The greatest used estate cars from just £500

At some point in their lifetime, most drivers will need an estate car

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:

Volvo 850 from £500

For a car that had a short lifespan by Volvo standards, the 850 made a huge impact on the Swedish company. Never mind the British Touring Car Championship antics, the 850 dragged Volvo into the modern age with front-wheel drive for its large cars and styling that involved some curves. It also introduced a much wider audience to the delights of a massive load bay, generous passenger room and superbly comfortable seats.

Lots of 850 estates have survived in great condition, though you need to check for rusty arches and oil leaks caused by a worn PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) system. Otherwise, these cars march on forever with regular servicing. An Audi-sourced five-cylinder diesel will be the most frugal, but we’d head for the T5 with 225bhp for the most fun at an affordable price. If you’re feeling flush, the T5-R and R models now command prices of £5000 and up.

Peugeot 406 from £600

The Peugeot 406 was a stylish, good handling and fine riding family car, and the estate added plenty of cargo capacity to the mix. A facelift in 1999 did nothing to detract from the looks and Peugeot was an early adopter of high-pressure common rail turbodiesels that offered good performance, economy and refinement, which suited the wagon to a tee.

The 2.0 HDI diesel is the one to have in the estate as its 110bhp and 180lb ft of torque are plenty. Listen for clonking from the suspension that points to worn bushes and rattles from interior trim. You should also make sure the air conditioning still works as it’s a notorious weak spot in the 406. Otherwise, it’s a bargain way to carry lots of stuff and still enjoy the drive.

Volvo 900 Series from £550

Volvo needed to update its 700 range but didn’t want to divert too much cash away from Project Galaxy that was to become the 850, so the 900 Series was the result. There was a saloon, but the 940 and 960 estates were by far and away the best sellers thanks to their vast boots and spacious cabins.

Decidedly Swedish in their approach to luxury, the 900 range still offered decent equipment counts and a range of four- and six-cylinder petrol engines, as well as a six-pot diesel. Volvo’s own 3.0-litre twin-cam six is the quickest of the lot, but the bargain here is the slower but rock-like reliable 2.0-litre. Expect to pay from £550 for a scruffy but running example and twice that for a tidy one.

Vauxhall Omega from £700

The Vauxhall Omega comes from the last knockings of when mainstream brands competed with the premium makers for the attentions of executive buyers. Plenty of thrusting business types found the Omega good to drive, particularly with the larger V6 petrol engines under the bonnet. The police also favoured these models and liked the Omega’s comfort and carrying capacity.

It may not be the easiest on fuel, but we’d seek out a 207bhp MV6 version as a surprisingly quick and sonorous way to get lots of stuff from A to B. The rear-drive chassis is fun and sure-footed, but listen for clonks from the suspension and look everywhere for rust.

Volkswagen Passat from £500

It would be hard not to include a Volkswagen Passat Estate in some form among our bargain favourites. There’s one of these dependable workhorses on offer at almost every price point, but for us the honour goes to that most enduring of versions: the 1998-2006 B5 generation.

Not the most refined of units, the 99bhp 1.9 turbodiesel wins by just carrying on forever. We’ve seen several with well over 300,000 miles on the clock and still looking very smart, so £500 is a reasonable starting point for one that has plenty of life left in it. Spend a little extra and you can upgrade to the 128bhp version of the same engine.

Saab 9-5 from £600

The original Saab 9-5 enjoyed a long life spanning 13 years from 1997 to 2010, so there are still plenty about. That means good pickings for the cost-conscious estate buyer as you still find one-owner, low miles 9-5 Estates from as little as £600. Couple that to Swedish build standards and these cars can soldier on for a very long time.

A facelift in 2006 divided opinion on the looks but the cabin continued to provide top-notch comfort and load space. We’d sidestep the V6 turbo petrol and diesel engines for their higher running costs and instead look for a four-cylinder motor, with the later 260bhp 2.3 Aero HOT (high output turbo) offering Q-car looks and pace from £1000.

