You'll need a lot of car to transport your large family and all their luggage, but that doesn't mean you need to spend a lot of money finding the perfect transport.
1 - Toyota Previa (1992-2002)
Toyota’s people-carrier was never exactly lovely to look at, especially when new in the early 1990s, but it has plenty of other virtues. Space is one and extreme durability is another. No other car in the patch copes so well with high mileages and just keeps working. Better still, Previas are eight-seaters, so you can take granny wherever you and the family want to go.
For Spacious, reliable, economical and plenty of torque
Against Ugly and the interior trim collapses eventually
2 - Vauxhall Zafira (1999-2007)
The Zafira, related to the Astra saloon family, is better to drive and more compact than many seven-seaters, because Vauxhall has always been good at designing space-saving retraction systems for the rear row.
There are many hundreds for sale, so decent ones will be available near you. Diesels are probably the best bet for economy and long life.
For Good space for its compact size
Against You won’t stand out in a crowd
3 - Land Rover Discovery 2 (1992-2002)
It’s mainly an off-roader, of course, but many are available with seven viable seats and the sixth and seventh perches face forward, rather than sideways as in the original Disco model. Weirdly, it’s second-row passengers who are rather cramped for space, but the view from every seat is panoramic.
Join the debate
Clarkey
7 seat Xsara Picasso?
Leslie Brook
.
Marv
I owned a Xsara Picasso for 18 months....
I'd also have to disagree with the comment that it's decent to drive. Other than decent levels of grip and supple suspension, I found it vague, wallowy and wholly uninspiring to drive.
The reliability was completely woeful too! I was so glad when I traded it in for Mazda6 Touring. And don't get me started on the looks! The only thing liked about it was the concept.
"Why is http://www.nanoflowcell.com not getting more media attention? It could be the future... Now!"
DBtechnician
Consider the Hyundai Trajet MPV
We have run one for over 10 years, the gearbox needed some attention about 2 years ago which is common with these (manual box) but apart from that its even reasonable to service yourself. Hell the original battery lasted just over ten years from new.
Inside you can remove the middle 3 and rear 2 seats separately to configure how best suits and with them all out the space is huge.
I can understand AutoCar overlooking this as it's not overly common especially as they haven't imported them for a few years now, offering instead a 7 seat SUV, but quite how they overlooked the equally practical Ford Galaxy which you can pick up a 1.9TDi Ghia for £2K I don't get.
Offence can only be taken not given- so give it back!
CWBROWN
E class?
bowsersheepdog
50/50
I don't need to put my name here, it's on the left
Leslie Brook
.
MrJ
Early model Previa was the
Example: we drove fully-loaded with top-box and boats on the roof, bikes on the back, adults in front, grandparents in the middle row, kids at the back, all reasonably comfortable.
Oxford via Essex to the Loire Valley mostly at an easy 110-120 km/h cruise.
All in one day via the Tunnel, stopping only for breaks, on a single tank of diesel.
275not599
If my preferred alternative
The Apprentice
You could probably find a
Pages
Add your comment