The market offers many cars, among which you can easily get confused and lose your bearings. The main thing here is to decide what function the car will perform for you. If the task is to find a spacious and reliable car that can accommodate a family with three or more children, this selection will definitely come in handy.
What are the signs of a comfortable family car? Of course, it’s a spacious interior, a third row of seats, and a spacious trunk. And if the car is additionally equipped with many pockets, caches, and handy accessories, it’s a gift.
We have monitored the market, talked to family car owners, and made a selection that can suggest worthy options for those looking for a fresh vehicle. During the search, we also took into account the position:
— number of seats
— the size of the luggage compartment;
— ease of boarding/disembarking;
— fuel consumption;
— reliability.
Content
Mitsubishi Outlander
Year: 2012 — 2020
Engine: 2.4 (gasoline)
Power: 167 hp.
Transmission: CVT
Number of seats: 5/7
Fuel consumption (comb.): 8,1 l
Luggage compartment volume: 477/1640 l
Price: 14,000 — 25,800 U.S. dollars
Outlander has long been considered a great family car. It has an energy-intensive suspension, all-wheel drive and good off-road performance. The comfortable interior is offered in five- and seven-seat versions. With three rows, passengers on the front seat will have too little legroom, and the trunk will shrink to a meager size, which the manufacturer tries to keep quiet. But this contender is considered one of the most reliable family cars, and many owners are not ready to part with it for years.
Peugeot 5008
Year: 2018 — 2024
Engine: 2.0 HDi
Power: 150 and 180 hp.
Transmission: 8AT
Number of seats: 5/7
Fuel consumption (combined): 5,5 l
Luggage compartment volume: 952/2150 l
Used price: 18,000 — 24,000 U.S. dollars
A vivid representative of a breakthrough in interior design and decoration. The car is packed with safety systems and comfort features. There are tables for children, and the rear row offers enough space even for an adult. With the three rows unfolded, there is room for a decent suitcase. In addition, the car has a very modest appetite for fuel and consumes only 4.6 liters of heavy fuel per 100 km.
According to reviews, it is a comfortable and practical car for everyday use and for long trips. The engine has proven itself well on other models of the brand, and the Aisin torque converter serves for a long time if the scheduled maintenance is followed. Today it is officially offered in a hybrid version.
Skoda Kodiaq
Year: 2017 — 2023
Engine: 2.0TSI and 2.0TDI
Power: 180 and 150/200 hp.
Transmission: 7DSG
Number of seats: 5/7
Fuel consumption (combined): 9 and 7.5 liters
Luggage compartment volume: 635/1980l
Price: 24,700 — 35,000 U.S. dollars
Big Skoda delights fans of classic style. Laconic design, simplicity of forms, comfort, and spaciousness. High ground clearance, all-wheel drive transmission and many nice options. A five-seater and a seven-seater version were offered, so you can find both on the market. Given the model’s fairly young age, few people are ready to part with it, so we can conclude that it is of high quality and reliability. Most importantly, it is a VAG product with special Czech functionality. As they say — for the discerning.
A chic minivan from the French that has gained quite a following over the years. The seven-seater version can only be compared to beads in terms of interior size. There are many pockets and storage spaces, the seats move separately from each other, and the luggage compartment is quite decent even when fully loaded. You can add a roof rack. The interior is bright due to the large glass.
The engines are reliable, time-tested, and economical. If the regulations are followed, they run for a long time even without any interventions. Sometimes there are glitches in multimedia and climate, but they are corrected by rebooting. In general, it is a good family car in all respects.
Opel Combo Life/ Citroen Berlingo/ Peugeot Rifter
Year: 2018 — present
Engine: 1.6 and 1.5AdBlue diesel
Power: 92 and 130 hp.
Transmission: 5MT and 8AT
Number of seats: 5/7
Fuel consumption (combined): 4,4 l
Luggage compartment volume: 983/2126 l
Price: 13,000 — 27,896 U.S. dollars
These three models are related and built on a common platform. They are all Stellantis products, with the same engines and gearboxes, but there are differences.
Berlingo stands out for its original appearance and interior design. Bright body colors and various interior trim combinations. The third row has always been an option and is available in any version of the wheelbase (L1 or L2), but there are also five-seat versions, so be careful. Thanks to the design features of the body, there is always enough space for luggage behind.
