It seems SUVs have become the default choice of most new-car buyers in Australia.
Everyone seems to “need” an SUV for the space and practicality, even though there are other vehicle types that offer comparable space and practicality – or, in the case of most people movers, even more. That’s led to SUVs accounting for over 60 per cent of new-car sales.
We beat the drum for wagons and people movers on a regular basis, and we know many of our readers do too. But for much of the public, these body styles are at best forgotten, at worst loathed. Unfairly, we might add.
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We may be preaching to the choir and/or shouting into the void, but here are some wagons and people movers we reckon are excellent buys for under $80,000 before on-road costs – and a couple of other non-SUVs that would be suitable for many families.
Next time you hear a friend or a family member is buying an SUV because they “need” the space and the practicality, and you know they won’t take it off road, you can send them this list of options from the CarExpert editorial team.
Marton Pettendy, Managing Editor
Kia Carnival
I grew up in a Volkswagen family, and being the youngest I started out in the storage area behind the rear seats of a Beetle – yes, under the rear window, right next to the hot engine – before graduating to a wooden child seat in the middle of the front bench of a Kombi, also without a seatbelt.
Needless to say that times have changed dramatically since then and these days the go-to family car is the ubiquitous SUV, despite the availability of several great new traditional passenger wagons, and a number of very good people movers.
By far the most popular among them – for good reason – is the Kia Carnival, so it’s the one I’d recommend if you have a big family.
It offers acres of space for up to eight people and all their cargo, drives a lot like a large wagon (because that’s what it is), looks pretty good for a people mover, and comes with all of the safety, technology and refinement for which Kia is renowned, as well as its generous seven-year warranty.
The underrated Carnival is also available with a variety of well-suited powertrain options, including diesel, hybrid and, while stocks last, V6 petrol power for as little as $52,000.
MORE: Explore the Kia Carnival showroom
Matthew Hansen, Editor (CarExpert New Zealand)
Honda Civic e:HEV
As the ancient proverb goes, it’s not the size that matters, it’s how you use it.
As someone who grew up in a household where the proverbial family hauler was a hatch (a bright red 1988 Mazda 323, to be precise), I’m happy to die on the hill that a hatchback can do the vast majority of what a small wagon or SUV can. And the best hatchback on the market is the Honda Civic.
I won’t drone on about the exceptional interior finish, the economical hybrid powertrain, or the excellent chassis. I want to skip straight to the dessert… these things pack an outrageously big boot. Underneath the large rear hatch is a whopping 404 litres of boot space, with an added 45 litres concealed underneath.
Let’s be a little cheeky and whack those numbers together to make 449 litres. That gives the Civic a boot that, on paper, is larger than what you get in the outgoing Mazda CX-5 – and the BYD Sealion 6 – and even its supposedly more practical SUV sibling from Honda, the ZR-V.
The unfortunate catch for the Civic is that while it has a lot of the practicality of a larger SUV, it also wears the price tag of a larger SUV (regardless of which side of the ditch you’re reading this from). Still, it’s a stellar all-rounder and it holds the hatchback flag up high.
MORE: Explore the Honda Civic showroom
William Stopford, News Editor
Skoda Octavia
For much of my childhood, the family car was a Holden Astra and we managed just fine. Something like a Hyundai i30 Sedan – which actually has more interior space than a Sonata – would therefore be suitable, and it even comes in a thrifty hybrid.
With babies having bulky prams and older kids often having lots of sports gear, a wagon would be preferable. And other than owners who need to load child seats or who have mobility problems, a wagon is just as good as an SUV.
So what’s the cheapest wagon in Australia? The Skoda Octavia 110TSI Select.
It’s actually gotten a little bit more expensive for 2026, with a new mild-hybrid powertrain offering the same power and torque as before but greater fuel efficiency, albeit coinciding with the move to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (a plus for some people, but a change I’m a little more lukewarm on).
But at $43,990 drive-away, it features a spacious cabin, handsome styling, a seven-year warranty, and a healthy amount of standard equipment, with even more available in the optional Signature package.
Of course, the Superb wagon just across the showroom floor is mighty tempting if you can splurge, with even more power and a long list of luxury equipment. The Octavia is no pauper, though.
MORE: Explore the Skoda Octavia showroom
James Wong, Marketplace Editor
Wagons
If you look at a database like RedBook and select ‘Wagon’ as the preferred body style, you only get 21 listings – and they’re pretty much all from BMW and the Volkswagen Group.
Station wagons often offer more luggage capacity than an equivalent ‘SUV’ while offering better driving dynamics and fuel economy largely due to their lower centre of gravity. Also, given their scarcity these days, they’re just cooler.
While I’m not a dad just yet (I’ve got time), I’ve actually just ordered a Cupra Leon VZe Sportstourer (with Extreme Package) because I just don’t want another SUV. I’ll keep it long enough that when JWo Jr comes along, there’ll be room for all the kiddy stuff but Dad-Wo can still enjoy driving in his carbon-backed bucket seats.
