If you have a large family, then you are probably more than familiar with the trials and tribulations of carting a lorry load of children from A to B. This is on top of all the other life stresses that you have to deal with – getting them into schools, driving them to school, getting the homework done, feeding them, and forcing them to go to sleep rather than play aeroplane games all night long! It can be a tiresome and uphill struggle even with all the rewards you get, and a little help would be much appreciated.

That help can come in the form of a really useful car, which not only lets you drive all the kids from place to place, but makes the process as easy and spacious as possible. If you can fit a tent, three bikes and a dog in the boot, then all the better. Unfortunately, finding a car that does this is a bit of a challenge in an automotive industry currently obsessed with super minis, hatchbacks, and smart little coupes. The emphasis has slipped from spacious SUVs or MPVs, making it a mission for anyone who needs more than two seats and a teeny tiny boot.

Thankfully Dodge has helped the situation, by producing an incredibly family friendly car that actually, believe it or not, looks impressively good with it. Whereas once you could expect to drive a giant shoebox if you had a big family, the Dodge Journey MPV instead shows that you can drive a big and elegant car whilst still having room for 7 inside. The exterior combines the distinctive dodge front grill with a shape that pays homage to the footballers wives 4x4s – high up off the ground and sleek to boot.

Inside your Dodge Journey, which we all know is where matters, you are blessed with 7 seats for all your kids, dogs and friends. The access in the back is practical and easy, meaning that even the third row passenger can climb in with ease. This is a vast improvement on all those old fashioned cars with little fold out seats bunged in the boot – here, safety levels are high and the seats are actually comfortable. You also still get a decent amount of rear boot space, even considering the third row seats and the fact that all the chairs recline for ultimate passenger comfort.

If you are looking to add a 2.0 litre or 2.4 litre Dodge Journey to your family, and want to make life easier without spending much money, then you should probably consider buying a used Dodge from a reputable dealer. Avoid private sellers who may not be wholly legitimate, and instead elect to spend your very hard earned cash on a used or nearly new model. It is rarely worth buying new as you have to pay the VAT, but it can make sense to buy a car a year or less than a year old just to save that 15 .