Estate cars with lots of rear seat legroom?

[Shifter1]

We were in this position a while ago. After looking for a larger estate I started realizing that at this point, might as well go for a minivan or SUV. So we got a SUV for my wife and that was the right decision for us.

[E63eeeeee...]

Mercedes R-Class? There's even a LWB version if you can find one.

[Krikkit]

TooLateForAName said:

I'll go look at the outback - not wildly keen on subaru (had an SVX that went through 2 gearboxes in my ownership).

Ours have all been very good indeed, we've had 3x of successive generations, and none of them has needed more than service items. The BR (2010-on) Outback we had did 70k miles with us in 3 years and was excellent throughout. It wouldn't make your heart beat faster, but as a tool for a job it was fantastic.

We had a 2.5 with the CVT (particularly good at the 0-30mph traffic light GP), we had the gearbox serviced when we bought it and it never had a moment's trouble up to 170k miles. Identical to this one: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211151...

I'd have another in a heartbeat as a cheap-to-run family car with a super-smooth engine - the boxer is a fabulous engine for a 4-pot.

The 3.6 has a proper torque-converter automatic if you can handle the fuel bills.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301193...

[silent ninja]

Shifter1 said:

We were in this position a while ago. After looking for a larger estate I started realizing that at this point, might as well go for a minivan or SUV. So we got a SUV for my wife and that was the right decision for us.

Leg room in SUVs aren't particularly better. What did you go for?

My father in law had a long wheel base S-Class. They depreciate fast so bargains can be found. Suffice to say I haven't been in a car with more leg room and comfort in the back. Tremendous

[nordboy]

We have 4 superbs in work, also have 5 series, A6's, Mondeos, Volvo V90, 3 series etc

None can touch the Superbs for rear legroom, everyone grabs the keys to the superbs for that exact reason. Oh, and they're nice cars to drive obviously.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say the Superb on last of the line Insignia.

[PomBstard]

SturdyHSV said:

Holden Commodore Sportswagon, utterly enormous. Comical figures, and yet the 'VE' (~2007 onwards) ones were criticised in Aus for the boot being too small

Skoda Superb has 660 litres with the seats up, the Commo has 895 Loads of rear seat room as well.

Impressively though the Superb is 1950 litres seats down, the Commo only 2000.

You'll have a hard time finding one over here though!

For reference as the why the Aussies complained, the previous gen (VZ) wagons had a frankly ridiculous 1,402 litres with the seats up, expanding to 2,752 litres with the seats down

This ^ is your best option

I’m 6’2” with 3 growing kids and we do a lot of road trip holidays - 2-3000km at a go. Currently have a 2016 Commodore wagon and it is simply a great tool for the jobs as well as being a far better car than I thought it would be. Like Sturdy says though, not many in the UK.

I had a 2013 Subaru Liberty (same body as Outback) before that and tested all those you’ve listed, with priority on rear space and being fun to drive.

Only estate cars that bettered the Liberty for rear space were the Commodore, Superb, E-class and current Outback. V90, 5-series, A6, Insignia and others are remarkably small in the back, either for legroom or bench width or both.

As an aside we had a Superb as the hire car for three weeks and 1600miles when in the UK last year. Jeez, that was dull in every way. Spacious, yes, but I just couldn’t face having to drive it for any longer. If you’re thinking of getting one, make sure you take it for some sort of extended test drive and have some extra coffee beforehand.

[bennno]

nordboy said:

We have 4 superbs in work, also have 5 series, A6's, Mondeos, Volvo V90, 3 series etc

None can touch the Superbs for rear legroom, everyone grabs the keys to the superbs for that exact reason. Oh, and they're nice cars to drive obviously.

Drove both, but the v90 is way nicer to drive, more refined, better autonomous tech and seat comfort.

[nordboy]

bennno said:

Drove both, but the v90 is way nicer to drive, more refined, better autonomous tech and seat comfort.

The Superbs we drive, the sportline 280's will knock spots off the V90 in every way bar comfort. But we do need to drive them a bit different to most peoples day to day drives tbh. As a family car, the Volvo would be great though.