He wants automatic, I think only the Hybrid model comes with that so probably out of budget?

Used BMWs and Mercs are relatively cheap to buy for a reason (they cost a lot to keep going).

I suspect most will suggest you'd be better off looking for a Toyota Auris, Avensis or RAV4, or a Honda CRV.

Also looking at 10 year old, 110k+ mileage Volvo XC60's. Though I've not heard many positives about their diesels, and not many independent garages near me like working on Volvo's.

So don't buy one.

Anyhow, my family is growing so soon will need 2 baby seats in the back, and modern baby seats are bulky. So would need to fit 2/3 adults and 2 baby seats.

I am open to suggestions (you guys are the experts!).

Clearly, Focus sized cars will be too small. Forty years ago onwards, two consecutive second hand Passat estates gave us twenty years and over 400,000 miles sterling service.

Funny that, the Passat estate of 40 years ago was about the same width as a Honda Jazz, which would make it around 13cm narrower than the OP's Focus. And while the boot of the Passat would be bigger, a roof box on the Focus to supplement the boot would more than make up the difference.

can't understand the fad of tall short SUVs in place of estate cars for the modern family and its cargo.

While i'm no particular fan of SUV's, I do absolutely get why people might want a car that is shorter and taller than a traditional estate. Out of our cars, the one which fits the bill as the best family car would be the Peugeot Partner Combi. This was not an SUV, but it was tall and it was short. Absolutely massive boot (the pushchair would go in without being folded down), sliding doors was a boon in car parks, the higher seating position (along with those sliding doors) was a boon for getting the youngest son into and out of his car seat, and the massive tailgate could be sheltered under if the weather on family days out turned wet, in fact on a handful of occasions, we actually folded the seats down and had our picnic in the back with the tailgate open, happy times indeed. One of the modern versions of it from Citroen Peugeot or Vauxhall would be a much better choice of family car for the OP than a Superb (if image requirements allowed), but sadly the budget isn't enough to get into one of the newer cars with t/c auto.

Methinks this is another " I want an old prestige car big enough for my family " that won't cost me an arm and a leg to repair when it goes badly wrong..

None of the original suggestions are suitable.

Horses.. Water..

I know a bloke who worked for Marc and he really rates the 220, I've had 3 or 4 with this engine, the present in an E Class. I would go for this with one caveat, get a decent indie because the main dealers have little mercy on your wallet.