Why doesn't anyone make a V6-engine family car any more?

I am looking to replace my car in 2012. I currently have a 2004 MG ZS 180 five door which has covered 255,000 miles and has been a brilliant car in its reliability and build quality, but most of all it has been an absolute joy to drive, especially with the snorting V6. I have around £20,000 to spend, plus the MG. I have owned V6 cars over the last 15 years including a Golf III VR6 and a Golf IV 4 Motion VR6, which again were fabulous cars. Running costs don’t bother me.

The problem I’m having is that no one seems to do V6 engines in new family-size cars any more. My only other consideration is a latest plate possible R32 Golf, which seem to be becoming collectors' cars as the last big-engined Golfs. Any tips would be gratefully received. It needs to be roomy enough to accommodate two kids and the wife as well as be comfortable.

Asked on 31 March 2012 by GT, via email

Answered by Honest John

You're right about V6s. Emissions taxes have killed them off. There's a beautifully smooth chain cam V6 in the Lexus IS250, but that's best as an auto and maybe not your type of car. Everyone else seems to have gone 2.0-litre turbo petrol. Audi's 340PS 2.5 chain cam 5-cylinder in the TTRS and RS3 is brilliant, but some people don't rate the handling ‘feel’ of the RS3 and, while £20,000 buys a 265PS S3, it won’t buy an RS3.

The MG KV6's life is fairly amazing, but worth recording in car-by-car breakdown at HJUK (I’ve also had reports of a 1.6K Series that reached 400k).

Tags: performance family cars

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