Best used estate cars for less than £15,000

It's a victory for the previous generation of the Skoda Octavia Estate. It's well-rounded enough to be one of the best used cars, let alone used estates, that you can buy. It offers virtually unmatched space and practicality, along with easy-going refinement and superb value for money. Oh, and reliability looks ace too, according to our most recent What Car? Reliability Survey, because the Octavia came top in the family car class. 

"I still have good memories of a family holiday to Cornwall in just such an Octavia Estate. With the car loaded with children's paraphernalia and holiday luggage we made great time and still averaged 50mpg." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2019 Skoda Octavia Estate 1.5 TSI 150 SE Technology, 25,000 miles, £9000

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The best estate cars are not only practical, they're comfortable, frugal and dependable. The Toyota Corolla Touring Sports has all these qualities, plus it's supremely reliable and really good value to buy used. In our recommended 1.8-litre hybrid form, the Corolla averages 62.7mpg, rides well and is eminently practical, too, with a large square boot that has a low load floor for easy access.

"The Corolla feels so solid that even my regular crew of young friends were impressed by it. I should imagine that would be one of the reasons it does so well in our reliability surveys too." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2020 Toyota Corolla Touring Sports 1.8 Icon, 30,000 miles, £14,895

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The Ford Focus Estate combines the style and driving behaviour of its family car counterpart with a much bigger boot. It drives really impressively, gripping and handling nicely. Its steering is pleasingly light and direct and its ride is comfortable and composed over urban ruts and potholes. And above all, it's practical and great value. Oh, and it's proving reliable, too. Our money buys a car with the lively 1.0 Ecoboost engine in mid-range and well-furnished Titanium trim. 

"For the parent who needs an estate car but still fancies a bit of a good time behind the wheel the Focus Estate has it all. The steering in particular is very neat." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2021 Ford Focus Estate 1.0 Ecoboost 125 Titanium, 49,000 miles, £13,900

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The Skoda Superb Estate is massive both inside and out, so if you're looking for maximum passenger and load space and you're on a budget, this is the one for you. It's good to drive and it should be reliable, too - its saloon counterpart also did well in the executive car category of the most recent What Car? Reliability Survey. Our budget will get you a 2020 car with plenty of equipment. 

"My word, this is the big one. If what you really need is a pantechnicon for carrying luggage or groceries or plumbing tools or gardening matter, or all of them at once, the Superb's your man." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2020 Skoda Superb Estate 1.6 TDI SE Business, 74,900 miles, £14,900

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The VW Golf is a Swiss Army knife of a car: it can be a family transport, a long-distance cruiser and a classy urban car. The additional boot capacity of the Golf Estate adds 'luggage hauler' to that list, and the now-replaced Mk7 model is a great car to drive, too. In short, you could call it a jack of all trades. What you'll get for our money here is one of the last of the Mk7 cars. 

"This really is so suave it's the Roger Moore of mid-size estate cars. I find the interior classy and the whole package appealing. Surprisingly good value too." - George Hill, used cars writer 

We found: 2019 Volkswagen Golf Estate 1.4 TSI BlueMotion Tech SE Nav, 42,000 miles, £13,995

Read our full used Volkswagen Golf Estate review

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Like the contemporary Mercedes C-Class Estate, this previous-generation BMW 3 Series Touring doesn't have the biggest boot going, but it's a decent size nonetheless. Its most notable strengths lie in its smart interior and precise handling, as well as a wide range of gutsy yet economical engines. Those who value a car's driving experience will adore this sophisticated yet fine-handling estate, although our latest reliability reports on it are a bit mixed.

"If you are instinctively a BMW lover then you'll find plenty to like here. Its eager road manners make it one of the nicest to drive out of all of our used estates." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2019 BMW 320i Sport Touring, 68,000 miles, £14,500

Read our full used BMW 3 Series Touring review

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The Audi A4 Avant is about as refined as estate cars come for our budget. And that term spreads across essentially every aspect of the car, from its efficient engines to its supremely classy interior. If you're after a functional workhorse, there are other estates more suited to you. However, if you desire a premium load-lugger that can cater for your family, and one with a good reliability record, the A4 Avant is right up your street. 

"This is so likeable, and great to drive in petrol form and really efficient in diesel-engined trim. Even the base versions feel well-equipped. Not the most commodious in the boot area but one of the most refined certainly." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2019 Audi A4 Avant 1.5 TFSI Sport, 51,000 miles, £14,990

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Mercedes has built its reputation on luxury, and that's reflected in the attractive, plush interior of the previous-generation C-Class Estate. Add decent load-lugging abilities and you have yourself a compelling package – one you can pick up for less money than you might think. The good news is that after some years of mixed results, it scored well in our most recent What Car? Reliability Survey.

"Who doesn't want an estate car with the three-pointed star somewhere about its person? The C-Class is an eager beaver and cheaper than the larger but equally impressive E-Class Estate." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2019 Mercedes C-Class Estate C220 Bluetec SE Executive, 75,000 miles, £14,495 

Read our full used Mercedes C-Class Estate review

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It may not be the most exciting of things to look at, but the Skoda Octavia Estate is one of the best all-round used cars you can buy. Few can match its space and practicality, and its blend of refinement, performance and economy is incredible. This latest generation of Octavia is one of the nicest. Only a poor result in our latest What Car? Reliability Survey stops it from finishing higher here.  

"We love the older version of this car, of course, but we have a large soft spot for this one, too. It's great value, just a shame about the electrical issues holding it back." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2021 Skoda Octavia Estate 1.0 TSI SE Technology, 25,000 miles, £14,995

Read our full used Skoda Octavia Estate review

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You know an estate car is doing its job well when it makes life a doddle, and the Passat Estate has that effect. Its huge boot will save you the question of whether items will fit (unless you're transporting an elephant), while its engines are smooth and economical, keeping running costs low. Its interior is also suitably smart, and its used prices are temptingly affordable. However, a poor showing in our most recent What Car? Reliability Survey pushes it down our list this year.

"In so many ways everything you need from an estate car. Only a surprisingly poor year in our survey demotes it way down our list." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2020 Volkswagen Passat Estate 2.0 TDI SE Business, 49,000 miles, £14,925

Read our full used Volkswagen Passat Estate review

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