Small cars that drive like luxobarges
Discussion
To the OP, this has been my brief for a while - powerful, small, and genuinely comfy
My conclusion was Audi A3 Mk1 130 TDI SE.
SE is relaxed and wafty on UK roads (ploddy and bouncy around corners), 130 TDI 6spd is very long legged, effortlessly fast on the motorway, and the whole thing is really compact and capable of mega miles easily and cheaply (I've had 4 of them). Perhaps not posh enough though?
Wish I could find an equivalent to buy new but there's a current obsession with big wheels/sporty ride (and cars just getting bigger and bigger)
My conclusion was Audi A3 Mk1 130 TDI SE.
SE is relaxed and wafty on UK roads (ploddy and bouncy around corners), 130 TDI 6spd is very long legged, effortlessly fast on the motorway, and the whole thing is really compact and capable of mega miles easily and cheaply (I've had 4 of them). Perhaps not posh enough though?
Wish I could find an equivalent to buy new but there's a current obsession with big wheels/sporty ride (and cars just getting bigger and bigger)
WaferThinHam said:
NNH said:
Skoda seem to have cracked the wafting thing. I've ridden in quite a few Octavias (and Superbs) and they're very comfy barges. Haven't driven one though, so can't comment on that.
What you mean is you've ridden in a selection of minicabs. 
The Octavia seems to be the company car of choice in Eastern Europe, so whenever we visit friends and in-laws in Hungary, the Czech Republic and Romania, Octavias are the preferred way to travel on iffy roads.
NNH said:
WaferThinHam said:
NNH said:
Skoda seem to have cracked the wafting thing. I've ridden in quite a few Octavias (and Superbs) and they're very comfy barges. Haven't driven one though, so can't comment on that.
What you mean is you've ridden in a selection of minicabs. The Octavia seems to be the company car of choice in Eastern Europe, so whenever we visit friends and in-laws in Hungary, the Czech Republic and Romania, Octavias are the preferred way to travel on iffy roads.
Lester H said:
NNH said:
WaferThinHam said:
NNH said:
Skoda seem to have cracked the wafting thing. I've ridden in quite a few Octavias (and Superbs) and they're very comfy barges. Haven't driven one though, so can't comment on that.
What you mean is you've ridden in a selection of minicabs. The Octavia seems to be the company car of choice in Eastern Europe, so whenever we visit friends and in-laws in Hungary, the Czech Republic and Romania, Octavias are the preferred way to travel on iffy roads.
NNH said:
Lester H said:
NNH said:
WaferThinHam said:
NNH said:
Skoda seem to have cracked the wafting thing. I've ridden in quite a few Octavias (and Superbs) and they're very comfy barges. Haven't driven one though, so can't comment on that.
What you mean is you've ridden in a selection of minicabs. The Octavia seems to be the company car of choice in Eastern Europe, so whenever we visit friends and in-laws in Hungary, the Czech Republic and Romania, Octavias are the preferred way to travel on iffy roads.
TazLondon said:
For those who don't need the space offered by large luxury barges like the BMW 7-Series, Merc S-Class or Jag XJ but still want the serene 'magic carpet' ride quality, which smaller cars get close to such a ride quality?
I'm talking about a lack of road noise in the cabin, a wafting sensation, hushed fast progress (mile-munching ability), ability to deal with poor road surfaces effortlessly and a premium cabin interior with lots of toys - all within the body of a smaller family-sized car.
Yes I realise that o.p. said " small" and I did mention c3. To be more convincing, bigger is better, how about Peugeot 607 v6?I'm talking about a lack of road noise in the cabin, a wafting sensation, hushed fast progress (mile-munching ability), ability to deal with poor road surfaces effortlessly and a premium cabin interior with lots of toys - all within the body of a smaller family-sized car.
twoblacklines said:
My A3 SE is more crashy than the last 3 S-lines were, they were on s-line suspension with 18's on 35 profiles, this is on 17's on 45 profiles with SE suspension... you feel everything in this car.
I'm sure there are exceptions to the bigger wheels + sports suspension = crashier ride rule. Audi/ A3 would seem to be one such exception, based on twoblacklines experience.While I acknowledge that there may indeed be many exceptions, I suspect the rule will still apply in the vast majority of cases. I wonder if one way around this may be with 'sportier' specs of certain models having different suspension settings available (ie. selecting the 'comfort' setting makes the sportier/ higher spec car ride better than a more basic spec with smaller wheels).
You'd have to do alot of research (and a lot of test drives) if comfort/ waft really was the #1 priority when looking for a small car that rides like a big car.
Still maintain that the longer wheel base of bigger cars is the primary obstacle in making small cars ride like big cars.
