My almost Pavlovian response to this sort of a question is the Citroen Berlingo or its Peugeot or Vauxhall clones. At one time I'd have thought petrols might be in short supply but less so in recent years.

These have three full seats so should be able to squeeze kids and Granny. Rear floor is flat. In most models the rear seats are removable if you need extra loadspace for that trip to IKEA.

Sliding doors are a boon with kids long after you need to lift them in/out.

We've had two Berlingos. The first was an 05 'Mark 2' in top line of trim but only a wheezy XUD derived IDI/no turbo diesel. The second (current) is a HDi 1.6/115PS turbodiesel.

The first went to 150k miles and the second is currently on about 115k. Both have ranged from the Butt of Lewis to the Med. They just swallow stuff even for camping holidays with two young adults.

Thanks for your reply.

If we went down the MPV route, the kids would sit in the 2nd row as we don't live anywhere near Granny. Its more of a "nice to have" should we go and visit either set of grandparents, or if they came to visit us, just so we aren't taking 2 cars everywhere trying to fit 2 parents, up to 2 grandparents, and 2 kids into a single vehicle, but the S-Max and Galaxy seem so much more expensive than an estate. We'd load up the 3rd row with the kids stuff for a drive to the grandparents house after flattening the seats down

Sliding seats aren't an absolute must have requirement, provided there's enough space for the car seat in the back. Me and my partner aren't tall (both around 175cm/5ft 9) but the Joie iSpin car seats we've chosen seem to need a concert hall in the back of the car to fit in. Our youngest is still in a travel system set up so it's not too much trouble, but when we have the eldest in her seat, especially if its tilted back for her to sleep, there is next to no room in the front passenger seat. Provided we can get a car that will allow decent leg room in the front, and full rotating and tilting of the kids seats, it doesn't matter if the rear seats slide or not. Hope that makes sense!

I'm surprised the child seats don't fit in the back of a Focus without moving the front seats forward, are both driver and passenger very tall? The Focus isn't the most roomy family hatchback in the back, but there are lots of cars smaller than that which people fit car seats in.

Going to a Focus Estate won't fix the car seats problem, as the front and rear seats will be in much the same relative position. You'd need to step up to the next size of car (Mondeo etc) to gain rear legroom, though not necessarily an estate. Big hatchbacks like the Mondeo, Insignia and Superb have nearly as much boot space below the luggage cover as their estate equivalent, and can be quite a bit cheaper.

The other thing to remember (having just been through the small family bit - our youngest is now 4) is that requirements to carry the really bulky stuff like buggies and baby beds doesn't last very long. We were rid of both once the youngest was three, and now can fit everything for a family weekend away comfortably in the boot of a Leon again. If you're otherwise happy with the car, it's worth considering short term solutions. A roof box can provide much needed extra luggage capacity. A cheap second buggy and travel cot to leave at Granny's for a couple of years (if that's a feasible option) is also a lot cheaper than buying a bigger car.

However, in this case if the car seats themselves are an issue, the key is to find a car with lots of legroom in the back. Skoda Superb is an obvious option (they are limo like in the back seat!), and for cars the Insignia is fairly roomy too, though be aware that both are very long cars which can be a hassle if you have to park on the street regularly. There's also the whole range of "crossover" vehicles (Qashqai, Grandland, Kuga, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage etc.) I don't personally like that kind of car, but lots of families do. They usually offer good back seat space, though check how big the boot is - some don't have boots much bigger than what you get in a Focus hatchback, Astra etc.

Most of the time it will be running around town, or trips to the nearby countryside. Occasionally we'll travel to see the grandparents (perhaps 3-4 times per year)

We're in Manchester, with family up in the Lakes

Trouble is, modern kids seats are absolutely massive. The ones we have spin round, and recline, are really bulky and padded. While they and their ISOfix base fit nicely in our Focus, that's only by severely limiting front seat space, and not using functions like the tilt/recliner. I'd want to use those to give my kids a safer, and more comfortable sleeping position instead of upright.

Might have been an idea to try fitting your current child seat into your current car to see if it actually fitted before committing to the purchase!.

There is no substitute for getting out and looking at cars in this situation. Unless a forum member happens to have one of the cars being suggested and the child seat you have, there is only so much we are able to tell you.

I know SLO is a big fan of the Mazda 6, and while good and reliable cars, they are not the most spacious in their class. The equivalent Mondeo and (Skoda) Superb have a wheelbase (the distance between front and rear wheels) some 10cm longer than the Mazda, most of which can be found between front and rear seats. That is why I suggested them earlier, just remember to avoid the auto's.