Bigger than a Jazz, but not an SUV?
Discussion
We've had a Jazz for fifteen years now (well, two Jazzes), and with two children getting bigger all the time we're looking to upgrade to something a bit bigger, or specifically longer and higher. But walking around Arnold Clark all new cars seem to be bloated behemoths that feel about twice as wide as they need to be, which makes parking and driving through residential streets more difficult.
Love the tiny bonnet on the Jazz as any 'car' in front of the windscreen seems like a waste and makes it so manoeuvrable. Also love the boot space and magic seats, although a bigger boot would also be ideal. And after having a Jazz for so long, looks and performance are of no concern to me.
The only things I saw that I ended up sitting in were a Fiesta and a Focus, although the Focus doesn't seem much bigger than the Jazz? And a C-Max, which also implies maybe a Picasso, Touran or Scenic - anything else? S-Max?
Would consider a Civic with magic seats but not sure that the boot space on its own is much different than the Jazz? Seems more of a performance upgrade than a size upgrade.
Any advice welcome!
Love the tiny bonnet on the Jazz as any 'car' in front of the windscreen seems like a waste and makes it so manoeuvrable. Also love the boot space and magic seats, although a bigger boot would also be ideal. And after having a Jazz for so long, looks and performance are of no concern to me.
The only things I saw that I ended up sitting in were a Fiesta and a Focus, although the Focus doesn't seem much bigger than the Jazz? And a C-Max, which also implies maybe a Picasso, Touran or Scenic - anything else? S-Max?
Would consider a Civic with magic seats but not sure that the boot space on its own is much different than the Jazz? Seems more of a performance upgrade than a size upgrade.
Any advice welcome!
Welcome to a world that abandoned practicality in favour of fashion!
You'll struggle to find a car that is bigger than a Jazz on the inside that isn't also much, much bigger on the outside. The Jazz is incredibly space efficient.
MPVs like the C-Max are out of fashion - I'm not sure there are any that are still on sale in the UK, maybe a few very niche models are. SUVs have replaced them - similar space on the inside but with a higher ride height and less practical features.
The Focus is one of the most spacious family hatchbacks which gives you an idea of how good the Jazz is.
I'd look at the latest Jazz and see if it meets your needs. Otherwise the VAG and Korean cars tend toy have quite good interior space, but you'll end up in a Tiguan/Karoq/Tucson sized SUV if you want to match the Jazz. Or an MPV like a C-Max or Touran but these have been unfashionable for so long that there aren't many recent ones out there to choose from!
You'll struggle to find a car that is bigger than a Jazz on the inside that isn't also much, much bigger on the outside. The Jazz is incredibly space efficient.
MPVs like the C-Max are out of fashion - I'm not sure there are any that are still on sale in the UK, maybe a few very niche models are. SUVs have replaced them - similar space on the inside but with a higher ride height and less practical features.
The Focus is one of the most spacious family hatchbacks which gives you an idea of how good the Jazz is.
I'd look at the latest Jazz and see if it meets your needs. Otherwise the VAG and Korean cars tend toy have quite good interior space, but you'll end up in a Tiguan/Karoq/Tucson sized SUV if you want to match the Jazz. Or an MPV like a C-Max or Touran but these have been unfashionable for so long that there aren't many recent ones out there to choose from!
Perhaps a Skoda? My daughter had a Jazz and as the kids grew she changed to a Fabia estate which has lasted faultlessly for eight years and she is now thinking of a Kamiq or ad a Karoq. I suggested an Octavia. Plenty of room but then the Fabia might suit you. Very big inside for its class.
Edited by lowdrag on Sunday 30th April 09:46
What sort of age of vehicle are you looking for and at what sort of price?
The Jazz is basically a very small MPV, so I guess you're looking for a slightly bigger MPV. What about something like the BMW 2-series AT or Mercedes B-class? As someone suggested above, the Golf+ is a similarish sort of idea.
Then as you've said there's things like the C-Max and Scenic; maybe the Vauxhall Meriva although I think that's a bit smaller. Dacia Jogger?
The Jazz is basically a very small MPV, so I guess you're looking for a slightly bigger MPV. What about something like the BMW 2-series AT or Mercedes B-class? As someone suggested above, the Golf+ is a similarish sort of idea.
Then as you've said there's things like the C-Max and Scenic; maybe the Vauxhall Meriva although I think that's a bit smaller. Dacia Jogger?
Edited by kambites on Sunday 30th April 09:05
kambites said:
Used car prices are coming down, but they're still artificially high from the supply squeeze during the pandemic so £5-8k certainly doesn't buy you what it used to. 
I don't think they are coming down much beyond some depreciation, sadly, unless it is an EV, which have now stabilised.OP, we have a Kia XCeed. It's like a slightly bigger hatchback with a small height boost.
Think of it as an in-between a Tiguan size crossover and Golf.
It is absolutely brilliant for our needs and to be put off if you see the word SUV associated to it. That word doesn't mean much.
ScotHill said:
Yeah we'll see what model we decide on and then see what the prices are like, not even looked at ads yet. The £5k Jazz was in 2016!
A 2011 mk2? You might get your money back on that!Wife had mk1 and mk2 Jazzs then got a Tiguan. She loved the Jazz could be parked anywhere but she’s also very happy with Tiguan - it’s not as big as it seems at first encounter. Your budget would struggle though, and you’ll likely have had a bit of a charmed life with Jazzs - anything older VAG can all sorts of issues.
I'm looking for the same thing and found it easier to just cave into fashion and get a small family SUV.
I walked into a Mercedes dealership to ask about the B Class and the salesman told me it would be hard to get hold of them, they had non in stock and directed me to their small SUVs.
With small SUV's you get the opposite problem, because there are so many it can be confusing.
Managed to narrow it down to Volvo XC40, Kia Sportage and Nissan Qashqai. Trying one at a time for a day or two.
I walked into a Mercedes dealership to ask about the B Class and the salesman told me it would be hard to get hold of them, they had non in stock and directed me to their small SUVs.
With small SUV's you get the opposite problem, because there are so many it can be confusing.
Managed to narrow it down to Volvo XC40, Kia Sportage and Nissan Qashqai. Trying one at a time for a day or two.
wyson said:
I'm looking for the same thing and found it easier to just cave into fashion and get a small family SUV.
We did the same...about 15 years ago.I can't think of anything less fashionable than SUVs/Crossovers. They've been around for a very long time and should be judged on their merits or lack of thereof rather than "fashion", if fashion is not that important then it makes sense to ignore the image/perceived fashion/marketing if they happen to be a good functional choice. It would be mad to deprive oneself of that on...fashion grounds.
I think they look rodiculous but I think they work amazingly well for a family car.
fido said:
Jazz Mk3. I am about to replace my 2017 1.3 with a newer 1.5 Sport. Also looked at a Corolla GR Hybrid but a bit too fancy (and quick) for what I need - the battery takes a it of boot space as well (something they might have fixed in the newest version).
Apparently there's a Jazz Crossover model, is that what the Mk3 is? Or is it just the standard current model?Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff