V40 suitable for a family of four?

[Acer]

Is there anybody on this forum with the typical 2.4 children? I am not talking really little kids that need booster seats. I am wondering how suitable the V40 is for typical family life.

[tomweston]

I have had my grandson (aged 10 months) in a rear facing car seat behind the driver's seat, I had to slide the driver seat forward from its normal position to accommodate the child seat. I suspect that the WHIPS system would not have been effective in the event of a rear end shunt. Other than that it worked fine, plenty of room and the boot accommodated all the normal clutter of a young child, my wife and my daughter.

[H20 VOLVO]

Depends on how often you carry them and how much stuff you take.

A V60 might be better suited for a family of 4.

It's your average sized family hatch - never going to be mega comfy with 4 in it, but sound for short journeys or occasional longer stuff. If you went away on holiday in it, you'd need a trailer or roof box though.

[Acer]

Originally Posted by H20 VOLVO

Depends on how often you carry them and how much stuff you take.

A V60 might be better suited for a family of 4.

It's your average sized family hatch - never going to be mega comfy with 4 in it, but sound for short journeys or occasional longer stuff. If you went away on holiday in it, you'd need a trailer or roof box though.

That sounds like a no .

[H20 VOLVO]

Originally Posted by Acer

That sounds like a no .

If it's your main car, and you can get a V60 for similar money, then it's a no for me, even if dropping a year older to afford the V60.

Most hatches are the same tbf, but the V40 isn't the biggest out there.

I just think a family of 4, you're going to need the next sector up. I've a family of 4, but the V40 is the smaller 2nd car. Ok for 4 people pottering around, but big shopping trips, a family day out or a holiday and you'll struggle boot wise etc. And when the kids get older, leg room will also become an issue in the rear.

The V60 is not exactly massive, so driving and parking isn't much different, but you'll get more boot space and slightly bigger interior - which is identical looks wise to the V40 anyway.

[D5driver]

I have a V60 and its a bit of a squeeze with 4 of us (two kids 9 and 7).
The V70 would have been a better option for me

[anton differing]

Originally Posted by H20 VOLVO

Depends on how often you carry them and how much stuff you take.

A V60 might be better suited for a family of 4.

It's your average sized family hatch - never going to be mega comfy with 4 in it, but sound for short journeys or occasional longer stuff. If you went away on holiday in it, you'd need a trailer or roof box though.

For me, this describes it exactly. We are fine with a V40, because our daughters have long flown and we can fold down the rear seats for extra carrying space. We bought the V40 because we no longer needed to take 4 people + camping gear around Europe. It was a deliberate downsizing exercise - well sort of, because the old Astra caravan (4288mm long) could swallow an astounding amount of stuff, much more than the substantially longer V40. But any hatchback (and we tried all the usual suspects - Merc A-Class, Golf), if bigger, is not THAT much bigger.

[Acer]

Originally Posted by anton differing

For me, this describes it exactly. We are fine with a V40, because our daughters have long flown and we can fold down the rear seats for extra carrying space. We bought the V40 because we no longer needed to take 4 people + camping gear around Europe. It was a deliberate downsizing exercise - well sort of, because the old Astra caravan (4288mm long) could swallow an astounding amount of stuff, much more than the substantially longer V40. But any hatchback (and we tried all the usual suspects - Merc A-Class, Golf), if bigger, is not THAT much bigger.

But if you don't intend to ever camp in Europe or indeed anywhere else then I would have thought the V40 is more than adequate for four people. We sat in one this weekend and it is surprisingly spacious. The boot is not massive and the roof is low but you could always buy a Volvo roof box for times when more space is required. We only do 6k miles a year and live in the city.

[anton differing]

Originally Posted by Acer

But if you don't intend to ever camp in Europe or indeed anywhere else then I would have thought the V40 is more than adequate for four people. We sat in one this weekend and it is surprisingly spacious. The boot is not massive and the roof is low but you could always buy a Volvo roof box for times when more space is required. We only do 6k miles a year and live in the city.

I guess it depends on how much stuff you want to carry with those four people. If it's not a lot, then I agree, perfectly adequate for 4 people. However, the original query said "family" and that, to me, tends to imply a substantial quantity of stuff over and above the family members themselves.

I guess the only way to find out is to take that other quantity of stuff, add 1 family, and see whether they fit.

[kishor]

Originally Posted by Acer

Is there anybody on this forum with the typical 2.4 children? I am not talking really little kids that need booster seats. I am wondering how suitable the V40 is for typical family life.

Hi

I would say, V40. I you want to check out any, test them, I have 2 and one will be for sale at a reasonable price. V40s are well balanced and cheaper than a V50 with the useless Ford motors. I am only in Bexley

Ta
Kassie o7828879494