Estate recommendations

[pits]

Misses has a Qashqai, honestly it is a miserable thing but it works as a car, however, it is reaching an age where things are going a bit funky, it has been well serviced, but there are some gremlins starting so time to chop it in, we have both decided on going for an estate, bigger boot, it's the Qumquat is needlessly big but also so cramped inside, boot is tiny as well.
At the moment I have 3 choices in mind, boxes to be ticked
Big boot- 600 litres plus
50+mpg
Has to be comfortable, I don't want sports seats or sport trim,
Decent residuals, I know we're going to lose money
Up to 20k
Under 70k miles
So far all I have come up with is the following, both have pros and cons

Skoda Superb
Pro's - Big boot, can be found in manual sometimes, residuals aren't that bad
Cons- Just looks a bit depressing inside and out, chalk and cheese here, but a Citigo I drove the seats were not comfortable, assume there are much of a muchness in the Skoda range.

Mazda 6
Pro's - Big boot, interior looks good, decent tech (not overly interested) looks good on the outside

Cons - Residuals don't seem that great, all the ones I have seen with 50k+ miles on, the seat base looks like it is already collapsing, which makes me wonder how comfortable it is.

Volvo V90
Pro-s Big boot, decent residuals, looks fantastic

Cons - it is at the top of our budget, and that is for ones with higher mileage than I would like, as I am thinking servicing costs down the road.



I have discounted Mercs, I just don't like them, and the new 5 series are just way too expensive for what they are, boot isn't that great, and they look, awful, ideally I would find a rust free E39 530d manual. I have searched with estate box selected on most sites, but I am tired of wading through 5 door Fabias, Minis and other hatchbacks.

[loskie]

Something like a Berlingo or Peugeot Rifter?

[ChocolateFrog]

If practicality and comfort Trump most of the other criteria I might be tempted to go for a late V70 but that maybe too old for you to consider.

[ZX10R NIN]

Passat BiTDI:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111059...

Insignia Elite Nav are a very good option (560 litre boot) they['re spacious smart set of wheels & you can get them for sensible money:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110288...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112160...

V90 D4 Momentum with sensible miles on, these won't depreciate any slower than the Insignia above, look how much it's dropped already but if it's your preferred choice then buy one:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111300...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201010...

[anonymous-user]

loskie said:

Something like a Berlingo or Peugeot Rifter?

Over a Superb or V90? I had a Berlingo for a short while and got rid as it not a patch on a car for comfort. They are very practical but a V90 is in a different league

[pits]

loskie said:

Something like a Berlingo or Peugeot Rifter?

I am dead against it, just don't want an MPV or Crossover thing, if I was brave enough I would tell her to get a Disco, but I am not brave enough when it breaks down to say "well I did say that would happen"

ChocolateFrog said:

If practicality and comfort Trump most of the other criteria I might be tempted to go for a late V70 but that maybe too old for you to consider.

I am not against a V70, but it is finding one, I don't want to pay V90 money for a low mileage V70 if that makes sense? The more I think about it, the more it becomes a V90



The Passat isn't a bad shout, I will have a look,

[georgeyboy12345]

Peugeot 308 SW's have massive boots

BlueHDI GT
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111069...

BlueHDI 150 manual
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110288...


Honda Civic Tourers also have massive boots

1.8 i-VTEC
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112070...

1.6 i-DTEC
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112100...


VW Passat Variant 2.0 TDI SE manual
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111019...


Brand new in stock Kia Ceed 1.0 T-GDi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/new...


Just slightly under a 600 litre boot, but I think it's a good buy - Toyota Corolla 1.8 VVT-h Touring
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112140...

[ZX10R NIN]

pits said:

I am not against a V70, but it is finding one, I don't want to pay V90 money for a low mileage V70 if that makes sense? The more I think about it, the more it becomes a V90



The Passat isn't a bad shout, I will have a look,

The two V90's I linked to above have around 50k on the clock.

[stevemcs]

The only German car I have found comfortable are BMW’s with the sports seats, every vw product with the exception of a mk2 Leon Cupra has given me back or leg ache.

