Forget green, forget eco-friendly, the word driving the big motoring sales push right now is . . . family.

September not only sees the children return to school — it’s also plate-change time for families looking for the space and practicality to cope with school runs, holidays, and weekend trips with older relatives filling anything up to seven seats.

Nissan’s Qashqai+2, a longer, taller, more capable version of its popular Qashqai crossover, is out this month, and parents will be taking a closer look at this seven-seater.

The firm will be charging between £17,199 and £23,799 for the Qashqai+2, which will come in three equipment levels, Visia, Acenta, and Tekna — all models get a panoramic glass sunroof as standard.

Dodge is offering something a little different in the way of styling with its new Journey crossover, which targets families that need space for seven.

It has just gone into UK showrooms, a timely move for the 58-registration plate sales surge, and it comes with the same distinctive, bold design ethos that has already clearly marked out stablemates Caliber, Avenger and Nitro. The front-wheel-drive Dodge Journey has five-plus-two seating as standard, and family-friendly fittings including tilt and slide flexible seating, spacious under-floor storage bins, rear doors that open to 90 degrees for easy access when installing child seats, a rear ’conversation’ mirror, and climate control that operates in all three rows. The Journey buyer gets the choice of either a 2.4-litre petrol, or a 2.0-litre diesel engine, and even the entry-level 2.4-litre SE model has three-zone climate control, a tilt/telescope steering wheel, tyre pressure monitoring, powered folding and heated wing mirrors, all-electric windows and a six-disc CD, MP3-compatible, sound system.

Prices of the Dodge Journey run from £16,995 to £22,995.

With their semi-sports utility vehicle appeal, both the Qashqai and Journey will go down well with those who want people-carrier functionality, without the look.

Federico Goretti, managing director of Dodge brand firm Chrysler UK, said: “The Dodge Journey’s design is like nothing else on British roads, and builds on the success we have had with our other Dodge vehicles, which all combine a striking design with incredible value for money.”

As for the Journey’s pricing structure, Mr Goretti adds that they work out at about ten per cent better value than key competitors, when comparing similarly-equipped models.

Finally, Skoda is targeting the family vehicles market too, with a tempting offer on its van-like Roomster MPV range.

Skoda rightly feels that plate-change time will also see many families go in search of better value and lower fuel bills, and says the Roomster fits the bill on all fronts.

The firm is giving a free trim upgrade on all Roomsters bought before the end of September, which effectively puts £1,000 back into customers’ pockets.

Robert Hazelwood, brand director of Skoda UK, said: “We take pride in the fact that our customers get more for their money, and the Roomster is a great family car that now has even more appealing trims and gadgets at no extra cost.”

Until September 30, every Roomster qualifies for a low-rate finance deal and a choice of either free servicing for three years or 30,000 miles (whichever comes first), or one year of free insurance.