There was a time when driving an SUV was a good way to stand out from the crowd. That’s no longer the case, though; in fact, there have never been more SUVs for sale. Research by CarGurus has revealed that the number of SUV models on the British new car market has increased by a whopping 543% since 2000.
Back then, there were just 30 SUVs being offered by the 35 car manufacturers we analysed. Nowadays, the same manufacturers offer a mind-boggling choice of 193 models.
57% of the manufacturers in our study offered five or more distinct SUV models. Audi, BMW and Mercedes are the brands with the highest numbers of SUVs in their ranges; between them, those three manufacturers alone now offer a faintly incredible 46 distinct SUV models.
But what’s the family motorist to do if they want something practical and useful, that isn’t a run-of-the-mill SUV just like everyone else at the school gate?
I suggest buying an estate instead.
It wasn’t so long ago that an estate car was something of a subtle status symbol. A well-kept semi with a neat lawn and a smart estate on the driveway felt aspirational. No wonder The Good Life’s creators kitted Jerry and Margo out with a fashionably yellow Volvo 145 back in the day.
These days, the estate’s popularity is on the wane. Just 36 estate models are available on the UK market today, according to the CarGurus data, as opposed to 51 back in 2011.
Which means an estate is once again a great option if you want to stand out from the crowd. Indeed, I always think choosing a smart estate car as a family hauler is a mark of good sense and good taste. And not just because I have one myself.
What’s the best value estate you can buy at the moment? I’d cast my vote for the Seat Leon ST. This mid-sized wagon clothes the excellent mechanicals of the Mk7 Golf in a sharp-edged Latin body that makes it instantly more appealing.
Boot space is almost identical to the Golf’s, so the Leon is barely any less practical, and the smartly styled interior is usually replete with plenty of equipment.
A 2.0 TSI Xcellence Lux is basically the top of the range, with a powerful petrol engine and a kit list as long as your arm. Yet a 2019 example with a very reasonable 59,000 miles on the clock is in the classifieds as I write this, having just been reduced to £12,290. That’s £1,424 below the CarGurus Instant Market Value (IMV). Not much money for a truly great estate.
What about something a little more aspirational? Well, how about the modern-day equivalent of Jerry’s car – the Volvo V60? Smart, stylish, and beautifully built inside, the V60 eschews driving excitement in favour of comfort and relaxation, and I love it all the more for that.
I’ve actually found a bit of a unicorn here – a 2.0 B5 Momentum. The top-spec engine with the base-spec equipment – not what buyers usually choose. But that means you get a seriously gutsy 247bhp mild hybrid petrol engine, allied to the smaller wheels that make the V60’s ride quality as cosseting as it can be.
This 51,000-mile example is on for £18,995, a whopping £2,613 cheaper than it really should be, according to our IMV. And if I were in the market for an upmarket estate for this sort of money, I’d be snapping it up.
Mind you, while neither of the above cars should prove desperately unreliable, you might be after something that you can be certain won’t let you down. In which case, swerve the obvious choice – the Toyota Corolla. Great cars, but they hold their value so well that they’re pretty pricey on the used market.
Instead, seek out a Kia Ceed Sportswagon. Now, look, the Ceed is never going to set bales of hay afire with its charisma and desirability. (If you’re thinking this is a polite way of saying it’s a bit dull, well, you’ve got me.)
But if you’re after a dependable estate for a bargain price, you really can’t go wrong with this one. Kia has a superb reputation for reliability, and even if the Ceed does let you down, the remnants of the seven-year warranty should mean you’re covered.
How about a 2021 1.5 T-GDi 3 with a mere 36,000 miles on the clock, one owner from new, a full service history and a full year’s MOT for just £13,595? That’s £1,300 below its estimated market value – and the equivalent Corolla would set you back at least a couple of grand more on top of that.
But enough of the sensible, boring estates. How about something really special – the mother of all estate cars? An estate to end all estates?
I’m talking here about the Audi RS6. In particular, the last-generation model, known as the C7 RS6. A ballistic, 552bhp bruiser that bludgeons the road into submission, for which I will always have a soft spot; the first time I was let loose on an autobahn in a press demonstrator, it was in one of these.
The experience is seared into my memory, mostly because of just how planted and secure the car felt as I buried the throttle and watched the speedo wind round to 180mph.
I’d have to keep a stern check on my right foot, therefore, were I to buy the 2015 example currently on sale. It’s done 80,000 miles, so it’s no spring chicken, but there’s a full service history with the all-important gearbox service having been done, and a full year’s MOT. And to think this slice of Bavarian brawn could be yours for just £30,218 – £2,574 below its estimated market value, and less than the price of a brand new entry-level Nissan Qashqai.
Still want that SUV?