Choosing a wagon need not be the slippery slope to the driving doldrums and nor does it have to cost a fortune. There are plenty of bargain wagons out there offering a more interesting way to cart your kit around, and certainly more interesting - and economical - than the ubiquitous SUV.

We’ve scoured the ads for the best bargain estates out there, with cars from as little as £500. And that's for cars that include an MoT so you can use them straight away - just don’t expect some of the cheaper options to be completely free from evidence of a life well lived: