Yup, as I said, it is getting better, and in the last year or 2 there have definitely been some decent options - I think the MG5 has definitely given some of the other manufacturers a nudge in the right direction!
EV general discussion
- Thread starter Ricochet J
- Start date
Yup, as I said, it is getting better, and in the last year or 2 there have definitely been some decent options - I think the MG5 has definitely given some of the other manufacturers a nudge in the right direction!
Soldato
- Joined
- 4 Aug 2007
- Posts
- 22,024
- Location
- Wilds of suffolk
well so I am I, hence my comment on who used to buy them.
Estates have never been popular with the majority.
I guess I missed off painters and decorators in my list
Better drive, possibly if your only worried about dynamics.
My other half has had a few SUVs and on longer drives they are actually quite nice on motorways, back roads etc due to better visibility.
Its quite marked for me when I switched from her car to mine (TT so low) how much the better visibility meant busy traffic was less stressful.
Its oddly something I had dismissed many years ago when someone who had a Range Rover told me the height made driving less stressful. He was right.
SUVs are better for families, car seats, etc
That's due to the stupid trend of coupe SUVs... All the size but none of the practicality. The X6 has a lot to answer for!!
Even with the MG5, 475L is poor for an estate. But it's more reasonably priced I suppose.
Associate
- Joined
- 19 Nov 2021
- Posts
- 1,110
- Location
- Portsmouth
Model Y rear motor, out of interest
I've slept in the back of quite a few estates, nice and long, lovely flat floor - would certainly be a struggle in most SUVs!
Lifting a heavy tent (or anything else) into the boot of a low estate is much easier than over the lip of an SUV which is raised up high for *reasons*.
Long loads in the back of an estate is much easier than wedging them into the passenger footwell.
SUVs certainly have their place, if you actually need the ground clearance and off-roading capability, but sadly the overwhelming majority of modern SUVs are just a jacked up hatchback. Yes, estates might be more of a niche, but that's only because for most people a hatchback would serve their needs - for most driving an SUV doesn't offer any benefits over one (I guess they might be better for old people or anyone else with mobility problems who struggle to get in/out of a lower car).
SUVs might be more popular, but I'm not sure that's valid measure of how practical they actually are.
Last edited:
Soldato
- Joined
- 4 Aug 2007
- Posts
- 22,024
- Location
- Wilds of suffolk
Again I am not sure what your angle is here.
How many people sleep in their car?
I knew a couple of rally fans who would hire an estate and do what you suggested as they followed the rally for the extended weekend but they still used a "normal" car the rest of the year.
Lifting heavy things in is a double edged sword. I mentioned my TT, its far easier getting heavy things in than an SUV granted, but its more awkward when getting them out than my other halves SUVs used to be.
I would use hers by preference when buying heavy stuff from wickes as it was easier to get stuff out at the other end. I preferred doing the more awkward lift to get stuff in when it was easier to get access than getting it out which had worse access obviously.
Its horses for courses I guess.
Historically as I said estates were a niche market, low sales so they held their price well second hand.
Most people didn't want the ugly, heavier, slower, less fuel efficient cars
Then they switched to SUVs
I am sure some mainstream EV estates will come. But no matter how you cut it, its a niche market compared to saloons and hatches/SUVs*
*(I actually dislike the SUV term as well for these but thats what the mainstream have decided to call them)
And yep agree they are basically jacked up hatches, but then many people really like hatches due to the size/practicality
Last edited:
Yeh the id3 motor is much smaller than the rear engines golf it replaced
Soldato
- Joined
- 19 Oct 2002
- Posts
- 17,691
- Location
- Shakespeare’s County
Where do you think the fuel tank goes?
Not under the boot floor which is literally the point being made.
Hmm, not sure how that works - slide out of the back of estate vs lift over boot lip?
Most people didn't want the ugly, heavier, slower, less fuel efficient cars
Then they switched to SUVs
Yeah, I guess this is my "issue" with them - all the downsides of an estate with none of the benefits!
Associate
- Joined
- 19 Nov 2021
- Posts
- 1,110
- Location
- Portsmouth
One thing about VW's packaging that irritated me... The motor in the front of the ID3 is so much smaller than the engine it replaces - why didn't they incorporate a frunk?Yeh the id3 motor is much smaller than the rear engines golf it replaced
Fair enough, that's where it is in many cars - I'm guessing under the rear seats instead then?
