7-seat car options?

[HannahJ]

This isn't specifically a carseat issue, but it involves cars, so I thought this might be a good place to ask...

We've always been a small-car family, but are looking into possibly buying a car down the road that can fit more folks.  With two kids and an almost constant need to shuttle additional people around, we are often in need of more seats.  And yet it's not an every day need.  Those fold-down seats seem like a great solution for us because when we don't need the extra seats, it would be nice to have the extra cargo space.    Do they still make wagons with the rear-facing seats in the back?  I'm guessing they're not the safest, but for older kids and for an every-once-in-a-while and for-short-trips-only kind of thing (we're talking small town driving here- no highways), it might be a good option.

I'd love to avoid an SUV, and want to avoid a minivan even more (just seems like way more than we need day-to-day).  Any thoughts on what would be the most fuel-efficient option here?  I realize an SUV may be our best bet, and if that's the case, what is the most fuel efficient option?

Would love to hear anyone's thoughts, especially those who have cars like this.

Thank you!

[chickabiddy]

Mazda5 might work for you.

[SamiPolizzi]

I have mazda 5 and I love it, but it only has six seats. It has two in the middle and two in the back that fold down. The only down side is that there's VERY little cargo space when the back seats are up, but it's usually not a probably (for me, anyway.)