Which is Best for Families? Estate Cars or SUVs

When it comes to choosing your next family car, lots of factors come into consideration to make sure you pick the perfect car for your lifestyle. One of the biggest concerns is whether to go for an estate car or an SUV.

What is an Estate Car?

The more practical counterpart to the saloon or hatchback. Estate cars have a long roof going all the way to the back of the car, and a hatchback-style boot. The estate layout opens up space above the parcel shelf to assist the loading of larger items like pushchairs or suitcases.

What is an SUV?

SUV stands for Sports Utility Vehicle. Available from compact to full-size, they often copy the size and shape of 4x4 off-road vehicles for on-road use. Often with five-doors and a hatchback boot that opens as one unit. Many offer four-wheel-drive, but more are being offered with two-wheel-drive as an efficiency measure.

We’ve put together a handy guide below with the key differences between the two, to help you make an informed decision.

Boot Space

Estate Cars

  • Often have a larger cargo area than SUVs.
  • Plenty of space for bulky items like holiday luggage and food shopping.

SUVs

  • Ample space for prams and pushchairs.
  • SUV boots are often taller and easier to fill with bigger items.

Comfort

Estate Cars

  • Most offer reduced headroom to the rear seating.
  • Rear seats still provide plenty of legroom.

SUVs

  • Often offer more head and leg room than estate cars.
  • Easier to load child seats with their elevated driving position.

Driving

Estate Cars

  • Often have a larger cargo area than SUVs.
  • Plenty of space for bulky items like holiday luggage and food shopping.

SUVs

  • If you live in a rural area, SUVs are the best choice for off-road driving.
  • A higher driving position aids better visibility and security.

Safety Features

Both car types offer a range of safety assistance features as standard. These often include the following. *

  • Automatic collision detection braking
  • Lane keep assist
  • Parking sensors
  • Blind-spot monitoring

Pros and Cons

Estate Cars

PRO

  • Practical boot space
  • Lower loading height

CON

  • Limited off-road capability
  • Lower driving position

SUVs

PRO

  • High driving position
  • Flexible seating, often with 7-seat options

CON

  • Often more expensive
  • Boot space is sometimes lower

Still unsure which one to choose?

If you’re looking for maximum cargo space and are often loading larger items, choose an estate car. Here at Greenhous, we offer a wide range of estate cars across our manufacturer brands. Look for models like the Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer and the BYD SEAL 6 DM-i Touring. Or, if you’re looking for a used car, browse our range of used estate cars here.

Or, if you’re looking for an elevated driving position and flexible seating, choose an SUV. At Greenhous, our broad range of car brands offer a variety of SUVs for you to pick from. Look out for the upcoming Chery TIGGO 4 Super Hybrid and the JAECOO 5. Or, if you’re looking for a used car, browse our range of used SUVs here.

* Different makes and models will vary.

About the author

Emily Hunt

Junior Digital Marketing Executive for Greenhous Group

[email protected]

07840 850519