While SUVs dominate the sales charts, new research from What Car? has found MPVs are the superior choice for families with young children thanks to their capacity to accommodate a greater number of child seats.
Although many MPVs and SUVs feature seven seats, not all of them can fit more than two child seats into the rear rows of the car. To find out which is the best for larger families, the UK’s leading consumer champion and new car buying platform, What Car?, lined up 16 leading MPV and SUV models and tested their ability to accommodate three child seats.
Of the seven conventional-engined large SUVs tested, What Car? was able to fit all three child seats into just two models; the Peugeot 5008 and Kia Sorento. The use of a child seat in the second or third row was prohibited in four of the large SUVs tested, and the one that could take a third seat in the second row wasn’t wide enough to do this. Luxury SUVs outperformed their budget counterparts – with three of the four models tested able to accommodate three child seats.
In contrast, of the four MPVs What Car? tested, all were able to accommodate three child seats with ISOFIX points*. The latest Seat Alhambra and VW Touran models both feature ISOFIX points in all five of their rear passenger seats – a record matched by only one of the luxury SUVs; the Audi Q7.
Steve Huntingford, editor of What Car?, said: “This just goes to show how important it is for new parents, especially those with multiple kids, to do their homework when buying a new car. A vehicle may feature seven seats, but if only two can accommodate a child seat, it may not be the ideal choice.”
The Tesla Model X is currently the only electric vehicle capable of accommodating the rear seats with more than two child seats.
To find the best new car deals on SUVs and MPVs, motorists should visit: www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals