What more practical & economical a mini MPV or estate?

seatbeltnoob

You see fewer and fewer new estates about these days, and more MPVs and mini MPVs.

Just wanted to know why. What would have higher load carrying capacity a mazda6 estate or a ford c-max?
Is there fuel efficiency differences between a lower profile estate over a MPV?

AdrianC

When it comes to aerodynamics, the frontal area is very relevant. So, yes, everything else being equal, a taller vehicle will use more fuel.

Mazda say the 2012-on 6 estate has 522 litres of boot space to the windows with rear seat up, 1664 to the roof with seats down.
https://www.mazda.co.uk/cars/mazda6-tourer/specs-and-compare/
Ford have discontinued the C-Max, but reviews give equivalent figures of 471 litres and 1851 litres.
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/ford/c-max/practicality

So smaller capacity behind the seats, but bigger overall - which is what you'd expect, given the C-Max's higher roofline but shorter overall length.

Why has the market done that? Because that's what people want to buy... Which is also why they've moved away from sprogbuses to softroaders, and the C-Max has been dropped in favour of the Kuga. The C-Max was just a taller Focus, after all - and there's still a Focus estate... although the Mondeo estate is more of a rival to the 6. Or the Galaxy/S-Max? Or Edge?

Grumpy_chap

"practical" depends on what you need to carry.

MX5huggy

The fashion is for SUV’s people like the higher driving positions, there’s a miss conception that they are safer.  

If you look at the 2 electric cars MG offer the ZS is the SUV and the 5 is the estate, they are not exactly comparable but quite similar but the Estate goes further for each kWh of electric than the SUV.

Herzlos

It depends on what you want to carry, generally.
Estates tend to be better for longer and heavier loads but have less height and less versatility. They don't have a boot lip which is great for heavy lifting, dogs, etc.
MPV's tend to be more versatile in terms of seat layout (often 3 independent sliding/folding rear seats) and more height but less length. They also tend to have a lot more storage bins, because people with kids always need more storage.

Lower vehicles will always be better on fuel than taller ones, so if fuel economy is your thing an estate is the way to go.

knightstyle

People like us prefer the slightly higher driving position and ease of entry/exit an MPV gives plus most MPVs have removable rear seats to give truly enormous load space. Very useful when moving our children to/from uni!

seatbeltnoob

I dont like the look of mpvs, they make you age 10 years. There are a few passable MPVs like the cmax, touran. But I would much prefer to go with an estates for looks. They're just like a saloon but with a hatchback rear end.

I have 2010 mazda6 estate in mind. But going to research a bit more and work out reliability, best engine to get, enquire about insurance premium for each one.

Though for London, I think with tight parking spaces, and other difficult driving situations a shorter & taller MPV might be better suited than a longer estate.

Herzlos

When you see how practical an MPV is you'll wish you bought one 10 years ago; I always had estates but now I wouldn't go back. The independently sliding/folding/removable rear seats gives you so much additional scope for passengers and payload. I can have 3 adults in the back one day, treat it like a van the next, or have 1 adult and bike in the back or whatever.

But it depends on you; what do you need it to do?

BOWFER

MX5huggy said:

The fashion is for SUV’s people like the higher driving positions, there’s a miss conception that they are safer.  

That's not the reason people get them, I don't think.
I think ease of access is the major reason.
There's no denying get in/out of my Polo Gti is a pain in the bum compared with our Evoque, you tend to 'fall into' and 'roll out of' the Polo, my wife hates it as she feel ingress/egress can be very undignified!
Same with when she's accessing her work stuff in the boot, in the Evoque she can look through her stuff without bending.

[Deleted User]

The evoke is good because it has a flat load bay so you've got somewhere to sit when you're waiting for the tow truck...

BOWFER

Deleted_User said:

The evoke is good because it has a flat load bay so you've got somewhere to sit when you're waiting for the tow truck...

Evoque.....