Best family estates
£6,000 to spend on a practical family estate?
Our experts pick three top models on a £6,000 budget
Dear Lawrence, I’m looking to replace my current hatch with an estate to cope with a growing family. I have £6,000 to spend, so what should I consider? Becky Barrett, E-mail Contact: Lawrence_allan@dennis.co.uk
THE EFFICIENT CHOICE Vauxhall Astra ST
FOR: Sleek looks, spacious interior AGAINST: Cabin quality, stodgy handling
WITH its swooping roofline, the previous-generation Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer is arguably the most stylish choice in this company. On the road, it’s a refined and comfortable cruiser, although the handling could be a bit sharper through corners.
The engine line-up is impressive, with either the 1.7 or 2.0-litre diesels worthy choices delivering strong efficiency. Our classifieds search revealed a 55,000-mile 2012 1.7 CDTI Exclusive for £5,900.
BUTTONS in the cabin can be fiddly and the A-pillars risk causing blindspots. There’s still plenty of space for four with enough headroom in the back of the Astra, but the sloping roof means you get just a 500-litre boot.
THE latest Mk7 Astra disappointed in our Driver Power 2016 satisfaction survey, and the old Mk6 version, on which this Sports Tourer is based, came a poor 149th. It finished only 138th in the reliability category.
THE FUNCTIONAL CHOICE VW Golf Estate
FOR: Roomy inside, comfortable ride AGAINST: Plain interior design, price
THERE’S a lot to like about the Mk6 Golf Estate – great build quality, comfortable cruising and fast, efficient engines. The 1.6 TDI model claims 67mpg and gives a 118mph top speed. The Estate isn’t a flashy car, and looks similar to the hatch with simple styling; it’s designed with functionality in mind.
The driving experience is similar to the hatch’s as well, with quick responses. A 77,000-mile 2011 Golf Estate 1.6 TDI can be yours for £5,840.
THE previous Golf is well built but pretty uninspiring inside. Functionality is a priority over style, so there are lots of hard plastics and it can feel a bit bland. Cabin space is decent, while boot capacity stands at 505 litres.
DUE to its age, the previous-generation Golf didn’t appear in Driver Power this year. The Estate model doesn’t rank separately anyway, but in 2015 the Mk6 finished only 129th, with a lacklustre score of 186th for reliability.
THE SPORTY CHOICE Kia Cee’d SW
FOR: Good build quality, long warranty AGAINST: Firm ride, older models’ reliability
KIA’S smart, sporty and well built Cee’d SW is a solid second-hand estate with its comprehensive sevenyear warranty. Smooth and eager engines are a plus, and while the ride can be firm and unforgiving at times, this has been retuned on later models.
It won’t break the bank as the Kia is fairly fuel efficient, claiming a respectable 61mpg and emitting just 122g/km of CO2. We found a 2011 1.6 CRDI 2 SW that had done 42,000 miles for just £5,490.
A WRAPAROUND dash with good materials and a strong standard kit list mark the Cee’d out against its rivals here. The 534-litre boot leaves both these competitors trailing, but the cabin feels a little cramped.
THIS first-generation Kia Cee’d finished a disappointing 135th in Driver Power 2016. Things have improved with its replacement, introduced four years ago, coming 34th. The seven-year warranty on all models is a major plus.
Energy TCE 90 Dynam. Medianav
Years: 2013 to date Engine: 0.9-litre 3cyl, 89bhp Ins group: 9 Official econ/co2: 56mpg/155g/km Why? The Captur is more practical than its rival here, with a stylish look clearly built with the city in mind.
Prices from: £8,600
THE Captur is largely based on its older Clio stablemate, and it makes a great used buy for anybody after an urban SUV. Thanks to its neat design, it feels right at home in the city – something you can’t say about the Ford.
While the Renault’s exterior is well styled, the interior could be more solidly built. Despite this, there are some clever touches, such as the zip-off seat covers that allow you to change the trim. Elastic straps on the seatbacks work well as pockets, too. High-set seats give the Captur a roomy feel, and there’s a practical, well laidout dashboard. Boot capacity stands at a generous 377 litres, and most models come with built-in sat-nav, unlike the Ecosport.
On the road, the car isn’t very exciting despite its turbocharged engines. The set-up is comfortable, though, and the raised height allows it to ride well over bumps. The Captur ranked 18th overall in our Driver Power 2016 satisfaction survey, and scored especially strongly for reliability, where it finished sixth.
1.0 Ecoboost Titanium
Years: 2012 to date Engine: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 123bhp Ins group: 11 Official econ/co2: 53mpg/125g/km Why? It’s an affordable car with a range of decent engines and sharp steering, but the Ford isn’t much fun.
Prices from: £8,490
FORD’S Ecosport was originally developed in Brazil, but came to Europe as part of the firm’s One Ford strategy. Unfortunately, the car didn’t do enough to transform the class; although it has an affordable price tag, it’s not much fun.
Although it looks much more like an offroader than the Captur, like the Renault it is only available with front-wheel drive.
Inside, the Ecosport is passable, but the 333-litre boot is down on that of the Captur. Not only this, but the side-hinged tailgate makes loading or unloading rather tricky if you’ve parked in a tight space.
The steering is sharp and very similar to the set-up in the fun-to-drive Fiesta. Lively engines are a plus, too, with a top speed of 112mph that beats the Captur’s.
The Ecosport wasn’t popular enough to be ranked in Driver Power 2016, although the B-MAX – with which it shares a platform – ranked 76th overall. Bear in mind that the B-MAX scored disappointingly for reliability.