Need lots of space without breaking the bank? In the used car market, estate cars certainly offer the most flexible load space this side of a van, and unlike a van, they’re based on existing hatchback or saloon cars. So you can expect the same level of comfort and equipment.
The good news is there are plenty of secondhand cars to choose from that offer a serious amount of metal for relatively little cash.
For our best used estate cars list, we’ve chosen a selection of nearly-new, cheap-to-run models, sporty estate cars, and older, more prestigious models, all for less than £10,000.
Top 10 best used estates
The pragmatic choice
If the Skoda Octavia estate wasn’t on this list, there would be something very wrong indeed. If you’re looking for one of the most reliable estate cars, look no further. More practical than exciting, the Octavia has huge space for both people and luggage, as well as low running costs, great reliability and very competitive pricing. There is a very deep, wide and accommodating load space – which stretches to a mammoth 1,740 litres with the seats folded – and a two-level variable floor. A fully folding passenger seat enables objects as long as three metres to be carried.
There is a choice of petrol and diesel engines, plus ultra-frugal versions of the diesels, which can return a claimed combined fuel consumption figure of 83mpg – although in reality, its 60mpg plus is nothing to be sneezed at. It’s green, too, with a CO2 emissions figure that dips to 87g/km, meaning certain models are free to tax. At the other end of the range, there’s the vRS performance model, offered in both 2.0-litre turbo petrol and diesel guise.
Later Octavia estates are generously equipped, with a multimedia touchscreen system as standard, alloy wheels and seven airbags. As a used car, consider these as a bargain-basement Volkswagen without the badge.
Read our full used Skoda Octavia review
There is a choice of petrol and diesel engines, plus ultra-frugal versions of the diesels, which can return a claimed combined fuel consumption figure of 83mpg – although in reality, its 60mpg plus is nothing to be sneezed at. It’s green, too, with a CO2 emissions figure that dips to 87g/km, meaning certain models are free to tax. At the other end of the range, there’s the vRS performance model, offered in both 2.0-litre turbo petrol and diesel guise.
Later Octavia estates are generously equipped, with a multimedia touchscreen system as standard, alloy wheels and seven airbags. As a used car, consider these as a bargain-basement Volkswagen without the badge.
Read our full used Skoda Octavia review
Pros
- Talented all-rounder and a great bargain
- Luggage space particularly impressive
- Reliable
Cons
- Doesn’t feel particularly special
- Difficult finding a low-mileage one
| Used price: | £4,340-£26,900 |
| Fuel economy: | 40-80mpg |
| Road tax cost: | £0-£180 |
| Insurance group: | 12-29 |
| Boot space (seats up/down): | 610/1,740 litres |
Great choice for motorway milers
Vauxhall has given its Astra Sports Tourer a tapered profile and falling roofline in order to move away from the boxy wagons of old.
There are seven engines to choose from, which means you can have efficiency, performance, or a mixture of both. Choose between two petrol engines sized 1.4 or 1.6 litres, and the very economical and cheap to insure 1.3-, 1.7- and 2.0-litre diesels. This estate also handles much like the hatchback and is a big step forward over the previous generation.
The boot is 500-litres with all the seats up, and 1,000 with them down. This is boosted further by the FlexFold feature (standard or optional depending on trim level) which means you can remove the rear seat cushions and gain a total of 1,550-litres, with a completely flat load floor. Reliability and low running costs are an attraction with the Astra Sports Tourer.
Read our full used Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer review
There are seven engines to choose from, which means you can have efficiency, performance, or a mixture of both. Choose between two petrol engines sized 1.4 or 1.6 litres, and the very economical and cheap to insure 1.3-, 1.7- and 2.0-litre diesels. This estate also handles much like the hatchback and is a big step forward over the previous generation.
The boot is 500-litres with all the seats up, and 1,000 with them down. This is boosted further by the FlexFold feature (standard or optional depending on trim level) which means you can remove the rear seat cushions and gain a total of 1,550-litres, with a completely flat load floor. Reliability and low running costs are an attraction with the Astra Sports Tourer.
