Small SUV and Rear Facing Car Seats

PixieNCharlie on 12/03/2021 - 11:25

Chasing recommendations for small SUVs that still have enough space for rear facing car seat and my partner to occasionally drive (6’2). Would like to spend around 30k, happy to look at a few years old.

We currently have a Hilux and Polo so neither is suitable. I want something with boot space for when Bub arrives, and it definitely needs to be narrower than the Hilux to give me room to get baby in and out at the shops, but more height than the Polo to make it easier and to feel a bit safer driving on the rural roads and alongside trucks with Bub on board.

I like the look of Mazda CX3 but worried that there won’t be enough space to have everyone fit comfortably long term. The bigger Mazda’s aren’t that much smaller than the Hilux width wise. BMW X1 seems to have really good ratings for rear facing seats but considerably more than what I was hoping to spend on the glorified shopping trolley.

My partner would shop all day long for Landcruisers but I am going to have a tough time dragging him along to look at sensible cars, so if the OzBargain team could help me narrow what I should be going to test drive and consider, that would be awesome!
First time parents, to a surprise baby, so throw it all at us cause I’m sure we haven’t considered the half of it. The good, the bad and the ugly (car wise that is! We’ve had enough parenting horror stories 😂)

Automotive

Comments

  • Muzeeb on 12/03/2021 - 11:35
    +1

    I like the look of Mazda CX3

    This is a Mazda 2 with bigger suspension. They are tiny and not an option for your needs.

    My kids are adults now so not really familiar with current offerings for rear facing seats but I would suggest look at a used Sorento or Santa Fe.

    Also congrats on the bub. I'm sure you will both do great.

  • Archi on 12/03/2021 - 11:36
    +1
    • rear facing seat usually in the middle or rear passenger side. (kerb side)
    • unless the passenger is also 6"2 then the middle position is the only option.
    • depends how many people you want to sit comfortably in the back row.
    • suggest taking a rear facing set to test drive then you'll know how much room you have when front seat are moved into the correct driving position.
    • Medium sized SUV like a santa fe is a 7 seater but when used as a 5 seater you have buckets loads of room in the boot
    • small style SUV's like X1 and CX3 wont offer much boot space
    • exulted on 13/03/2021 - 08:23

      Santa Fe, $60k!
      Santa Fe, $60k!

  • netjock on 12/03/2021 - 11:36
    +3

    I like the look of Mazda CX3 but worried that there won’t be enough space to have everyone fit comfortably long term

    Bring a baby seat to the show room and sort it out

  • spackbace on 12/03/2021 - 11:41
    +2

    Just go a mid-size, and go used. RAV4, CX5, etc etc. It'll still be easy to park, easy to get baby out, etc etc.

    Worth noting that I don't think any SUVs of this size have ISOFIX in the middle seat, so either don't buy an ISOFIX seat and install a normal one in the middle, or put behind the shortest person.

    Also double-check where the anchor points are. Most should be on the seat-back (behind the seats). Some can have them further back in the boot floor, or the ceiling (those older Foresters with it near the back window were shit lol, or the Pajero has them in between the legs of the 3rd row passengers)

    • FoxJump on 12/03/2021 - 13:14

      Even in the Pajero, with twins, the driver's seat gets a bit squishy if the rear facing seat is behind the driver.

      • spackbace on 12/03/2021 - 14:03

        Oh with the Pajero I was just saying how crappy the restraint points are, not suggesting it to OP!

        • FoxJump on 12/03/2021 - 15:29

          Oh yes. the restraint points are also POS. Esp how you need an extension strap when rear facing too. And how they get in the way of things.

  • GG57 on 12/03/2021 - 11:42

    You will get plenty of suggestions on here.
    Mine is to have a look at a Subaru (Outback or Forester) for these reasons:
    - The rear seat space should be sufficient for the child seats
    - The boot space is pretty generous compared to most hatchbacks / SUVs
    - Increased height
    - Easy to drive, comfortable

    You might have to go for a used model to meet your budget, but that's my suggestion for your consideration.

  • wiipantz on 12/03/2021 - 11:48

    Narrow and tall alongside trucks… What about a wagon an AWD wagon at that? Subaru comes to mind, no idea about the dicky seat in the back though? Volvo used to be fun for this too? More a thought than anything, instead of adding oversized under powered soft roaders to the already over saturated market and australian roads. Each to thier own though

  • tsunamisurfer on 12/03/2021 - 11:52
    +2

    Much to my partner's disgust, we had our first child in my 1995 Hyundai Excel for a year.

