Discussion
Many good points made already. You didn’t mention if you come from old money or new money?
SUVs are, of course, with the exception of older Range Rovers and Land Rovers, rather ghastly and nouveau. Estates are much preferred for old money, with Audi, Volvo and Subaru preferred. Should you need to move a large item such as a painting or piece of furniture, you can always use the horsebox.
HTH
SUVs are, of course, with the exception of older Range Rovers and Land Rovers, rather ghastly and nouveau. Estates are much preferred for old money, with Audi, Volvo and Subaru preferred. Should you need to move a large item such as a painting or piece of furniture, you can always use the horsebox.
HTH
Evanivitch said:
I'm not certain of the data, but MK1 is 37inch, mk2 is 39inch rear legroom.
Which is more or equal to the iPace (35), A6 (37), V90 (35), Passat (39).
https://www.autopadre.com/legroom/kia-niro
There was more than 2” of difference once in my driving position. Which is more or equal to the iPace (35), A6 (37), V90 (35), Passat (39).
https://www.autopadre.com/legroom/kia-niro
The measurements are a very rough guide, in my experience. There’s so much more to real world rear space, particularly at my height as a driver.
The Sportage felt nearly as spacious as the Superb, for example. While knee room was much less, being able to stretch feet under the driver’s seat made a big difference. I was amazed at how much more space it offered than the other, theoretically similar mid-size SUVs.
Tesla Model 3 was a good example: good space I’m the central rear seat: physically couldn’t get feet in behind the driver, as my seat had to go on the floor due to a low roofline where it meets the windscreen.
Fiisch said:
Unfortunately so - my main gripe with the Superb is that it's not a car to fling down a backroad when the mood takes you! Sportline just refers to the trim/bodykit, but suspension-wise I believe it is the same...
To be honest, that won’t be a gripe for me, as that opens up a few more options in the market, and they do look smarter to my eyes! 
67Dino said:
Many good points made already. You didn’t mention if you come from old money or new money?
SUVs are, of course, with the exception of older Range Rovers and Land Rovers, rather ghastly and nouveau. Estates are much preferred for old money, with Audi, Volvo and Subaru preferred. Should you need to move a large item such as a painting or piece of furniture, you can always use the horsebox.
HTH
SUVs are, of course, with the exception of older Range Rovers and Land Rovers, rather ghastly and nouveau. Estates are much preferred for old money, with Audi, Volvo and Subaru preferred. Should you need to move a large item such as a painting or piece of furniture, you can always use the horsebox.
HTH
What money I have earned typically gets spent with considered, older values. No horse box, however… 
Still Mulling said:
pb8g09 said:
BMW 225i xdrive.
Under budget, quick, well spec’d typically and a huge boot
Rear legroom likely an issue, and to me it’s not a looker…Under budget, quick, well spec’d typically and a huge boot
Just had a q5 as a hire car for 2 weeks. Drive was very uninspired, but a good motorway cruiser. Zero places to store stuff for the kids in the back seat either.
aberdeeneuan said:
You should go and look at one. We have a 218d gran tourer. Wife loves it as it’s not enormous, kids love it for the huge amounts of rear legroom. I like it as it drives well. Do I love the looks? No, but in the right spec they aren’t as bad. Active tourer will have a bit less legroom but still will be plenty big.
Just had a q5 as a hire car for 2 weeks. Drive was very uninspired, but a good motorway cruiser. Zero places to store stuff for the kids in the back seat either.
Fair enough! I’ll take a look. It’d be hypocritical to wax lyrical about the “magazine” measurements vs real life and then not check it out in person! Just had a q5 as a hire car for 2 weeks. Drive was very uninspired, but a good motorway cruiser. Zero places to store stuff for the kids in the back seat either.
For equivalent cars you'll generally trade boot space for passenger space when going estate to SUV.
I have an estate and my wife has an SUV that are roughly equivalent size wise. She much prefers the SUV for the height/bending reasons (our kids are young) and I prefer the estate.
Holidays it's always the estate as the boot is much bigger and the roof box much easier. Also a lot easier for a dog too.
Kodiaq is probably a good compromise for best of both worlds.
Oh and for VAG DSG try and make sure you get a decent engine which gets you a wet clutch box. It's the dry clutch ones on low powered engines that seem to have issues
I have an estate and my wife has an SUV that are roughly equivalent size wise. She much prefers the SUV for the height/bending reasons (our kids are young) and I prefer the estate.
Holidays it's always the estate as the boot is much bigger and the roof box much easier. Also a lot easier for a dog too.
Kodiaq is probably a good compromise for best of both worlds.
Oh and for VAG DSG try and make sure you get a decent engine which gets you a wet clutch box. It's the dry clutch ones on low powered engines that seem to have issues
Still Mulling said:
Fiisch said:
Skoda used the term "Sportline" very loosely on the Superb - it's very wallowy (unfortunately), we live in rural Bucks potholed by HS2 and so far so good....
