Superb Estate 1.5 TSI DSG vs 2019+ RAV4 Hybrid (family car)

[SynergyPulse]

I'm replacing my 2011 Fiesta auto and have spent the last couple of weeks researching what to buy. I've narrowed it down to two very different cars, but I'm struggling to decide.

My budget is £19k max, although I'd rather spend around £17k if possible. Has to be automatic petrol.

My driving is:

Around 8,000 miles a year
Mostly local driving (gym, shopping, neighbouring towns)
A few longer trips throughout the year
We go camping a few times a year, which is one of the reasons I'm replacing the Fiesta.

I've read loads of reviews and owner comments, and this is where I've ended up:

Skoda Superb Estate 1.5 TSI DSG (2020 onwards)

Seems to be one of the best value used cars around.
Huge amount of space.
More comfortable and refined than most alternatives.
Better interior than I'd expect for the money.
Feels like a class above.
Downsides seem to be that it's a big car and, while generally reliable, it's still a turbo petrol with a DSG rather than Toyota levels of reliability.

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (2019 onwards)

Toyota reliability.
Excellent fuel economy.
Hybrid should suit my mainly urban driving.
Easier to get in and out of and better visibility.
Holds its value well.

The downside is price. To stay under £19k I'd mostly be looking at higher-mileage 2019 cars, whereas for the same money I can get a much newer, lower-mileage Superb in a good trim.

So I'm trying to work out whether the RAV4 is actually worth the premium, or whether the Superb is simply the better buy.

A couple of questions:

Which would you buy in my position and why?
Is the RAV4's reliability and hybrid drivetrain enough to justify paying more and accepting higher mileage?
Or is the Superb such good value that it's the obvious choice?

I'm not particularly interested in performance. My priorities are comfort, reliability, running costs and overall value for money, and I tend to keep cars for a long time.

Interested to hear from anyone who's owned either (or both).

[MattsCar]

The one point you are missing between the two, is the higher centre of gravity of the RAV4 will make it feel less like a normal car to drive.

I would be going for the Skoda Superb.

[Anastie]

Ive previously owned 2 RAV4's a plugin and a hybrid. The hybrid was economical and a good spacious car. One of the big selling points for Toyota in my opinion is if the car is under 10 years old. Every year it is serviced by Toyota you get an additional years warranty included. Not sure if cars under 10 years old will be within your budget?

[SynergyPulse]

There are some with around 75k on the clock for 19k. Unfortunately not allowed to post links as I'm new here, but there's a private seller with a 2020 full service history and 47k on the clock for 19k and a dealer one, 2019 with 70k on the clock for 19k also with full service history.

[Anastie]

SynergyPulse said:

There are some with around 75k on the clock for 19k. Unfortunately not allowed to post links as I'm new here, but there's a private seller with a 2020 full service history and 47k on the clock for 19k and a dealer one, 2019 with 70k on the clock for 19k also with full service history.

As I said for me the warranty is high value. And that would influence my decision. However, do test drive one as the CVT "gearbox" does not suit everyone. I had no complaints with it.

[alangla]

Do you really need the colossal boot on the Superb? That sort of budget would put you into the last of the old shape Octavia VRSs, or a leggy example of the new shape. Both would be 245hp automatics. I’ve had mine 5 years as a family wagon, not used it for tent camping, but been to plenty of caravan sites, including taking bedding and towels for 4, I’m only really looking to move up to the Superb because I can’t fit the kids bikes in and it tends to be packed to the roof these days.

[Lecket]

Would Corolla estate not work?

Could get a 2022 1.8 icon with less than 40,000 miles for around £17k.

Admittedly much smaller than the superb, but still a very useable estate.

[Deerfoot]

SynergyPulse said:

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (2019 onwards)

Have a look at the Suzuki Across. It's a badge engineered Rav4 which is usually far better value.

[MattsCar]

Lecket said:

Would Corolla estate not work?