Subaru and Skoda remain the only mainstream brands with wagon options, while Audi and BMW make up the bulk of premium listings. Genesis still has the G70 Shooting Brake, and Porsche does the Taycan Cross Turismo. That’s about it.
I’ll give a special mention to the Kia Carnival because it absolutely trumps the Sorento SUV if you need to carry seven people regularly.
Ben Zachariah, Road Test Editor
Hyundai i30 Sedan
The first family car I can remember being driven around in was Dad’s cack-brown Datsun 180B – shortly before Mum picked up a Mazda 121 bubble car.
Nowadays, most families won’t consider anything smaller than a mid-size SUV. But for those of us who can remember the Macarena, there’s a good chance you were either ferried to school in a locally made sedan or in the back of a small Japanese vehicle. For middle Australia, luxury was nothing more than air-conditioning and a collection of cassettes or CDs.
With that in mind, my nomination is the entry-level Hyundai i30 Sedan. It’s basic motoring, but surprisingly good value at $30,000 before on-road costs, and actually offers more legroom for rear-seat passengers than the larger Hyundai Sonata. For those in the back, there is also a pair of USB-C outlets, an armrest with cupholders, ISOFIX and top-tether points, and vents for the A/C.
The boot has 474 litres of space – which is more than you get in the popular Mazda CX-5 – and it comes with a full-size spare, so your holiday won’t be ruined if you get a flat.
Sure, I’m comparing apples with turnips, but consider the Holden VR/VS Commodore, which had a boot capacity of 443 litres. It may have been 151mm longer than the Hyundai, but the i30 is wider and taller, despite being a ‘small’ car – whereas the Holden was considered a large family car back in its day.
While most families tend to go with more is more, my point is that you can absolutely transport your family around comfortably and safely without having to stretch your finances for the largest 4×4 in your postcode. Plus, there’s maybe something a little rebellious about being the only parent at school pick-up driving a stylish sedan.
MORE: Explore the Hyundai i30 showroom
Damion Smy, Deputy News Editor
Ford Tourneo
It’s more practical than SUV and also brings greater capability with its standard eight seats – and versatility with its removable third row for, say, a weekend of mountain biking.
Unlike an SUV, we could even leave the bikes inside for better security when we’re off having a post-ride swim.
I’d pay the extra for the Titanium X to get the better stereo and 360-degree camera – and the greater appeal come trade-in time – but I’d be happy with the entry-level Active too, given they both have the same driveline and seat setup.
The Tourneo also drives well – as does the excellent Transit Custom it’s based on – as it uses the same 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder and eight-speed auto.
Given the Transit is made to carry heavy loads, be subjected to a constant beating and be efficient to run for tradies, the same traits mean the Tourneo makes a lot of sense as a family vehicle.
It’s even easier to load up than an SUV or a station wagon, and I reckon it offers a sense of adventure for young kids. Which row does the oldest get? Let the arguments begin.
MORE: Explore the Ford Tourneo showroom
Josh Nevett, Deputy Marketplace Editor
Cupra Leon Sportstourer
As others in this thread have pointed out, any car with two rows of seating can theoretically serve a family.
With that in mind, and given my penchant for performance cars, the question becomes: how little do I care about my imaginary children? Would I deny them luggage for a weekend away, or force them to spend several hours in the fetal position in the back of a 2+2 coupe? While I’m hugely tempted to say yes, the answer is probably no.
As such, I’ve chosen to keep the whole family relatively happy by opting for the small-ish, yet still practical enough (and plenty sporty) Cupra Leon Sportstourer. Because, despite offering five seats, plug-in hybrid efficiency and a big boot, it still manages to be sexy, spritely and just a little bit special.
That, if you ask me, sounds like a fair compromise.
MORE: Explore the Cupra Leon showroom
Max Davies, Marketplace Journalist
Skoda Superb Wagon
I’m almost certain I’ll be a wagon man at some point in the future, and there are two options I’d be looking at if I had to make a decision today.
One is the Subaru WRX tS Sportswagon. I’m a Subaru guy at heart, and the Levorg’s replacement does a lot right with strong performance, good handling, better aesthetics than its sedan counterpart, and a price that isn’t completely disgusting for a vaguely premium Japanese wagon.
But room in the back could still be better for kids and their things, the CVT is a turn-off regardless of performance, and, as WRXs tend to be, it’s fairly thirsty. That instead points me to the pricier Skoda Superb wagon, which I’d have to pitch as an investment to get around its $74,990 drive-away price tag.
It was one of my favourite cars of 2025 and just feels so sensible. Performance is just about as strong as the WRX’s, and it gains VW’s sublime adaptive damping, plus it’s larger inside and out and has a more modern interior that just feels natural to me.
Couple that with an acceptable 7.8L/100km fuel consumption claim, a seven-year warranty, and a proper transmission, and you have a wagon I’d happily ferry the family around in. Practical, yet enjoyable to drive – exactly what I’d be after if I had my way.