The best used estates for under £10k are:
- Volvo V70 (2007-16)
- Skoda Octavia Estate (2013-)
- Honda Civic Tourer (2014-)
- Seat Leon ST (2014-)
Volvo V70 (2007-16)
It’s possible to get a model from as recent as 2012 for £10,000, so keep an eye out for this superb estate from the brand which has long led the way in terms of vehicle safety.
It’s also beneficial to look for a model from 2012, as the Volvo V70 went through a facelift then which upgraded the infotainment system by installing the brilliant Sensus system, as well as adding great new engines in the form of the D5 and D3. If you look further afield, models from 2013 can facilitate larger wheels of up to 19 inches in diameter.
There’s four diesel and two petrol engines available in the V70, all of which are turbocharged. The diesel tends to be the popular choice thanks to its better fuel economy – the 2.4-litre 212bhp will get 44mpg, whilst still delivering good amounts of power. If you are inclined to go for a petrol, the V70 T5 has a 2.0-litre engine which delivers 237bhp, or the T6 has a powerful 3.0-litre engine which delivers 300bhp and is only available with four wheel drive.
The V70 is widely regarded as having one of the most comfortable interiors around, and indeed, travelling long distances in this estate is a very pleasant experience. The cabin is well-refined too, with little wind or engine noise.
Practicality and space is often a key concern for many buying a used estate, and in this area the V70 delivers: a 570-litre boot, whilst not as big as rivals’, is shaped well and assisted by a flat floor and low boot lip, meaning you can fit a surprising amount in.
Skoda Octavia Estate (2013-)
The Skoda Octavia Estate, whilst not massively exciting to drive, wasn’t necessarily designed for that purpose. Instead, it excels everywhere else: space, fuel efficiency and equipment levels are all fantastic, not to mention the fact that it’s renowned for its reliability. When new, it’s sold at a considerably lower price than many rivals, meaning that there’s great deals to be had on the used market.
Not only are there huge amounts of space in the Octavia Estate, it’s also very cheap to run. The 2.0-litre 148bhp diesel engine attains an impressive 65.7mpg. There’s a smaller diesel available in the guise of a 1.6-litre engine with 108bhp, but as it’s an estate, you’re likely to be carrying heavy loads fairly regularly and that extra power is recommended. Particularly if you’re going to use the Octavia for towing, the 2.0-litre diesel is ideal.
One of the key benefits of the Octavia Estate is that there’s more space than in many rivals such as the Volkswagen Golf Estate. Capacious boot space of 610 litres is expanded to a cavernous 1740 litres with the rear seats down – and this is done quickly and simply, with just the full of a lever. Usefully, the rear seats fold flat.
Decent equipment such as Bluetooth and USB connectivity, a DAB radio and touchscreen system come as standard, with plenty of optional extras available too.
Honda Civic Tourer (2014-)
With quirky styling and great practicality, this British-built vehicle excels as the Japanese brand’s estate version of the 2012 Honda Civic.
It’s not at all dissimilar to the hatchback Civic. However, it is 235mm longer, meaning there’s extra room in the back and a 624-litre boot, which expands to 1668 litres with the rear seats folded down. Sit in the front of the car, though, and the interior is identical to the hatchback.
Entry level S trim comes with climate control, DAB radio and 16 inch alloys; upgrading to SE trim brings with it 17 inch alloys, eight interior speakers instead of four and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment complete with reversing camera, Garmin Navigation and Honda Connect. Moving up to SR will include further luxuries such as heated leather seats and improved stereo, whilst EX Plus trim has keyless entry and a whole host of great add-ons.
It’s worth noting that in 2015 the whole Civic range got a facelift, which made some interior and exterior design changes, and also added in a hugely functional Android infotainment system.
There’s only two engines available in the Civic estate: a 1.6-litre i-DTEC diesel and a 1.8-litre petrol engine. The diesel’s the sensible choice, with CO2 emissions of just 99g/km and fuel economy an astounding 74.3mpg.
It’s possible to find models from 2014 for £10,000, so get browsing today!
Seat Leon ST (2014-)
The Leon ST represents one of five body styles of the Leon, and this estate maintains the sharp, sleek styling of the original hatchback vehicle – it’s arguably the best looking of the lot listed here.
Despite being an estate and having considerably more space than the hatchback, you’ll be pleased to know that it feels very similar to the hatchback when driving. The handling is nimble and there’s little body roll despite the increased size.
Herein lies the key differentiating factor to the regular Leon – the ST increases the boot size by 207 litres to a cool 587 litres with the rear seats up, expanding to 1470 litres with the seats down. That’s plenty of space for travelling with the family or trips to the shops, all of which will be made in comfort and with an array of good tech such as lane assist and LED lights as standard on entry level S trim. Move up a level to SE trim and further optional extras such as a panoramic sunroof make the Leon ST even more enticing.
The most popular engine choice is the 1.6-litre diesel with 103bhp, which returns an impressive 74.3mpg and emits just 99 g/km of CO2. There’s a wide range of engine choices available, though, with the range topping out at the 1.8-litre petrol with 177bhp.
These four estates offer perfect practicality for families – they’re spacious, safe and comfortable. With all of them available for under 10k, search now for a great deal today!