Family wagon. £17k. 2 kids. 1 dog. 1 wife.

[ThisInJapanese]

The requirements are pretty simple. My wife's 13 year old C-Max has seen better days. So we're looking to replace it. Requirements are simple.

Must have space for two kids and associated junk. Kids are out of buggies, so just luggage for UK holidays.
No diesel. No auto. No VAG. See here why: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

My wife likes an elevated driving position. Minimum size would be a C-Max would ideally like slightly bigger. Toys are a plus.

Boot needs to be big as we need to split it with the pooch. Needs to have a way to mount roof bars.

CRV, Qashqai, RAV4 etc etc or is there something better?

[ZX10R NIN]

Ford Kuga Titanium X Edition is the pick of this size of SUV's especially if it has to be manual

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010205...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009294...

ST Line Edition

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012217...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101137...

[talksthetorque]

Was going to say an X3 but they're all Diesel.
So I'll plump for a Mazda CX5

[stevemcs]

How about the ultimate driving machine version of your C Max ? The 2 series tourer, although i would go for an auto. The 1.5 is a great little engine too. Personally i would hold out for xenons or LED's

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008052...

If you could go with the auto option and was happy to look for an estate then the XF is a lot of car for the money

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012247...

Lots of toys, nearly new, and some change - go french

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012187...

If the french car appeals but isn't weird enough then how about a Citreon ?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010124...

Or how about a Mini ? the countryman would tick most boxes and if you could go auto you might be able to find a PHEV, although you do need the LED lights

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012036...

Although you would never go wrong with one of these

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009093...

Edited by stevemcs on Tuesday 19th January 22:26

Edited by stevemcs on Tuesday 19th January 22:32

[ThisInJapanese]

ZX10R NIN said:

Ford Kuga Titanium X Edition is the pick of this size of SUV's especially if it has to be manual

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010205...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009294...

ST Line Edition

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012217...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101137...

Thanks, that's a decent shout. The C-Max has done us well, and I think the Kuga is one of the better looking cars.

I guess we could shift on the manual stipulation, but cars with that sort of engine are generally awful with an auto box.

[nickfrog]

I would suggest to have a look at the 3008 ; we're really pleased with ours ; the 520L boot in particular is big compared to similar size competitors, including the Kuga. It also feels like a couple of notches up in terms of interior quality and NVH ; I found the Kuga infotainment thing quite dated and not very intuitive, it was launched in 2012 after all.

Edited by nickfrog on Tuesday 19th January 22:38

[ThisInJapanese]

talksthetorque said:

Was going to say an X3 but they're all Diesel.
So I'll plump for a Mazda CX5

The trouble with diesel is that she won't do enough long trips in it to deal with the DPF issue (If that's still a thing)

The CX-5 is very much on the shortlist.

[ThisInJapanese]

stevemcs said:

How about the ultimate driving machine version of your C Max ? The 2 series tourer, although i would go for an auto. The 1.5 is a great little engine too. Personally i would hold out for xenons or LED's

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008052...

If you could go with the auto option and was happy to look for an estate then the XF is a lot of car for the money

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012247...

Lots of toys, nearly new, and some change - go french

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012187...

If the french car appeals but isn't weird enough then how about a Citreon ?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010124...

Or how about a Mini ? the countryman would tick most boxes and if you could go auto you might be able to find a PHEV, although you do need the LED lights

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012036...

Although you would never go wrong with one of these

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009093...

BMW 2AT, my mate has one, I think it's a bit smaller than the C-Max, although it's certainly a good car, but I think just too small.
XF - Estate is a no
Kadjar is a decent shout, that's a Nissan underneath isn't it?
Citroen is a brand I know nothing of. I will have a look into that option, but I suspect it'll be a no as I haven't liked a French car since my Clio 182
Mini - The good lady has said a flat "No"
The CR-V. I would go for that. However... I have a Civic Type R, my next door neighbour but one has a Civic Type R and a CR-V. We might have a visit from the police if we copy both their cars!!!

