Does your wife class MPVs as boxes on wheels and not sporty-looking enough?

-because it may depend on how long you intend to keep the car and whether there are likely to be any more children coming along in that period.

If there are, you may well be better looking for an estate (or 'sportback/sport tourer' as the fashionable term goes at the moment) at least.

If you end up needing three child/baby seats, you may have to consider an MPV.

The Skoda Yeti is classed as a "box on wheels" .

We intend on keeping the car for minimum of 3 years

There will be no more kids also my wife will be the primary driver.

I have an estate as a company car at the moment

Had MPV a while ago and dont want to go back to be honest

thanks for the reply

Can't see the OPs missus buying a Dacia. Sounds like she wants, but does not need, a 3 series.

One way around clashing priorities would be to buy an older car, but a prestige make, and hope that the badge (and prospective longer life/better resale) makes her overlook a pragmatic vehicle - the C class has already been suggested, and I agree.

With the new one now available there maybe some value in ones 3-5 years old, 40 - 75,000 miles. A well looked after one should run and run. The B class too, while not highly starred by journalists nonetheless will do most of what you want, and provide even better value.

Of course, a Golf Plus might be better (or others) but a badge might be what she needs!!

VW Touran - thoroughly competent and boring MPV for all your wife needs. Altea XL ditto. Not sure 15000 miles has to mean mean you need a diesel when you can get good petrol equivalents for a couple of thousand pounds less and potentially much better reliabilty for a few quid extra in fuel costs.

Narrowing it down to diesel SUVs with decent warranties as you have reliability concerns I'd look for a Toyota Rav4, Kia Sportage or Hyundai ix35 with some miles on it.They have 6,7 or 5 year warranties respectively so you could consider a 3 year old one easily enough. Car Giant has an ix35, 56k miles 2011 diesel Premium spec for £11,500. 2 years and 9 months warranty still left on it and lots of spec. I wouldn't be put off by the mileage at all as diesels work best with bigger than average miles.

Oldtoffee suggests 3 SUVs. A better bet would be the Nissan Qashqai in 1.5DCi guise, Ascenta trim or higher for the best kit.

Nothing wrong at all with the Rav4, Sportage and iX35, but there's more Qashqais to choose from and they are rated more highly.

Ah! so it has to be a Sports Utility vehicle. But not a Yeti because they're too boxy.

Too much overlap amongst all these niches these days. Which sounds like a contradiction.

Totally agree. No wonder Boris can't make up his mind.

Besides the Sqashqai there's the Volvo XC60 and Honda CRV.

Edited by corax on 12/09/2014 at 17:23