Discussion
I love the fast estates thread, and the pure utility of the shape whilst not losing out dynamically as much as an SUV really appeals.
However I can't really imagine myself lugging around something so large Britain's roads and car parts just seems a tad stressful and the type of challenge that leads people to go the SUV route. Also needing a car that both people in the household drive restricts having something quite so large.
Skoda used to do a decent looking Fabia estate, and there's a lovely A3/S3 estate in my area but I'm not really an Audi guy. This breed of 'small' estates it feels like used to be really popular as there was frequently an estate derivative of smaller hatches. Now, not so much it feels like.
What's your favourite small estate? Give me ideas for a future purchase!
However I can't really imagine myself lugging around something so large Britain's roads and car parts just seems a tad stressful and the type of challenge that leads people to go the SUV route. Also needing a car that both people in the household drive restricts having something quite so large.
Skoda used to do a decent looking Fabia estate, and there's a lovely A3/S3 estate in my area but I'm not really an Audi guy. This breed of 'small' estates it feels like used to be really popular as there was frequently an estate derivative of smaller hatches. Now, not so much it feels like.
What's your favourite small estate? Give me ideas for a future purchase!
Small estates, supermini based ones, have never really been particularly popular in the UK, Skoda Fabia was one of the most popular recen models, but now only available on the continent. The SEAT Ibiza FR is a great little estate car, but no longer a version of the latest shape. The French always had a hat in the ring with cars like The Clio and 207/8. At the other end of the spectrum is the Dacia Logan, based on the Sandero but with a boot bigger than some cars two sizes up, replaced by the Jogger.
For the record the A3 Sportback isn't, and never was, marketed as an estate (I've had a couple). Its just a 5 door hatch with a more funky sounding name.
Small estates are fast being replaced with small crossovers and only a few remain
For the record the A3 Sportback isn't, and never was, marketed as an estate (I've had a couple). Its just a 5 door hatch with a more funky sounding name.
Small estates are fast being replaced with small crossovers and only a few remain
stanglish said:
Yeah I think we can see them fading out. But my selfish point is that I like them, and since I'll probably not buy outright new next, one could still be on the cards.
Sadly the Clio ending in '12 rules it out.
How was the A3 Sportback out of interest?
I actually really liked them, they were perfect for what I needed at the time. Had a 2.0 TFSi quattro followed by an S3, mine were second gen 8P. Needed cars for country roads that were quick enough to get past farm traffic and tourist and plenty of gear. Needed something bigger in the end though. My current small estate has actually turned out to be one of the most rewarding cars I've owned.Sadly the Clio ending in '12 rules it out.
How was the A3 Sportback out of interest?
Snow and Rocks said:
As an everyday car the now discontinued Civic tourer is pretty decent - nice and compact but still has a huge boot, plenty of room for people, clever magic seats and it's even pretty decent to drive. Incredibly economical too if you go for the surprisingly sweet 1.6 DTEC.
It's a nice shout but I drive the gen previous to that and I'd be thinking it's not a great step forward. For anyone who isn't me though, an excellent shout, if at the bigger end of things.
It's a fashion thing. Buyers now love small SUV s which are jacked up versions of superminis. They are equally short of internal space ,headroom excepted. Small estates were more practical and that's why they were understood in France. However ,younger punters will disagree as it's a fashion thing.
I think small hatchback based estates are all being phased out just like MPVS in favour of crossovers, to my eye the small estates always looked a bit wrong, just like saloon version of hatchbacks they get in India do (stuff like the swift and fiesta)
I would say the 2008 is a nicer looker than the 207 Estate was and you certainly see more of them now
Mid size hatch estates are still popular, golf, focus, Kia ceed, i30, Leon etc
A lot of ranges have been skimmed down too, they used to do a A3 sportback and a 3 door but now it’s 5 door only and not really any bigger than a golf hatch.
I would say the 2008 is a nicer looker than the 207 Estate was and you certainly see more of them now
Mid size hatch estates are still popular, golf, focus, Kia ceed, i30, Leon etc
A lot of ranges have been skimmed down too, they used to do a A3 sportback and a 3 door but now it’s 5 door only and not really any bigger than a golf hatch.
Lester H said:
It's a fashion thing. Buyers now love small SUV s which are jacked up versions of superminis. They are equally short of internal space ,headroom excepted. Small estates were more practical and that's why they were understood in France. However ,younger punters will disagree as it's a fashion thing.
I'd describe them as crossovers rather than SUVs. Everyone seams to call anything with remotely chunky styling an SUV, I'd hardly call cars like a Juke, Capture or Puma an SUV. Although I guess car definitions are blurred these days.Silvanus said:
Not sure what you are looking at budget and performance wise, but the Kia Proceed sits perfectly between the hatch and estate, great looking wagon too.
Performance? This has none.Luxury? None.
Economy? Average.
It's a white good. A tedious, soulless, white good.
The V50 2.5 T5. Now that was a good small estate.
Macron said:
Silvanus said:
Not sure what you are looking at budget and performance wise, but the Kia Proceed sits perfectly between the hatch and estate, great looking wagon too.
Performance? This has none.Luxury? None.
Economy? Average.
It's a white good. A tedious, soulless, white good.
The V50 2.5 T5. Now that was a good small estate.
The Kia is no more a white goods car than the vast majority of anything else comparable on sale. Personally think its better looking than a lot of the mid size estate cars on sale too.
Does VW sell the Golf mk7 as an estate in the UK?
I’m in the US and have a Golf estate, but it’s called the Sportwagen over here (other than having a turbo I’ve no idea why the ‘sport’ bit). It may be the Jetta estate in the UK. Anyway, it’s just the right size.
Alternatively, surely this is the ultimate small sporting estate….
https://www.carandclassic.com/make-an-offer/1968-t...
I’m in the US and have a Golf estate, but it’s called the Sportwagen over here (other than having a turbo I’ve no idea why the ‘sport’ bit). It may be the Jetta estate in the UK. Anyway, it’s just the right size.
Alternatively, surely this is the ultimate small sporting estate….
https://www.carandclassic.com/make-an-offer/1968-t...
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff