I drive a 162-registration diesel Mazda6 Tourer estate. I’m looking to buy a used EV estate. I’m in my 70s and do a bit of sea kayaking, so I like an estate for its carrying capacity and low roof height (for loading a sea kayak on to the roof). I also find an estate a very practical car. I’m open to buying from Northern Ireland as well, as the car spec is usually higher. Would you have any recommendations? – Tom M, Co Louth
Let’s start with two cars: the MG 5 EV if price is the priority, and the Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer if you can stretch the budget to €40,000.
Estates, almost without question, make the best all-round cars because you get the aerodynamic sleekness of a saloon combined with the kind of load space that most people think – wrongly – only SUVs provide.
Until very recently, there were only a few estate options with all-electric power on the Irish market: the MG 5 EV and the Porsche Taycan Cross or Sport Turismo, for example. So that limits the choices for older, more affordable options on the used market right now.
RM Block
The MG 5 EV is, unsurprisingly, rather more affordable, and you can easily pick one up for less than €20,000, but just be aware that the 5 EV, even in its updated form from 2023 onwards, isn’t all that big inside and feels really cheap in the cabin.
The touchscreen controls can be infuriating if you are coming from the wonderful world of button controls. Decent range for the money, though, at circa 400km.
There’s another possibility: a Kia EV6. A Kia dealer will probably try to convince some buyers that an EV6 is a crossover or SUV, because that’s apparently what people want, but it really isn’t. It’s too low-slung for that.
It’s also not really an estate, because the boot isn’t quite big enough, but it still manages to be roomy, good-looking, good to drive and comes with a long warranty. Perhaps it’s not on a par with your Mazda6 in terms of space, but it’s been a big seller in Ireland, so there are plenty from which to choose, and prices are down to the low €20,000 range.
There are estate versions of both the Opel Astra Electric and the Peugeot E-308, which are also worth a look. Both have been recently updated with improved batteries and longer ranges – now up to almost 450km on the official test. The older cars could manage about 420km, which doesn’t sound like a massive difference, but every little helps. If you can live with that range or a little less, both make a solid buy, with massive boots and, just as you are looking for, a low roof.
Remember, however, that strapping a kayak to the roof is going to impact the aerodynamics of the car and therefore the range. You already know that from the diesel fuel economy with or without the roof rack loaded. A rule of thumb would be a reduction of 10-20 per cent on what you would normally get on the same journey (not the official range but the real-world range) without it.
The Volkswagen ID. 7 Tourer is one of the unsung heroes of the VW ID line-up. True, its new price is a touch eye-watering, but the cheapest used examples are now under €40,000, so there are relative bargains to be had.
Massive inside (the rear legroom is properly limo-like) and smooth to drive, it also has a real-world 500km range in mixed driving. A really good choice, if it doesn’t bust the budget.
BMW’s i5 Touring could be another good choice. It’s very roomy inside, has a very decent boot, and feels every inch the “proper Beemer” to drive. We once drove one from Munich to Dublin in 24 hours, so although the usable 400-450km range doesn’t sound all that great, it’s better than you’d think. Still pricey even used, though – north of €50,000.
Stretch to €60,000, and you could pick up a demo or new Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake. It can carry a kayak on the roof and claims a range of more than 500km, with a spacious front boot for all your wet gear. There are CLA 200 versions of the award-winning EV for sale for circa €62,000.
Surprisingly, given Ireland’s general reluctance to embrace the estate, there are actually some used Taycan Turismos on sale. At €69,900 the cheapest one we could find isn’t exactly what you’d call affordable, but equally it’s maybe not quite as much money as you might think you’d have to spend on a massively powerful, four-wheel-drive Porsche.
You will get a little more in the way of choice by shopping in Northern Ireland. This is as long as the car has either been originally registered in Northern Ireland or brought into the North under the auspices of the Windsor Framework, then you won’t have to pay VAT or customs duty. VRT is assessed separately, using Revenue’s market valuation, but electric car relief may reduce or eliminate the amount payable.
For our money, we’d opt for the VW ID.7 as the best all-rounder for your needs. Like the best estates, it’s spacious both for passengers and loads, so it’s probably the closest to your current Mazda6. The roofline is at the right height.
It’s a comfortable distance traveller, but if you go for a test drive, be sure to pay particular attention to the touchscreens. Coming out of the Mazda6, you might find the controls a little annoying at first. Be sure to bring your kayak measurements and confirm the permitted roof load.
Also, check the battery size of the cars on offer. The 77kWh has an official range of 600km, and the rear-wheel-drive with 86kWh claims up to 690km. However, those are the test figures: winter weather, motorway driving and your kayak on the roof will shorten the distance between charges.
