We have just been visiting friends abroad and they have a Volvo jeep (XC90?) and it was just ideal to move us around. There was even space for cases and/or luggage.

Now we are thinking of getting a 7 seater when we get to OZ but dont want a people carrier/minibus type car.

What would you suggest?

That's good cause the most popular 7 seater over here is the Kia Carnival. Ask any motor mechanic over here and they tell you to 'steer' well clear.

We have a Toyota Kluger which we really like. It is more like a 5 seater then has 2 seats in the back that fold up and down when needed

Toyota - Landcruiser, Prado or Kluger

Nissan - Patrol or Pathfinder

The Dodge Journey is also pretty nice, but that is not a 4x4, but does look like one! Also Ford Territory comes in 7 seats too!

You can get little jump seats for kids stuck in the back of the big Ford Falcon station wagons etc.

My Magna wagon has a third row of seats - It can take 8 people (providing 3 are kids). My Pajero takes 7 in more comfort though.

Honda Odyssey

Thanks for the suggestions.

The Volvo had 5 seats and the 2 others folded up and down in the boot which is ideal as 7 seats would not always be needed.

I will check out the cars you mentioned.

Many thanks

How does that work? No seat belts for them I assume? At least not proper ones.

The back of a station wagon is ok for dogs but not for kids. I agree with Kar-kier's suggestion of Toyota and Nissan for 7/8 seaters.

search for 'dickie seats' on ebay

I am driving a 10 year old rental kia carnival at the moment as the inlaws are here. And I have to say its the GREATEST piece of shit I have ever driven.

Paddy

No, they have three point seatbelts. Lots of marques have had them (Merc in particular) for years but they never seem to catch on because you can only really fit small kids in.

BTW, Subaru has two seven seaters: Tribeca and Exiga (actually an 8 seater in Japan but the middle back has lap belt only).

We've had a Pathfinder for the last 3 years. Gets the from us. Pulls a trailer, Monday to Friday and stuffed full of kids and crap at the weekends.

This would be the one that I'd buy if we wanted a 7 seater. More car like than most mentioned.

We have a Toyota Tarago (a Previa in the UK) which is excellent, although very much a people mover!

* Bulletproof Toyota,
* 8 seats all with 3 point belts
* rear row folds up to give very large boot, but still get lots in even with them all up
* Middle row of seat easily splits 60/40 (unlike many others we tried out) so access to rear seats is easy even with kids car seats in place.
* not cheap!