Big family car - Skoda Superb or??

[drgoatboy]

My 2nd Daughter has just been born but I am struggling with the size of my octavia estate. Although its a big car I am a tall chap and can't get the drivers seat far enough back to be properly comfortable with the kids seats in the back.

Skoda Superb estate looks like a good choice and there are some cracking lease deals out there or make a lot of sense 2nd hand but can anyone suggest something of a similar size that won't break the bank?
It also needs to be reasonably fuel efficient and its got to be auto. (I will commute in the car)

I'm trying to avoid big SUVs as they are just so thirsty and I'm running out of other choices.

Audi A6 is virtually the same as the superb but twice the price
BMW 5 series isn't any bigger inside than the octavia.
E-class, although I haven't tried one, I understand isn't much bigger inside.

Can anyone else suggest a big estate car?

Does anyone know how any of the japanese estates fair for interior space?

Thanks (and sorry for another one of those threads!)

[Willy Nilly]

I would have thought a Galaxy is the daddy of family cars. I went on a fairly long drive (4hrs +iirc) in one and as a passenger I thought it the perfect tool for the job. A Mondeo must also be in with a shout. My brother in law is pretty lanky and he has a Passat for a company car and family duties.

[Easternlight]

Go try a Superb, a lot of car for the money, and vast inside.

[daemon]

Vauxhall Insignia Estate.

Cheap as chips and has won various used car of the year awards.

Or a Mondeo Estate

[drgoatboy]

Thanks. Does anyone know if the mondeo or insignia are any bigger in the back than an octavia?

Forgot to say, I can't bring myself to buy an mpv!!

[Willy Nilly]

drgoatboy said:

Thanks. Does anyone know if the mondeo or insignia are any bigger in the back than an octavia?

Forgot to say, I can't bring myself to buy an mpv!!

They are both quite big cars and you'll probably end up paying council tax on the last few yards that won't fit on your drive.

[Superhoop]

Current Mazda6? Big boot, in both the tourer and sedan, but the sedan has more rear legroom than the tourer, as the tourer has a shorter wheelbase. The boot in the sedan is massive - took one to Le Mans a couple of years ago, 4 people in the car in comfort, with all luggage, tents, sleeping bags etc.. swallowed by the boot with room to spare, a couple of bikes on the back, cruised down at sensible speeds and got 47mpg.

CX-5 ? I know you said no SUVs because fuel economy, but my Mrs has one and it returns high 40s day to day and low to mid 50's on longer journeys.

[drgoatboy]

Thanks superhoop. Integrates ting about the sedan. I have a lanky friend with the cx5 and he is struggling with 2 baby seats in the back. Is it similar in size to the 6 inside?

[rainmakerraw]

Superb all day long. The Insignia is turgid to drive and didn't fit a car seat properly behind the driver even before I put the seat back (I'm 6'5"). I currently have a 64 plate Mazda 6 tourer, and again the rear is a squeeze. Yes the saloon is a bit longer but not by that much. I'm about to order a Superb 2.0 TSI 220 and can literally stretch out and lie down in the back behind a front seat set for myself. No comparison and even the mark 2 is palatial (I used to have one). You wouldn't regret it.

Edited by rainmakerraw on Saturday 28th November 18:59

[Superhoop]

drgoatboy said:

Thanks superhoop. Integrates ting about the sedan. I have a lanky friend with the cx5 and he is struggling with 2 baby seats in the back. Is it similar in size to the 6 inside?

No, the 6 has more rear legroom, so more room for a baby seat. The sedan is about 50mm longer in the wheelbase than the tourer (and is actually longer overall), all of which is between the back of the front seat and the front of the back seat, i.e. rear legroom, and it is very noticeable - and the boot is cavenous in the sedan.

Overall, the interior whilst not as tall as the CX-5 (for obvious reasons) but definitely has more room overall, as again, it has a slightly longer wheelbase. The CX-5 isn't short on space though.

[anonymous-user]

Get a Discovery. Only family car you'll ever need.

[gashead1105]

Volvo V70.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

You might feel it's over-kill, but an S-Max is hard to beat for family duties.

The ability to seat 6/7 can be useful when carting the 3 generations around too.

[Axionknight]

gashead1105 said:

Volvo V70.

This, or a Volvo XC90.

[drgoatboy]

Thanks everyone. Interesting about the Mazda 6. Is the sedan actually a saloon? I always assumed it was an estate?

Disco and xc90 are tempting but too big and heavy (read thirsty) for my commute.

V70 is tempting in r design but so hard to find one in the right spec. The superb is looking more and more tempting...

Anyone know what the big kia or the Hyundai are like?

[Superhoop]

Sedan is the saloon, tourer is the estate....

[drgoatboy]

Superhoop said:

Sedan is the saloon, tourer is the estate....

Thanks. Was trying to avoid saloons. Loading buggies would be a bind.

[smileymikey]

I think the Superb Estate is the pick of a good bunch. I would go 2.0 TDI SE with the DSG box

[moustache]

If I was going to buy a brand new big estate car, I can't imagine anything coming close to the new superb. After watching many reviews a few months back, they are such great VFM.

[Fastdruid]

The Mondeo is huge, the current one is the same length as the Superb but it's a touch wider.

Don't know which is taller though as parkers doesn't have the height of the Superb (and I CBA to look for it further)