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Can you recommend an SUV or estate car that can carry ladders?

My 2014 2.0-litre diesel auto BMW 5 Series falls foul of the clean air zone (CAZ) requirements. It's been my third 5 Series, used for my work as a surveyor. The rear seats fold to accommodate my ladders and other long equipment. I'm looking to replace it with a CAZ compliant vehicle that fulfills the role.

My motoring is a mixture of local journeys and longer runs of up to 300 miles round trips, including the London area. I have got used to a larger car, and automatic is a must. I'm not wedded to BMW and would consider something cheaper but of decent quality, finish and accessories. Comfortable seats and a quiet cabin are desirable. I have always preferred lighter coloured interior upholstery. I have tended to buy used cars at about 3 years old.

An initial search suggested a Ford Mondeo estate, but I am aware that the fashion is now for the SUV type of vehicle, and I'm not a fan of estate cars, though I would consider one. Can you suggest a few alternatives that I might consider?

My budget is flexible but, if my car is worth about £6,000, I would not wish to add much more that £14,000-£16,000 to that.

Asked on 10 October 2022 by chris mills

Answered by Lawrence Allan
The issue with SUVs is that they may not be long enough to accommodate your equipment, unless you go for something large such as a Kia Sorento or BMW X5/Audi Q7. Other options we would be considering are the Volkswagen Passat or Skoda Superb Estate, the Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer, the Volvo V90 and the Mazda 6 Tourer. A Skoda Kodiaq may also fulfill your needs but again isn't as long as the estate cars here.

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