Citroën XM from £1000

At the bottom end of the Citroën XM price scale, you’ll find runners, but don’t expect them to be very tidy. These are complex cars that require regular, and sometimes pricey, maintenance. Spend a bit more and you should find one that’s been looked after and is maturing into modern classic status.

The XM estate arrived in 1991, two years after the hatch, and came with a huge load space. Coupled with the cushy hydro-pneumatic ride, the XM Estate proved a hit with those covering large distances. The 2.1- and 2.5-litre turbodiesel engines are ideal for this work, while the petrol V6 is brisk. Don’t discount the 2.0-litre turbo petrol, though, as a balance between pace and economy. Survivors are dwindling in number, so prices are heading upwards.

BMW E39 5 Series Touring from £1000

There are versions of BMW’s beloved E39 5 Series Touring around for less than our target figure, but they tend to be scruffy. So, stick with this base price and you should find examples with plenty of life left in them and able to transport you and lots of luggage in a great handling and smooth riding package.

BMW offered the 5 Series Touring with all but the M5’s mighty 5.0-litre V8, so choice comes down to condition and the sort of economy you want. The 530d is still quick and reasonably frugal, but watch for the plastic swirl flaps that can get sucked into the engine with disastrous results. You’ll also need to check for front suspension wander and knocking noises that can be difficult to trace and sort.

Alfa Romeo 156 from £1000

Most of the estates in this list are here by virtue of their generous carrying capability, but not the Alfa Romeo 156 Sportwagon. It pulls the emotional joker card and earns its place for emotional reasons. On looks alone, the 156 was always a bargain, offering stunning lines for the same money as its German rivals.

Yet the 156 also appeals as a car to drive as one that’s been well looked after should still have sharp handling and steering, albeit with a woeful turning circle and the risk of bottoming out all too readily on cratered roads. The 2.4-litre turbodiesel is brisk and the smaller petrols are zingy, but treat yourself to the V6 for the full Italian charm. If you can find and afford one of the rare GTA Sportwagons, grab the chance, though they will sadly cost you a lot more than £1000.

Jaguar X-Type from £600

The Jaguar X-Type saloon did not enjoy the warmest welcome, but the estate was much more fondly greeted. Sleeker looks for the wagon helped matters immensely and it also offered more luggage space than any of its key German rivals, so it was a useful carry-all.

The driving experience was decent too and the petrol V6s came with all-wheel drive that makes them a sound bet for affordable winter driving now. Choose a 3.0-litre V6 model and performance is brisk, if not quite outright fast. A 2.2-litre diesel from 2005 gave a good balance between pace and consumption. Any rough running for the diesel is likely clogged injectors or a sticking fuel pump valve sensor that’s easily sorted with a gentle tap.

Ford Mondeo from £1300

This is not a lot of money for a car that’s up to date with technology and options, as well as offering a massive load space. We loved the fourth generation Ford Mondeo when it was launched and reckon its clean-cut looks have stood the test of time, especially as a wagon.

At this sort of money, you have your pick of engines and trims. We’d aim for a 161bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesel to give enough oomph when the boot is loaded up, while the six-speed manual gearbox helps with decent economy. You’ll find the Mondeo rides and handles very well, but check for cabin rattles and worn power steering pumps.

Subaru Legacy from £1000

The Subaru Legacy could easily be the default answer to anyone seeking a bargain estate car. Whether it’s barn-style load space, keen driving dynamics or wafty comfort, this all-wheel drive wagon does the lot. It also does it with a strong streak of reliability, though it’s best to check any car’s service record for evidence of fastidious previous owners as Subarus can be pricey to put right.

A Legacy spec.B is the ultimate performance version with 243bhp 3.0-litre turbocharged flat-four engine, but at the lower end of the price scale you’ll be looking at 134bhp 2.0-litre models. They’re good to drive thanks to the smooth, torquey engine, but if you can double our basic budget you could have the refined and more frugal diesel.

Audi Allroad from £1500

Audi was at pains to distinguish the Allroad by dropping the A6 name from its title when it launched the jacked-up wagon in 1999. There was some justification for this as Audi had gone to considerable efforts to make the Allroad a much more off-road able machine. The air suspension could raise it up to give 208mm of ground clearance, the same as a contemporary Range Rover’s, though it was strictly a soft-roader even with Quattro all-wheel drive.