Peugeot Rifter has the most noble appearance. And the least reminiscent of the commercial segment. The interior of the Rifter with the branded i-Cockpit is ergonomic and futuristic. There are many nice accessories and a wide range of options in the form of driver assistants. For all its spaciousness, this car is remembered for its comfort and thirst for long trips.
The Opel Combo Life is the most classic and simple of the three in terms of design. The interior is decorated in a restrained style, but there are many containers for things scattered throughout. Even the shortest base has the option of installing a third row of seats, and the longest base offers a maximum luggage space of 2,693 liters with the rows folded.
All of them are offered with diesel engines and automatic transmissions. They are reliable and economical units. Thanks to the different price ranges for different brands, you can choose a convenient option for a roomy family car.
Kia Carnival
Year: 2005- 2021
Engine: 2.2 CRDi or 2.9 CRDi
Power: 202 hp or 185 hp.
Transmission: 6AT Sportmatic
Number of seats: 78
Fuel consumption (combined): 11 l
Luggage compartment volume: from 302 to 3320 liters
Price: 8,000 — 20,000 U.S. dollars
A decent Korean that is rarely seen on our roads. Most often, these are imported cars from Korea or the American market. A comfortable family car with lots of storage space. Convenient door sliding on both sides.
There were quite a few engines offered, and they changed with each generation, so it’s hard to say for sure about the quality of each, it all depends on the individual case and the previous owners. If you are lucky enough to find a car in good condition, it will serve for a long time and reliably.
Hyundai Grand Santa Fe
Year: 2012 — present
Engine: 2.5 MPi and 2.2 CRDi
Power: 180 and 202 hp.
Transmission: 6AT or 8 DCT
Number of seats: 5/7
Fuel consumption (combined): 7,8 l
Luggage compartment volume: 625/1704 l
Price: 13,000 — 20,000 U.S. dollars
Over the years, the Korean representative of the family car has grown in terms of design, which is more like a premium segment. Since 2014, more and more safety systems have been included in the basic equipment. The large crossover has a torque-vectoring function, so it can overcome even moderate off-road conditions. It has well-thought-out interior features, modern technology, good noise insulation, decent ground clearance, and soft suspension. A worthy representative worth paying attention to.
On the market, you can choose between versions with front-wheel drive and a gasoline engine or diesel engine with all-wheel drive.
Infiniti QX60
Year: 2011 — present
Engine: 3.5 (gasoline) and 2.5 Hybrid
Power: 283 hp and 250 hp.
Transmission: CVT
Number of seats: 7
Fuel consumption (combined): 10,7 l
Luggage compartment volume: 447/1155/2166 l
Price: 13,500 — 34,000 U.S. dollars
This car is underestimated in our market, not only in terms of character but also in terms of comfort. The premium segment at a price of 13 thousand dollars is a nice bonus. For this price, you get not only a seven-seater interior, but also premium interior quality. Handling at the level of sports cars and the pointed introduction of racing technologies into a family car. Driving such a car is a special pleasure.
The crossover has a lot of space, but the rear row will be cramped. In the versions after 2020, the rear row for children is equipped with monitors with separate audio outputs already built into the headrests.
In general, there are few complaints about these cars. No one drives them, so the engines are reliable and can easily withstand fairly decent mileage. The reliability of the gearbox is also not in question. The main thing is to have enough money.
Toyota Highlander
Year: 2008 — present
Engine: 3.5 Dual VVT-i or 2.5 Hybrid
Power: 268 hp or 370 hp (total)
Transmission: 5AT or e-CVT
Number of seats: 5/7
Fuel consumption (combined): 5,6 l
Luggage compartment volume: 268/658/1909 l
Price: 12,300 — 45,00 U.S. dollars
The most practical and profitable car in terms of reliability, comfort, and durability. The latest generation has modern technology, environmental friendliness and economy. It has a soft suspension, high ground clearance, a hybrid system, three rows of seats, and a spacious rear trunk. On top of that, Toyota hybrids are fuel-efficient and have a status that will accompany you for many years. Owners do not part with such cars for more than 15 years. So you are buying yourself a comfortable shuttle for traveling for many years to come.
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