Best used estates and 7-seaters you can buy in South Africa

Crossovers and SUVs may be all the rage in South Africa right now, but there are two vehicle types that still lead the pack when it comes to practicality

Station wagons (also known as estates) used to be one of the best transport options for families, but they have mostly dropped off the radar in recent years as the industry has pivoted to cash in on the SUV craze.

There are only nine estates on the new-car market in South Africa right now, and none of them are cheap, as the most affordable model – the Subaru Outback 2.5i Field – clocks in at R839,900.

A more wallet-friendly alternative to estates is the multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), which can often seat up to seven people and have large boots perfect for family trips.

Both of these vehicle types can be found on the used car market, and AutoTrader has put together a list of its top picks for anyone in the market for an estate or MPV.

“Often overlooked, station wagons offer a compelling mix of practicality, space, versatility and comfort. While most South Africans tend to opt for the ubiquitous SUV, this forgotten bodystyle still has plenty to offer on the used car market,” said AutoTrader.

“The MPV, also a shrinking segment locally, is equally as practical (if not more so), but sacrifices some driving pleasure in the pursuit of maximum interior space.”

Top picks for 2nd-hand estates and MPVs

AutoTrader’s cheapest listed option is the Volvo V70, which has an average sticker of R77,000.

Of course, the downside of such a low price tag is that this is an old car with an average age of 22 years and a mileage stretching past the 200,000km mark.

It’s similarly possible to acquire a luxurious model like Mercedes-Benz C-Class, but only if you’re prepared to buy a 17-year-old example.

If you’re only interested in something more recent, your best bet may be the Toyota Rumion MPV, which is only two years old with 32,000km on the clock, and costs around R324,715 second-hand.

Another option is the Volvo V90, which doesn’t show its age for a seven-year-old model thanks to its contemporary design.

A fairly new but upmarket choice is the Kia Carnival, which is two years old on average and can seat up to eight people or fit 4,110 litres of luggage in the back when the rear seats are folded.

If you have the money for something far more exciting and exotic, you can also look at the Audi RS6 Avant, which is a high-performance estate with a twin-turbo V8 petrol engine generating 441kW.

This model can rocket from 0 to 100km/h in just 3.5 seconds, but has seating for five and a 565-litre boot.

Just be prepared to spend nearly R2 million if this is what you’re after.