Looking to spend between 25-35k on a car that is nearly new (not brand new).
Any suggestions seriously considered.
Any recommendations to the best 7-seater 4x4 on the market just now?
Volvo XC90
Audi Q7 -Sleek design, great interior and powerful engine.
my favourite model for families: www.autoscout24.ch/4925750
hybrid, place for 7 and in the price range: www.autoscout24.ch/4439807
if it needs to be relatively new and you don't care about the looks: www.autoscout24.ch/4870773
and a Fiat Freemont if you want good value for money.
A one year old Mazda CX-9 is in budget.
Mid-size SUVs (c.a. 4.8-5m long) - Volvo XC90, Audi Q7, BMW X5 - all have relatively long hood, but relatively short booth, so the 3rd row passengers are seated close to the rear door, which is probably not optimal in case of another car crashing in the back.
However, this is not tested in NCAP. For smaller 7 seater vehicles like Citroen Grand Picasso I've seen an article and the results of a test were very bad - these places shouldn't be used except occasionally.
Probably the midsize SUVs and minivans such as VW Sharan, Ford Galaxy, Eurovan and Renault Espace have a bit more of crumple zone at back, but I wouldn't bet on it, and no one is showing any crash test results from the rear, which is worrying.
Honda Pilot looks aweosome, but its not quite popular....
+1 for Volvo XC90.
Get a 2010+ model and you will have most of the issues resolved by then.
Got XC90 2010 D5 in January for CHF 30K (70Kkm on the clock).
Best 7-seater experience so far was with Toyota Previa (drove it for 7 years, 250 KKm), why in the world they stopped producing this wonderful VAN?
Can't say I'm totally unhappy with XC90 - it's spacious, has enough torque, feels really solid, but, honestly, after Previa, it drives like a truck. Also, the passengers complain that they start feeling sick much sooner than in Previa, almost like in Viano (which I also drove for a while).
Should've been looking at a big VAN again, like Toyota Sienna, or maybe Mercedes R500. Not sure if it would fit in the price range though.
I don't quite trust the small 7-seaters - Picasso or Zafira and many more - they are not real 7-seater, anyway.
What does that mean?
this means, there's no space for an adult in the 3rd row, only for a child. And if you use 3rd row, forget about luggage. Also, 7 people may weight up to 700 kg, this sort of mini-VAN's transmission is not quite scaled to carry so much.
Sell 2 of the kids. Cheaper and simpler in the long run
...unless you want to park it in a supermarket car park AND open the doors
we went through this parlava a few years ago, tried all the 7 seaters available at the time and they all had draw backs, from the 3rd row being too small for anything but a mouse with no legs to sit in, to the safety aspect, most of these 5 + 2 7 seaters would be impossible for the poor sods in the back to get out of in a crash, and of course luggage space, there isn't any once the 3rd row of seats are used.
In the end we went for a mercedes viano, we looked at the VW but it was 20k more for the same spec, 7 proper seats, loads of space, 4x4 and well, its a merc. not given us a single issue, but yes, its a van and it drives like van, the vw was more car like I just couldn't justify the extra cost.
Only down side with the merc is the seats are so bloody heavy, removing them isn't easy and finding somewhere to store them is a pita.
You know 100kg children? And adults? . Had a Zafira about 15 years back, the only car we owned that went straight even when turning the wheel, best avoided. All cars in this category are compromised, vans not so much, Toyota Previa was just epic.
Maybe he's American...
Apart from the obvious quality used options such as the Audi Q7, Volvo XC90, BMW X5 and Land Rover Discovery.
You can also opt for a newer, probably lower mileage and less abused Kia Sorento which is actually very decent for what it is...sat in one recently and was pleasantly surprised, genuine room for 7 and doesn't feel like you're slumming it.
Please don't. Just don't. I am developing an almost irrational hatred for these cars because they are just always in the way. They are too big for Swiss roads/parking spaces/car parks and I have on more than one occasion had to enter the small car that I was driving and had parked neatly into my parking spot via the passenger door (in one case even the boot) because I had one (or - that one time when I had to crawl through the boot - a Q7 and one of those daft Dodge Ram things) of these monstrosities next to me. I am not the type to damage other people's property and yet my readiness to be super careful with my door as I typically am with other cars seriously decreases when a massive SUV takes up my space to manoeuvre.
That's actually something I noticed - Swiss parking spaces are only separated by a single line! They don't seem to take into account door opening space...
And just as well made, quality wise in reality if not snob perception
They do take it into account - for people who can park and don't feel the need to drive a mahoooosive car.