Source
r/daddit•
beatlems

Car recommendation for family with two small kids

Advice Request

So our second kid is on his way making us rethink our car situation. We live a city with bad parking options, making smaller cars preferable. For that our current VW polo is superb, but there is not much leg room at the passenger seat when we have our Axkid Minikid car seat installed behind it. So with the second kid on the way we need to upgrade our car.

I’d therefore like to hear all you guys what smaller cars (no station car or SUV) you’ve tried and would recommend. We’re considering Skoda Fabia Combi or Nissan Note, but I’m unsure if there really is more space in the cabin than our Polo. Also a decent trunk with space for a double stroller would be best.

Posted Feb 28, 2021, 8:20 PM UTC

213
FozManBear•

So I live in the US and had to search Denmark’s dealer page before I recommended this. Check out the Kia Niro. It’s a “5” seater hatchback hybrid. Decent cargo area, fits car seats great behind the driver, me being over 6 feet. Great gas mileage being a hybrid.

2
beatlemsOP•

Thank you for looking that up and the recommendation. Hybrid would definitely be great! Seems like Kia is making some nice cars.

2
picklefucker69•

I have a Niro! I’m 6’1 and it’s extremely Roomy! We have a 2 week old as well and his baby seat fits perfectly fine with room all around. Plus the Hybrid is a huge plus with gas. With covid sometimes I only gas up once a month.

2
jmbre11•

I have a 2012 4 door civic. I have a almost 4 year old and a 6 month old. Wife’s 5ft 7 inches and we don’t have a problem fitting in. Our main family car is a Subaru ascent. She had a flat and I was not driving without a spare with the entire family.

2
DaddyUnited•

What I can tell you for sure that Skoda has the most space in the backseat than any care that I have ever seen. I am a pretty big fella and always struggle whenever I stay in the back seat.

However, I went camping with some friends and stayed in a Skoda Superb on the way there and came back with a Skoda Octavia. My legs were literally blown away by how much space they had in those cars.

2
beatlemsOP•

That is very reassuring to hear that Skoda makes spacious cars. I’ve heard a lot good about the superb while the octavia seems to be smaller. Unfortunately I think the superb is a little to pricy for our budget. So I’ll go try and see if the fabia is big enough.

1
Tandian•

I have had a van. I love it and fits all my needs.

Also It doubles as a truck when all the seats are down I would say it hold as much as my f150 I had

1
beatlemsOP•

When I see those big family cars I do get jealous. But that would really not be smart in our city or economically wise (very high taxes on cars and gas in Denmark). So no van or minibus for me.

1
newfatherhood•

If you can squeeze up to the size of VW Golf (only 20cm longer and 4cm wider) the change in leg room is totally worth it. And it’ll come with the VW bells and whistles you’re comfortable with.

If the Golf is $$$$$, consider the Seat Leon or the Skoda Scala. They’re all part of the VW group so they’re pretty much the same car, give or take a few bits of finish.

1
beatlemsOP•

Thank you! Does all the 20 cm go to leg room, or is the boot also bigger than the polo? We’re buying used, so golf might be possible price wise. Also helps that there are so many of them.

1
whatwhasmystupidpass•

Came here to recommend the golf as well but it’s hard to recommend something without a budget in mind. Hard to beat for versatility as there are many versions of it, small enough for city parking but comfortable and fun to drive for long trips, good room in the cabin and in the trunk for your needs.

100% recommend to go to the dealership with carseats and stroller and see that everything works.

It’s cheaper to replace a carseat or stroller than a car!

2
newfatherhood•

Both! AFAIK

1
motorsickle_mayhem•

Take the car seat(s) and test fit imo.

We have a focus, and luckily our oldest has just recently switched to forward facing so he can be behind the driver... Rear facing behind the driver doesn't work, can't release the clutch, and I'm not tall in the slightest.

Now with him moved the rear facing seat can go behind the passenger and we're good to go for a while longer

1