[PrincessPeach]

DH has an X-trail, we've fitted 2 adults in the back along side a carseat, plus luggage in the boot when we droped BIL, wife & baby at the airport.

As far as leg-room goes though, there is more leg-room for the backseat passengers in my corolla, than in DH's x-trail - my brother is 190cm tall...DH's x-trail though does have more boot space & comfortably tows our jet-ski.

[-Moxie-]

I went the opposite way when Number 3 was due to arrive. Changed from a camry Stationwagon (which I loved but was on its way out mechanically) to a Hyundai i30 wagon. We really love this car and find it has plenty of space for the 5 of us. granted we dont go on road trips and holidays (we cant afford them) but everything we need for a day out can fit in the car.
The new i30 wagon is being released soon and it is apparently longer and bigger than the current model.

You also need to factor in running cost when buying a car. SUV's tend to have expensive tyres, many will say the servicing costs more, etc. Id also look at a diesel option.

[AndreeaMarshal]

VW Touran :-d

[battymeep]

DH thinks that for a family car when we are planning more children, a good size is a Mazda 3/6 or a Holden Cruze. . No space.

lol my fiance has a cruze. can barely fit a double pram in it let alone anything else.
and he cant but his seat back anymore cause of the car seat.

[LittleRB]

No advice on how to win the battle, but you can't go past a Subaru Forester.

[mum of 3 kids]

i 1st started off with a holden astra with my 1st child and DH found it was too same for us, especially for holidaying as the pram would take up a fair bit of room in the back (one of the bulky which i tend to use for the 1st 6 mths of baby life then moving into a more space efficent one...

but i found the car alright as i only had the one child (i found it hard to give up the car as she was fairly new)

We upgraded to a toyota aurion and now we have the back seat full!! at the time (maybe still is) it was bigger and much more roomer then a ford XR6 and holden commordor, we shopped around as i wanted a sedan not something too big to drive. car is great on fuel and drives like a dream!!

I haven't had any problems with it in regards to room, but most likely find it difficult for going away as would be limited to boot space.

easy fixed for me... DH has a dual cab ute and that is even bigger then the car! but the price tag on d ute- i don't like talking about it! but have to say it is great going away family car!