Fast Family Estate or Bigger Car for the Wife? £20-25k

[Sslink]

Bit of background:

I bought a 2016 Octavia VRS hatch back in Nov '22, I wanted the estate but couldn't find a decent one in budget. The hatch has been more than a capable family work horse for the last 2 years. Liverpool to Abersoch with 3 adults, a 6 month old (rear facing) and a small dog with a week's worth of luggage and no roofbox. It was tight but the passengers had few complaints.

The wife upgraded from my 2005 Polo to a 5dr Cooper S in Feb. I advised against it as despite having 5 doors (she just couldn't look past Minis), they are still tiny, she only just manages to get the pram in the boot. The rear facing seat also means I cannot be a passenger as there's no room for my legs.

Recently she mentioned that she needs a bigger car, and to be honest, I'm inclined to agree. She's open to a swap to the Octavia (despite being DSG and the longest car she's ever driven) sell the Mini and let me get "whatever I want". Obviously there are budget constraints.

After reading the Fast Estates thread cover to cover I can't seem to look past those either. I'd like to have something other than a 2.0l 4pot and if we're keeping the VRS then ideally I'd like something that's not just a Golf in a different frock.

Budget is ~£20k, although I could possibly stretch another £3-5k for the right metal.
I'd like a minimum of 6 Cylinders
Preferably an Estate, but I'm open to Saloons and even SUVs at this point (Weird "hatch-backs" like the 4 Series GC included).
It does still need to perform family duties, large boot.
Decent rear legroom as we won't be forward facing for at least 3 more years, and could possibly have another rear facer in the not too distant future.
Petrol/Diesel - My commute is ~40miles a day, just over 10k p.a. but leisure miles probably bump to around 12-13.

Considered Options so far:
Audi S4 Avant
(M)340i Tourer
C43 Estate

Or should we just get the wife a new bigger car... She's way more open to none Minis now, she likes the idea of a "big car" by which she means some sort of Cross-over SUV thing.

I really appreciate it if you've made it through my waffle and very thankful for suggestions.

[Fastdruid]

3-series Estate boot is seriously tiny for what it is. Obviously bigger than the Mini but if a big boot is high on your priority list then I'd personally scratch it from the list. The 3-series touring boot (assuming an F31) is smaller than the Octavia _hatchback_ that you have.

[Sslink]

Fastdruid said:

3-series Estate boot is seriously tiny for what it is. Obviously bigger than the Mini but if a big boot is high on your priority list then I'd personally scratch it from the list. The 3-series touring boot (assuming an F31) is smaller than the Octavia _hatchback_ that you have.

I haven't been to look at any cars in person yet, but I'd read that the 3 series tourer is a bit short of space in the rear. Is it a similar story with the 5 Series, smaller than you expect?

[Jimjimhim]

If the 4 series GC is big enough for you then a 3 series estate will definitely be big enough.

[Fastdruid]

Sslink said:

Fastdruid said:

3-series Estate boot is seriously tiny for what it is. Obviously bigger than the Mini but if a big boot is high on your priority list then I'd personally scratch it from the list. The 3-series touring boot (assuming an F31) is smaller than the Octavia _hatchback_ that you have.

I haven't been to look at any cars in person yet, but I'd read that the 3 series tourer is a bit short of space in the rear. Is it a similar story with the 5 Series, smaller than you expect?

I don't have one and haven't been in the back so honestly can't comment there.

We've got a Mondeo 2.5T Estate (an excellent Fast Family Estate but IMO too old and rare to recommend these days) and two kids, a couple of years back we got a 3-series Touring as an airport taxi and struggled to fit two suitcases and hand luggage in the boot. We had to have a bunch in the back and it was very cramped. In comparison we had a Nissan Altima while we were on holiday and despite being a saloon we fitted an extra suitcase *AND* all the hand luggage in the boot (on the way back).

One thing I will say is that on the boot sizes beware of disingenuous claimed boot "capacities", for some cars it includes under floor storage which _is_ useful but depends on what you want to store. Its no use for example to store a buggy. The current Focus Estate for example is claimed 35l-95l larger than my old Mondeo...except all the dimensions are smaller... it just has a chunk of extra storage under the boot floor!

It does depend on how long you want to keep it too and if there are any expectations of maybe #2. It gets crowded when you have both baby paraphernalia *AND* toddler paraphernalia!

[ilikejam]

Jag XF S seem to be the only likely other contender that you've not got listed

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411025...

[ZX10R NIN]

If you're going for a fast family estate I'd suggest taking a good look at the S6:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410115...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410275...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411206...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410115...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412016...

E43:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409043...

CLS63:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401235...

540i:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409083...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408072...

Hatchback wise the Kia Stinger is a very good steer & a spacious place to be:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410285...

S7:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411186...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411286...

[P0PC0RN]

Definitely the 540i

They map very well for some extra poke as well!

[nobrakes]

Those S6s, the E43, and the CLS are seriously fast and spacious cars.

[Sargeant Orange]

Don't bother with the 3 series, C class or A4. The rear legroom is pitiful and boots aren't much better.

For your money the E43 would probably feel the most modern interior.

V90?

[nobrakes]

S6 or E43 4matic is what you want in this weather. You don’t NEED 4wd, but it’s great.

[DaveyBoyWonder]

Currently lusting after this: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406120...

[Ryan104]

Fastdruid said:

3-series Estate boot is seriously tiny for what it is. Obviously bigger than the Mini but if a big boot is high on your priority list then I'd personally scratch it from the list. The 3-series touring boot (assuming an F31) is smaller than the Octavia _hatchback_ that you have.

The Octavia hatchback/saloon having more boot capacity than a 3 series touring (f31) has actually blown my mind. When I read your post I thought you were making it up until I googled it myself.

F31 = 495 litres
Octavia hatchback/saloon = 600 litres

I will say as the owner of an F31 model 3 series touring, I’ve had a kids wheelchair, buggy, duffle bags and small suitcases in the boot all together and it’s fit fine with careful planning.

Only minor critique is the Octavia does have a loading lip where as the touring is completely flat, and also has underfloor storage.

[Sslink]

I figured that as the A4/3 Series/C Class are all bigger than the Golf chassis the Octavia is built on that they'd at least be similar in carrying capacity. Whereas carsized indicates that with seats up, the Octavia has 590L and the A4 has 495L (20% more) even for a hatch despite having near identical exterior dimensions.

I really appreciate all of the input. I assumed the crop suggested would be too expensive to buy and run so they didn't really get considered, buy prices seem reasonable, borkage factor and running costs not so much, but you only live once, right....?

[Fastdruid]

Sslink said:

I figured that as the A4/3 Series/C Class are all bigger than the Golf chassis the Octavia is built on that they'd at least be similar in carrying capacity. Whereas carsized indicates that with seats up, the Octavia has 590L and the A4 has 495L (20% more) even for a hatch despite having near identical exterior dimensions.

The capacities are in some ways disingenuous and other ways reasonable. Don't forget that the 3 Series & C Class are RWD/AWD so may lose a chunk of boot space over a FWD chassis (eg the Golf R loses boot space over the normal Golf).

My experience is that there is no substitute for going and looking at the boots. As I said earlier, the current Focus Estate for example is claimed 35l-95l larger than my old Mondeo...except all the dimensions are smaller...

The extra is in underfloor storage, very useful if you can use it, not so great if you want the space for big things such as pushchairs, prams etc.

[TheInternet]

Fastdruid said:

The capacities are in some ways disingenuous and other ways reasonable.

Not sure if it's been mentioned, but part of that is that most figures I've seen are up to parcel shelf level, which may give a misleading view of a hatchback vs an estate.