Could get a 2022 1.8 icon with less than 40,000 miles for around £17k.

Admittedly much smaller than the superb, but still a very useable estate.

Or the Suzuki Swace, which like the RAV4/ Across mentioned above, is a rebadge of the Toyota Corolla and seems better value.

You also get the 10 yr warranty if you keep up the servicing.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605182...

Edited by MattsCar on Sunday 19th July 11:35

[stevemcs]

Owning a Superb, my recommendation would be go for the Toyota. Yes the boot and rear space is huge but it’s dull to drive - for me the most uncomfortable seats, suspension is awful -and yes mine has the DCC.

With the gearbox in the Hybrid there’s a strong chance it will give up at some point.the Corolla as someone mentioned above is a much better car.

I’ve had my Superb 2 years and I really should have gone with a 5 series, if I could find something that had the space of the Superb it would be gone.

[SynergyPulse]

Deerfoot said:

Have a look at the Suzuki Across. It's a badge engineered Rav4 which is usually far better value.

Unfortunately outside my budget. Only a handful on Autotrader and cheapest one is 21k. I appreciate the advice.

[The Mad Monk]

Anastie said:

As I said for me the warranty is high value. And that would influence my decision. However, do test drive one as the CVT "gearbox" does not suit everyone. I had no complaints with it.

The CVT gearbox is of no consequence unless you are a boy racer. Just get in it, drive it and go.

[paul_c123]

I would avoid that variation of DSG unless you have a decent warranty covering your entire ownership period.

[chip*]

From experience, Skoda tend to cheap out on the suspensions parts (misting on sub 50k shocks, clunky / noisy arms etc..) and thus the ride is pretty poor unless it's on smooth tarmac. For an easier life, I would go for the RAV4 / Across or Corolla if you can accept the reduced rear interior and boot space. Maybe fit a roofbox or even a towbar to the Corolla to give you the extra storage for camping trips.

[Manatee]

If it's a long termer then definitely the RAV.

I like the Skoda but not the DSG, from both a driving and reliability perspective.

I simply wouldn't buy a second hand DSG because you can't know how it's been used. Buried in the manual is an injunction NOT to hold the car on the accelerator. But there is nothing more natural to some drivers habituated to traditional automatics than to use the 'creep' like this. If you are the unfortunate buyer there are two risks -

- heat is what kills or shortens the life of these gearboxes, and slipping the clutch like this generates a lot of it.
- the clutches do wear out.

I believe the Superb 1.5TSI uses the dry-clutch DQ200. I don't like them for close manoeuvring, if you have to inch up to a wall, say, you can't feather the clutch - the car will engage it fully, so you brake. This fully disengages the clutch, and you start again ad nauseam. In fairness my wife didn't agree, she simply avoided the manoeuvring.

My daughter has just got rid of an Audi A6 diesel. It had the 7 speed wet clutch which is much nicer to drive but the even clutch started slipping at 78,000, potentially in the range you are buying. It was a £2,800 job.

We keep cars a long time. The only cars of recent manufacture I would buy are Toyota/Lexus, Mazda, Honda, Subaru, Suzuki, Mitsubishi.

My wife's last car was a Roomster 1.2TSI 105 DSG. Great car. We kept it 11 years to about 50,000 miles. In fairness nothing went wrong with it. My son wanted to take it on so I suggested he change the gear oil and the mechatronic fluid which he did, and keep his fingers crossed. At least he knows we didn't hold it on the accelerator!

I admit to a principled dislike of DCTs..

[stevemcs]

chip* said:

From experience, Skoda tend to cheap out on the suspensions parts (misting on sub 50k shocks, clunky / noisy arms etc..) and thus the ride is pretty poor unless it's on smooth tarmac. For an easier life, I would go for the RAV4 / Across or Corolla if you can accept the reduced rear interior and boot space. Maybe fit a roofbox or even a towbar to the Corolla to give you the extra storage for camping trips.

Same shocks across the entire vag range, they all leak.