Read our full used Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer review
Pros
- Good to drive with excellent steering
- Lots of models to choose from
- Low prices when compared with rivals
Cons
- A bit anonymous looking
- Higher than average depreciation
| Used price: | £5,140-£27,685 |
| Fuel economy: | 37-65mpg |
| Road tax cost: | £0-£155 |
| Insurance group: | 6-23 |
| Boot space (seats up/down): | 500/1,550 litres (with FlexFold) |
Small but mighty
Yes, another Skoda – and rightly so. The Fabia estate is a small car with a big boot, which unsurprisingly means it’s cheap to buy, use and run. It’s well established as a great choice for reliability as well as being cheap to insure.
Sportiness isn’t a priority but the way it drives is refined enough. There’s a range of petrol and engines plus various trim levels, with even the base level featuring DAB radio, air-conditioning, and Bluetooth connectivity.
The interior is simple and clear with easy to operate controls, although the plastics aren’t of the highest quality, but that’s no shock given the great value prices. It’s also very comfortable. Best thing of course is how large the boot is for a small car, plus the ability to take three adults on the back row, something that can’t be said about the regular Fabia hatchback.
Read our full used Skoda Fabia Estate review
Sportiness isn’t a priority but the way it drives is refined enough. There’s a range of petrol and engines plus various trim levels, with even the base level featuring DAB radio, air-conditioning, and Bluetooth connectivity.
The interior is simple and clear with easy to operate controls, although the plastics aren’t of the highest quality, but that’s no shock given the great value prices. It’s also very comfortable. Best thing of course is how large the boot is for a small car, plus the ability to take three adults on the back row, something that can’t be said about the regular Fabia hatchback.
Read our full used Skoda Fabia Estate review
Pros
- Cheap to run
- Inexpensive to insure compared with other cars on this list
- Compact but with huge boot
Cons
- Not much cheaper used than an Octavia
- A bit stodgy to drive
| Used price: | £4,530-£20,635 |
| Fuel economy: | 57-78mpg |
| Road tax cost: | £0-£165 |
| Insurance group: | 2-13 |
| Boot space (seats up/down): | 530/1,395 litres |
Clever Ford tech in an estate body
The previous-generation Focus is a solid, well-built, attractive, comfortable and functional estate that’s been around for ages and is well regarded in the trade. They’re solid and reliable on the whole, aside from a few early EcoBoost petrol issues. It was facelifted in 2014, gaining a smart-looking chrome grille and crisp Ford Sync infotainment screen, and these are the ones to go for.
Load space with the seats folded is 1,516 litres which is excellent for a car of this size, and you have the added bonus that with the seats down, you get a nice, broad load bay, even if the seats don’t fold down entirely flat.
Engines are the same as in its hatchback sister – EcoBoost petrol and TDCi diesel engines are turbocharged for both performance and efficiency. The 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol is efficient and nice to drive, with quiet cruising and plenty of responsiveness when you want to go quickly. There are numerous different power outputs but all deliver good pulling power. The 1.6-litre diesel isn’t bad either, with the added bonus of 60mpg-plus and £20 per year road tax.
Read our full used Ford Focus Estate review
Load space with the seats folded is 1,516 litres which is excellent for a car of this size, and you have the added bonus that with the seats down, you get a nice, broad load bay, even if the seats don’t fold down entirely flat.
Engines are the same as in its hatchback sister – EcoBoost petrol and TDCi diesel engines are turbocharged for both performance and efficiency. The 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol is efficient and nice to drive, with quiet cruising and plenty of responsiveness when you want to go quickly. There are numerous different power outputs but all deliver good pulling power. The 1.6-litre diesel isn’t bad either, with the added bonus of 60mpg-plus and £20 per year road tax.
Read our full used Ford Focus Estate review
Pros
- Excellent handling and steering
- Huge choice of models to choose from
- Lots of engines to choose
Cons
- Some EcoBoost reliability issues
- Dashboard and controls are unattractive
| Used price: | £2,140-£16,770 |
| Fuel economy: | 44-83mpg |
| Road tax cost: | £0-£180 |
| Insurance group: | 6-26 |
| Boot space (seats up/down): | 476/1,516 litres |
The minicabbers favourite
Toyota models are always safe used car buys, because of the sheer reliability of the brand. They’re not the most exciting, but thrill-a-minute drives become less important when you’re buying secondhand: dependability is all, and the Auris Touring Sports does not disappoint here, with a superb reliability record.
