Quiet comfortable petrol estate with more ground clearance

[Lexicos]

Our much loved E91 330i is getting long in the tooth and we’re looking to replace. We do about 13k miles a year - mostly on long trips visiting family (commonest journey is 270 miles each way, up to Cumbria), a few shorter trips across town. When we’re in the Lake District in winter there’s often flooding, and our E91 on MSport suspension occasionally grounds out on rutted tracks and potholes. So I’d like:

- Quiet and comfortable when cruising at 70
- Boot larger than the E91 - for the dog and family clobber
- More ground clearance than the E91
- Reliability - we set off after work on Friday to arrive at midnight and I don’t fancy another night stranded on the Pennines
- Petrol (I realise there are a lot of good diesels out there but there are strong anti-diesel opinions in the family!)
- Ideally, better economy than the E91 - we get about 32 mpg over mixed driving currently
- Ideally, good to drive (coming from the e91, Mini R56 JCW and a 964 911 previously - but perhaps those days are over for now)

Budget is £20k.

I’ve looked at A6 Allroads and other VAG Octavia Scouts etc but petrols are rare. So I keep on coming to the Subaru Outback 2.5i - for which I hear the CVT is an acquired taste, and there aren’t any near me to try. Any experience of the Outback and suggestions of others to consider would be gratefully received.

[craigjm]

Was going to suggest a Volvo V60 Allroad but the petrol stipulation makes that a very rare option too

[Rough101]

V90 cc T4, but most are diesel.

[scot_aln]

Is an SUV a possible? The Mazda Cx5 isn't bad for one of those and lots of petrols about.

[Deerfoot]

Audi did offer the A4 allroad in petrol guise, there are a few on Autotrader, not sure how well they fit your other criteria though..

[TorqueDirty]

As you say there are tons of cars out there that would fit the bill if you are prepared to move away from the petrol only stance.

Personally I'd spend time trying to resolve the strong anti-diesel opinions in your family! It's not like it has polonium in it.

Modern diesel engines can be fantastic and are a world apart from the old stinky things of a few decades ago.

Put it this way, I'd much rather live with a good modern diesel engine with great economy and coupled to an excellent auto box than a petrol CVT Outback.

[georgeyboy12345]

These jacked-up offroady style estates are not as common as they once were due to there being more SUVs on the market now, which are more popular, which is a shame.

If you absolutely must avoid diesel, then what about a Lexus RX450h?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211231...


Otherwise, I'd seriously re-evaluate your prejudices against diesel, as your usage profile is really well suited to one and opens up many more good cars. If you get a Euro 6 model, they are not too polluting and are clean air zone compliant.

Audi A6 Allroad 3.0 TDI V6
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210311...


VW Passat Alltrack 2.0 TDI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202302063...


Skoda Superb Outdoor 2.0 TDI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202302063...


Volvo V90 XC D5
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301253...

[blueg33]

craigjm said:

Was going to suggest a Volvo V60 Allroad but the petrol stipulation makes that a very rare option too

Its called the v60 cross country. We have a t5 petrol one new in 2020. Its excellent way better than things like the Outback, which we tried as we had one before. It's very comfortable and reasonably fast.

About to order another. A

[Bonefish Blues]

blueg33 said:

craigjm said:

Was going to suggest a Volvo V60 Allroad but the petrol stipulation makes that a very rare option too

Its called the v60 cross country. We have a t5 petrol one new in 2020. Its excellent way better than things like the Outback, which we tried as we had one before. It's very comfortable and reasonably fast.

About to order another. A

Just came to post this model after checking them out on Autobotherer. Good call.

[cptsideways]

Rx450h as suggested, brilliant cars if you want petrol bonus is it's also a decent hybrid.

[Muppet007]

V90 Cross Country T6.
Big, enough for 4 dogs and people
Comfy, like a barge
Rides high which is very much needed on my knackered access road (as long as a tractor can make it down, the farm does not think it need maintenance).
Fast enough to supprise people.

Really happy with mine. The bit I don't like is trying to reverse at night, you can't see st. It needs a camera.

[QJumper]

I'd second the RX 450h.

