Mazda 6 estate

Toyota Corolla estate (2.0 hybrid)

Skoda Superb estate

Or maybe go in a completely different direction with something like this (Autotrader advert),

202103099928494

Hi, looking for some advice from the community on vehicles we should consider as we look to change our family car this spring. We have had Mazda 3s for the last 6 years and are finding them a little small for our needs as the family grows. Too small both in terms of cabin space as the kids approach teenage years and certainly boot space where even a day at the beach with a couple of bodyboards has us struggling to fit everything in - let alone a couple of suitcases if we contemplate a holiday this summer. We have PCP expiring in the autumn and a re keen to replace with a new car so whilst we have a little time am keen not to leave it until the last minute.

In these times of covid we don't want to spend days running around dealerships so hope someone here can offer some suggestions of alternative makes and models we should consider which will give us the increased space we seek whilst keeping the price point around the £30,000 mark.

Thanks, Rob

Don't forget Rob that your existing car can take a roof rack/box with the appropriate Mazda accesssories. It might save you 97%+ over the cost of a new car. If you only need the much large boot space of bigger models a few times a year, it may be worth hiring a car (if for a day and for one longer family holiday) that's big enough.

Worth thinking about, given the current and likely future economic circumstances due to the events of the last year. The problems with owning larger cars is that diesel engines suit them more, but only if you do the mileage and regular longer journeys to avoid DPF and oil dilution issues.

Petrol engined ones are less fuel efficient (but much better than 20 years ago) and are more hardy when used maily for short journeys, but you'll find you'll liekly be paying out 10-20% more in fuel bills than for your existing car (unless it is a gen-1 or 2 Mazda3 petrol like mine [i.e. not a Skyactiv one which is more fuel efficient]).

It also may depend on how old you kids are - when the reach 17-20 they won't want to be driven around by the likes of you all the time, so this car may essentially be redundant not that long after they get a driver's licence.

I'd suggest you look at cars up to 3 years old rather than new, to save on the depreciation at least, if you really have your heart set on a change.