Sold between 2013 and 2019, the Auris Touring Sports – that’s Toyota-speak for estate – has a very practical boot measuring 530 litres even with the seats up. It’s a cavernous 1,658 litres with them folded. Equipment levels are generally good and a 2015 facelift added sparkle to the styling plus more interior tech.
It’s offered with petrol and diesel engines, but the hybrids are the most popular. The 1.8-litre petrol engine and CVT gearbox can be noisy when revved, and it’s not the fastest car in the world, but everyday economy is excellent and low CO2 gives cheap road tax without downsides of running a diesel these days. If reliability is a must, there are few better affordable estate cars on sale.
Read our full used Toyota Auris Touring Sports review
Sold between 2013 and 2019, the Auris Touring Sports – that’s Toyota-speak for estate – has a very practical boot measuring 530 litres even with the seats up. It’s a cavernous 1,658 litres with them folded. Equipment levels are generally good and a 2015 facelift added sparkle to the styling plus more interior tech.
It’s offered with petrol and diesel engines, but the hybrids are the most popular. The 1.8-litre petrol engine and CVT gearbox can be noisy when revved, and it’s not the fastest car in the world, but everyday economy is excellent and low CO2 gives cheap road tax without downsides of running a diesel these days. If reliability is a must, there are few better affordable estate cars on sale.
Read our full used Toyota Auris Touring Sports review
Pros
- Very practical
- Very reliable
- Petrol, diesel and hybrid
Cons
- Not very exciting
- Not very fast
| Used price: | £3,580-£22,030 |
| Fuel economy: | 40-54mpg |
| Road tax cost: | £0 – £180 |
| Insurance group: | 6-16 |
| Boot space (seats up/down): | 530/1,658 litres |
Your choice if you value boot space over rear legroom
The Golf estate shares the hatchback’s high quality, premium feel, and has a less awkward rear end design than its predecessors. It’s 307mm longer than the Mk7 hatchback, and 28mm longer than the car it replaced, making it a usefully-sized and reliable family car.
As a used car buy, it’s dependable and well-understood by a huge number of dealers and specialists, although the ultimate reliability lags behind some of its lower-priced rivals, such as the Ford Focus – so bear that in mind. The Golf estate is generously equipped in SE and GT guises, less so in the cheaper S grade. All have a colour touchscreen, roof rails, DAB radio, USB, Bluetooth telephone and audio streaming preparation, trip computer and an electronic parking brake. Facelifted cars have improved infotainment screens measuring up to 9.2 inches.
TDI diesels are superb – a 1.6 TDI is all the engine you need – while the ultra-economical BlueMotion version claims to deliver 85.6mpg and produce just 87g/km of CO2, and in real-world driving it wasn’t that far off if you drove it gently. If you prefer petrol, there’s also a BlueMotion 1.5 TSI which claims diesel economy and 110g/km potential – although even the later 1.0-litre TSI is a fine choice.
Read our full used Volkswagen Golf Estate review
As a used car buy, it’s dependable and well-understood by a huge number of dealers and specialists, although the ultimate reliability lags behind some of its lower-priced rivals, such as the Ford Focus – so bear that in mind. The Golf estate is generously equipped in SE and GT guises, less so in the cheaper S grade. All have a colour touchscreen, roof rails, DAB radio, USB, Bluetooth telephone and audio streaming preparation, trip computer and an electronic parking brake. Facelifted cars have improved infotainment screens measuring up to 9.2 inches.
TDI diesels are superb – a 1.6 TDI is all the engine you need – while the ultra-economical BlueMotion version claims to deliver 85.6mpg and produce just 87g/km of CO2, and in real-world driving it wasn’t that far off if you drove it gently. If you prefer petrol, there’s also a BlueMotion 1.5 TSI which claims diesel economy and 110g/km potential – although even the later 1.0-litre TSI is a fine choice.
Read our full used Volkswagen Golf Estate review
Pros
- Good luggage space
- Economical engines, good resale value
- Strong resale value
Cons
- More expensive to buy than rivals
- Not as roomy as a Skoda Octavia
| Used price: | £4,670-£29,615 |
| Fuel economy: | 39-80mpg |
| Road tax cost: | £0-£220 |
| Insurance group: | 7-39 |
| Boot space (seats up/down): | 605/1,620 litres |
Reassuringly premium
Is this the best of all secondhand estate cars? The BMW 3 Series Touring is a deservedly popular lifestyle estate that has enough room for most families but offers all the driving pleasure you’d expect from a company that used to market its products as ‘the ultimate driving machine’. It’s far from cheap, and will be more expensive to maintain than a mainstream alternative, but its all-round allure will help offset this – particularly once you get behind the wheel.
