @LoveBargain15:

          if it is not local car, dealer wouldnt help even if you pay for the repair

          Who goes to a dealer once the warranty is over anyway? My previous car was an import never sold in Aus and my local mechanic was happy to help find a "close enough" part on the one occasion when the exact part was not readily available.

  • aragornelessar on 06/08/2018 - 15:54
    +1

    If they're small don't they need booster seats? Can you comfortably fit booster seats next to each other one of your smaller options?

    My two are still in their child seats and that leaves the middle seat on our Forester (not a 7-seater) a very tight squeeze for even a teenage sized shape. I'm not sure if going to a booster seat would give you more much room to put a third person in a single row?

    • Cartman2530 on 06/08/2018 - 16:00

      Good point, we had a VE commodore before and three booster seats JUST fit in across the back. It was actually one of the criteria to get that car at the time before our 4th came along.

    • Hoju on 06/08/2018 - 16:24
      +2

      Yep, we will have two in booster seats but the age gaps mean never 3. We can fit 2 in boosters and one in the middle in the hatch at the moment so it isn’t a huge problem.

      We rarely drive more than short journeys, and not often all together so I guess we aim to prioritise easy driving for the 80% of journeys that we all do together. The kids don’t complain in the hatch, and if they do in a new car then they can walk

      • HighAndDry on 06/08/2018 - 16:38

        and if they do in a new car then they can walk

        Nice.

  • spackbace on 06/08/2018 - 18:02
    +5

    Time for a people mover… You made too many!
    Anything else will leave you wanting

  • Bearycow on 07/08/2018 - 09:44

    How about the Toyota Kluger? Post-2008 models have the 5 star safety rating, and you should be able to find an alright second hand 10 year old one in your budget. They also have side airbags in the back, which a lot of others don't.

    Boot space is minimal with the back seats up, but a pod could go on the roof. We don't have a pod, but manage to tetris in all our stuff when we go on holidays (2 adults, 4 kids). You can also lay down the centre seat in the middle aisle easily, so the people in the rear can get in and out easily.

    • Euphemistic on 07/08/2018 - 15:32
      +1

      Not even close to compact

      • whooah1979 on 07/08/2018 - 20:21
        +1

        op wants a compact 7 seater. there's no such thing as a compact 7 seater. the most op may hope for is a 5+2 seater.

        • Euphemistic on 09/08/2018 - 13:18

          which also has, wait for it, 5+2 = seven seats. First priority in the OP is compact. With compact there are some compromises. Getting the kids used to a small space for a short trip now and then isn't that hard - unless you are a parent that cannot say no to the 'little angels'.

          I remember as a kid two of us travelling in the back of a Cortina wagon with a bunch of luggage, no seats. We thought it was a great adventure, not infringing on our rights to a full seat.

  • mvrj on 07/08/2018 - 10:26
    +4

    Subaru Exiga, if you can find one cheap enough. A six seater in 2010-2011, but a seven seater from 2012. Awesome car, mostly made for the Japanese market but they sold them here for a while. Based on the Liberty platform, drives like a car, tons of space, Subaru quality, safety, and reliability. I have a six seater, took four months to find but worth it.

    • muchape on 08/08/2018 - 16:41

      I have a 2010 and love it its my first Subaru and its just a great car just wish i found a turbo one.

  • alexwar on 07/08/2018 - 10:42
    +1

    Another alternative a Renault Scenic 7 seater. You can easily get one on your price range.

    • Hoju on 07/08/2018 - 13:13

      Thanks I’ll look into that

  • domacath on 07/08/2018 - 11:06
    +6

    Hoju we have recently been through this process (although our budget was higher so we bought a demo). We didn't want a people mover either.
    I completely disagree with the people who say "get a bigger car, the kids will be squashed". There's plenty of room in these smaller 7-seaters for children, they are very well designed. (And if they're a bit tight-packed occasionally, that's really not the end of the world.)
    To answer your question, we narrowed it down to the Nissan Dualis+2, or the Kia Rondo, which seemed very similar in size, design, specs and price.
    We ended up with a Rondo (2013 I think). We are very pleased with it. We call it the Tardis because it's so roomy inside but just looks like a regular vehicle from the outside, easy to park etc. We liked the fact that each of the seats was individually adjustable, creating lots of different options. Also proper seat-belts in the back two seats. You can easily access the back row by putting down the middle seat in the middle row, it lies completely flat.
    We have had it for four years now and are still happy that we made the right decision. We have three kids, my oldest is now 15, and when we need to carry one of her friends they fight to sit in the third row, even though they have the least leg space.
    Happy to answer any other specific questions you may have.

