[Mumneedsacar]

Hi everyone,

Thanks in advance for reading. As the title says I need your help. I haven't got a clue about cars.

3 years ago I bought a Peugeot 2008 (Clima 2014 model) on HP. I thought it was an SUV. Anyway Now with two small kids and a double pram it's very small and cramped.

I have spent hours deliberating the next car. I can hand mine back on a voluntary termination and start afresh. I have had finance approved at 9.9% and looked to borrow 12k with upto a 1k deposit.

I am not bothered about having a flashy badge on the car but i do value comfort and convenience (aka looking nice) and the main thing Now is room.

I seek to have arrived at the Kia Sportage. If the MG HS wasnt slaughtered in all the reviews ive watched then I'd choose that for value (correct me if I'm wrong). I rang my garage and they said Kias are a good shout.

With my budget I can potentially get an Edition 25 (but in bright red) under 55k miles, petrol with heated seats and steering wheel (one of the main things I want as I'm getting on now...) the platinum trim with cream interior is my favourite but can't get it in my price range with low miles unless I buy from a small sole trader garage.

What I'm struggling with is what to choose.

I decided under 60k miles, age 2018 to 2021, ideally petrol.

The 3 trim has heated seats and some even have a sunroof (the dream) but i can't commit because I feel like I'm missing out. The 4 trim isn't really coming up for my budget.

I found a 2017 4 trim which has all the fixtures but then I assumed it's the old shape?

So hoping for your thoughts. I'm going to link some of the considerations below if allowed 👌🏼

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-det...02501218250634

https://www.motors.co.uk/car-7357056...MjA1NjIwNDgyOA.

https://www.cargurus.co.uk/Cars/inve...STORE_TRANSFER

https://quotes.carwow.co.uk/deals/bc...e0422f06d536ca

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-det...%206FD&fromsra

[Drivingforfun]

What you found out with the 2008 is typical of a lot of the smaller SUVs, they look cool and chunky but aren't actually any bigger on the inside ... like a TARDIS in reverse I guess!

One thing I would suggest is, what about looking at an estate car, rather than an SUV. Estates have just as much - if not more - room, are better to drive being elongated rather than raised, and will tend to be more efficient due to aerodynamics and such. The only thing is DOESN'T have, but this is really subjective, is "coolness"

[Nick]

Some of these cross-over SUVs can be misleading for sure. I drive a Vauxhall Grandland, which is probably comparable to the Kia Sportage and the Peugeot 5008 (Vauxhall and Peugeot actually collaborated on these cars, sharing many parts - my first Grandland essentially broke but when the RAC guy came out a lot of the parts in the engine were Peugeot and the diagnostics only worked when he looked for Peugeot codes).

I would definitely recommend a Grandland - I chose it when upgrading from an Astra - need more space for more child paraphernalia and also I wanted to give the kids a bit of a higher seat position. We test drove a Sportage at the time and it was great, we just preferred the Grandland. Well worth getting out there, trying them out, doing the test drives etc, that way you make an informed decision on something that's right for you and your family.