Help me choose a new wagon for the family (and me)

Disrespective: ... The extra features are nice too, but not all that necessary. The blind spot information system (BLIS) can be irritating at times as there are lights that flash if something is deemed to be in my blind spot. So far everything it has picked up I can see in my mirrors anyway. The park assist on this car is only on the rear and doesn’t have the optional front sensors or reversing camera. Rear sensors are all we really need, but front might have been useful. Other features like lane assist and adaptive cruise control are somewhat handy I guess. Need to go for a big drive to really tell. There is a light on top of the dash which can illuminate if the car considers me too close to the car in front. Until I realised that I can increase or decrease the distance it considers too close, this was frustrating.

Personally, of the myriad of features on our wagon (6 Ltd), two I now wouldn't want to do without (and would certainly look for in any new car) are blindspot monitoring and adaptive cruise control. The former is absolutely useful at picking up cars in the blindspot, so while it could be seen as an unncessary to be lit up when the car is clearly visible, I'd rather have this over-warning than having no warning at all. And as for adaptive cruise control? Finally cruise control is truly useful in situations other than miles of straight roads with no-one in front. Normal cruise control is often more frustrating than benefical, whereas adaptive makes for a more relaxed drive and - most importantly - guarantees a safe following distance.

(I do think I'd also be reluctant to give up on a reversing camera, front/rear sensors, and that reversing function that alerts if cars are nearby - that latter feature has saved my bacon on at least one occasion. Personally, I'm happy to pay for these extra features as they make the car safer and reduce the chance of me pranging it!)

surfisup1000

jonathan18