Plastic mouldings for the wheelarches and bumpers were about as outré as the Allroad got outside, while the cabin could be ordered with some more garish two-tone leather options. Under the bonnet, you had a selection of 2.5 V6 turbodiesel or twin-turbo 2.7-litre petrol V6 with 250bhp for more excitement. Unsurprisingly, almost all Allroads left the factory with the robust diesel, though some later cars also used the 296bhp 4.2 V8 petrol. It will be diesels you’ll be looking at, so make sure the auto ’box works smooth and the air suspension goes up and down without sagging or hissing – problems here will most likely consign a cheaper Allroad to the scrapyard.

Citroën C5 from £1000

Citroën wanted us to think of the second generation C5 as a French car built in the mould of a German machine. The idea was to instil the notion of solid build, but the French just couldn’t help but introduce a little whimsy with the fixed centre steering wheel. It also favoured a supple ride over most rivals firmed-up suspension that hoped to project a sporting feel.

So, in many ways, the C5 was a superior car for most estate driver’s needs. Yet more flocked to the staples from Ford and Vauxhall, which makes the C5 a bargain now. From £1000, you can enjoy a lightly miled 2.0 HDI turbodiesel model with 138bhp, lots of kit, space and boot area. It also still looks decent as the restrained styling has aged better than some of its more fashion-conscious rivals.

MINI Clubman from £2000

Yes, we know the MINI Clubman isn’t the biggest estate car on the planet, but when you can have a modicum of practicality with a keen hot hatch from £2000, well, it would be daft to pass it up. Based on the second generation MINI, the R55 Clubman has the much discussed Club Door on the right-hand side to help access to the rear. It works fine, but isn’t always ideal when letting the kids in or out.

The extra length of the Clubman over its hatch sibling frees up more rear kneeroom and opens out the boot to 260-litres. It also calms the Cooper S’s firm ride a touch without compromising the nippy handling. The turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol revs keenly and also avoids the potential timing chain issues associated with its diesel counterparts. Just watch for rust around the rear door handles and cabin rattles.

Mercedes-Benz 300TE W124 from £3000

Finding a W124 Series Mercedes 300 TE from the 1980s or '90s, is becoming harder work. Perfect examples are now prized and collectible classics, so our budget is at the higher mileage, harder worked end of the scale. That doesn’t mean driving a dog, though.

Search hard and there are clean, well-cared for 300TEs out there offering monumental space and seats for up to seven passengers. The ride is rooted in comfort and the 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol motor is justifiably noted for its near indestructability. No wonder more than one Autocar staffer has parted with their own money for one of the solid Mercs.

Skoda Superb from £3000

Skoda caused a sensation when it launched the first Superb with its limo-like passenger space and then repeated that awe with the vast second gen Estate. For family car money, you could buy a wagon with the same sort of space as the much more expensive Mercedes E-Class. On top of that, the Superb drove well, offered lots of room for people and looked good in a restrained manner.

You can now find earlier Superb Estates in good condition and with reasonable mileages from £3000. That represents great value for a car that can carry the family in supreme comfort and will most likely come with a 2.0-litre turbodiesel that’s decently economical. We’d avoid the DSG dual-clutch automatic as it can be expensive to fix. Also watch for corroded ABS sensors that throw up fault messages for the brakes, ESP and tyre pressure monitoring.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class from £3000

Often overlooked in favour of its larger E-Class Estate sibling, the Mercedes C-Class wagon is more than worth a look. Its compact dimensions make it easier to use in town or on narrow country lanes, and our preferred W204 generation made from 2008 to 2014 drives with suitably cultured manners to be quiet and comfy.

You could seek out the never-ending fun of the C63 AMG at the top of the performance and price spectrum, but for our bargain-minded buyer the C220 CDI is the one to look for. Granted, the old 2.1-litre turbodiesel isn’t the most hushed motor, but it plods along reliably and works well when coupled to the five-speed auto ’box that was updated to a seven-speeder from 2011.

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