Are estate cars better than SUVs for new parents? We’ve tested both to find out

If you’ve spent even a small amount of time on car enthusiast forums, you’ll know that it’s full of people moaning about the endless stream of new SUVs on sale. Petrolheads much prefer estate cars, but they’re in the minority.

The reason manufacturers are churning out SUVs is because they’re hugely popular, making up seven of the top 10 best-selling cars in the UK right now. The raised ride height and chunky styling may be part of the appeal for most people, but is there a practical benefit to having an SUV?

Well, Carwow’s associate producer James Drujon became a dad while running a BYD Seal U SUV, before swapping into a BYD Seal 6 Touring estate car. Here are some of his thoughts about which car is best as a first time driver.

Remember, you can buy a brand new or used car right here on Carwow. And you can sell your car, too. We’re here to help you through every step of your car-changing journey.

Estate car vs SUV: interior space and practicality

As a rule of thumb, estate cars tend to be more spacious inside than SUVs. The BYD Seal 6 Touring has more rear passenger space than the Seal U, and it has a much larger boot as well.

You get a 425-litre boot in the Seal U, whereas the Seal 6 Touring has 500 litres of space on offer. The estate car’s load area is also a nice, square shape, whereas the Seal U has a sloping rear end which James found to make it more difficult to pack full of stuff.

This theme isn’t limited to these BYDs either. Here are some other SUVs and estate cars for comparison:

So on paper, estate cars are more practical than SUVs. However, there is an advantage to having something higher off the ground when you’ve got a young baby.

James found that loading his son into the Seal U was much easier than the Seal 6 Touring because the door opening is higher up. You’re not bending over into a low car to fiddle around with the buckles on the car seat, and managing editor Darren Cassey has had a similar experience.

Having also watched my best friend threading his two-year-old through the tiny rear door of his Mercedes CLA, I can see why having something taller would make life much easier.

Estate car vs SUV: prices and deals

First time parents will also want to watch the pennies, so getting the best deal on your car is important.

The BYD Seal U starts from £34,995, and you can save an average of £2,900 on one through Carwow at the time of writing. Leasing prices start from £293 per month with a £3,900 up-front payment, and this is over three years and 30,000 miles.

Our Seal 6 Touring costs about the same as the Seal U, but you can save an average of £3,900 on one at the time of writing. Leasing prices start from £298 per month on similar terms to the Seal U, so there’s really not much in it.

Final verdict: should you buy an SUV or an estate car?

Estate cars may be more practical when you look at the stats, but for first-time parents there’s a lot to be said for an SUV. The taller ride height just makes wrestling a stubborn toddler into the rear seat a bit easier on your back, and you can still get SUVs with boots plenty big enough for all your clobber.

Given there’s not much of a price difference between the BYD Seal U and the Seal 6 Touring, we’d recommend the SUV to make your life as easy as possible.

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