if the family is ok with getting 2 cars, id go that route. probably the base mirage plus another vehicle - ranger, innova, montero glx etc.depending on terrain and use.. if its going to be the only car for a family of 7, i'd seriously consider a van. we're a family of 6 and we always use the starex whenever we need to cram in only one vehicle to travel. nobody wants to routinely sit in the 3rd row of a fortuner/montero/santa fe/trailblazer/pajero. it's bearable but not comfortable. you wont hear any complaints when the car is new but the novelty wears off at some point in time.