VW Golf Estate vs Kia Sportage vs VW Golf vs Kia Niro

[TrainGame]

Dear MN
Please help me. We are in such a muddle. DH and I are average height and 2 DC teenagers, also average height. Think 5ft 7 to 5ft 10.

We live in a big city and I do most of the driving, just nipping to shops, picking up kids, to gym/pool etc for kids. In the last 15 years we've done 33,000 miles. So not big drivers.

The car will not be used to drive to work.

We do however drive once a year to France to place on north coast. That's one big drive but that's it. DH does that drive. But I do the rest of the driving all the rest of the year.

DH has been adamant that we must get a car with a bigger boot. So he's been saying VW Golf Estate or Kia Sportage.

I don't want to drive around an enormous car for just 2 to 3 mile drives here and there. So I've been asking we get something smaller like VW Golf or Kia Niro.

I've test driven VW Golf Estate and Kia Sportage. Both nice but I really feel like I'm driving a tank - they are so large. For reference I've had a Peugoet 3.8 for the last 15 years.

DH usually likes to load up the boot for the drive to France. Takes the kitchen sink. If we go for a normal VW Golf, it's going to be pretty much the same.

I know he'll complain when we come to go to France.

But equally I don't want to drive a tank the rest of the year when I do 99% of the driving.

What should we do?

I'd go for the Sportage personally, I think it's worth the extra space. You'll get used to it quickly, we have a Kia Ceed and bought a Sportage last month as I passed my test in December and we needed 2 cars. I already much prefer driving the Sportage and quite like feeling higher up in it now. My mum has a Niro and honestly I don't think the Sportage is much longer/ bulkier when parked next to each other but it feels a lot more roomy inside and it's obviously taller.

Personally I would go for a Kia based on my experience with them

They have a good reputation and dealer's seems very accommodating in the unlikely event of a warranty claim

If you live in that part of the world go to Chalkes in Mere for the car and most importantly the service

I have the sportage, I like it so much it's my second one, I don't feel like it's too big but understand if you are used to a smaller car it might, my DP had a few estate cars and an insignia and I always felt like they were much bigger, not sure why

I've got a golf estate, it's nothing like a tank to drive, and I'm only 5'1". (DH 5’10, fits him fine too of course)

Mine does have all round sensors so it's easy to park. It's 10 years old now, if the newer ones have a camera that'd be even easier.

We sold it to my dd (similar height to me) as her first car after graduating, she really liked it but after 3 years clean driving we swapped it for one of our Toyota corolla hybrids (similar size) as she commutes and I just want something for shops, dump runs with loads of garden waste etc.

It's a great size for not being a bulky 'tank' but good load capacity.

Fairly obviously our choice now for a car that's great for town driving and for longer holiday trips with luggage it's the Toyota Corolla touring sport, but if your looking at older cars then the golf estate is good.

I have a new Sportage. It's dead easy to drive and park. It's got sensors at front and rear and a rear camera. It's easy because it's box shaped. In the distant past I had a Saab saloon car and a Mondeo saloon. They had no sensors or cameras and could be stressful in tight carparks etc but Sportage is a breeze. We're driving to Brittany this summer and it's got a huge boot and tons of room for 3 in the back.

This is all really useful.

The Golf Estate is 40cm longer than what I’m used to so it feels like it’ll be sticking out everywhere.

The Sportage is 30cm longer.

I have to agree the Sportage is really roomy inside compared to the Golf Estate. It’s 7cm wider and a lot taller. There was so much room in the back for the kids. It felt much more spacious than the VW Golf Estate. But then the boot of the Golf Estate was bigger than the Sportage so I guess they’re pretty much the same but just the space has been used differently in each car.

I feel like I’m taking a step back with a Golf Estate.

DH has now said he doesn’t mind if we just get a Golf.

Would this be too small for family of four adults? Would we have space for all our stuff for the journey to France?

im still in such a muddle but DH says we must decide tomorrow.