Soldato
- Joined
- 19 Oct 2002
- Posts
- 17,691
- Location
- Shakespeare’s County
Model Y rear motor, out of interest
Check out the rear drive of a BMW X3. Your picture shows just how much bigger an electric motor is really well. Thank you.
Soldato
- Joined
- 19 Oct 2002
- Posts
- 17,691
- Location
- Shakespeare’s County
Oh god yes! About the only cars with fuel in the boots was the previous X5 hybrid and A3 etron as tactical fixes - pretty much all are under row 2, structure protecting occupants and fuel is a really good use of metal. This is where you find the power electrics on some HV batteries, ie the Tesla model3 / y penthouse. An alternative is Honda with the Gen8 Civic is under row1 seats to enable the clever magic seats.
Hmm, not sure how that works - slide out of the back of estate vs lift over boot lip?
Yeah, I guess this is my "issue" with them - all the downsides of an estate with none of the benefits!
Ground clearance is a benefit i now realise is a big one. Reality is most tailgates are above 700mm from the ground to avoid insurance rating impact as the Thatchame test increases cost of repair as the 700mm sled takes out the tailgate aswell as the rear bumper!
Last edited:
Associate
- Joined
- 19 Nov 2021
- Posts
- 1,110
- Location
- Portsmouth
Not that much difference in terms out outer dimensions - you can't count the empty space inside the subframe
Check out the rear drive of a BMW X3. Your picture shows just how much bigger an electric motor is really well. Thank you.
Soldato
- Joined
- 19 Oct 2002
- Posts
- 17,691
- Location
- Shakespeare’s County
Ermm, yes it it, massive difference to the size of the body structure above and around it... why do you think the casting is so appealing. Imagine what a FWD Golf looks like compared to the ID.3 or the frankly comedy Hyundai stack on their new EVs that eats into the boot space horrendously. Also means the links have enough space for proper size bushings that don't squeak and rattle after 60k miles. but that's another story...
Put the Tesla Kool-Aid down.
Soldato
- Joined
- 4 Aug 2007
- Posts
- 22,024
- Location
- Wilds of suffolk
Hmm, not sure how that works - slide out of the back of estate vs lift over boot lip?
Yeah, I guess this is my "issue" with them - all the downsides of an estate with none of the benefits!
I guess its again what your lifting.
If your dragging something in and out then I guess an estate would be easier.
But again thats sounding more niche.
I'm talking about stuff like sleepers, big aggregate bags, large bags of peat etc and they are 100% without doubt easier to get out of an SUV at closer to stomach height as opposed to lower.
As somone who actually hurt my back for the first time weekend before last either shifting some breeze blocks or sleepers I am now far more conscious on height in regards picking and lifting that I once was.
I work in a manufacturing environment (although not in manufacturing myself) and all those talks about how to correctly lift etc now seem far more sensible than I gave them credit for!
But then as @Yaayuh! says, that's a £70k car. The Model S is 800L+ if you include the frunk, but again way outside of most people's budget.
I can get a Focus estate with a 575L boot for ~£27k or an Octavia with a 610L boot for ~£26k. Where are the equivalent EVs - even for £10-15k more?
No. If that was my complaint I would have said "Cheaper small cars have small boots and SUVs are not estates". What I said instead was "Need more EV estates", from which cryptic clue, most people would be able to infer that my complaint was that there aren't enough EV estates and we need more of them.
Skoda Enyaq 62kWh battery good for 200 miles of mixed driving. 585L of boot space and can be had for less than £28k used.
Before you go on a "it's an SUV" rant
, it is actually more estate than SUV and is a few cm shorter, a few cm wider and only 14,8cm taller than both the Octavia etate or the Focus estate. If you are gneuinely going to call ~15cm taller substantial enough to warrant an anti SUV stance?
Last edited:
The stuff you've mentioned is exactly the kind of thing I would expect to be easier to "drag" out of an estate, rather than having to lift over a lip, but I guess down to personal preference.
Yup, the Enyaq is definitely a good option, but again, it's not been available in that price range for long at all
Associate
- Joined
- 19 Nov 2021
- Posts
- 1,110
- Location
- Portsmouth
but, but, but, it's so delicious!
