'New family car - advice please!

[parallelhusk]

I'm in the market for a 'new' family car, which is likely to be anything from a few years old to a little older depending on what it is. I've got a shortlist which keeps growing 😬

Budget - around £15k
Must haves - automatic, largeish boot, reliable, wife wants an SUV though I think I'd prefer an estate. Enough space for a family of four. Ideally some semi-decent infotainment that supports Android Auto/Apple Carplay. Priorities are comfort, safety and refinement rather than speed.

Shortlist;

Skoda Karoq - have the 1.5 TSI issues been sorted now?
Volvo XC60 - probably stretching the budget too much
Volvo XC70 - always liked these but maybe getting a bit old in terms of design now.
Mazda CX-5 - petrol though seems a bit underpowered. Hot performance isn't essential but I don't want it to be a chore chugging up hills with a car full.
Jaguar F-Pace - 2.0 diesel, these sound surprisingly like they might not be as silly a choice as it seems in terms of running cost?
Citroen C5 Aircross - comfy, but French 🤔
Subaru Outback - kinda like these, a bit leftfield.
Mercedes C-class estate - probably petrol but the 350e models are cheap, not quite sure why given the performance.
Skoda Superb - the sensible choice..
Toyota Corolla Touring hybrid - the even more sensible choice but I don't think I can do it.

I assume that petrol is probably a better choice than diesel given the current state of affairs, plus we do less than 10k miles a year.

Anyone got opinions on any of the above/anything else I haven't thought of?

TIA.

[sherman]

Toyota Rav4

[DannyScene]

I had a Mazda CX5 as a hire car for some work visits last month, I'm glad it was a hire car and I was able to give it back

[parallelhusk]

sherman said:

Toyota Rav4

The hybrid version? What's good about it in particular? I like the post-2019 car but it's out of my budget so presumably the model before that. Is it a bit dated now given that it came out in 2013?

[parallelhusk]

DannyScene said:

I had a Mazda CX5 as a hire car for some work visits last month, I'm glad it was a hire car and I was able to give it back

How come?

[Shrugging for victory]

I've had several Octavias and Superbs (currently driving a Superb hatch). As a sensible and comfortable family lugger you can't go far wrong with these IMHO.

[SkodaIan]

Shrugging for victory said:

I've had several Octavias and Superbs (currently driving a Superb hatch). As a sensible and comfortable family lugger you can't go far wrong with these IMHO.

Of the two, unless you have very tall children, the Octavia is a better bet at this budget as you'll get newer and and lower mileage for the same money as Octavias are cheaper. The boot is much the same size in both cars, most of the extra length in the Superb is for the back seats, and the back seats in the Octavia are perfectly adequate for most people.

If you've got some VAG cars on the list, it's worth also looking at Seat Leon Estate and also the Ateca which is basically the same car as a Karoq. At £15k, you'd get either a top spec previous model Leon (the 2.0TSI 190 in these is a good bet if you can find one) or a slightly higher mileage current model version.

Although the Corolla is probably the "Sensible" choice in many ways, it isn't the biggest of cars so you'd need to check it is big enough. In its favour though, you will use less fuel and its unlikely to let you down. The Corolla also can only tow pretty light trailers (less than 750kg) if that's something you think you may need.

[Miocene]

parallelhusk said:

DannyScene said:

I had a Mazda CX5 as a hire car for some work visits last month, I'm glad it was a hire car and I was able to give it back

How come?

I've had a petrol CX-5 for c.5yrs now.

There's nothing wrong with it, it's been perfectly reliable and it's quite a nice place to be and I wouldn't say underpowered. Plus twin exhausts are always cool.

The issue I, and more importantly, my wife has is the ride. It's not a firm ride, nor is it a soft ride, but instead a bit bouncy. It's a second car for us, but whenever my wife is in it for more than 20mins or so, she starts to feel queasy.

