What Car? Used Car of the Year 2006 - Best Estate Car 2006

Vauxhall Vectra
Model: 1.8 LS
Year: '04/04
Cost: £7445

It's a double whammy for Vauxhall: the Vectra Estate is our favourite estate car as a new buy, and now it's our top purchase second-hand, too.

This pair of accolades won't surprise anyone who's driven the Vectra Estate. It's no sporty 'lifestyle' wagon, like many modern estates. This one is boxy and upright - all the better for boot space and carrying long loads in particular.

The loadbay is vast, with 540 litres of room or up to 1850 litres if you fold the rear seats down. Flat sides mean there are no awkward shapes to get in the way of your luggage.

Being a Vectra, residual values from new are weak, and that's what makes this Vauxhall such a strong used buy. Paying less than eight grand for a two-year-old Vectra Estate is a great deal.

It's a fine drive, too, and the 1.8 petrol engine is adequate for most drivers, although if you regularly carry lots of people and kit it's worth spending an extra £1000 on a turbodiesel model. There are lots of 1.8 petrols to choose from.

Equipment and safety kit are generous, and the Vectra is well built and capable of notching up high mileages without trouble.

Runner-up
Volvo V70
Model: 2.4 (140bhp) SE
Year: '02/02
Cost: £9395

Others to consider...
Citroen C5 2.0 HDI (110) SX Estate, '02/52, £5495
Ford Focus 1.6 LX Estate, '02/52, £5845
Merc E320 CDI Av'garde Estate, '03/03, £22,650
Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCI Ghia X Estate, '05/05, £12,950

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