I've got an XF on order after many years of BMW's and Mercs as company cars. The XE was a little small for my needs (currently run a 5 series) but not any worse than any 3 series I've sat in.
Jag just seem to be able to get the ride/handling compromise sorted better than any other manufacturer as far as I can tell, even on the sportier models. The XF R-Sport I've ordered handles beautifully but still rides as well if not better than my current non M-Sport BMW so can only imagine on air suspension and smaller wheels it must be pretty impressive.
Not everyone taken with the Jag interior but I really like it. Feels more 'special' than the German counterparts to me, although some of the materials used aren't in the same class. You do need the newer Incontrol Touch Pro media/sat nav though as the standard system still feels a little slow and last generation.
Jag just seem to be able to get the ride/handling compromise sorted better than any other manufacturer as far as I can tell, even on the sportier models. The XF R-Sport I've ordered handles beautifully but still rides as well if not better than my current non M-Sport BMW so can only imagine on air suspension and smaller wheels it must be pretty impressive.
Not everyone taken with the Jag interior but I really like it. Feels more 'special' than the German counterparts to me, although some of the materials used aren't in the same class. You do need the newer Incontrol Touch Pro media/sat nav though as the standard system still feels a little slow and last generation.
TazLondon said:
Fascinating reading all the opinions in this thread.
What about a Jaguar XE? Any opinions on whether that would tick the boxes (SWoll mentioned it earlier)? From the reviews I've read it's a tad 'more cosy' in cabin space that a BMW 3-Series.
The XE is very small inside. It's negligent - they will never compete with the 3 series if you can't get a couple of children in the back at the very least and you can't, unless you and your wife happen to be short and can pull the seats forward. I'm 6'2" and there would be insufficient room in the rear for children with legs, if I didn't have my seat forward - very disappointing as it's the only new car I've been to see in the showroom in the last 10 years. (It's also very narrow in there)What about a Jaguar XE? Any opinions on whether that would tick the boxes (SWoll mentioned it earlier)? From the reviews I've read it's a tad 'more cosy' in cabin space that a BMW 3-Series.
The solution is the XF, which has an extra couple of inches of room fore and aft as well as in width, but is still snug rather than roomy.
George111 said:
TazLondon said:
Fascinating reading all the opinions in this thread.
What about a Jaguar XE? Any opinions on whether that would tick the boxes (SWoll mentioned it earlier)? From the reviews I've read it's a tad 'more cosy' in cabin space that a BMW 3-Series.
The XE is very small inside. It's negligent - they will never compete with the 3 series if you can't get a couple of children in the back at the very least and you can't, unless you and your wife happen to be short and can pull the seats forward. I'm 6'2" and there would be insufficient room in the rear for children with legs, if I didn't have my seat forward - very disappointing as it's the only new car I've been to see in the showroom in the last 10 years. (It's also very narrow in there)What about a Jaguar XE? Any opinions on whether that would tick the boxes (SWoll mentioned it earlier)? From the reviews I've read it's a tad 'more cosy' in cabin space that a BMW 3-Series.
The solution is the XF, which has an extra couple of inches of room fore and aft as well as in width, but is still snug rather than roomy.
The XF has more rear leg and head room than my current 5 series which manages to fit my 6ft4" frame in the front with my 5ft10" daughter sat behind me very comfortably. Far from snug or anything approaching or I wouldn't have considered ordering one..
The XE was certainly snug I agree but still useable especially for people of < 6ft or with younger children.
Your expectations are pretty much in line with mine (hence the current spec of my car, see below).
Also have a look at the BMW 330e (hybrid).
I had one for a day and absolutely can recommend it, so much that my next company car is going to be one of those (even though a 5 series is also within the possibilities) with a nice selection of options.
For info: I currently drive a 318 d Touring (Luxury spec) with most option boxes ticked, except for sports auto (have the normal 8-speed auto) and professional GPS (have the business one) and I really rate it highly for a daily driver, the only thing that I'd like different is a more powerful engine (of course).
Also have a look at the BMW 330e (hybrid).
I had one for a day and absolutely can recommend it, so much that my next company car is going to be one of those (even though a 5 series is also within the possibilities) with a nice selection of options.
For info: I currently drive a 318 d Touring (Luxury spec) with most option boxes ticked, except for sports auto (have the normal 8-speed auto) and professional GPS (have the business one) and I really rate it highly for a daily driver, the only thing that I'd like different is a more powerful engine (of course).
Was in a bottom of the range 60hp VW Up! a few days ago, it rides as smooth as my 2016 Jag XF around town and the seats were far more comfortable. If I was living in inner London the new 1.0 tsi VW Up! would be top of my list since they are quite nippy doing the 0-60 run in sub 10 seconds.
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