Tell me about your large estate car please!

[Spareincoming]

We bought a volvo xc90 having been reassured by the real world recommendations from Mumsnet and it great until it was stolen 2 weeks ago in Glasgow so I am turning back to you all for your real world recommendations!

We have a seven seater Skoda and have decided we don’t need another 7 seater but would like the boot space of an estate.

We’ve previously had a Focus estate which I loved but found with car seats in the back it became quite space limited for front seat passengers and driver.
Immediate possibilities that spring to mind include: VW Passat estate, Mazda 6 estate, Volvo v90.

my ideal car criteria:

• Not a Skoda - we’ve had awful problems with the dealership with ours, and have had to use a dealership 100 miles away to get sorted, currently the car is ok but it’s tarnished Skoda for life for DH.
• 2-3 years old.
• petrol as we don’t want the add blue and DPF issues due to not doing huge weekly mileage.
• Larger engine size as we occasionally have to tow with my car.
• large back seat for 2 car seats plus someone in between
• Leg space for front seat passengers when a rear facing child seat is used behind their seat - likely to be in use for another 3 to 4 years.

I had a Mondeo estate for a few years. I loved that car. Huge boot. Great for camping and dog. Tonnes of room around the seats, legroom and headroom.

@BrunchBarBandit Thanks, unfortunately they’ve stopped making the mondeo and I can’t find one of the right age and specs! Otherwise I’d have been keen, I like fords!

We have a Volvo v60 estate has two forward facing child seats in the back & room enough for third person in between the boot is huge, ginormous if you fold the back seats, ours is the inscription model so has lots of extras it’s a lovely car methinks Dh is slightly in love with it oh & its petrol engine automatic gearbox.

Audi A6
BMW 5
Volvo V70
Mercedes C or E

We love our Passat estate, it has loads of leg room-DH is 6ft, he can sit in the front with leg room to spare with a rear facing car seat behind him, ours is 9 years old, we had the cam belt and water pump replaced which you expect on a car of that age, it's done just over 90,000 miles and we can't fault it. With regards to fitting between 2 car seats there are so many variables but size 12 me sat between 2 car seats in a golf from Somerset to Wales with no issues.

BMW 330 ?

What about a Kia Ceed Estate? I love mine but I've not had to put child seats in it so can't comment on that aspect.

I also have this car and love it! My kids are adult sized teens and love the extra space in the back compared to the previous 1 series BMW

I hated our Passat. It was a terrible drive.
I now have a BMW 320 Touring which I love but it isn’t as big.

We have a Volvo V90. We had issues with the hybrid - if you go with a V90 definitely stick to petrol.

I'd check out how wide the car you choose is - DH was choosing between two and was pleased he didn't go with the wider one.

Volvo V sonething estate..quite old is diesel and all wheel drive. Great for hounds they have loads of space in the back and dog gates and fits 4 people and shopping etc comfortably. Costly re tax etc but I will be sad when it packs up. Oh and is automatic

I have a 2016 VW Golf estate. It's fine for 2 car seats in the back and a person in between. Also comfortable for 3 people who are not in car seats. The boot space is good - same chassis as a similar Audi but better cargo capacity due to higher roof.
NB - It is a long car. My DDs laugh b/c I call it 'the boat'. But compared to other cars, it's narrow and has a very tight steering circle so can slip into spaces.
Fingers crossed. it is VW reliable: not a blip in nearly 10 years.

I still miss my Saab 9-5 estate
wonderful wonderful car

2 child seats plus adult means Volvo V90 or Mercedes E

3rd row of seats only really worked in the Citroen Familiale (yes I am that old)

Petrol, under 3 litre, high spec, mileage under 30,000 and you will be fine

If you liked the xc90 definitely look at the V90.

Although try the car seats for fit.

Thanks lovelies, lots of good Volvo recommendations; I really liked the Volvo’s add ons!
We’ve had a Passat previously, liked it but car seats limited the driver recline. It proved its worth in a crash as DH walked away with a few broken bones which the police crash investigators said if he’d have been in a lower safety rated vehicle he’d have been looking as life changing injuries at best. Keep hearing mixed reviews on the petrol models which isn’t helping!

I went from a Golf estate to a Škoda Kodiaq 7 seater. Boot space was exactly the same as the boot liner I had in the Golf fits the Škoda perfectly. I loved the Golf and didn’t really want to sell it but circumstances at the time meant the Škoda would be more practical for us.

It’s an impossible question without knowing what you want to tow with it.

@Shade17 towing wise, it can be anything from the sheep trailer to our caravan, a camping trailer for our young group summer camp… whilst it isn’t regular towing - a few times a year - a decent towing capacity is a must.

What do you class as a decent tow capacity @Spareincoming?
Because for me a decent tow capacity would be 2000kg plus which you won’t get from many estate cars these days.

Toyota Corolla touring ? I’m on my second

750 kg braked towing capacity

Have you considered a Citroen Berlingo? They’re incredibly spacious

I had a Mazda 6 TS2 estate. Lovely car, comfy, spacious and the back seats folded completely flat. The only downside to the boot was the wheel arches being on the inside was the top part of the boot was narrower. I’m sure I’d still have that car now had my c**t of an exh told me that when he took it to the garage they recommended an oil top up and he refused to have it done. Drove 150 miles with it totally empty. He told me the light was just a fault and it had already been checked and was fine. It wasn’t. The following day when I was driving it. It blew the engine completely causing thousands of pounds worth of damage. It was only then I found out about the oil and the light not being faulty when I spoke to the garage. I couldn’t afford to have it fixed because the following day I walked out of my abusive marriage with absolutely nothing except my clothes

We have a BMW 5 - Boot is big enough for a concert harp (out criteria). Lots of front passenger leg room and have had 3 adults in the back on several occasions with no problems. Petrol with automatic gearbox.

Without a doubt Volvo V90 would be my choice.