Hatchback with big boot or small estate

[graham91]

Hi

I am looking for a petrol hatchback with largish boot or a small petrol estate for my son.. budget ideally £3k ish

He has just got a large Rottweiler from a rescue centre and he its definitely struggling with his fiesta !

There are I think a few that have decent boots but a lot have sloping back windows which isn't good

He doesnt want a big estate but would consider a small one. He did see a Volvo 40 but Ive no idea how reliable and safe they are

he will be using the motorway once or twice a week and probably around max 5k miles a year

Obviously, before you say, I totally understand for £3k any car could be a disaster so lets presume for the moment I can find a good honest one

cheers

[Mo28]

Skoda Fabia estate or Seat Ibiza estate

[Dracoro]

Kia Cee’d estate?

[fb2]

When we bought ours one of the things we were told to look for was to make sure there's no 'lip' on the boot. Dogs don't like to jump in if it means jumping over the lip. Might have been an old wives tale but it was one of the reasons we bought a focus when we got a boxer.

[Chuffedmonkey]

fb2 said:

When we bought ours one of the things we were told to look for was to make sure there's no 'lip' on the boot. Dogs don't like to jump in if it means jumping over the lip. Might have been an old wives tale but it was one of the reasons we bought a focus when we got a boxer.

That makes sense, in my current Volvo estate the floor is flat and my dog has no problem getting in or out. A few years ago a friend of mine bought a DS5. I was intrigued as it was like a hybrid hatchback/estate but when I first looked at the boot I said that wont work with my dog as it drops a lot. Funny how the first thing I noticed was, its not suitable for a dog.

[Boringvolvodriver]

Honda Jazz with the magic seats? I have heard that people fold them up and put doggo there rather than the boot.

[loskie]

rotties are bad for iffy shoulders and hips. be carefull them jumping in and out of cars

[georgeyboy12345]

Renault Clio 1.2 16v
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201251...


Skoda Fabia 1.6 16V
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204154...


Peugeot 207 SW 1.4 8v
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205105...


Next size up might be a bit better

Hyundai i30 1.6
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205035...


Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203073...


VW Golf Variant 1.6 S
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205135...

[ayman82]

Mo28 said:

Skoda Fabia estate or Seat Ibiza estate

For this budget I would have to agree.

I have an ecomotive estate (1.2tdi) and it's great. It was half the price of the budget for a 63 plate Cat S.

Runs fine, big enough for a dog or LOADS of stuff, having helped a friend move. Taken stuff from exhibitions, there is quite a lot of room.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204285...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255486212854?hash=item3...

Stereo is good as well, if that matters to him.

[ChattingWham]

Some kind of mini MPV maybe? Kia Soul or Venga, Citroen C3 Picasso, Hyundai ix20, Ford Fusion.

[tim1830]

Does he have kids?

If the fiesta is a good car, could he just remove/fold down the rear seats?
Might not be practical.

I have a mini, and a boxer, my kids all now drive, so i just use the mini as a 2x seater and the dog has more than enough room in the back.

[ZX10R NIN]

If he's only doing 5k a year then I'd suggest sticking with a petrol.

Astra Estate:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205125...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205075...

Focus Ghia:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205055...

Now if he wants a hatchback then the Golf Plus should tick all boxes, they're a bit thin on the ground but they are out there:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204305...

Or a Ford C Max:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205065...

[juice]

Boringvolvodriver said:

Honda Jazz with the magic seats? I have heard that people fold them up and put doggo there rather than the boot.

I do - they are superb doggo wagons. The sill is so low the dogs just step in to the back 'area'. It's also nicely contained by the back & front seats.

[graham91]

Thanks for the advice so far

yes we would go for petrol not diesel

The folding down the rear seats is not going to be practical. He is bound to have is girlfriend and the odd mate in their so the boot will have to be big enough for the dog

ideally a large hatchback or small estate like you have pointed out

what about a Honda CRV.. are they good

cheers

[Dracoro]

A CRV is somewhat larger than a small hatch/estate. We have one and similar size inside to my Avensis estate, just the CRV is higher up.

If you are considering them anyway, then look at all the slightly larger estates as they can be good value (as most people want SUVs now).
In which case, Toyota Avensis, Honda Accord estate etc....

[graham91]

You are right but for some reason he feels the CRV looks smaller ...optical illusion I guess ...

I really like the avensis but trying to find a decent petrol one has been impossible even if he thinks its not too big

[the-norseman]

As others have said it needs to have a flat floor not a lip!

I'd look at a Volvo V40 tbh.

[MesoForm]

loskie said:

rotties are bad for iffy shoulders and hips. be carefull them jumping in and out of cars

If you get a ramp to help them get in and out, make sure it can fit in the boot with the dog, we got a long one as the boot floor on my Disco Sport is so high which slides together so won't fit in the boot so goes behind the front seats. Means if we're looking after the dogs we've got a 2 seater Land Rover...

[graham91]

the-norseman said:

As others have said it needs to have a flat floor not a lip!

I'd look at a Volvo V40 tbh.

Can I get one fo my money .. a petrol one ?

[graham91]

MesoForm said:

If you get a ramp to help them get in and out, make sure it can fit in the boot with the dog, we got a long one as the boot floor on my Disco Sport is so high which slides together so won't fit in the boot so goes behind the front seats. Means if we're looking after the dogs we've got a 2 seater Land Rover...

I agree .. we had one for our big dog and worked but so cumbersome it was basically my wife and I only that could go with the dogs..