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Smax has 3 full sized seats on the middle row, but only the outer 2 are isofix. The middle will take a child seat, but it is using the belt.
No isofix on the 2 seats in the boot.
For me, 2 people (me passenger) and the front flat.
I have a saloon that will take 1 trail bike, wheels off. But I have a 4 bike rack for the roof, so we can do 4 people, bikes and all the crap, including cats for a weekend away in a saloon.
I had my back broken so don't want to be hoisting my bike up. My wife has a Qashqai, that will happily take my 26" old skool bike with wheels on its side - even she loaded it, but a modern 650B would go easy, but looking for 'upright' as my back is a bit knackered.
Wheel off, slide in, and lock forks in a home made frame (bit bike you might have in a van).
Tons to consider!
thanks all
10 weeks in with number 3. Other two girls very nearly 5 and 3. We bought a multimac. E class estate with two kids seat in boot. S212 shape (2010-2016) had these with a near 700l boot capacity- same as an smax.
Multimac expensive but bought on eBay. Will probs sell for the same price when finished with it
(2 kids) Ibiza Estate ->
(3 kids) -> Passat Estate
(3 out of car seats) Touran ->
(3 teens) Galaxy ->
Spot on
And you'll miss the galaxy and its ability to carry full bikes with wheels on if you get rid of it,
No kids here but 2 dogs.
Got our 2013 Galaxy as needed the weight to tow our caravan but was tired of lack of space in 4x4s. (Had Disco, Freelander, Sorento and have had T5 previously)
The Galaxy is massive inside. Easily get 4 guys & all their personal kit and enough rope kit to get them all working.
Have had 2 bikes, both dogs (springer x lab & Pomeranian) & a weeks holiday stuff inc the caravan awning in there.
There are loads of storage pockets too.
My xl 29er without a dropper needs a wiggle to get it in upright with front wheel off to clear the roof centre console thing.
Road or gravel bikes and my Mrs’ 18” mtb (again without dropper) fit easily and two will go in with just one of the middle row of seats down (plus back row obvs).
Only average high 30s mpg, the a pillars are a bit odd and despite the front quarter windows I find them a bit restrictive visibility wise. The cup holders are terrible too.
It’s comfy to drive though; have done Portsmouth to Manchester & back with just an hour stop in Manchester & it was way better than the T5 ever was. Quieter and far easier to park too.
This is a company that allows three or four! Child seats along the back of a normal car.
As a father of three I have to agree to the above. We had a massive Citroen XM Estate. It was so long you could land a plane on it. However 3 kids across the back seat caused arguments. My youngest daughter is now in her twenties and still mentions about always having to sit in the middle when she was young!
The best move we made at the time was buying a Citroen Synergy. We took out 2 of the middle seats so had 2 at the back and 1 in the middle behind the drivers seat leaving massive floor space for strapping them in etc when it was wet.
Once they were all grown up we 'downsized'.
7 seat version..

Went through the same process myself last year and ended up with a zafira tourer 1.4t petrol. It's quiet, comfy, stacks of room and reasonably economical (37mpg with 5 people, 5 bikes, roofbox and 2 weeks worth of luggage onboard). Fold the back seats flat and you can chuck a double airbed in it and sleep 🙂
Audi A6 estate ...never mind all the shite written on here about Audi drivers ..they are just a great spacious car to drive ..
Haha, really appreciate all the advice.
I must say i'm still bouncing around an A6, Passat and the S-Max does seem to deserve a look!
Got a zafira, it's not the most exciting, but it takes 4 kids, 4 bikes & a bike trailer + 2 balance bikes (with a roof box & a saris bones)
With all the seats down its got a huge boot, big enough for a double airbed
Can take 3 bikes & riders inside easily (tho not upright)
For some reason i prefer to the S max to the galaxy (sort of like say i'd rather b slapped than punched, even though I'd rather neither... 🙂 )
Looks like others are the same. Can't quite define why though, anyone else?
eh?
surprised at all the merc Eclass recomendations.
while long and voluminous i found the low height of the roof to be restrictive. the folks had one for many years.
3 kids (2,4,6yo), dog, cat, 5 fish, 2 shrimp and wife. We went lowest miles, lowest spec best priced S Max and spent the change on sleeping pills and spirits. Simply didn't have the time or energy to sniff out an estate/car seat combo that would work. Pleased we did, as I no longer give a shit about the car and spend more time doing other stuff. Like tidying up. Space wise... we rarely use the back back seats (as opposed to the back seats) so enjoy the massive boot. Lack of transmission/exhaust tunnel means dog happily joins kids in back. Kids scooters/bikes all fit in boot. We went camping. Once. 650-700 miles out of a tank @ £80.
for the kid in you that hasnt grown up you can even get an Smax ST .... not sure they do a galaxy ST 😉
for the kid in you that hasnt grown up you can even get an Smax ST
Nah, it's all about the Vignale. If someone else was paying, i'd have that.
Smax has 3 full sized seats on the middle row, but only the outer 2 are isofix. The middle will take a child seat, but it is using the belt.
No isofix on the 2 seats in the boot.
Depends which year you have. I have the new S-Max (2015 onwards) and it has 3 Isofix position across the middle row, with the outer two additionally being iSize seating positions.
Correct the rear don't have Isofix.
All in all great car for families - we're due 3rd arrival in November but I seem to be speaking to more and more families who have one and they all rave about them!
"@trail_rat – nearly did. But imagine the vomit."
mate of mine just had his first ...... he decided he needed an estate for a dad car (his other cars being an original mini and a mk1 v8 discovery.)
so he bought ................
...
..
a subaru WRX wagon.
a small fast vomit rocket. (but technically an estate)
Nah, it’s all about the Vignale. If someone else was paying, i’d have that.
Yeah thats a nice car, expensive and depreciates like the Titanic.
Nice options though..
And you’ll miss the galaxy and its ability to carry full bikes with wheels on if you get rid of it
I am already.
While the V70 is brilliant and the Ibiza Estate nippy, there's a few times I miss the Galaxy...