For growing households, transport can be a tricky thing to manage. School runs, food shops, sports clubs, holidays and visits to relatives all require a fair amount of comfortable space. That said, many people are wary of taking the step up from a standard estate car to a people-carrier. People often feel like driving a people-carrier will be like driving a minibus, and worry about things like parking, fuel consumption, and resale value. However, people-carriers offer many benefits. Here, to help you decide whether or not swapping the family car for a people-carrier is right for you, are five benefits of people-carriers for big families:
1. You can carry more people comfortably
If it’s time to upgrade your car and you’re thinking of opting for a people-carrier, it’s likely that the number of seats and space will be your major consideration. Most people-carriers have five to seven seats, while some larger models can accommodate eight or nine people. That gives bigger families enough seats for everyone without forcing older children into a cramped middle seat or leaving you unable to take a friend or relative along.
The extra rows also give you more choice over where everyone sits. You can separate siblings on a long drive, put younger children where you can reach them easily, or leave an empty seat between passengers when you don’t need full capacity. Before buying, check the individual seats rather than relying on the headline capacity. Some third-row seats have much less legroom than others.
2. You get more useful storage space
Even a smallish family can easily fill a boot. Pushchairs and the weekly food shop take up a lot of room even before you add school bags, sports equipment or luggage for a weekend away.
People-carriers give you several ways to deal with that problem. Many let you fold individual rear seats when you need more boot space, so you do not have to choose between carrying passengers and folding an entire row. Some also have storage compartments beneath the floor or between the seats.
Check the boot with every seat in use if you regularly need the full passenger capacity. Seven seats does not automatically mean a large seven-seat boot, and luggage space varies considerably between models.
3. Getting children in and out can be easier
Wide rear doors give you more room to fasten children into their seats, while some people-carriers use sliding doors that do not swing into the car parked beside you. That can make a very useful difference in supermarket car parks and narrow parking bays.
A taller cabin can also give you more room when lifting a child into a car seat. If you still use child seats, check the location of the ISOFIX points before choosing a model. The number and location vary, and you cannot assume that every rear seat will take the type of child seat you use.
4. You can change the seating arrangement
You will not need the same seating arrangement for every journey. You might carry the whole family during the week but need extra luggage space for a holiday or room for a large purchase at the weekend.
Many people-carriers let you fold rear seats individually, while some models let you slide or remove them. You can therefore increase the luggage area without permanently giving up the extra passenger capacity. Look at how the seats operate when comparing cars. A seat that folds into the floor takes less effort than one you have to remove and store elsewhere.
This flexibility can also extend the useful life of the car. The pushchair may eventually disappear from the boot, but older children bring larger sports bags, more luggage and friends who need lifts.
5. Modern people-carriers are straightforward to live with
A large people-carrier will take up more road space than a hatchback, but driving one does not necessarily resemble driving a minibus. Reversing cameras and parking sensors can help with the extra length, while large windows can give you a good view around the vehicle.
Look at the equipment fitted to the specific model and trim rather than assuming every version has the same technology. Features such as rear climate controls and USB charging points can prove particularly useful when several people regularly travel in the car.
Take the car on the types of roads you use before buying. Drive it through town and park it in a normal bay. If possible, take it home and check that it fits comfortably on your drive or in your garage.
All in all, a people-carrier can be a versatile vehicle for big families with a wide range of needs. The right model can also give you a more flexible boot and easier access to the rear seats. Compare cars with your usual number of passengers on board, and take the equipment you regularly carry with you when you view one. That will tell you far more than the number of seats on the specification sheet.
Thank you for reading.
