I'm being sent to northern Italy for 2 years for work, so my family of 4 with 2 children under 3 and a dog need something larger than the Audi A3 we are currently squeezing into, that can get up and down the Alps and manage road trips around Europe and heavy snow on a regular basis.

Reliability and boot space are priorities as servicing may be difficult or expensive, and the luggage for small children and dogs is extraordinary. I would opt for 7 seats if I could, for the greater flexibility. I have a budget of no more than 20k but would like to spend around 15k if I can. My fuel will be tax free so I'm not too fussy about economy, or whether it's petrol or diesel.