There is no shortage of excellent estate cars on the used car market, and even with a budget of £5,000, you can still pick up a cracker. They come in all shapes and sizes, and, whatever your priorities, a large, practical boot is a must, but whether you need an automatic gearbox, unbeatable reliability or fancy something fun to drive with heaps of equipment, our list of recommendations has you covered.
The Best Estate Cars Under £5,000 in 2024
- Ford Mondeo (2007-2013)
- Seat Ibiza ST (2008-2016)
- Vauxhall Astra Sport Tourer (2009-2014)
- BMW 3 Series Touring (2006-2011)
- Kia Ceed SW (2012-2018)
- Volkswagen Passat (2010-2014)
- Toyota Avensis Estate (2009-2018)
- Skoda Octavia (2004-2012)
- Volvo V60 (2010-2018)
- Ford Focus (2011-2018)
- Peugeot 308 SW (2013-2021)
Ford Mondeo (2007-2013)
Ford recently kissed the Mondeo goodbye. The tide has turned in favour of SUVs, and buyers just aren’t going for saloon-style family hatchbacks any more, but there was a time when it was one of the UK’s most popular new cars. Add to that 30 years in production, across four generations, and there is an absolute glut of second-hand examples to choose from.
Arguably the Mondeo’s strongest suit is how good it is to drive. It’s a big car, with lots of space inside – especially in estate form – but that doesn’t detract from its agile handling or its excellent ride, for which the third-generation model was famed.
Our budget of £5,000 will comfortably bag you an early 2010s estate with circa 100,000 miles on the clock. The Mondeo was a big hit with company car drivers, so that kind of mileage is really not a lot for a car of that age. It will likely be a 2.0-litre diesel model, too, as that was the most common engine, and, if you can find one in Titanium or Titanium X spec, you will not want for equipment.
Ford Mondeo Mk3 Review
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Seat Ibiza ST (2008-2016)
The Seat Ibiza ST is the Spanish brand’s version of the Skoda Fabia so the estate version shares a similar cabin and load carrying abilities as its cousin, and the Ibiza’s sharper looks and handling make it our choice of the two.
A large boot lid reveals the ST’s generous load space. It’s a long, wide, rectangular shape, with a couple of useful netted pockets on the sides. For added practicality, the two sections that make up the rear seats fold down to create a surprisingly big cargo bay for such a compact car.
The fact that it’s small by estate car standards makes it ideal for dealing with tightly packed city streets and the light steering renders parking a doddle. On faster roads, the Seat’s composed ride and nimble handling also impress. It’s great value, too, and an early 2010s Ibiza ST with less than 80,000 miles and the fine 1.4-litre petrol engine in SE Copa trim can be yours for around £4,500.
Seat Ibiza Review
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Vauxhall Astra Sport Tourer (2009-2014)
The sixth-generation Vauxhall Astra Estate makes a compelling case for those who favour comfort. Vauxhall came up with an all-new design for this model, and it majors on dealing with bumps and potholes in a way few rivals can match. This also makes the Astra Sport Tourer the ideal vehicle for hauling delicate cargo, such as dogs. It smooths out any ruffles in the road and is good at shutting out road noise.
With the rear seats in place, the Astra offers one of the biggest load bays in its segment, and even has a greater capacity than some cars from the class above. Tipping the rear seats is simple, and it frees up a vast hangar of luggage room.
For those looking to keep running costs down, the 1.3-litre CDTi ecoFLEX turbodiesel engine offers up to a claimed 68.9mpg under the old NEDC test cycle. If you need to haul heavier gear, the 2.0-litre diesel is the best bet, while the petrols are decent, too. Reckon on spending £5,000 for an early 2010s 2.0-litre CDTi diesel in sporty SRi trim with around 80,000 miles on the clock.
Vauxhall Astra Mk6 Review
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BMW 3 Series Touring (2006-2011)
The BMW 3 Series Touring has always brought a sporting edge with its practical credentials. This model is no different, but it also has more space than the previous 3 Series wagon, thanks to a bigger boot and rear seats that fold down more easily. There are also neat touches, such as the rear window that opens separately from the main tailgate to provide quick access to items in the boot.
A Volkswagen Passat may be more roomy inside, but no rival can better the BMW when it comes to driving, because the steering, suspension, brakes and handling are all wonderfully precise. Pick the SE model over the M Sport version for a more comfortable ride, though many will be drawn to the sportier car’s handsome looks.
In either case, we’d look to the diesel engines, which are the most common in the 3 Series Touring. The 318d uses the same 2.0-litre motor as the 320d, so you may as well plump for the more powerful one for greater performance and flexibility, with no downside to fuel economy. A late 2000s 320d SE Touring with around 110,000 miles comes in at about £5,000.
BMW 3 Series E91 Review
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Kia Ceed SW (2012-2018)
If ever there were an example of a fine all-round estate car for sensible money, the Kia Ceed SW is it. The first generation lacked the sharp styling of its predecessors, but it had plenty of kit, and its reliability lived up to Kia’s sterling reputation.
In SW (estate) form, the Ceed is even better than the hatchback version, because it has a more spacious boot than an equivalent Ford Focus or Volkswagen Golf, whether the back seats are up or down. The high roofline means bigger boxes are easily accommodated, and there’s also masses of head space for taller passengers in the back, along with plentiful knee room.
Kia didn’t hold back on the equipment for the Ceed SW, although we’d head for the very generous '2' or '3' trims if they’re available. The best petrol engine is the 1.4, which is quiet and willing, while the 1.6-litre diesel is ideal if you cover bigger miles or carry lots of kit.
