Tossing up on whether to go with a car that has more seats? Here’s why we chose a 7 seater SUV over a 5 seater sedan.
This post has been written in collaboration with NRMA
When I found out I was pregnant with Phoebe, I knew a new car was on the cards for our family.
The surprise pregnancy was the catalyst for us making a decision on whether to purchase an SUV or another sedan. The SUV won in the end, but I will admit a lot of thought was put into the purchase of our new car. I thought I’d share why I’m glad we chose a 7 seater SUV over a 5 seater Sedan. And I admit that my husband was right. And I was wrong.
The Apprehension
I have never been a fan of driving big cars. I would ALWAYS get nervous driving my dad’s Toyota Hilux 1.5 Cab Ute in the city, parking it into loading zones. I was that girl who would drive past a loading zone if I had to reverse park. I would drive around the city until I could find a park to pull into. Sometimes parking in an expensive car park for half an hour or so was better than me trying to wedge the ute into a tight space. I would physically punch the air when I could pull into an empty loading zone.
And so it was with this apprehension that made me weary of considering an SUV. Jacob suggested the 7 seater would be practical. All I could imagine was driving the streets of Brisbane in a semi-trailer.
But after heading to a number of different car dealers and looking at car seat configurations, the bigger SUV’s were looking to be our best bet.
The Considerations
I don’t know about you, but when our family would go on holidays, the car would be filled to the brim with STUFF. Holidaying with young kids can feel like you’re packing to go on a six-month expedition, when really, you’re only heading away for a week!
With a third little person on the way, and considering we like to holiday locally every year, we had to consider space needed for annual family vacations.
The second consideration was having family visit. In a sedan, there are no spare seats for extra passengers, but a 7 seater would allow us to travel with other family members, when they came to visit.
The third consideration was the cost. Could we afford upgrading to a bigger car because bigger cars usually require more money to purchase and run. I left this domain with Jacob, where he researched all the financial pros and cons of 7 seater SUV’s to help with our decision.
If you need to work out how much it will cost you to pay off your car, NRMA have this handy car loan calculator which will calculate your repayments so you can work out whether you can afford your new purchase or not. NRMA also offer new car loans and used car loans so you can be driving your new wheels in no time, whatever model you decided.
The Decision
We were lucky enough to use a local Toyota and was able to source a demo model of a 7 seater Toyota Kluger. We got the car for a brilliant price and got some free added extras. It was a very good day when we got to pick up our new Kluger and leave our Honda Civic, which was on the verge of heading into the period of requiring expensive repairs.
Why I’m Glad We Chose a 7 Seater SUV over a 5 Seater Sedan
We bought our car 3 years ago and I’m always grateful when I get behind the wheel. Here are just some of the reasons I love having a 7 seater SUV.
It fits all the car seats in a 7 seater SUV
I didn’t realise how difficult it was to fit 3 carseats in the back seat of a car. The Toyota Kluger and Nissan Pathfinder seemed to have the most room in the back seat to accommodate a baby capsule and two car seats.
I can separate the kids in a 7 seater SUV
Now that my girls are older, they like to fight or annoy each other when sitting next to each other in the back seat. Having a third row, with 2 seats in the back, has meant my oldest now sits in the back, and we’ve separated the younger two by installing their car seats on either side of the passenger seats. This separation promotes peace in the car while I’m driving and quite frankly, it’s great for my sanity.
I can fill the boot and still have space for the kids with an SUV
Just joking. I put the kids in first and no longer have to put shopping on their laps. The boot is so spacious, we have no trouble with lack of space when we head on holidays. When I do grocery shopping, the bread doesn’t get squashed, because the bags don’t need to be piled on top of each other for space.
I can help others with a 7 seater SUV
I LOVE being able to help others, and having a 7 seater Kluger has meant, if someone needs help getting their kid picked up from school, I can do it.
On school holidays, if we plan a day trip to a museum, I can take another mum and her two kids so we can travel together. It saves two cars heading out and is a lot of fun having a full car.
For some reason, I had thought having a 7 seater SUV would mean I’d be expected to be someone else’s car ferry service. But that hasn’t happened. In fact I’m the one offering to be the taxi service because I can do it, and I get a lot of joy in helping another mum out.
When choosing to upgrade a new car, there are so many variables to consider. One of the biggest considerations should be convenience.
I have never felt frustrated with our Kluger. I haven’t had the ‘if only we bought…’ regrets. Our Kluger has delivered what we imagined it would promise. It has over delivered and I’m so grateful I listened to my husband and gave up on my idea of driving our family of five in a sedan.
I will admit defeat on this one. Darling husband you were right in pushing us to get the 7 seater. And I’m so grateful you did.
If you are looking to upgrade your family car, consider Ken Mills Toyota Sunshine Coast as they offer after market service and may be able to source the right Toyota car you’re looking for.
Did you find it stressful deciding on a family car? What car features are important to you?
Disclosure: This post has been written in accordance with my disclosure policy. All opinions are my own.
