£10k for a reliable estate/SUV

[MrGTI6]

Having had company cars for the best part of 30 years, my dad is being pushed into having a fully-electric car when his current one goes back. He's decided he'll take the car allowance instead and buy his own car. The last car he bought with his own money was an MG Metro in the early nineties!

Budget is around £10k. Less would be nice, but could stretch for the right car. He wants an estate or SUV. Estates look like much better value so trying to persuade him towards one of those instead!

Good spec would be nice, but Spotify connectivity and sat-nav essential. Reliability is very important, as are acceptable running costs and ideally nothing horrendously slow.

Automatic gearbox is preferable but not essential. Trying to avoid anything with a DSG-style dual-clutch auto, though I gather some are better than others. Also nothing that uses a wet belt!

I was thinking something like a 320i Touring or C200 estate, or a Mazda6 petrol estate as a more left-field choice. He had a few BMWs during the 2000s and liked them, and has had plenty of Mercs and always liked them as well, especially his C350CDI!

Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated, as well as recommendations of what to avoid!

Thanks!

[ZX10R NIN]

With a budget of 10k he'll have to budget to add Android Auto/Carplay to almost everything he's looking at but there are some very good options at this price point.

Infiniti QX50 GT Premium, if ULEZ's are an issue these are compliant:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310112...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310163...

Same with the EX:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309041...

Estate wise the last of line Insignia SRI VX Line is a good option at this price point & comes with a conventional auto as well as CarPlay as standard:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309272...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308291...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310253...

Elite Nav:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310102...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309061...

508 GT is another good buy:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310263...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310183...

Mercedes E350cdi:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212042...

[addey]

What about a Lexus RX450h?

[dhutch]

Did you get anywhere? I'm in a similar market.

I dont know if I could bring myself to drive an Insignia, but they do look good on paper.
Peugeot 508 SW is another interesting option I hadnt really considered.

[ZX10R NIN]

dhutch said:

Did you get anywhere? I'm in a similar market.

I dont know if I could bring myself to drive an Insignia, but they do look good on paper.
Peugeot 508 SW is another interesting option I hadnt really considered.

I'd say try one before dismissing the Insignia the 508 SW is another good option.

[Turtle Shed]

RAV4 but he'll have to do something 3rd party for the Apple/Spotify stuff.

[MrGTI6]

Thank you everyone for taking the time to respond with some great suggestions and apologies for not updating sooner.

After much protest from staff, they've been allocated a batch of 73-plate Nissan Qashqais and he's managed to get one. His is a 1.5 petrol hybrid but doesn't need plugging in, just fill it up with petrol and it's good to go!

I'll probably be asking the same question on his behalf when this one goes back though!

Thanks again.