For those looking to eke out the most mpg, the 318d and 320d models deliver fantastic fuel consumption if not the most excitement. The most economical is the 187hp 320d, which averages 61.4mpg and puts out 122g/km, meaning low road tax. The cheapest 3 Series to tax is the 318d, which costs just £20 per year.
If you want the biggest estate car for your money, look elsewhere. Load space is beaten by the smaller cars above, with 495 litres when the rear seats are in place. With them folded flat the load space expands to 1,500 litres. Having said that, it’s bigger than its two main premium rivals: the Mercedes-Benz C-Class estate and Audi A4 Avant. The loadbay has some nice features, too, with luggage securing lugs, a pair of coat hooks, a luggage net and strap and a deep storage compartment.
Read our full used BMW 3 Series Touring review
For those looking to eke out the most mpg, the 318d and 320d models deliver fantastic fuel consumption if not the most excitement. The most economical is the 187hp 320d, which averages 61.4mpg and puts out 122g/km, meaning low road tax. The cheapest 3 Series to tax is the 318d, which costs just £20 per year.
If you want the biggest estate car for your money, look elsewhere. Load space is beaten by the smaller cars above, with 495 litres when the rear seats are in place. With them folded flat the load space expands to 1,500 litres. Having said that, it’s bigger than its two main premium rivals: the Mercedes-Benz C-Class estate and Audi A4 Avant. The loadbay has some nice features, too, with luggage securing lugs, a pair of coat hooks, a luggage net and strap and a deep storage compartment.
Read our full used BMW 3 Series Touring review
Pros
- Great to drive
- Petrol and diesel engines are all excellent
- Desirable badge
Cons
- Boot isn’t massive
- Servicing and maintenance are costly
| Used price: | £4,975-£33,520 |
| Fuel economy: | 31-53mpg |
| Road tax cost: | £20-£520 |
| Insurance group: | 18-43 |
| Boot space (seats up/down): | 495/1,500 litres |
8
Peugeot 308 SW (2014-2021)
Strong engines meet huge boot
If you want an unconventional interior and massive loadspace, the Peugeot 308 SW should definitely be on your list. Inside you get a small steering wheel, raised instrument cluster, and large touchscreen to replace most of the conventional controls.
An extended wheelbase means more room for rear passengers as well as a boot of 660 litres with the rear seats up. Fold them completely flat and you get 1,775 of space. Filling that space is easy thanks to a low lip and rails along the boot floor to aid sliding.
Our favourite engine is the 130hp, 1.2-litre e-THP 130 petrol. With either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission, it’s an impressive unit. Despite having only three cylinders, it is quiet and offers smooth in-gear acceleration, which combined with the 308’s sporty handling, make this a good car for people who enjoy driving. And despite a lingering reputation to the contrary, Peugeot reliability has improved immeasurably since 2015 and you can buy one of these stylish load luggers used with good confidence that it won’t let you down.
Read our full used Peugeot 308 SW review
An extended wheelbase means more room for rear passengers as well as a boot of 660 litres with the rear seats up. Fold them completely flat and you get 1,775 of space. Filling that space is easy thanks to a low lip and rails along the boot floor to aid sliding.
Our favourite engine is the 130hp, 1.2-litre e-THP 130 petrol. With either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission, it’s an impressive unit. Despite having only three cylinders, it is quiet and offers smooth in-gear acceleration, which combined with the 308’s sporty handling, make this a good car for people who enjoy driving. And despite a lingering reputation to the contrary, Peugeot reliability has improved immeasurably since 2015 and you can buy one of these stylish load luggers used with good confidence that it won’t let you down.
Read our full used Peugeot 308 SW review
Pros
- Nice to drive
- Good to look at
- Great boot size considering dimensions
Cons
- Marmite driving position
- Not a massive selection on the used car market
| Used price: | £3,670-£27,375 |
| Fuel economy: | 47-88mpg |
| Road tax cost: | £0 – £165 |
| Insurance group: | 12-29 |
| Boot space (seats up/down): | 660/1,775 litres |
Enormous and upmarket
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class easily slips into our sub-£10,000 budget if you go back a generation to the 2010-2016 model. Don’t think that just because you’re looking at an older car you’re going to be missing out on technology or safety features, as this model was packed with features that still stand up today.