[ThisInJapanese]

nickfrog said:

I would suggest to have a look at the 3008 ; we're really pleased with ours ; the 520L boot in particular is big compared to similar size competitors, including the Kuga. It also feels like a couple of notches up in terms of interior quality and NVH ; I found the Kuga infotainment thing quite dated and not very intuitive, it was launched in 2012 after all.

Edited by nickfrog on Tuesday 19th January 22:38

Will add it to the list to look into. As per my comments on the Citroen mentioned earlier, I've always found French cars a bit of an un-coordinated mess inside, will read up on the 3008 and see what people say.

[nickfrog]

ThisInJapanese said:

Will add it to the list to look into. As per my comments on the Citroen mentioned earlier, I've always found French cars a bit of an un-coordinated mess inside, will read up on the 3008 and see what people say.

Things change fortunately. I am confident that after a few seconds inside you will be VERY impressed. It makes the rest of the segment feel a bit cheap (apart from the CX30 perhaps).

[ThisInJapanese]

nickfrog said:

Things change fortunately. I am confident that after a few seconds inside you will be VERY impressed. It makes the rest of the segment feel a bit cheap (apart from the CX30 perhaps).

What engine does yours have? The ones in the price bracket I'm looking at have a 1.2 which I can't get my head around, the last car I had with that sort of size engine was my 1986 Renault 5!!

[ZX10R NIN]

ThisInJapanese said:

Thanks, that's a decent shout. The C-Max has done us well, and I think the Kuga is one of the better looking cars.

I guess we could shift on the manual stipulation, but cars with that sort of engine are generally awful with an auto box.

I'd say try one (when you can) as you get more power & torque (this is where the Mazda/Honda etc fall down because you have to work them due to their N/A setups) with the Auto's & they work well.

The Kuga's are dual clutch autos.

Titanium X Edition

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011065...

ST Line

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009254...

ST Line X

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012207...

Now if you can live with an Auto then also take a look at the 3008 these have conventional autos which is no bad thing & also means cheaper gearbox fluid changes.

3008 Allure

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011296...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010014...

GT Line

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012177...

[ilikejam]

Other than what's been mentioned above, there's plenty of Sportage GT Lines that seem to fit the bill, and even a couple of 4's. I've not driven the recent version but had a 2012 one when it first went all spangly and liked it - would consider another without hesitation. GT Line has loads of kit and 4 has a bit more. Should be getting around 5 years worth of warranty left over as well.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012036...


We also had a new style Pug 5008 which I would thoroughly recommend - great cars in GT Line or above spec but there only seems to be Allures in budget and I feel they're a bit under specced. Interior is lovely. I reckon pics don't really do it justice you have to sit in one - it compares really favourably to the Q5 we changed it for - much more interesting design and almost as well built. The 3008 is pretty the same car from the B pillar forward so would also recommend it - try to find a GT or a GT Line with the leather seat upgrade.

[anonymous-user]

Focus ST Estate?

[craig_m67]

Stelvio

(did you have a budget in mind?)

[ThisInJapanese]

lord trumpton said:

Focus ST Estate?

It's a no to estates, raised driving position is a key criteria.

[ThisInJapanese]

craig_m67 said:

Stelvio

(did you have a budget in mind?)

We do, it's £17k as per the title

[craig_m67]

ThisInJapanese said:

craig_m67 said:

Stelvio

(did you have a budget in mind?)

We do, it's £17k as per the title

bugger.. it is (sorry, also... outside budget)

Edited by craig_m67 on Wednesday 20th January 04:58

[stevemcs]

There is also the Range Rover Evoque, however for 17k it’s going to be 8-10 years old.

[fourstardan]

You won't buy VAG as It was cutting out yet people are recommending Citroens LOL.

Personally for this price I paid 17.5 (privately) for a Passat estate and it fits our bill (although only got 1 nipper). That said if you need an SUV maybe a Tiguan?

I think you just had a bad experience in the Skoda.