Our budget will get you a late, facelifted model in top-end 3 trim, with very low mileage for its age.
Kia Ceed Review
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Volkswagen Passat (2010-2014)
This generation of the Volkswagen’s Passat estate had the biggest boot in its class when it was new. That means you get a massive load space that makes it easy to pack bags, shopping, dogs and anything else you care to throw in. Fold down the rear seats, and it could double as a removal van.
There’s also a lot of space for both front and rear passengers, and the whole car is solidly made and comfortable, which underscores the Passat’s ability both as a great family wagon and a long distance companion. It’s easy to drive in town, too, and the gentle suspension does a sound job of levelling out gnarly road surfaces.
Petrol engines are available, but most Passat estates of this era were fitted with a 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine. Find a 2007 2.0 TDI Sport with 80,000 miles on the clock in good condition, and you’ll pay around £4,200.
Volkswagen Passat Review
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Toyota Avensis Estate (2009-2018)
It isn’t the most exciting estate car on our list, but it’s highly unlikely that a Toyota Avensis will ever let you down. Low running costs, exceptional reliability, and solid build quality are what it’s all about.
Expect a 2010-2011 Avensis at this price, and you can almost guarantee it will be fitted with Toyota’s surprisingly eager 2.2-litre diesel engine, which is nigh-on bulletproof. In TR trim, which comes with a good few luxuries, you can expect to pay £5,000 for one with around 90,000 miles on the clock and a lot of life left in it.
Another advantage of this third-generation Avensis is its crisper looks compared to the earlier model’s. It has clean lines that have stood the test of time and, while the cockpit is rather bland, it’s screwed together incredibly well. You’ll also have more than enough room for you and the family, and there’s plenty of safety kit as standard.
Opening the boot reveals a sizeable load bay. Tip the back seats down and there’s a completely flat cargo floor, although the rear suspension pinches in a little on the sides.
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Skoda Octavia (2004-2012)
The second generation of Skoda Octavia is a cracking estate car, and its clean styling hides a cavernous boot that puts many bigger cars to shame. The boot itself has a series of additional practicality features, such as recesses in the sides to store small items, and a ski hatch in the fold-down back seats. You also get hooks on the side to keep shopping bags from spilling.
The Octavia is particularly comfortable; the ride is smooth and the engines relatively quiet. And if you fancy something a little more engaging, there’s always the speedy vRS version, which is available in both petrol and diesel forms.
The standard car is the best all-rounder, though, and you get a choice between an excellent range of petrol and turbo diesel engines, all of which offer plenty of mid-range grunt and impressive fuel economy.
Our budget of £5,000 will easily bag you a 2010-2012 2.0-litre TDI Octavia estate in high-spec Elegance trim. That will get you a car with a full service history and mileage likely around the low 100,000s.
Skoda Octavia Review
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Volvo V60 (2010-2018)
It’s almost impossible to discuss used estate cars without mentioning Volvo. In this case, it’s the small executive V60 that gets our attention, because it’s a great rival to the Audi A4 Avant or the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
Like its German rivals, the Volvo’s boot is smaller than a Ford Mondeo's, but it makes up for this with a large tailgate opening and a low sill, which make it easy to feed in large items. The cargo space is still more generous than most hatchback cars you might consider and, with the rear seats folded down, there’s a long flat floor.
There are other good reasons to choose the Volvo, not least its long list of standard safety kit. You also get a comfortable, spacious cabin and a smooth and refined ride. Volvo offered a wide selection of engines with the V60, but we’d look for a pre-facelift 1.6 or 2.0-litre turbodiesel model. We found a special-edition Ocean Race version, with the 2.0-litre diesel engine going for £4,999, with 115,000 miles on the clock. With a combined fuel economy figure of 55.4mpg, that sounds like good value.
Volvo V60 review
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Ford Focus (2011-2018)
The Ford Focus edges out competition from the Seat Leon ST and Volkswagen Golf Estate for a number of reasons. First, it’s brilliant to drive; it’s fun and alert, even on a quick trip to the shops, but it will also canter along all day on the motorway with cruise control engaged.
Another great reason is the large number of cars to choose from. It makes it easier to find a specification to suit your needs, although we’d stick to the mid-sized petrol or diesel motors depending on the sort of mileage you cover (diesels are less desirable, but will cost less and you get better MPG figures).
For £5,000, you can buy a 2012-2014 pre-facelift Focus estate with around 100,000 miles on the clock, most likely with a 1.6-litre TDCi diesel engine and in mid-level Zetec trim. Given that the Focus was, for many years, the UK’s best-selling car, it is also easy enough to pick up an older version for even less money if you’re on a tighter budget.
Ford Focus Review
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Peugeot 308 SW (2013-2021)
The second-generation Peugeot 308 SW (which stands for 'Station Wagon') is one of the smaller estate cars on our list, but incredibly it has one of the biggest boots. Lift the tailgate, and you'll find a whopping 660 litres of loadspace, which includes the 70-litres of handy hidden storage under the boot floor. And when you need to maximise loadspace, you can use the handy levers to easily lower the 60/40 split/fold rear seat, which drops down to create a totally flat floor. This liberates a cavernous 1,775-litres of space, which is another very impressive figure.
You also get marginally more rear legroom than in the 308 hatchback - just as well, because that car's rear seats are pretty tight - and the cabin is smartly trimmed and well equipped. It's a comfortable car to drive, too and some excellent engines are on offer.
Peugeot 308 review
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