What_Car_UK_-_August_2020

whatcar.com^ August 2020 55

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Get all the advice you need at whatcar.com/advice. Alternatively, go to Twitter and use the hashtag #AskWhatCar

USEFUL

CONTACTS

WHO CAN

HELP

New Car

Buying

I want to change my Ford Kuga,

preferably for a new SUV, because

my wife and I are expecting our

second child.

We already have a 16-month-

old son, who travels in a car seat

in the left rear seat of the Kuga.

However, I am 6ft 4in tall and need

to push my seat a long way back

to be comfortable enough to drive,

leaving no space for a second child

seat behind me.

Which SUVs will allow me to

extend the driver’s seat backwards

I am looking to replace my Audi A4

Avant with a small or medium-sized

SUV, partly because my wife and I are

in our 70s and are  nding it harder to

get into cars with low seating positions,

and also because we are fed up with

having our view blocked by SUVs.

Some so-called SUVs seem to have

seats that are hardly any farther from

the ground than what you’d  nd in the

equivalent hatchback. Given that a

high seating position is our priority, can

you tell me which models would be

the most suitable for for us?

John Dibb

WHAT CAR? SAYS...

Our favourite small SUV and overall Car of

the Year, the Ford Puma, has a higher

seating position than rivals such as

the Seat Arona and Skoda Kamiq.

However, the Volkswagen T-Roc

is even better in this regard, so

we’d recommend this as the

best small SUV for you.

Which car will take a child seat behind me?

What’s the best small

SUV for ride height?

and still leave room to  t a baby seat

behind the driver?

Roderick Rymer

WHAT CAR? SAYS...

Our top recommendation is the

Peugeot 5008. It’s our 2020 Large

SUV of the Year, because it provides

the high-tech gadgetry and driving

manners you’d expect from a more

prestigious rival, in a package that’s

signifi cantly cheaper to buy, more

practical and stylish.

With the front and second-row

seats in standard positions, it has lots

of rear knee room, which translates

to space for child seats. It also has the

added advantage of three separate

second-row seats, which can each be

slid back and forth to vary rear space

and can be reclined slightly to aid the

fi tting of a deeper child seat.

The 5008 is also one of the wider

There is a wider choice if you’re looking

for a larger, family-sized SUV. The Seat

Ateca, Skoda Karoq and Volkswagen Tiguan

are all closely related underneath, and all

three have a lofty driving position. Of these,

the Karoq is the best all-rounder, with a

comfortable ride and a smart-looking and

roomy interior; that’s why it’s our favourite

family SUV for £25,000 to £30,000.

If your budget is more than £30,000, we

recommend the Range Rover Evoque or

Volvo XC40. Both models

have high seating

positions and have

received fi ve-star

ratings in our reviews,

with the Evoque being

our favourite family

SUV overall.

large SUVs, so if your family grows

again in the future, you’ll be able

to fi t three child seats across the

second row. It also has two third-row

seats, but these are only suitable

for seatbelt-secured child seats. The

second row has three sets of Isofi x

child seat mounting points.

Other large SUVs, such as the Ford

Kuga and Skoda Kodiaq, also have

second-row benches that can slide or

recline, but these cars don’t provide

three individual seats.

Of course, it’s always best to try

your child seats out in a new car

before buying it. This might be more

complicated to do at present, but

car retailers have had to implement

comprehensive Covid-19 safety

procedures before being allowed to

reopen showrooms, so they should

be able to arrange this in a safe,

no-contact way.

LIVE THE

HIGH LIFE

Volkswagen’s T-Roc

places you farther from

the road than you’d be

if you were driving

an estate such as the

Audi A4 Avant.