    • Hoju on 07/08/2018 - 13:18
      +1

      Thanks! That’s so handy, I think we’re on a similar page, I really can’t see my kids complaining about space.
      What were the downsides of the Dualis that put the rondo ahead of it?

      The parking cam on the Dualis looks really handy - I’d never have cared in the past but we recently had a rental car overseas that had it and it was really useful. The full sunroof also looks nice

      But I imagine the Kia might be cheaper to upkeep and repair if needed…

      Both are definitely on the test drive list

      • SnoozeAndLose on 07/08/2018 - 15:32
        -2

        once 7 years warranty gone on KIA, your pain start

        • usmanyousaf on 08/08/2018 - 01:50

          We already tested this with Hyundai…i think Kia will do just same.

        • SnoozeAndLose on 08/08/2018 - 05:50

          @usmanyousaf:

          if you compare it with Nissan , Toyota or Honda, it would be different

        • Hoju on 08/08/2018 - 06:27

          @usmanyousaf:

          So confused.
          Tested what, and what would be different?!

      • domacath on 09/08/2018 - 11:42

        Hi Hoju, glad my comment was helpful.
        In the end we went for the Rondo because we could get a great deal on a Platinum demo with all the bells and whistles including rear camera, sat nav etc. If the price had been the same we might have gone for the Dualis, they were pretty similar.
        We started off looking at second-hand Honda Odyssey and Toyota Aventsis, but they were expensive for their age/km, and most had a hard life (as you would expect).
        The Rondo has given us no mechanical problems. Fuel economy 10.2/100km.
        My husband is a mechanic and he wouldn't touch a European car due to expense of repairs, no Craptiva's either.
        Kia Sorento has a good reputation.
        Good luck!

    • BudgetBountyOz on 08/08/2018 - 11:25

      I am a KIA Rondo(2010) owner too. You will hardly see this vehicle on the road. Fuel Efficiency is really bad. This vehicle is mostly sold in LPG version for this reason in South Korea. I had so many issues with this vehicle in the last 4 years. Alternator, water pump, brake switch and so on. The Car stopped on the road many times. It was the cheapest in used car range when I bought it 4 years ago.

      • Hoju on 08/08/2018 - 14:36

        That's certainly something I'm conscious of - this car is almost non-existent on the road, I've never seen one.
        I ask myself then - why? and what's that doing to resale value?

      • [Deactivated] on 09/08/2018 - 09:53

        I bought my wife a Rondo and love driving it!

  • HeWhoKnows on 07/08/2018 - 13:01
    +3

    Not sure why you are asking us.

    Surely the process is:
    1) Set your budget
    2) Search for cars in that range
    3) test drive a few and see which vehicles suit you best
    4) check the car reviews on the shortlisted vehicles
    5) look for the best deal on your shortlisted vehicles

    Everyone here has thier OWN opinion which is all good but as everyone has different needs and priorities the opinions posted here may not be necessarily be useful or valid for OP.

    Good luck!

    • Hoju on 07/08/2018 - 13:12
      +1

      Guess I’m just hoping for some pointers from people that have driven these cars or have some idea of reliability / maintenance costs and can help narrow it down.

      Or also suggest other options or rule things out. When I did my search, a hundred Holden captiva come up but thanks to ozbargain I found out they were plagued with issues.

      The comment above from domacath is awesome and really helpful

      • duckworth on 07/08/2018 - 20:03

        I looked at the New Captiva as a 7 seater option too but even the 7 year warranty on the new Vehicle did not instil confidence, having owned a 5 yr old Holden Cruze - Avoid them.

  • elgrande on 07/08/2018 - 13:25
    +1

    Q: how do you fit 4 elephants in a mini?

    A: 2 in the front and 2 in the back

    Q: how do you fit 8 elephants?

    A: get 2 mini's

    • Hoju on 07/08/2018 - 13:27

      :)
      I have one mini! Almost roadworthy…
      Guess I Just need one more…

  • pao2x on 07/08/2018 - 13:54

    Dualis is a good choice

    Kia Rondo
    Prius V
    Toyota Avensis
    C4 Picasso
    Honda Odyssey

    Fiat fremont
    Mitsi Outlander 7

  • stumo on 07/08/2018 - 17:22

    What about safety? I would be worried about packing that many sardines into a flimsy tin can.

    Thats why I have a 2002 ML270. It is actually very compact for a 7 seater (4587mm). And being a separate chassis 4x4 construction it is very strong. Not to mention all the safety features it has, ABS, brake assist, ESP, 8 airbags. Very good on fuel and tows anything. Can be had for around 5k for a decent one. But you would want to be able to work on it yourself. Mines done just under 300k now, still going strong.

