A CAR dealer has shared his top picks for the best estate cars that you can still pick up for under £5,000.
The body type used to be among the most popular in the UK but has almost died out in recent years as trends have shifted towards hatchbacks and SUVs.
The latest data from the SMMT, the trade body representing car makers, suggests that around 110,000 estates were registered in 2023.
While a decent increase on the pandemic years, it’s still nowhere near the peak of the late ’90s and early 2000s.
Today, the estate car has been largely supplanted by the crossover SUV as a spacious, practical option for drivers.
And the latter also tends to offer more power and sharper performance into the bargain.
However, the one downside of the crossover era is that they tend to be quite expensive with even the UK’s cheapest car, the Dacia Sandero, closing in on £14,000.
With that in mind, Matthew Goodwin of High Peak Autos took to his YouTube channel to recommend some estate alternatives which can “do a better job” for a third of the price.
The A6 was technically classed as an “executive saloon” but the Avant version sneaks into the estate category and offers great value.
Matthew managed to find some online for as little as £995, although those did feature seriously high mileage.
He recommended going for the three-litre engine spec and tracked down a 2010 model for only £4,500.
Audi still makes the model today in a production run dating back to 1996 so it’s hard to go wrong with this best-seller.
Another estate based on an executive model, the 5 Series Touring retains all the luxury of its pricier sibling with a longer wheel base and tweaked engine configuration.
Matthew said: “A 3 Series estate is a really good car.
“It’s probably all the car you need.
“But what I would recommend is a 5 Series…I don’t think you can beat a good 5 Series Touring.”
The E61 variant, also with the three-litre engine, can be had well within the budget, with prices ranging from £4,995 to below £3,000.
Jaguar is a brand best known for its gorgeous sports cars and plush SUVs, but it did a very neat line in estates through the early noughties in the form of the X-Type.
Matthew managed to find a 2006 model with 130,000 miles on the clock for just £2,150.
However, he did warn that the model wouldn’t be top of his list thanks to high running costs.
Particularly, the X-Type often fits into the higher road tax bracket, which could see owners shelling out hundreds extra per year compared to with the other entries in the list.
The E Class completes a trio of estates with sister saloon models as the two body types dovetail nicely in terms of design.
A 2011 V6 version sneaks in at £4,995, while plenty of others can come in bang on £5,000.
And like the Audi A6, Mercedes still makes the E Class and have done for 30 years which is a strong testament to its durability and popularity.
Finally, Matthew discovered a 2014 Vauxhall Insignia on offer for exactly £5,000.
He explained: “They are a good-looking thing.
“The road tax is cheap.
“If you find one that’s been maintained well then go for it.”
But he did warn that the Insignia can sometimes struggle on reliability in older specs and repairs can be expensive if you don’t address them immediately.