    The rear facing seat was in the rear middle for max space should we need to push our seats back.

    I am not a six footer but I was able to push the driver seat back further than my arms could reach the steering.

    And the hatch had just enough space for a normal sized pram (the Bee3), plus sundry shopping.

    Additional passengers were possible but uncomfortable.

    • wiipantz on 12/03/2021 - 12:01
      +1

      Ye olde Eggshell, true OZB

  • Euphemistic on 12/03/2021 - 12:03

    Agree that an SUV makes it easier to get bub in and out, especially when you are tall. At 181cm tall myself I found that lower vehicles meant either putting the baby in with my head outside (doing it blind) or leaning all the way in and finding myself to close to the baby and seat to be able to get my arms in. Wait she way, not great for the back.

    Despite the Hilux being a big vehicle, passenger space is an after thought, so you’ll probably find vehicles designed for passengers quite a bit more spacious despite being smaller on the outside. Cargo space varies a lot, make sure you can fit a pram AND groceries.

    Also agree with above that a small SUV will probably not suit if you want to cart a bub around, you need to look at the next size up.

  • hatchbackracehorse on 12/03/2021 - 12:35
    +7

    Keep the Polo, don't fall into the trap of buying an SUV just because you have a child.

    • GG57 on 12/03/2021 - 13:20

      This is not a bad option to be honest.
      We had babies/kids when we had a two-door; we managed ok.

      It probably depends on how often you (really) need to go out in the car with the baby.

    • spiff on 12/03/2021 - 16:11

      why is it a trap? you could get away with a small hatch with one kid but certainly not two if you want to go on road trips.

    • burtie on 13/03/2021 - 08:22
      +1

      Well said! I have two kids in my Corolla. The only time it was a bit of a nuisance was when we were given an unnecessarily enormous pram which took up the whole boot. I just bought a smaller pram rather than a whole new car :)

  • Peter Enis on 12/03/2021 - 12:45

    Just repeating a lot of comments above, rear-facing is often best placed in the middle seat. Give it a try in the Polo, it might be ok and you won't need a new car at all.

  • FoxJump on 12/03/2021 - 13:16

    My prius C had a squishy drivers seat when the twins were rearfacing. And i'm no tall!

    now that theyre forward facing, its good again, and the double pram just fits in the boot.

    tldr: Dont get a Prius C for rearward facing child seats.

  • jv on 12/03/2021 - 13:21
    -1

    Small SUV and Rear Facing Car Seats

    I don't think it is legal to drive in a rear facing seat…

  • bmxr on 12/03/2021 - 14:14
    +2

    Our BIL/SIL just went through this prior to the arrival of our nephew. They tested all the small-mid-size SUVs and landed on the Hyundai Tucson for $30k. Rear facing car seat and fits a big pram in the boot comfortably.

    • lunchbox99 on 12/03/2021 - 15:01

      The unexpected fire will keep bub warm too.

      Seriously though, good car for the dollary-doos.

  • Keplaffintech on 12/03/2021 - 17:31

    Why is being higher safer when driving on rural roads or alongside trucks?

    • Muzeeb on 12/03/2021 - 18:26
      +1

      Because you have a higher centre of gravity so when you swerve around a kangaroo the car rolls for guaranted carnage.

  • yellowfever on 12/03/2021 - 20:00
    +1

    VW TCross ticks your budget

  • yayrobots on 12/03/2021 - 23:24

    Don't buy an suv to feel safe, buy a sporty car so you can stop quicker. Perhaps an i30 N Line for a little over $30k.

  • Vancomycin 1000mg on 13/03/2021 - 05:16
    +2

    Camry, we need less SUV on the road for the safety of others.

  • Techie4066 on 13/03/2021 - 08:51
    +1

    I'd highly recommend you check out the BabyDrive channel on YouTube. At this point in time, it's almost impossible to find any relatively low KM recent SUV for $30K.