    • Hoju on 07/08/2018 - 18:03
      +1

      Yeh I think not being able to work on it myself would be the big issue. They’re a mint to fix and like our A Class can end up being sub $1000 scrap parts in a flash.

      Modern cars including those discussed seem to all have excellent safety ratings and full of airbags. Not that those are necessarily the safest things themselves…

      • stumo on 07/08/2018 - 18:51

        Yes if you are paying MB prices for parts there are any number of individual parts that can easily economically writeoff the vehicle, even before labour is involved. I have a mate with a big block of land and a workshop half an hour away where we have a stockpile of writeoff ML270s (he has one as well). We have 5 sitting there same colour as ours, so if I ever need a part I just grab it off one of those. Had to replace the transmission on mine last year. Easily a $7k job for a recon at an independent MB repairer. I just grabbed a low km one out of our cache which I think we paid $500 for that whole car. Wasn't a pleasant job though, but I had it done in a day.

        • Hoju on 08/08/2018 - 06:28

          The big issue is labour.
          We always source parts from wreckers and save a lot that way but can't avoid labour costs and have had at least 3 x $1000+ jobs on our Mercedes
          I can work on old cars but these modern things nooooooo

        • resisting the urge on 08/08/2018 - 12:23

          @Hoju: You need a better mechanic, Mercs are easy to fix if you respect the way they are made (don't treat them like a F/GM/Toyota) and repair them the way they should be repaired, (eg following the procedure) instead of replacing only what has obviously failed.

          Parts are cheaper than many in real terms, OEM wear items can all be bought cheaply once they get to End of Life like the MLs above.

          ie thigns to expect in any car:
          New brakes, $1000
          New shocks and some rubbers $1000
          Replace major seals in the engine $1000
          Replace cooling system wear items $1000

          The difference is the Merc doesn't have so many things naturally falling off or making looking/feeling so degraded, and repairs like the above are very easily completely screwed up by idiot mechanics.

          So yes, if your Merc is not maintained, don't keep it.

  • smuggler on 07/08/2018 - 19:51

    Toyota Estima/Tarago

  • ozf1 on 07/08/2018 - 20:03
    +1

    Hi OP. We drive a C4 grand Picasso, 2011 model, with the rounder Chevrons design.
    For your purposes IMO it's perfect. Considering you want something as small as possible, although it doesn't feel that way when you're inside. Be mindful about the carry pods suggestions, they are darn expensive and you'll need to fit the bars before you can fit the pods, at 300+ or so. Thule pods are about 2k… Ouch!
    Back to the GP. The visibility second to none, safety 5stars (for its age). If you are buying that sort of age, preferably buy something that had the timing belt and pump etc. Service done. We are about to do ours next week, and the price is b/W 1400 to 1600. This service is only required at 180k as per the book in France, but Aus is regarded as'extreme' weather conditions, so recommended to be done at 90k service.
    It is a VERY versatile car, put all rows done and you almost have a van, I couldn't tell you how many things we've carried in it.

    Good luck deciding.
    By the way we are in Melbourne.

    • BartholemewH on 08/08/2018 - 21:41

      That 'extreme conditions' clause in Australia is such BS. Look up the average temps in Paris vs Melbourne year round. Not that Citroen are the only ones guilty of this, most car makers love to spout about vehicles built for 'Australia' s harsh conditions'.

  • duckworth on 07/08/2018 - 20:18
    +1

    We started off around the $15K-$20K mark for a 7 seater but had to stretch the budget because I wanted a few extras + the ANCAP rating.
    The main contenders were:

    Honda Odyssey - don't discount this. It's a great car to drive and it feels really spacious all round. The extra space really helps for trips away. You have 4 kids so far, you might need it for the 5th LOL.

    Mitsubitshi Outlander - some models have 7 seats, but you may think it feels plastic like coming from a Volvo or A Class.
    Nissan X-Trail / Dualis+2 - I agree it's a stronger contender.

    I am sure you are already aware but you cannot put child seats in the 3rd row of the Outlander and Dualis.

    I went for the Nissan in the end but we have only 2 kids (<5 yo) + old folks.

    However I will quote what one dealer said to me, "Put the people you don't like in the back row" i.e in-laws

    Just remember you cannot fold the seats forward to get in via the rear doors to get to the 3rd row if you have child seats in

    • spackbace on 07/08/2018 - 21:11
      +2

      Just remember you cannot fold the seats forward to get in via the rear doors to get to the 3rd row if you have child seats in

      That's where a people mover comes in handy

      And sliding doors so the kids can't smash them into the next car. Some models even have electric sliding doors, those are cool!