For me if comfort was the main priority then it would be a Volvo, I’ve never had an issue with Fords, specifically the Mondeo either.

[anonymous-user]

Have you considered the New Dacia Jogger, you could get a brand new top of the range model with a 5 year warranty. Ticks a lot of boxes

[Skyedriver]

Apologies, no input but following this thread as Wife wants me to change the trust old Volvo 940 Estate and there's nothing that takes my fancy, need space for two dogs and a 6ft plus son and I prefer RWD. Nothing compares with the 940 short of a van!

[Paul Lazzaro]

We have a Passat and a V90. Both in sportier spec. We LOVE the V90 for many many reasons...but the boot is not big. It's less than your required 600l and the roof line means it's not very practical for loading up with suitcases/luggage etc.

The Passat however has an absolutely huge boot and really sounds like exactly what you're after to me (if you don't want a Superb).

[dhutch]

Paul Lazzaro said:

We have a Passat and a V90. Both in sportier spec. We LOVE the V90 for many many reasons...but the boot is not big. It's less than your required 600l and the roof line means it's not very practical for loading up with suitcases/luggage etc.

The Passat however has an absolutely huge boot and really sounds like exactly what you're after to me (if you don't want a Superb).

Seems a great shame given the boot space of an 80s-90s Volvo was second to non. My parents had Montegos and a always remember Volvo's looking cavernous!

We're after the same as the OP, two dogs and first child due at the end of the month, but with the cost of a decent amount of maternity leave looming our budget is around half that!

[nobrakes]

Passat for me.

I wouldn’t get too hung up/overly fussed about your 50+ mpg criteria.

Basic spec will get you a newer car, but higher spec will probably hold residuals better. The higher spec will probably come with lower profile less comfortable tyres, so up to you. I’d just go for the base spec.

[ED209]

If you can get 50mpg out of a Volvo v90 yo will be very lucky, in fact if you averagemuch over 30 mpg you will be doing quite well. Mine was a lovely car but it was crap on fuel.

[Paul Lazzaro]

ED209 said:

If you can get 50mpg out of a Volvo v90 yo will be very lucky, in fact if you averagemuch over 30 mpg you will be doing quite well. Mine was a lovely car but it was crap on fuel.

Yes, that seems to be the case for the current gen of Volvo engines. Ours hovers just below 30mpg, but is petrol. I don't think the diesels fare much better.

[Muppet007]

I'm looking at similar but cross country versions
Current V90 has 551L boot space, less than your requirements. If you are sold on a Volvo check out a V60 as well. Similar sized boot, 531L.

I'm also looking at A6 allroads but they are also less than 600L, coming in at 565L

[DodgyGeezer]

Muppet007 said:

I'm looking at similar but cross country versions
Current V90 has 551L boot space, less than your requirements. If you are sold on a Volvo check out a V60 as well. Similar sized boot, 531L.

I'm also looking at A6 allroads but they are also less than 600L, coming in at 565L

that's the thing I discovered - there are lots of cars give you about 500/550 litres of bootspace the Superb comes in at 625 (not sure how big the estate version is)

[Skyedriver]

Beware of quoted boot space. It may have a big figure but not necessarily useable space.
And yes, none of the current crop of Volvos have the same useable space as an old 940 Estate. I've yet to find anything short of a van that will take two dog cages in between the wheel arches, the back seats and the rear hatch. Most hatches slope, some worse than others and that can seriously restrict capability.
Take with you the stuff you are likely to need to carry, be it pram, pushchair, zimmer frame, whatever. In laws have a need to transport a large walker thing with a foldy seat attached, heavy and bulky, just fits in an Octavia Estate.

[ChocolateFrog]

ZX10R NIN said:

pits said:

I am not against a V70, but it is finding one, I don't want to pay V90 money for a low mileage V70 if that makes sense? The more I think about it, the more it becomes a V90



The Passat isn't a bad shout, I will have a look,

The two V90's I linked to above have around 50k on the clock.

That makes sense. IMO it's a shame they made the V90 less practical for the sake of looks and the loss of the 5 pot engine IIRC.