Toyota Verso or Kia Carens. £8k is enough to get into 2014/15 example. The Toyota especially is endlessly reliable, but the Kia is pretty good too. Neither are especially big cars, but both are 7 seaters. That means with the rear two seats folded away, there is a big boot, but you have the added advantage of that couple of extra seats should your kids want to bring a mate or two along.

Thanks for the replies.

Edited by adburns on 05/03/2021 at 20:00

A good friend was in a similar territory and budget last year.

I advised getting a Verso but then they had third child and bought a caravan, so he went with something I never saw before: an imported minty 2007 Toyota Alphard with 70k under it's belt for £6900 from a specialist in the midlands. The car was ready about a month after he ordered it and tor another £200 the dealer also fitted an Android unit as the original head unit was in Japanese only.

Went on a ride with him few times and I must say this thing is the most comfortable thing I ever sat in. It is an automatic TC mated to a V6 petrol both very smooth with an excellent bumps swallowing manners, and so far zero issues apart from needing a new battery this winter due to reduced usage with the pandemic.

Inside the7 or 8 seats are similar to one you find in the A350 business class and passengers can swivel about to face each other as you can pull seats out if needed. His family loves it apparently.

I'd much rather have something like that than any big 'premium' SUV!. Going to guzzle fuel though, with that big V6. Pretty sure you get hybrid versions though, with a 2.4 4 cyl petrol, which still isn't going to be that efficient, but possibly not far off what some of the suggestions above would manage.

Can't remember who, but one of the forum members has the Toyota Estima, which is, I believe, slightly smaller. Maybe not smaller in terms of footprint, but sleeker, the Alphard is a taller, more upright shape.

Seconded - saw one around Christmas for that age / mileage when looking for a car for someone. Huge boot and great spec

Test drive a Seat Toledo 1.0 xcellence.

You could possibly get a 2018 plate with 14k miles for £8K

Massive boot and passenger rear.

You said

Ideally have a large boot and roomy in the back

The Toledo does indeed have a big boot and a bit more legroom than the hatch equivalents but its narrow. 2 kids will be fine but don't expect to get an adult in as well if kiddy seats are involved..