So the suspension remains “unsportified”? If it’s just thinner tyres then perhaps it’d be OK. My Octavia is on 18s, 225/40. We’re only swapping because we now generally do much smaller journeys, and a diesel doesn’t seem a good idea. If I’d bought the 2 litre petrol version we’d probably be keeping it forever. Ignore the stigma that some people here try to put on SUVs - it’s a comfy big car built for carrying lots of people on big journeys and whilst not a sports car it doesn’t disgrace itself in dynamics. The only real criticism I could make for it is the throttle response is a bit dulled and needs quite a prod to make it perform as it should.
blank said:
For equivalent cars you'll generally trade boot space for passenger space when going estate to SUV.
I have an estate and my wife has an SUV that are roughly equivalent size wise. She much prefers the SUV for the height/bending reasons (our kids are young) and I prefer the estate.
Holidays it's always the estate as the boot is much bigger and the roof box much easier. Also a lot easier for a dog too.
Kodiaq is probably a good compromise for best of both worlds.
Oh and for VAG DSG try and make sure you get a decent engine which gets you a wet clutch box. It's the dry clutch ones on low powered engines that seem to have issues
If you live in China & have ignored the recall to have the oil changed you may have problems with a 7-speed DSG in the lower powered (<150hp) cars. I have an estate and my wife has an SUV that are roughly equivalent size wise. She much prefers the SUV for the height/bending reasons (our kids are young) and I prefer the estate.
Holidays it's always the estate as the boot is much bigger and the roof box much easier. Also a lot easier for a dog too.
Kodiaq is probably a good compromise for best of both worlds.
Oh and for VAG DSG try and make sure you get a decent engine which gets you a wet clutch box. It's the dry clutch ones on low powered engines that seem to have issues
Still Mulling said:
Fair enough! I’ll take a look. It’d be hypocritical to wax lyrical about the “magazine” measurements vs real life and then not check it out in person!
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307209862899If having one of these for the kid(s) and wife means I can have a Cayman on the side then sign me up. Fantastic compromise of space, performance and running costs to me- the latest 1 series looks like an MPV anyway.
I have a m340i touring and an ix3. From a purely practical standpoint, the x3 shape is better as a family car with a baby and toddler. Easier access to rear seats, height gives more comfortable access, and boot is better shaped and more practical despite being quoted as similar sized boots.
Howevet it can't match the estate for performance or handling.
Howevet it can't match the estate for performance or handling.
Earlier this year I sold both my (older) cars - my diesel A2 (155k) and my E91 325i (135k).
The Audi was my daily and got 55+ mpg, the BMW was tidier and used at weekends as it had the bike rack on, but drank fuel like it was owned by an Arab...
A few years ago, straight after the lockdown lifted, we bought my wife a Honda HRV 1.6 iDtec. That was then the car we used most of the time.
I liked it so much I bought the EX version for myself. Daft you might say having the same cars but I looked at the Civic estate first but because they only made them a short period, are rare in the spec and mileage I was after.
The HRV is based on the Jazz platform and has the funky magic seats. The EX has roof bars so the bike rack went straight on that. The diesel averages 65 mpg on my little daily commute of 30 miles. Not fast, not everyones cup of tea, I think it looks quite funky, it drives well and is sort of in between estate / SUV but not a mini SUV.
Actually its my second one, as the first got written off 5 weeks after purchase. Managed to find exactly the same car - though with this ULEZ BS the prices have gone up a bit. Did I mention it's Euro 6 so ULEZ exempt, and before 2017 is £20 rfl.
It may not feel as solid as the BMW (E9- were possibly BMW's best built era) but bumbles along and does everything the estate did. Only less fuel, RFL etc.
The Audi was my daily and got 55+ mpg, the BMW was tidier and used at weekends as it had the bike rack on, but drank fuel like it was owned by an Arab...
A few years ago, straight after the lockdown lifted, we bought my wife a Honda HRV 1.6 iDtec. That was then the car we used most of the time.
I liked it so much I bought the EX version for myself. Daft you might say having the same cars but I looked at the Civic estate first but because they only made them a short period, are rare in the spec and mileage I was after.
The HRV is based on the Jazz platform and has the funky magic seats. The EX has roof bars so the bike rack went straight on that. The diesel averages 65 mpg on my little daily commute of 30 miles. Not fast, not everyones cup of tea, I think it looks quite funky, it drives well and is sort of in between estate / SUV but not a mini SUV.
Actually its my second one, as the first got written off 5 weeks after purchase. Managed to find exactly the same car - though with this ULEZ BS the prices have gone up a bit. Did I mention it's Euro 6 so ULEZ exempt, and before 2017 is £20 rfl.
It may not feel as solid as the BMW (E9- were possibly BMW's best built era) but bumbles along and does everything the estate did. Only less fuel, RFL etc.
