ESTATE cars are one of the most popular options for your burgeoning family, and are a great alternative to a sometimes clunky SUV.
These motors can fit a large group and all of life’s luggage in a sleek and driveable body, combining the capacity of an SUV with the sharpness of a saloon.
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The cliché of being “all the car you’ll ever need” holds ever true for estates, especially in recent years, as the range available for consumers has become increasingly diverse.
However, if you don’t want to break the bank, you may find yourself struggling to find the perfect motor.
Thankfully, experts at Autocar have listed the seven best-value options for estates, including a versatile hatchback and a seven-seater that’s perfect for family days out.
A major standout on the list was the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports, which received an overall rating of 4.5 stars out of five.
Praised for its excellent fuel economy and capable handling, the Corolla helps combine the traditional strengths of an estate with powerful handling.
Its perfect driving experience comes thanks to its use of Toyota’s Next Generation Architecture, and it retails for around just £32,000 new.
Second-hand versions from around five years ago sell for better than half of that price.
Road tester Illya Verpraet said: “The Corolla isn’t the hottest, most exciting or trendiest thing around, but there’s something very pleasingly fit for purpose about it.”
However, despite its nice ride and functionality, experts did warn that its interior lets it down, especially its “poor” infotainment system.
The model comes standard as a petrol-electric hybrid these days, although you do have the choice of either a 1.8L or 2.0L engine.
While the 1.8 is likely best on congested local roads, you may opt for the 2.0 if you have lots of long motorway drives planned for you and your family.
Speaking of carrying a large group, Autocar also recommended the larger seven-seater Dacia Jogger as part of its best estates list.
Also scoring 4.5 stars, the big Romanian motor was praised for its incredible value for money, extra space, and fuel efficiency.
Costing just under £18,000 new, for the basic version, the motor is a fantastic option if you want to buy a cheap, spacious car.
Add a little bit more onto the price and you could even nab yourself heated seats, cruise control, and an in-built sat-nav.
While it has a fairly bare-bones interior as standard, the motor still provides great value for your money.
Autocar’s seven best cheap estates
Its 1.0L petrol engine may be no powerhouse but it will be able to propel itself just fine along most roads, thanks to its snappy six-speed manual gearbox.
You can also get your hands on an even better fuel-economy version of the vehicle if you opt for the Jogger Hybrid, which also comes with automatic transmission.
Road test editor Matt Saunders said: “The Jogger is a product unlike any rival.
“An MPV/estate/crossover/SUV that’s both affordable and versatile enough to insert itself into myriad buying conversations and ownership scenarios.”
Filling up the rest of Autocar’s list were myriads of other estates which combine sleek exteriors with comfortable and spacious interiors.
The car magazine highly recommended the Skoda Superb Estate, rating it five stars out of five, saying it was an excellent mix of petrol, diesel and hybrid powertrains.
While not overly comfortable or sporty, it manages to combine the two, giving drivers comfortable steering and storage.
You can grab one new for around £37,000, while second-hand versions, registered in 2020, typically sell for less than £18,000.
‘We don’t value them’ – the best estate cars you can pick up for under £5k…they’re better than SUVs
A CAR dealer has shared his top picks for the best estate cars that you can still pick up for under £5,000.
The body type used to be among the most popular in the UK but has almost died out in recent years as trends have shifted towards hatchbacks and SUVs.
The latest data from the SMMT, the trade body representing car makers, suggests that around 110,000 estates were registered in 2023.
While a decent increase on the pandemic years, it’s still nowhere near the peak of the late ’90s and early 2000s.
Today, the estate car has been largely supplanted by the crossover SUV as a spacious, practical option for drivers.
And the latter also tends to offer more power and sharper performance into the bargain.
Matthew Goodwin of High Peak Autos recommended buying the Audi A6 Avant, BMW 5 Series, Jaguar X-Type, Mercedes E Class, and Vauxhall Insignia – saying they were the best cheap buys.
Also coming in on the list was the BMW 3 Series Touring, which retails for just under £44,000 new.
Praised for its excellent driving dynamics and “world-class” blend of performance and fuel economy, the motor is a perfect option for families looking for a bit more class and comfort than the more budget choices.
The Volvo V90 was also recommended, being rated 4.5 stars for its sleek looks and practicality.
Costing around £45,000 new, these reliable Swedish motors are powerful and provide great comfort.
However, it should be noted that these only come as a plug-in hybrid these days.
Finishing off the list were the Ford Focus Estate and Citroen C5 X, which cost £28,000 and £30,000 to buy new respectively.
While the Ford was praised for its agile and playful chassis, the Citroen was recommended for those looking for economical powertrains and a well-built interior.
In terms of criticism, the Ford has quite limited engine options, while the Citroen has an occasionally jerky automatic gearbox, experts mention.