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Used test – enormous estates: Ford Mondeo vs Skoda Superb vs Peugeot 508

Looking for comfort and space aplenty? A big used estate car fits the bill, and needn’t cost the earth. We’ve put three of the best to the test

Our Verdict

There’s a lot to like about the Peugeot 508 SW. Its low fuel consumption and tax costs make it seriously cheap to run – remarkably so for such a big car, in fact – while its handling is composed and tidy. It’s also a pleasure to sit in, as the interior is built from high-quality materials that make it feel rather more upmarket than you might expect a Peugeot to be.

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The problem is, the same can be said of our other two cars here – and they’ve got more going for them. The 508 lags behind on boot space – the most important aspect of a big estate. Were it brilliant elsewhere, that might be forgivable – however, it is not. That horribly jerky gearbox is difficult to get past, and really spoils the driving experience, as do the stiff-feeling ride and steering.

Second place, therefore, falls to the Skoda Superb Estate. It is an excellent estate car, with an interior that’s simply vast, whether you’re sitting in it or trying to fit something in the boot. It also feels truly classy inside, is stable and secure to drive, and looks to have the best reliability reputation of our trio.

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However, the Skoda is an expensive choice. Not only is costly to buy, but also to fuel and to tax, so it’ll hit you in the wallet even after that initial purchase. And while its boot is the biggest, its shape makes it less useful than the Mondeo’s. In other words, as good as the Superb is, it can’t quite justify its extra cost.

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That leaves the Ford Mondeo Estate to take the top spot. OK, so it can’t boast the most prestigious badge, and its interior isn’t quite as classy as some, but those ruling it out purely on that basis will miss out on one of the best family estate cars going.

Not only does the Mondeo have a big, practical boot, but in this form it also has a punchy engine that’s up there with the best in terms of its efficiency. And of course, it’s fantastic to drive, pulling off the impressive trick of combining sharp handling with excellent ride comfort. It is, in short, a class act. And that it’s available so cheaply and freely on the second-hand market makes it a top buy.