    • Hoju on 08/08/2018 - 06:35

      Thanks for this, appreciate the input.

      Just remember you cannot fold the seats forward to get in via the rear doors to get to the 3rd row if you have child seats in

      Important point! - we know we'd need 2 seats for a few years and they'd have to go in the central row with access to the 3rd row needed.
      This access wouldn't be daily, but it would still be often enough that we wouldn't want it to be a massive fiddle.

      I assume you ended up with the X-Trail but in your research of the Dualis, any thoughts on the access to the back row?

      • SnoozeAndLose on 08/08/2018 - 06:46
        +1

        Only Kia and odyssey vti-L let you put 2 car seats in the central row and people still able to walk into back row without removing the car seat.

        • Hoju on 08/08/2018 - 06:55

          Looks like Dualis the seat slides forward but is meant to also fold so that could be right.
          Then again maybe the forward sliding is enough to push a kid trough the gap

          Peugeot also seems to have discrete seats, perhaps the middle folds down in that one, not sure

        • humdingaling on 09/08/2018 - 13:14

          you can always just fling the kids into back seat from the backdoor then you can buy any sort of 7 seater…i've seen parents do this hahaha

          best check them out at the car yard and this will quickly cross of cars from your list

          i ended up getting odyseey VTI-L (needs to be this model not the base one) just because of the gap to get to the 3rd row

      • duckworth on 08/08/2018 - 23:54

        Yes X-trail in the end even though I love the space age sliding doors of the Odyssey.

        Option 1. You can Try 2 child seats side by side with the downside of letting the kids argue, steal each other’s toys, or tormenting one another.

        This has the advantage of freeing the single seat to fold forward to gain access to the third row. It is an extremely tight squeeze to nudge the child seats so you can get the seat to fold forward.

        I strongly advise you put the seats in the car before you buy.

        The second option is simply to climb in from the back to get to the 3rd row. This is where it is important to have the 3rd row as 2 separate fold down seats rather than 1 complete unit. It makes it easier to get via the boot. Can’t remember what the seating configuration is for the dualis.

  • JUSTINO on 07/08/2018 - 21:48

    Nissan Xtrail

  • heyeveryone on 07/08/2018 - 23:55

    My family uses a 2008 Tarago and there are 6 of us in the family. Really great for road trips etc. Would recommend! Still going strong.

    My friends also had a Honda Odyssey which was also quite nice although a bit smaller. Hope this helps.

  • shp on 08/08/2018 - 10:27

    Toyota Avensis.
    From what i know its built on same frame as Camry and same engine.
    I was surprised how spacious it is - specially the storage space.

    • Hoju on 08/08/2018 - 10:40

      Thanks I’ll look into that one!

  • brendanm on 08/08/2018 - 10:32
    +1

    Hi, I'm a mechanic and have to say you are crazy if you go for one of the French cars. They will make your merc and Volvo seem like a dream to own. Terrible terrible cars.

    Also, how much do you love your kids? Have you thought about the distance between the rear of the car and the rear seats? In a read ender I shudder to think of how the rear seat occupants of these little 7 seaters would end up, especially being hit by a 4wd with a bullbar. I have an r51 pathfinder, and hardly ever use the rear seats, but when they do get used I at least know they are higher up, and a good way from the back of the car.

    • Hoju on 08/08/2018 - 10:46

      Thanks for the advice on the French cars. That’s certainly my primary concern so good to have knowledgeable advice.

      I’m not sure about the assumption that anyone driving one of these compact 7 seaters loves their kids any less…

      • brendanm on 08/08/2018 - 10:57

        Not making assumptions, just hoping you have a look and a think about what would happen in a crash. Would hate you to have a "less safe" car just due to a few hundred millimeters. Lots of idiots on the road, plenty not paying attention behind you.

        The compact 7 seaters are generally more for people who use the back row rarely, the normal 7 seaters for people who always use the back row, which is how you will be using it by the sounds of things. This is definately the case for things like the dualis where they got a 5 seater and thought, "hey, lets just chuck another couple of seats in this thing".

        • Hoju on 08/08/2018 - 11:14

          Fair enough, it’s not something we haven’t considered but as below we’d hope that a 5 star ancap rating captures the entire car to some extent.