MrTrilby said:
For what it’s worth we went through a similar process 5 years ago: wanting something with big load capacity and plenty of room for kids in the back. I looked at both the Superb Estate and the Kodiaq, and we preferred the Kodiaq, for two main reasons. The boot capacity is similar on both, but the long narrow boot of the Superb didn’t work for us (we wanted to divide it 50:50 to carry a dog on one side). I also didn’t like the ride: on bumpy roads the Superb was unpleasantly floaty, even with adaptive suspension. Our Kodiaq on the hand deals with bumpy roads really well. It will lean a bit on fast constant radius bends if taken at silly speeds, but you’re well into the “kids stuck to the side windows and feeling sick” territory then so it’s pretty irrelevant. The handling on it if you are feeling silly is surprisingly good - it resists understeer well and will respond to a lift by tucking in nicely or small 4 wheel drift if you really provoke and it have the space. But it’s forte is carrying lots of stuff on long trips. The rear leg room is huge - I’m 6’1” and can sit behind my driving seat position quite comfortably. It’s a well thought out car - we optioned the tray tables on the back seats which the kids love (I am getting some flak because we’re swapping it, and the new car doesn’t have them). It needed the water pump changing last year but otherwise has been faultless. We did a 6 hour cross country (motorway) trip yesterday and got 47MPG (from the 190BHP diesel) although that’s the best you’ll ever get - heavy traffic and going with the flow. If you drive everywhere at 80MPH then it’s more like 40MPG. Around town it begins with a 3.
We’re only swapping because we now generally do much smaller journeys, and a diesel doesn’t seem a good idea. If I’d bought the 2 litre petrol version we’d probably be keeping it forever. Ignore the stigma that some people here try to put on SUVs - it’s a comfy big car built for carrying lots of people on big journeys and whilst not a sports car it doesn’t disgrace itself in dynamics. The only real criticism I could make for it is the throttle response is a bit dulled and needs quite a prod to make it perform as it should.
Very interesting read, thank you. We’re only swapping because we now generally do much smaller journeys, and a diesel doesn’t seem a good idea. If I’d bought the 2 litre petrol version we’d probably be keeping it forever. Ignore the stigma that some people here try to put on SUVs - it’s a comfy big car built for carrying lots of people on big journeys and whilst not a sports car it doesn’t disgrace itself in dynamics. The only real criticism I could make for it is the throttle response is a bit dulled and needs quite a prod to make it perform as it should.
stevemcs said:
Still Mulling said:
Focus too small. Have considered a Subaru, but look thirsty.
Are you sure ? It’s longer than the Octavia, has a longer wheelbase, is 35 litres down on boot space with seats up. Space wise it’s bigger than my current Mondeo, bigger than a 3 and C ClassVantagemech.. said:
Earlier this year I sold both my (older) cars - my diesel A2 (155k) and my E91 325i (135k).
The Audi was my daily and got 55+ mpg, the BMW was tidier and used at weekends as it had the bike rack on, but drank fuel like it was owned by an Arab...
A few years ago, straight after the lockdown lifted, we bought my wife a Honda HRV 1.6 iDtec. That was then the car we used most of the time.
I liked it so much I bought the EX version for myself. Daft you might say having the same cars but I looked at the Civic estate first but because they only made them a short period, are rare in the spec and mileage I was after.
The HRV is based on the Jazz platform and has the funky magic seats. The EX has roof bars so the bike rack went straight on that. The diesel averages 65 mpg on my little daily commute of 30 miles. Not fast, not everyones cup of tea, I think it looks quite funky, it drives well and is sort of in between estate / SUV but not a mini SUV.
Actually its my second one, as the first got written off 5 weeks after purchase. Managed to find exactly the same car - though with this ULEZ BS the prices have gone up a bit. Did I mention it's Euro 6 so ULEZ exempt, and before 2017 is £20 rfl.
It may not feel as solid as the BMW (E9- were possibly BMW's best built era) but bumbles along and does everything the estate did. Only less fuel, RFL etc.
Interesting, thanks. I have considered a CR-V. The Audi was my daily and got 55+ mpg, the BMW was tidier and used at weekends as it had the bike rack on, but drank fuel like it was owned by an Arab...
A few years ago, straight after the lockdown lifted, we bought my wife a Honda HRV 1.6 iDtec. That was then the car we used most of the time.
I liked it so much I bought the EX version for myself. Daft you might say having the same cars but I looked at the Civic estate first but because they only made them a short period, are rare in the spec and mileage I was after.
The HRV is based on the Jazz platform and has the funky magic seats. The EX has roof bars so the bike rack went straight on that. The diesel averages 65 mpg on my little daily commute of 30 miles. Not fast, not everyones cup of tea, I think it looks quite funky, it drives well and is sort of in between estate / SUV but not a mini SUV.
Actually its my second one, as the first got written off 5 weeks after purchase. Managed to find exactly the same car - though with this ULEZ BS the prices have gone up a bit. Did I mention it's Euro 6 so ULEZ exempt, and before 2017 is £20 rfl.
It may not feel as solid as the BMW (E9- were possibly BMW's best built era) but bumbles along and does everything the estate did. Only less fuel, RFL etc.
Still Mulling said:
Interesting, thanks. I have considered a CR-V.
There is the CR-V with the same engine in - but they do two power versions , think the higher may be the AWD version as some are only 2wd. I like the CR-V but for my budget the HR-V had far better spec (leather, pan roof, sign recognition, parking sensors and rear camera as standard - where the similar priced CR-V did not). Mine also has an "aero kit" and 18" wheels. IMO the 1.6 iDtec is one of the best diesels about.
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