7 Seat SUV with the biggest boot?
7 Seat SUV with the biggest boot?
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feef

Original Poster:

5,208 posts

210 months

Friday 13th October 2023
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With 4 teens to consider, I'm looking at a 7-seat SUV, but want one with as much boot space as possible once all seats are occupied.

All the reviews and spec sheets I can find seem to only list the boot space without the 3rd row of seats in place.

I'm thinking 10-15yrs old at most, and think the Audi Q7, Landrover Discovery 4 or Mercedes GL 350 may be worth considering, but I can't find info on that boot space.

Any ideas on which has the largest boot with all 3 rows in place, or any other suggestions to consider?

Jamescrs

6,235 posts

92 months

Friday 13th October 2023
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Depending on your budget if boot space is a big requirement you would be best looking at a van conversion such as a transporter or Transit custom

jfdi

1,322 posts

202 months

Friday 13th October 2023
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The GL boot isn't massive with all 7 seats up as the rear 2 seats are full size seats suitable for adults. 300 litres springs to mind. If you don't need all 7 then you can raise them individually giving you a lot of capacity down one side.

vikingaero

12,889 posts

196 months

Friday 13th October 2023
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Ssangyong Rodius. biggrin

jfdi

1,322 posts

202 months

Friday 13th October 2023
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vikingaero said:
Ssangyong Rodius. biggrin
That would solve the issue, you would be alone as no teen would want to be seen in it. rofl

Mouse Rat

2,072 posts

119 months

Friday 13th October 2023
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When you say as much boot space as possible what are you expectations? Unless you go for VAN type thing there wont be loads.

Discover 4 is a wonderful car. Obviously you can have one seat down to create more space. You also have the benefit of a split tail gate so with all seats up, you can stuff items behind the rear row without worrying about them falling out with the boot open.

Disco 4 would be my pick, even through they will probably be more expensive to run than a GLE / Q7 etc, they do hold there value and are much nicer to drive.


markymarkthree

3,533 posts

198 months

Friday 13th October 2023
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VW Caravelle, seats on rails & all rears are removable. Also good for the "tip run".

vladcjelli

3,368 posts

185 months

Friday 13th October 2023
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Roof box or trailer, not many 7 seaters with decent cargo space.

Hyundai i800?

Silvanus

6,910 posts

50 months

Friday 13th October 2023
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A budget would help

clockworks

7,428 posts

172 months

Friday 13th October 2023
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Hyundai i800 is probably the best value van- based 7/8 seater. Plenty of space. Much cheaper than a VW Caravelle/Shuttle. Seats are fixed in place though.

Things like the Galaxy have pretty small boots when all the seats are in use, and it's quite hard to get into the rear-most row. Drives like a proper car though.

LWB Peugeot Rifter or Citroen Berlingo might work if within budget?

Landcruiser? Had one as a hire car a few years ago, decent to drive.

Snow and Rocks

3,347 posts

54 months

Friday 13th October 2023
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clockworks said:
Landcruiser? Had one as a hire car a few years ago, decent to drive.
As much as I rate a Land Cruiser as an ownership proposition - the boot is pretty small with all of the seats unfolded even on the big 200 series V8.

From memory it's pretty much the same size as the D4 pictured - fairly useless for anything but some shopping or soft bags really.


Wilmslowboy

4,728 posts

233 months

Friday 13th October 2023
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Had half a dozen SUV 7 seaters over the years.

Nothing comes close (in terms of space) to a van based MPV (VW caravelle, Merc V class etc)

If it has to be a SUV - then Merc GL or R class



jonwm

2,705 posts

141 months

Friday 13th October 2023
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I've got 3 kids, wanted to go camping more and got dog, went from a 7 seat SUV to a 6 seater T6 Kombi with twin sliding doors, obviously not as plush but got heated seats, DSG, apple car play etc. Put a bulkhead in and its more car like for £200.


feef

Original Poster:

5,208 posts

210 months

Friday 13th October 2023
quotequote all
The reason I'm thinking SUV/4x4 is that a lot of my longer trips are skiing, trail-running/mountaineering where ground clearance and 4 wheel drive CAN be useful, especially when fitted with my roof-tent and looking to get off the road. So although it's not the be-all and end-all, an SUV would be preferred.

