Ask Honest John

Honest John Ask Honest John » What sensible car for £10k do you suggest?

What sensible car for £10k do you suggest?

I'm coming up to retirement very shortly and I need to buy a "sensible" car. I currently have a Nissan Elgrand 3.5 litre and a 3.0i BMW X5. I need to be sensible and get a car that is good on fuel, cheap on road tax and we do go camping with a folding camper that weighs in just under 1000kgs so I need something that will pull it easily and will not struggle, especially up hills. I don't really want something like a Vauxhall Corsa that would just be legal but struggling. I also want a bit of luxury. All this I want for under £10,000.
I was thinking about a DS5 as well as a Mercedes, BMW as well as other makes such as an Audi A6. I would prefer an estate car, as we intend to travel all over the UK and France. Any ideas?

Asked on 2 May 2025 by Tony77

Answered by Matt Robinson
For a feeling of luxury under £10,000 and a decent amount of space, a Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate is worth a look. If you want to go slightly larger, the BMW 5-Series Touring is an excellent bet too.
Similar questions
I am looking for a decent family car that is still sporty to drive. I was thinking about a BMW 5 Series Touring or a Ford Mondeo. Currently I have a double pushchair so the boot needs to be big. Also,...
My Mercedes-Benz E270 CDI Estate is still going strong with 275,000 miles on the clock since 2003. When the time comes to replace it I will need less load space and also expect a reduction in annual mileage....
What in your opion is the most underrated SUV?
Related models
Fantastic depth of quality, lovely cabin ambience and improved interior space, very refined, quiet and composed – even the four-cylinder diesels.
Rides superbly thanks to standard fit self-levelling air suspension. xDrive available on more expensive models. Impeccable quality interior. All have 2000kg towing capacity.