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate emissions are fairly competitive. The basic Mercedes E 220 diesel returns a combined fuel economy figure of 64.2mpg and CO2 emissions of 114g/km for road tax of £30 a year. The more powerful E350 BlueTEC diesel still gives you 54.3mpg.
This car’s crowning glory has to be its luggage space, which is frankly enormous. The rear seats fold almost flat and that extends potential luggage volume to 1,950 litres to roof height, which easily makes it the largest of this group. There is also the option of rear-facing child seats in the luggage compartment. They fold flat and have no impact on luggage space.
Read our full used Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate review
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate emissions are fairly competitive. The basic Mercedes E 220 diesel returns a combined fuel economy figure of 64.2mpg and CO2 emissions of 114g/km for road tax of £30 a year. The more powerful E350 BlueTEC diesel still gives you 54.3mpg.
This car’s crowning glory has to be its luggage space, which is frankly enormous. The rear seats fold almost flat and that extends potential luggage volume to 1,950 litres to roof height, which easily makes it the largest of this group. There is also the option of rear-facing child seats in the luggage compartment. They fold flat and have no impact on luggage space.
Read our full used Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate review
Pros
- Badge appeal
- Enormous boot
- Reasonable running costs
Cons
- Four-cylinder diesels are rough
- Lower-powered models lacklustre to drive
| Used price: | £3,600-£23,850 |
| Fuel economy: | 25-65mpg |
| Road tax cost: | £20-£630 |
| Insurance group: | 32-44 |
| Boot space (seats up/down): | 695/1,950 litres |
The best value estate on the market
Last but by no means least on this list is the extraordinarily reasonable Dacia Logan MCV (or Maximum Capacity Vehicle), which for years was the cheapest estate car on sale in Britain. Despite its bargain price, the standard Logan offers up to 1,518-litres of lugging ability. Entry-level models were basic though, with power steering and front airbags and not much else.
Still, with that price tag you could buy it as a second car to fill with scuba equipment on the weekend. If you want to use it day-to-day, the on-board kit improves with mid-level Ambiance trim, while top of the range Laureate models get luxuries like cruise control and electric rear windows. Dacia later launched an Essential grade, which was still super-affordable, but did at least have air con and other, ahem, essentials.
There are three engine choices but the most popular is the 1.5-litre dCi 90, with 90hp on offer. It’ll do 0-62mph in 12.1 seconds, but more importantly it offers CO2 emissions of 99g/km, and a claimed fuel economy of 74.3mpg.
Read our full used Dacia Logan MCV review
Still, with that price tag you could buy it as a second car to fill with scuba equipment on the weekend. If you want to use it day-to-day, the on-board kit improves with mid-level Ambiance trim, while top of the range Laureate models get luxuries like cruise control and electric rear windows. Dacia later launched an Essential grade, which was still super-affordable, but did at least have air con and other, ahem, essentials.
There are three engine choices but the most popular is the 1.5-litre dCi 90, with 90hp on offer. It’ll do 0-62mph in 12.1 seconds, but more importantly it offers CO2 emissions of 99g/km, and a claimed fuel economy of 74.3mpg.
Read our full used Dacia Logan MCV review
Pros
- Lots of room for the money
- Hugely economical in diesel form
- Really cheap
Cons
- A bit dull looking
- Lacks badge kudos
| Used price: | £2,550-£12,850 |
| Fuel economy: | 48-80mpg |
| Road tax cost: | £0-£140 |
| Insurance group: | 2-12 |
| Boot space (seats up/down): | 573/1,518 litres |
Murray Scullion was the Deputy Editor of Parkers and a contributor to CAR. He regularly wrote reviews, news and longer articles about big tech.
After finishing his journalism degree he secured a Staff Writer role at Classic Car Weekly. During that time he broke many news stories but also broke down in a lot of old cars. He was quickly promoted to News Editor, before leaving the classic world for new cars at buyacar.co.uk.
He joined Parkers as Finance Editor in 2019, looking after all things money and advice, before becoming the site’s Deputy Editor in 2022.
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