          The rear would really mostly be for weekends and friends at this stage, and dividing siblings when they decide to launch a war over something insignificant on the way somewhere…

        • resisting the urge on 08/08/2018 - 12:38

          @Hoju:

          5 star ancap is all about front end accidents. It is so far divorced from the real world it isn't funny. Look into safety if you care about it and drive the damn things to see what feels safe if you swerve or were to otherwise lose control.

          Most SUVs are so top/front heavy that they rely on electronics to prevent slip (brake and other controls that are complex and can fail/make servicing more costly).

          When they released the A class it failed the 'moose test' in the US. Merc had a lot of trouble fixing the chassis dynamics to deal with that (and it affected deeply the early success of the car). The same rubbish is still going on with all these modern high centre of gravity SUVs, and is effectively ignored by ANCAP- they belatedly added a single test that the manufacturers prepare for) but its a controlled test that makes it so simple to pass regardless of how poor the electronic safety systems work).

          IMHO Safety is all about stability, shell, engineering/design, quality, which is why the cheap options are all so bad.

          BTW, If buying a cheap ppl mover, look closely at the Odyssey (economical, reasonable quality) and the Kia Carnival (or whatever its called now) for strength, price and safety. Both are stable and the Kia is very solid.

        • duckworth on 08/08/2018 - 23:58

          @resisting the urge: a mate of mine who is related to the Brady bunch ( 6 kids) loved his carnival.
          Not a bad choice. I just don’t like their tactics on changing fixed price servicing. They got taken to court by the ACCC for it.

    • aragornelessar on 08/08/2018 - 11:02

      Following that train of thought - would the safety rating of the car reflect the risk involved in a rear ender in that situation? Surely it wouldnt be something like 5 star for the front occupants and 1 star for the rear ones?

      • brendanm on 08/08/2018 - 11:37
        +2

        Ancap doesn't test rear enders. I've seen cars that have been very damaged being smacked from the rear, enough that I wouldn't buy a compact 7 seater. Obviously the odds of it happening are low, but so are most collisions, and everyone looks for 5 star rated cars, and multiple airbags etc these days.

  • lionelhutz on 08/08/2018 - 12:06
    +1

    I've had a Honda Odyssey for four years and love the space. We've got three boys and we can keep them out of striking range of each other. For a big car, it's not too bus-like, although it's certainly no sports car. After an accident, we drove a Kia Carnival for a month, and it is noticeably bigger and harder to manoeuvre than the Odyssey.

    One thing that really surprised me when we were shopping for a 7 seater: how many only have airbags in rows 1 and 2. We weren't really comfortable deciding which of our kids should die in an accident, so we ruled anything without full length airbags out totally.

  • SupeNintendoChalmers on 08/08/2018 - 12:26

    OP, you can purchase a Proton Exora for $10000, it's got 64,000kms and even one more year of warranty

    https://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Proton-Exora-201…

    • BartholemewH on 08/08/2018 - 21:48

      Not sure if serious.

      • SupeNintendoChalmers on 09/08/2018 - 09:40

        Totally serious. I get it almost an orphan brand, but for $10K (probably less I reckon) theres nothing better.

        • brendanm on 09/08/2018 - 10:05

          There are lots of things better. Proton are utter crap. You aren't that one guy off whirlpool who loves protons are you?

        • SupeNintendoChalmers on 09/08/2018 - 10:36

          @brendanm: What's whirlpool?

          Kidding, but no, haven't logged into WP for over 10 years

  • Rhubarb Jones on 08/08/2018 - 13:26
    -1

    Holden Captiva?

  • CI on 08/08/2018 - 13:45
    -2

    Holden Captiva

  • brendanm on 08/08/2018 - 13:59
    +6

    Ignore the above posts, do NOT buy a Captiva or a proton.

    • spackbace on 08/08/2018 - 14:02
      +1

      Agreed

    • SupeNintendoChalmers on 09/08/2018 - 09:44

      Proton are not actually unreliable- they use a lot of older Mitsubishi tech underneath thats tried and proven. But they are almost an Orphan brand, I'll admit that

  • zuuutoootuuu on 08/08/2018 - 14:33

    I'd choose one of the JDM imports suggested already, they're about to change the law to stop people importing them as they have been popular with families which is cutting into new car sales. Once that happens then you can rest easy that you won't have a depreciating car and might appreciate in value like other JDM imports (including the Mitsubishi Delica which is a van).

  • clemoly on 08/08/2018 - 14:44
    +1

    Driving a Honda Odyssey really doesn't feel that big or bus like, as long as you're not getting the newest model with the sliding doors.

    I drove around in my parents one for quite a while - it was very reliable and felt quite car like to drive. It's actually got a great turning circle too - better than my Ford Fiesta XR4…

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