2023 has been a difficult year for anyone who needs to change cars. The rise in prices, normally above four digits, has been widespread, both in the new car market and in the second-hand market. Buying a car today is significantly more expensive, in most cases, than it was just a few months ago. Any market analysis worth its salt must start from these premises. And in this analysis that concerns us, we will also carry out this exercise, comparing the prices of the existing offers a year ago, and the prices of the current offers.
We are aware that many buyers are looking for a car that meets some very specific qualities. To be spacious and have a good trunk, for example to cover the needs of a family with small children. And what is even more important. May that car fit on a limited budget. And throughout numerous articles published in recent months we have tried to find answers and, above all, products that combine these two qualities.
SUVs have become the kings of the market, due to their design, or for offering a spacious and accessible trunk and a comfortable cabin. But in most cases, and with few honorable exceptions, SUV prices have skyrocketed and are far from the average budget of a Spaniard when buying a car. And that is why the familiar alternatives derived from compactsuch as those that concern us in this article, they are a great option.
Compact-derived family cars are roomier and more affordable than SUVs
The anti-SUV alternative: the family
The automobiles better known as ranchera, family, or by Anglo-Saxon terms such as Wagon, Tourer, Combi or even more bombastic like Shooting Brake, have enjoyed great success in Europe, although not so much in Spain. The idea pursued by some of these relatives is as simple as extending the wheelbase and length of a compact and providing it with a larger and more accessible trunk. In high-end products they are also relatively popular cars, deriving from a sedan in which the rear overhang is replaced by a practical tailgate. But today we will focus only on the former.
These types of cars are generally a little more expensive than the compact they are derived from. But its price premium, which is usually quite small, more than makes up for the space gained. They are usually much more spacious, even, than some SUVs that are several thousand euros more expensive. Along with the minivans, the compact-derived family members are the category that offers the most trunk space per euro invested.
The defect, which its aesthetics are not as attractive as that of an SUV, nor the fact that they are lower and therefore lose a quality highly valued by some drivers, such as comfortable access to the passenger compartment of an SUV and the raised driving position. Also, family members are usually relatively long, reaching 4.6 meters in length, or even more. This type of car can be incompatible, or problematic, if our garage space is very small.
They are long cars and don’t have the appeal of SUVs, but they are roomier than some significantly more expensive SUVs.
Try it… and also its trunk
We always recommend any customer who is going to invest €20,000 in a car to test drive it first. In this case too. And not only that, we recommend trying your trunk. If you’re going to need to load the pram, why not take it to a dealer to make sure you can fit it properly in the boot? Why not check if you still have space for a suitcase, or a bag? Is it comfortable and accessible?
In our video tests we try to convey these feelings to you, whether the boot is accessible, spacious, whether its shapes are usable, whether it has load organization solutions. But even if they say that a picture is worth a thousand words, it is best to check on the spot what a car is like before buying it and above all to make sure that it will meet our needs.
If you need space, before buying a car test its trunk
A very spacious Korean family
The KIA Ceed Tourer is, with a price of €22,600 (we know that Kia is offering better discounts if we finance the purchase at the dealership), one of the most interesting options at the moment. In some articles we have already told you about it, about being one of the family members that offers a larger trunk with a tighter budget. And if we can afford it, for something else we can configure it with micro-hybrid engines and, therefore, ECO label.
At the beginning of the year Kia announced an offer price from €16,450. Years ago it became possible to buy this model, from previous generations, even for less than €13,000. A month ago it could be acquired by financing from €18,961. And today it is available for €22,600.
The paradigm of the economic car come to more
The Fiat Tipo Station Wagon is available from €19,723. This model responds to the paradigm of the economic car that has ceased to be. It hit the market with a price of around €12,000 and as one of the most practical and economical alternatives on the market. In January it cost €15,000 and now it is close to €20,000.
But to be fair, it is important to note that Fiat has significantly improved this model, which was born as an economic car and in conflict with brands like Dacia, to grow with equipment, significantly improve qualities and design, and even incorporate a range of engines. micro-hybrids with ECO label. It even has a Cross version, country style or crossover.
The veteran of compacts and family
Despite the fact that a new generation of the more modern, technological and fully electric Renault Mégane has already arrived at dealerships, the previous generation with combustion engines is still on sale, as well as its Sport Tourer family version. From €24,302 you can access a Mégane Sport Tourer, with a gasoline engine of 140 CV of power and well equipped as standard. It is important to note that this model is available with plug-in hybrid engines.
Until January, the Mégane Sport Tourer could be purchased for less than €18,000. In December 2022 for €23,620. Since then, their prices have varied until they reach the current €24,302. A significant rise that, again, with the price increase that has occurred in all new cars, does not prevent it from continuing to be at a price in line with the current market.
Electric at the price of gasoline
In this compilation one of the most original proposals in this category could not be missing, because today it is not common to find family bodies in electric cars. MG Motor has in its range of an electric MG 5 from €25,280, including discounts, and aid from the MOVES Plan. Without being as advanced as the recently presented MG 4 Electric, the MG 5 offers a very economical car, with an electric motor and 50 kWh and 61 kWh batteries with which it can reach autonomy between 310 and 400 kilometers.
Until December 2022, the electric MG 5 could be purchased for €24,080. But in 2023 there has been a small price increase on some MG products, including this MG5.
The hybrid alternative
Another of our favorites is undoubtedly the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports. A very spacious hybrid car, which also has close to 600 liters of trunk capacity, with a range of engines with two alternatives of 140 CV and 196 CV and the proven experience of Toyota.
The The cheapest price of the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports is €27,500, with current promotions and financing (€27,700 paying in cash). Until a few weeks ago it could be purchased from €24,300 and the year began for just over €23,000. The Toyota Corolla has certainly experienced some increases this year and we fear that next year prices may continue to rise. Even so, the increases have not been as important as in some of its rivals, which places this model in a privileged position and with prices that, despite its hybrid technology, are not much higher than those of other family members with engines. diesel and gasoline.