As for budget, that's why I'm looking at 10-15 yr old vehicles. I don't have a set budget in mind but when you look at the shortlist in that age-range, that's around what I'm thinking.

I suppose a Vito/Viano or Transporter and the like might be an option, or maybe I'm just looking for the impossible in a single vehicle

Snow and Rocks

3,347 posts

54 months

Friday 13th October 2023
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If it's only for occasional trips and you would prefer a 4x4 then a small trailer might be an option? For £1500 quid you'd get a decent Ifor P8e with a cage and cover for the gear. They're unbraked so very little to go wrong and hold their value really well. Really useful for DIY etc too.

We previously had a LWB Caravelle in the family at the same time as a big Land Cruiser and I'd much rather take a big 4x4 and a small trailer than the VW on a long trip.

jonwm

2,705 posts

141 months

Friday 13th October 2023
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feef said:
The reason I'm thinking SUV/4x4 is that a lot of my longer trips are skiing, trail-running/mountaineering where ground clearance and 4 wheel drive CAN be useful, especially when fitted with my roof-tent and looking to get off the road. So although it's not the be-all and end-all, an SUV would be preferred.

As for budget, that's why I'm looking at 10-15 yr old vehicles. I don't have a set budget in mind but when you look at the shortlist in that age-range, that's around what I'm thinking.

I suppose a Vito/Viano or Transporter and the like might be an option, or maybe I'm just looking for the impossible in a single vehicle
Lots of people "Swamper" the T6 / T5's to raise ground clearance as opposed to lowering them like mine, 4 wheel drive is readily available, go for Highline trim and you get captain's seat for driver (and passenger in 5 seat configuration).

As above poster said it not got the luxury of a 4 x 4 but I can mop mine out inside, great for camping and when my lads get in with muddy football boots!

ChocolateFrog

34,954 posts

200 months

Friday 13th October 2023
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Minimum size is a long wheelbase Transporter.

Not a single regular 7 seater has anything approaching a decent boot.

A Transporter has almost exactly 3x the interior volume as a Ford Galaxy and you can easily fill a Transporter with family crap.

Billy_Rosewood

3,485 posts

191 months

Friday 13th October 2023
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Another vote for GLS/GL. Huge thing.

Loads of space for a family of 4 + luggage. For 6 adults it may be a squeeze for luggage but a roof box could easily remedy that.

Saw some pics of the new defender lwb (8 seater?).. another "mothership" of a car..

Edited by Billy_Rosewood on Friday 13th October 12:23

feef

Original Poster:

5,208 posts

210 months

Friday 13th October 2023
quotequote all
Snow and Rocks said:
If it's only for occasional trips and you would prefer a 4x4 then a small trailer might be an option? For £1500 quid you'd get a decent Ifor P8e with a cage and cover for the gear. They're unbraked so very little to go wrong and hold their value really well. Really useful for DIY etc too.

We previously had a LWB Caravelle in the family at the same time as a big Land Cruiser and I'd much rather take a big 4x4 and a small trailer than the VW on a long trip.
While I recognise this is getting very niche and picky, a trailer isn't that practical when driving to the Alps for skiing, at least in the resorts I tend to visit, parking is at a premium and there is rarely space to keep a trailer too.
But it IS a consideration, just not at the top of my list

Terzo123

4,710 posts

235 months

Friday 13th October 2023
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An imported Ford Expadition?

https://www.motors.co.uk/car-58006707/?i=2&m=s...

You can get a LWB version with even more room in the back.

Edited by Terzo123 on Friday 13th October 12:06