    If you want something slightly smaller than the CX-5 and RAV4, but larger than the CX-3 or Qashqai, what I'd recommend is the Kadjar Zen, which is on runout currently, due to be replaced by the Arkana coupe-style SUV in Australia only. Great value for money at current prices <$30k, 472 litre boot with flexible boot floor, 260Nm of torque low in the rev range, and in real world testing (with CarAdvice, Performance drive etc) it stays around 6.5L/100km which is the best you can find from a purely petrol car of this size - it's 200kg lighter than a CX-5.

    The engine is the Renault H5Ht, shared with the new Mercedes A-Class, and the transmission is a wet dual-clutch, a revised Getrag 7DCT500. The car itself is manufactured in Palencia, Spain alongside the Megane.

  • jacross on 13/03/2021 - 08:58
    +1

    As a parent, and someone who has considered this and researched it in detail, if you want boot space get a station wagon, which are awesome, have better storage than SUVs (particularly small SUVs), and drive and feel better.

    Or a Sedan.

    If you want a terrible car that is terrible at every single aspect of being a car, then yes get a small SUV.

    • Techie4066 on 13/03/2021 - 09:06

      The only "stationwagon" that stands out currently is the Subaru Outback, which is creeping into SUV territory but is still very practical. Only problem is that it's expensive. Australian car buyers have been shifting away from non-SUV large cars such as wagons and sedans for many years, the segment is dying so there's less choice.

      • Halo375 on 13/03/2021 - 10:14

        The segment is dying so there may be a good chance to snag a bargain. Go ford mondeo for a bargain, huge boot space and fits a rear facing baby seat with 6’3” driver.

        • Techie4066 on 13/03/2021 - 12:51

          Ford Mondeo resale value will be poor now that it's discontinued. It's a sign of the times - low sales now will mean less demand later. You can get all of the above in an SUV that is shorter in length but has more headroom and space for legs - this is what Aussies have been opting for after all because SUVs have more space and are easier to enter, exit, and load cargo into, along with the better visibility and comfort.

      • bobkin on 14/03/2021 - 19:56

        Mazda 6 wagon is nice as well. Hyundai i40 wagon is practical too, but I think lacks autonomous emergency braking

        • Techie4066 on 14/03/2021 - 20:07

          Have you seen Mazda6 sales numbers recently? Just 101 sold last month, it's on its way out. I agree, it is a great car with good power and fuel efficiency, but the pricing is on the ambitious side.

          • jacross on 14/03/2021 - 22:01

            @Techie4066: Jeez.

          • bobkin on 14/03/2021 - 23:01
            +1

            @Techie4066: I don’t understand what triggered the initial demand for SUVs over wagons, but now it’s self-fulfilling as there is so little choice left in the wagon market

            • Techie4066 on 14/03/2021 - 23:02
              -2

              @bobkin: Better comfort, easier to get in and out of, easier to load things into the boot, better clearance, better visibility, greater sense of interior space… and the manufacturers.

      • jacross on 14/03/2021 - 22:01

        The segment is definitely dying which breaks my heart, as is sedan. The Outback is a great car but yes it is expensive. I have a Liberty (gen…6 I think, 2013 anyway) which is basically an Outback but lower (plus blah blah cladding).

        I actually would have gone with a Skoda Superb or Octavia if I could have gotten my hands on one at the right price and location when I was last in the market. In any case the Outback, Superb, Octovaia, Mazda 6 are all great wagons. Holden Commodore (can't get new of course) is also a very solid choice if you want a large wagon. Ford Mondeo didn't really knock my socks off but…sure. VW Passat is another solid choice.

        Oh Hyundai I30 and I40 both have solid wagon's (though subjectively I considered them to be behind the subaru, mazda, and Skoda).

        I last really did a deep dive into this in 2018 though and while I paid attention to latest models wanted something newish but second hand so not sure what is currently available in new gen.

    • Euphemistic on 13/03/2021 - 10:23
      -1

      If you want a terrible car that is terrible at every single aspect of being a car, then yes get a small SUV.

      That’s probably over stating it. Yes, a small SUV will cost more, use more fuel and not handle as well as an equivalent hatch model, but they aren’t ‘terrible at every single aspect’.

      An SUV is easier to get in and out of, gives you better vision being higher up and provides pretty much the same comfort and space as an equivalent hatch. It’ll still stop, go, at get you from A-B out of the rain and wind just like ANY other car on the road.

      Not as good (at some aspects): Yes. Terrible at everything: Not at all.

