I need a used car for my growing family – what should I buy?

I need some help to guide my new car choice. I'm looking at buying a replacement car to accommodate my family. At the moment it's myself, partner and a toddler in a bulky seat and we are expecting another little one soon. I have max £15k to spend however where iI'm struggling is as iI'm one of the few drivers in my wider family their are odd occasions when I would need space for another adult. I understand I cannot base my choice on that factor but it would be useful. I prefer estates or SUV as not sure about the styling of MPVs but will remain open.

Asked on 5 June 2026 by Jon Edwards

Answered by David Ross
The size of vehicle you need will depend on the size of the car seats and the adult that you would also need to carry. For example, a Skoda Octavia Estate would suit your needs most of the time and the centre rear seat is reasonably generous, but the bigger Superb Estate is more generously sized across the rear bench. The same applies to the Skoda Karoq, where the larger Skoda Kodiaq would offer the extra space you need comfortably. While MPVs are appreciably less attractive than estates or SUVs, something like the Volkswagen Touran provides three individual seats in the second row within a smaller footprint compared to the Octavia and Kodiaq, with better running costs as a result. Ultimately it is a matter of balancing the need for the extra space against the potential higher price and running costs of the larger options.
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