Why not get a golf non estate or similar size for day to day life, E.g. Kia stonic or ceed? Much more economical for petrol etc day to day. Then hire a large SUV for your once a year trip to France?

I have the new Sportage and it's a great car. Very solid and lots of great features. Are you planning on getting the new one or used?

Would this be too small for family of four adults? Would we have space for all our stuff for the journey to France?

We found the estate the right size for holidays in the U.K. with one small teen and a sausage dog.
The hatchback golf looks chopped off.

I will point out one feature on the new Sportage however (which a new VW may also have, so check!) if you cross the centre line of the road (which we sometimes have to do, right? If cars are parked in your lane and you need to drive round them etc) it turns the bloody wheel to steer you back!!!! Yes you can turn it off in the settings but you have to do it every journey! I've even tried doing it in the app but nope, sure enough despite clicking save it does it again as soon as you drive again.
I've contacted KIA and they've confirmed that there's no way of permanently switching off as apparently it's legally required in some European countries, according to them? Baffling. It's really annoying and seems to dangerous to me.
Man at Kia said if he had a penny for every time he's been asked how to get rid of it, he could retire.

No idea if this happens in the older Sportage but it's definitely on all of their new cars not just the Sportage

Just what I was thinking 👍

The new Nero is really nice. Feels very modern and high tech. It's not as high up as the sortage, boot space seems similar. It feels like a less frumpy car.

I really like VW too and they tend to hold their value well but Kia's are getting great reviews at the moment. I'd go Kia, if it's new and VW if it's older.

We are buying new for either car.

Thank you also to the poster about the steering wheel turning in when you go over a white line! Crikey. As I live in a very built up city I’m always going over white lines, dodging in and out of lanes.

I agree with this but DH is funny about stuff like this. I don’t know why. I’ve suggested it and he sort of roles his eyes at me. Like I’m making a big deal out of it and it’s too much work.

Can we hire a car in the U.K. and take it abroad?

Errol would to be a tallish family?

We’re just average height but maybe we need more space? I don’t know! Even the Estate felt quite small in the back with the kids. Sportage much more roomy.

im so stuck.

We looked at similar as do long drives to devon for hols

We went for the sportage as best for every day in view we'd get or hire a roof box if needed, although weve never needed to yet as youll be suprised what u can fit in the sportage without the parcel shelf

Its amazing SUV and perfect for everyday and parking!

Im just annoyed we didnt get one sooner tbh...

I believe you can, but would have to inform the hire company which countries you’re going to visit. That way they can make sure you’re insurance is valid.

My Skoda kamiq has this. It drives me nuts. It's literally put me in danger of crashing as it tries to drag me in to parked cars or obstacles. I turn it off every journey but what dimwit invented it 🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

Interesting-🤔 our present leased car goes back in June - Nissan Qashquai - and have been contemplating leasing a Kia Sportage - been told luggage can be pushed forward underneath the back seats? We need lots of space for luggage

I’d rule the Sportage out then. I love ours (but we’ve got two toddlers in giant seats, so we need the space), but it’s not very fuel efficient over short distances and it does not like you crossing white lines. Even the older models shout at you to take a break, the newer ones will try to self-correct.

You can’t on ours, but perhaps you can on other models? Mine has a solid wall to the boot.

I love my Sportage - big boot, roomy enough for the teens (one is 6ft) and DH is 6’2 and is quite happy in it. It’s the dog / long distance car as it fits everything, reliable, has all the gadgets as standard and we’re all comfortable.

It will take less than a week to get used to it I promise! We love a car and I’ve dealt with a ranger, a golf, the longest merc ever, a range, focus….the sportage is the easiest car to drive and park.

I’ve a sportage. I liked it as it has a breadth of extras, like heated seats front and back and usb sockets front and back, camera parking excellent, good on fuel, etc. kids (teens) are happy with the space. DH moans it’s not ‘pokey’ but he’s ex police (traffic!) so I think he’s used to high power cars.

Unfortunately I think you'll find any new car you'd buy today has this. The Golf certainly has.