      • Techie4066 on 13/03/2021 - 12:57
        -1

        It doesn't even have to use more fuel. The upcoming all-new 2021 Renault Captur will use 6.6L/100km and produce 270Nm of torque, doing 0-100km/h in 8.6 seconds, and the boot is a massive 536 litres with the rear seats slid forward, for $28,190 new - that's Mazda3 pricing. That includes LED headlights and 17 inch alloys. It will for sure top the segment for value.

        • Euphemistic on 13/03/2021 - 13:04
          +1

          Yeah. Won’t use much more fuel, or have much worse acceleration etc. percentage with it’s probably under 10% difference, which means most peeps won’t notice, or won’t care if the vehicles has other benefits.

          You can’t beat physics, a heavier vehicle with worse aerodynamics will use more fuel.

      • jacross on 14/03/2021 - 22:08
        +1

        I'm definitely being hyperbolic but I'll go in on your claims:

        I actually don't get the easy to get in and out of thing. I'm 6 feet tall, athletic, actually into climbing, and I find them annoying to get in and out of. Look you aren't the first person to say that about SUVs though so I'm not going to trash the lived experience of those with bad backs and the elderly (which are the usual claims).

        Better vision…I mean, I guess. I feel like this is the 'people who are bad drivers' line though. It's the kind of thing someone who can't drive would say, and it turns out they don't use that better vision to any advantage anyway. but yes I plan to solve this by taking every SUV off the market through violent kristallnacht, removing these vision blocking abominations.

        Same comfort as a hatch? I am literaly going to steal this claim as a sarcastic line in my future tirades.

        I agree though, it is a car and you can use it for transportation purposes. Quite similar to Mr Mackey's 'IT'.f

        • Euphemistic on 15/03/2021 - 05:27
          -1

          I'm definitely being hyperbolic

          The only reason I responded was because you went all in on something that was patently false. If you’d said something more like ‘an SUV isn’t as good as a wagon in most ways’ and listed a few there could be no argument. In fact I agree that SUVs do not provide a better driving experience and cost more to run.

          my future tirades.

          Good luck with those. You’ll become irrelevant pretty quickly if you keep it up, just like a bunch of ranting Fox ‘News’ hosts. Tone it down quite a bit and maybe people will keep listening.

          • jacross on 15/03/2021 - 15:46

            @Euphemistic: Not every communication needs to be literal and straightforward. We can have a bit of fun, if fun is allowed. I certainly allow it.

            Most people can understand hyperbole for what it is.

            Whoever downvoted you, it was not me. I imagine they are listening though.

            • Euphemistic on 15/03/2021 - 18:35
              +1

              @jacross: Might be one of what seem to be stalkers of mine with another fist full of negs.

              I get that it’s all a bit of fun, after all the internet isn’t real life. Plain text really misses out a lot of the context.

              I guess it’s just one of my pet hates, calling something terrible/worst/completely useless etc when it is slightly inferior so I call it out. There’s a couple of regulars here I always call out when their language points to ‘vastly superior’, woeful performance’ or ‘ancient technology’ when comparing some vehicles. It’s somewhat of a sport. ;)

  • PixieNCharlie on 15/03/2021 - 18:00
    +1

    Thanks so much everyone - definitely lots of interesting points here. Sad to say I hadn’t even considered a wagon so thankful I have posted here as it is definitely one I’d consider.

    My sister and I were discussing possibilities today too and she mentioned that I should just stay small (my Polo is well overdue for a replacement) and just lend my Mums mid sized SUV if I needed it for any reason that wasn’t local.

    Taking the car seat along is a great idea but I’d like to avoid picking it up till last minute to make sure the warranty stays valid for the longest. I’m looking at the Cybex Cloud Q capsule to get us through the first 12 months, then unsure what the long term seat will be.

    Also I can always upgrade to a larger car to accommodate extended rear facing seat once we cross that bridge. I doubt the space will be a huge concern for a few years anyway!

    Thanks again

    • jacross on 16/03/2021 - 16:24
      +2

      Sad to say I hadn’t even considered a wagon so thankful I have posted here as it is definitely one I’d consider

      Wow I'm just excited I moved the needle a little bit!!!

      • wiipantz on 22/03/2021 - 11:50

        It's sad state of affairs with the Soft roader market infecting every fascet

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