You'd get ground clearance, quiet comfort and reliabiliity, and similar economy at around 30-32 mpg mixed.

[Lexicos]

Thanks to all for the ideas - including some I’d never heard of (Superb Outdoor). The petrol V90CCs I think are mostly out of budget although the size appeals - will try and have a look at a V60CC to see if there’s enough space.

The Rx450h is attractive for refinement but again not sure about the boot space?

Have taken on board the comments about diesel, and further family discussions are ongoing (!) - there’s uncertainty about whether diesel values might drop off a cliff in the next few years if sentiment turns further against them with the move to electric, but principally the respiratory physician in the family is very aware of the damage wrought by particulates…

If diesel were back on the table then an A6 Allroad would have to be high up the list. There’s one on Autotrader for £17480 at the moment that had a £4.5k gearbox rebuild recently and failed its last MOT with ‘engine MIL inoperative’ before then passing. I know the air suspension isn’t such an issue with this generation as previous, but perhaps there’s still potential for big bills?

BlueG33 - which generation of Outback did you come from into the V60? If you’ve got time, could you expand on what makes the latter so much better?

Thanks again.

[blueg33]

Will expand later. When at a computer rather than phone

[stevemcs]

I've just started looking at A6 allroads but the Stronic really puts me off them, and that a number of them seem to be rebuilt. If you can get around the diesel issue and you do like the A6 the biturbo has the much better ZF box.

Outback is a great car but lacks power

[Junglebert]

Subaru Outback.

I bought a 69 plate 2.5cvt in October to replace my Skoda Superb lease car that had to go back.
I love the outback, the cvt box is good, smooth and responsive. The boot is big, it’s good to drive, very comfy, good equipment spec, I’ll be keeping it a while.

Edited by Junglebert on Saturday 11th February 18:38

[Bonefish Blues]

Or as leftfield option, an RXH Pug. I'm seriously looking (2014 MY is better-equipped than '15, just by the by) at one in similar circumstances to replace the XC70

Edited by Bonefish Blues on Sunday 12th February 09:01

[dmsims]

Indeed and everyone who says it's "your choice" is ignoring this. Do they make kids smoke cigarettes ?

Lexicos said:

but principally the respiratory physician in the family is very aware of the damage wrought by particulates…

[blueg33]

We had a 2007 3.0 outback, lovely engine but uncomfortable seats, replaced with Octavia Scout, more comfy but worse engine.

When we changed in 2020, we had the new outback on test. Didn't find it comfy, it was thirsty, dated tech and awkward load bay covers. We also knew from our previous Outback that servicing was pricey and dealers are few and far between.

The V60 was a revelation. Very comfy, almost limo like, loads of tech and goodies like memory seats coded to the keys, blind spot warning, autonomous accident avoidance etc, the adaptive led headlights are the best I have come across on any car. It wears well and isn't too expensive to fuel or maintain, our T5 version averages 32mpg over 36k miles. Load space is ok we used it as a truck when refurbing a barn conversion. Its easy on tyres too, 34k on the first set and they still had 2.2mm left. It gets lots of positive comments too.

Downsides, its not a sports car do you get some body roll but ride is better than the Outback or Octavia, engine isn't the most pleasant to listen to outside the car and sounds pretty naff at high revs, but tbh i have other cars for engine noise.

We like it enough that we are about to order another new one, First time I have ever bought the same car twice aside from Evora. Its held its value OK. We paid £43k in 2020, its worth £28k ish after 3 years and 36k miles.

[lornemalvo]

blueg33 said:

craigjm said:

Was going to suggest a Volvo V60 Allroad but the petrol stipulation makes that a very rare option too

Its called the v60 cross country. We have a t5 petrol one new in 2020. Its excellent way better than things like the Outback, which we tried as we had one before. It's very comfortable and reasonably fast.

About to order another. A

I bought a nearly new V60 CC last year and took it back the same day. The suspension was agricultural, and I couldn't live with the shocking ride comfort. although the seats were very nice. The petrol hybrid engine was also pretty unrefined. I retrieved the 2017 Audi A4 Avant I had part exchanged for the Volvo, which seems like a Bentley in comparison