New Grandchild-friendly car needed.

Kia Soul works for us and our two grandchildren . It comes with all sorts of adds on as basic, unlike the comparable Honda model. Back seats fold flat so also perfect for trips to the tip. Drove Honda Civics for years but last car change accepted that we needed something not quite so low. Just as well as DH has just had knee replacement surgery and had difficulty getting into our high rise car!

The Skoda Roomster is perfect. The back windows are extended to a lower level so their view is unimpeded when they are in their car seats.
The seats at the rear can easily be taken out in any combination and then you have a van for transporting whatever you like. The hatch space is huge with a lot of head height - my big labrador is very comfortable.
It has everything!

I have a small Skoda. More spacious than some small cars on the market. Only drawback is the wind down windows in the back - too much loved by my 3 and 6 year olds when wanting to tease me! I envy those with a child seat which rotates. Grandma's dream I think .

I had a Toyota Yaris and my daughter has a Ford Fiesta. Both surprisingly roomy inside with a decent boot, and not too big to park.

I have a Suzuki SCross since my 3rd grandchild arrived last year. The driving seat is easy to get into and out of and I can fit 3 children ages 9, 5 and nearly 1 on the back seat, although the eldest doesn't use a car seat anymore- she is 147cm so doesn't need a seat now. The boot is really spacious and the pram (silver Cross Wayfarer) fits in easily and there is a false floor in the boot that you can either take out for more space or store things under it. I had a Suzuki celerio prior this and my daughter had a swift, when she was pram shopping and realised her chosen pram the Wayfarer wouldn't fit in the boot she bought an SCross too, two of her friends also got them after seeing how spacious they are.

The Honda Jazz defo gets my vote as well. I had one to ferry my gc around when they were younger and l used to look after them during the week. Really nice car to drive and lots of useful features. Sadly the DH wanted to get a newer model and we bought a Honda Civic ...it's nice and ok to drive but l do miss the Jazz.

Just want to say that the Qashqai is actually built in the UK in Sunderland and has been since 2006.

I'm just in the throes of changing my old Mazda Antares so these posts are really helpful. My friend has a Citroen C4 which I like but the C3 is smaller and I think that would be more convenient. Ideally I'd like one with the driver's door being a sliding one as I have some problems entering and exiting, especially in today's car parking spaces which are often quite narrow. I think a Peugot has a make with sliding doors - anyone got one or tried it?

Another vote for the Honda Jazz. Just the way the seats fold did it for me and, for the size of the car, the boot is a cavern. We are really pleased with it. As for seeing it as a granny car, our 16 year old is as proud as punch to call it "his" car as he gets ready to learn to drive and always asks for us to go places in it rather than our Ford crossover.

Another vote for the Honda Jazz - have had mine for 10 years and it accommodates GCs and a lot of other stuff for such a small car - I wondered when I bought it why it was so popular with 'older' people - I think the young see it as a granny-car!!

I've got a Hyundai i20 and it's similar to the Jazz, but has a bigger boot and 5 year guarantee. We've had two cars and are very pleased with it.

I am another Ford C-Max fan! Great family car.

I would have liked the Honda Jazz but it was just out of my price bracket. However, I am very happy with the Yaris but if you need a lot of boot space it may not be enough.

I don't tend to post comments very often but had to on this one. I am now on my second Honda Jazz and have found them to be wonderful for transporting grandchildren, pushchairs, sports equipment & dogs, not to mention garden waste including fencing etc., As shysal mentioned the folding seats are so good when needing to put in larger items. Only this week on a visit to youngest son who has recently moved house and still had lots of boxes I offered to help with getting rid of them so DIL & I did some garden clearing while new baby grandson sat and watched in his push chair then loaded that and lots and lots of flattened boxes into car and took to the nearest tip. Left son behind to watch grandson & get on with renovating and contemplate what he can now put in their empty shed.

It was be better for the future of this country, especially after Brexit, if people bought products made in this country- USE IT OR LOSE IT, FOLKS -so I suggest you look at a Vauxhall Corsa. Vauxhall give a lifetime warranty too if you buy from new. It really saddens me that all the suggestions here are for foreign cars. Although Vauxhall is a subsidiary of General Motors, it's is made here so provides lots of employment. PLEASE think about supporting British producers in all fields- our farmers and British owned supermarkets instead of rushing to save a few pennies at Aldi or Lidl. Using Mr Trumps' phrase- BRITISH FIRST.

As a road safety officer who fits lots of car seats - I'd give the C Max a vote (I have one myself). It's a bit higher up than a Focus and with more head room so less chance of knocking your head (or your grandson's!) as you get in and out of the car. The B Max is also good - more like a Fiesta size, but higher up as well - and has no 'B' door pillar in between the front and back seat so getting children in and out is easy.
Don't worry too much about ISOfix points - yes they make car seat fitting easier but a correctly fitted belted seat is just as safe as ISOfix.
If you are getting a car seat to go in it - go for the best you can afford, and a reputable make - Britax, Maxi Cosi, Joie etc.

I have a car seat that swivels which makes it much easier to got 2 year-old in and out. Isofix makes me feel more confident about safety.

I recommend the new Citroen C3, love mine ( as does my 3 year old DGD!)

I have a Skoda Yetti and look after 5 yr old and large Labrador plus grand daughter and all the things that go with them Brilliant cars xx

Thank you so much for all your responses. Really helpful. The Honda Jazz is looking favourite at the moment.

Paddyann thanks for the info, wasn't aware of the new law.

the law changed re car seats llast year ,they have to be in a seat with a back up until they are 12 years old unless they are over the weight recommendation .Boosters are only acceptable for emergency use

True Jalima- just discovered today that the youngest GS has outgrown the car seat and only needs the booster one. He can even do the seat belt for himself now too. Changed days!! I've got a Golf but I don't love it although I'm sure it's a perfectly good car I think it's ridiculously overcomplicated.

I don't know your budget; I have a Toyota Yaris and it has Isofix for the car seats; whatever you choose try to find one with Isofix. The boot is not large but it is adequate.

However, before you know it, he will be in a booster seat! (much easier)

Isofix points for anchoring a car seat were one of the things I considered a priority. Probably most small cars have them now, but the Jazz certainly has.

I bought a new Honda Jazz a couple of months ago, after driving Honda Civics for years. I wanted a smaller car, but one which would take car seat and pram for DGD. I love it. The height of the seat makes it so much easier for me to get in and out.