Can you help me choose from these family car?
Which would be cheaper, more economical and have low maintainance, for family of five that require good boot size, mostly city driving, 12,000km mileage per year: Kia Carens diesel, Nissan Qashqai diesel or petrol 1.2, Kia cee'd estate or Skoda Fabia Combi either 2014 or 2015?
Thanks, Mary
Mary Strike (Cork)May 2015 Filed under: family car
Expert answer
Hi Mary,
I'd leave the Fabia Combi out straight away. It's a very good little car but it's just too small if you're putting five people into it regularly. The cee'd estate is one of our favourite cars - practical, handsome and good to drive and those are things you can equally say about the Qashqai. However, again, I'd say if you're trying to get five people in every day, space in the back could be an issue.
Which leaves us with the Carens. Thankfully it's a very good choice - all the attributes of the cee'd, but with extra space and comfort for those in the back. My advice would be to go and test drive each one but make sure you bring along everyone who's going to regularly be using the car and make sure everyone's comfortable in it. Not just a spin around the block either - drive for long enough to make sure everyone has a chance to get fidgety.
Worth noting though that with your driving pattern, the petrol Qashqai is going to have the best engine for your purposes. You may need to make a compromise between engine and seating at some point.
Relevant reviews:
Shane O' Donoghue - Complete Car Adviser@Shane_O_D