[7 5 7]

The Insignia Tourer isn't on your list as a family tool? You would get a much newer plate car, unfairly overlooked and often forgotten about but very good cars imo.

The current gen is creeping under £10k now
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403278...

Older gen, will be way below your budget, then more things to spend on family things
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307079...

[DannyScene]

parallelhusk said:

DannyScene said:

I had a Mazda CX5 as a hire car for some work visits last month, I'm glad it was a hire car and I was able to give it back

How come?

I really didn't enjoy anything about the car, we usually get Tiguan's or german equivalents, this just felt cheap and horrible in comparison

[parallelhusk]

[quote=7 5 7]The Insignia Tourer isn't on your list as a family tool? You would get a much newer plate car, unfairly overlooked and often forgotten about but very good cars imo.

The current gen is creeping under £10k now

Older gen, will be way below your budget, then more things to spend on family things

I just can't do Vauxhalls - I don't know what it is, they've often been a logical choice previously but I just get the impression I'd feel a little bit sad owning one.

[parallelhusk]

DannyScene said:

I really didn't enjoy anything about the car, we usually get Tiguan's or german equivalents, this just felt cheap and horrible in comparison

Fair enough, most of the reviews I've read particularly praise the high quality interior. I haven't sat in one so I don't know either way.

[Ankh87]

Mini Clubman / Countryman 2.0 S.
The Clubman isn't really an estate but it is top trumps for quirky.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402126...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402266...


KIA ProCeed GT Shooting brake if you want something a little different. Its basically the Hyundai i30N less powerful but more practical cousin. I'm sure as well that these came out in around 2018/19 so should still be in that KIA 7 year warranty.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404038...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312054...

[sherman]

parallelhusk said:

sherman said:

Toyota Rav4

The hybrid version? What's good about it in particular? I like the post-2019 car but it's out of my budget so presumably the model before that. Is it a bit dated now given that it came out in 2013?

My brother and his wife have 2 Rav4s. 1 of each the pre and post 2019 models for his 2 kids. No idea why 2 cars the same.
Boots big enough for a pram and associated bits and 2 backward facing car seats can fit in the back with 2 almost 6ft adults in the front.

[7 5 7]

parallelhusk said:

I just can't do Vauxhalls - I don't know what it is, they've often been a logical choice previously but I just get the impression I'd feel a little bit sad owning one.

Thats a shame they are good cars the Insignia Tourer definitely on par with space compared to the E-Class.

What about a F11 BMW 5 series Touring?

[DannyScene]

parallelhusk said:

DannyScene said:

I really didn't enjoy anything about the car, we usually get Tiguan's or german equivalents, this just felt cheap and horrible in comparison

Fair enough, most of the reviews I've read particularly praise the high quality interior. I haven't sat in one so I don't know either way.

That does surprise me I must say

Annoyingly for me the Mrs really liked the CX5 so it will likely get a look in when we change cars next year

[blueg33]

Volvo V60. We are on our second after Subaru Outback and Octavia Scout. Its much better than both of those, and IMO preferable to an SUV.

[7 5 7]

blueg33 said:

Volvo V60. We are on our second after Subaru Outback and Octavia Scout. Its much better than both of those, and IMO preferable to an SUV.

V60's boot didn't work for us, when I had mine - not a load lugger by any means, was more a shooting brake - the (2010-2016) models anyway.

[blueg33]

7 5 7 said:

blueg33 said:

Volvo V60. We are on our second after Subaru Outback and Octavia Scout. Its much better than both of those, and IMO preferable to an SUV.

V60's boot didn't work for us, when I had mine - not a load lugger by any means, was more a shooting brake - the (2010-2016) models anyway.

Ours have been 2020 onwards. Bigger boot than the previous two and bigger than the XC60 IIRC

[dema]

A V60 mark 2 should do the job well. T5 models are a bit thirsty and the auto box is not the most responsive, apart from that, very good and safe cars.

If you consider the F-type, have you looked at the XF?