Hi all, can someone confirm who had both, the estate and the hatch of the M3 Superb, if the boot size is a very big difference between the two? In real life , usable practical space or are they identical up to the luggage cover in height, width and depth?

We tried an estate and hatch at the same dealers and came to the conclusion that the usable space in the estate was better, the width and length were similar, but the increase in height (below the cover) was enough to make a real difference (from memory i think it was under 10cm, but definitely over 5cm).

We ended up going with the estate - even though the hatch has the better looks. (also roof rails on the estate mean you can deal with any overspill :-)

The sedan/liftback is 5mm longer than the wagon.

The wagon and hatch sedan have the same width boot floor, however the wagon has a longer boot floor - by 14mm.

As stated above, the wagon has more "headroom", hence more volume.

 

Edited 15 October, 20187 yr by JR RS

Both versions look great, can't split them on looks unlike some other cars where the estate version looks ugly.

 

I went for the estate due to the slightly larger boot and roof rails.  Hatch boot still massive though.

2 minutes ago, Mickey43 said:

Both versions look great, can't split them on looks unlike some other cars where the estate version looks ugly.

 

I went for the estate due to the slightly larger boot and roof rails.  Hatch boot still massive though.

100% agree, the estate is by no means ugly, but the hatch looks "faster" :-)

About 2k more for the estate but probably retains more value 2nd hand than hatch.

I have this dilemma at the moment (although the online configurator will only let you add the 280 engine to the hatchback not the estate so don't know if that means anything!). Estate looks the ideal option but to get the list price below 40k with all the options I want I think the hatch is the only way to do it, so decision might be made for me.

I had an estate and then moved onto a hatch. It is, as you say, the same volume or maybe even a little larger up to the luggage cover. You can load above the height of the luggage cover if needed. I get up to a dozen full feed buckets in the back with the seats down. 

 

Over the years we have applied a simple rule.

 

If its a large hatch it will be big enough for our needs, the Bluebird, Mondeo and now the Superb prove this. With the folding passenger seat the Superb hatch will accommodate 3m lenths of timber (just) and 2.5m lengths of sheet material with no issue.

 

If its a medium hatch we get the estate.

 

The Golf hatch we had after the Bluebird was too small (but we just coped for 7 years). After that the Mondeo hatch was fine. that was replaced by a Focus Estate and that in turn by a Kia Ceed Estate both of which were great (especially the Ceed). Because of retirement we sold the Ceed and decided to manage with the Leon Hatch, after 2 holidays in Scotland we ordered the Superb.

 

But that's just us. if you carry large square boxes the estate would be invaluable especially with the lower loading lip.

 

There is no simple answer in truth.

If you are not going to use the space above the window line then you might as well save money and buy the hatch as they are near identical size below.

 

I faced a similar quandary when buying my Octavia and I eventually plumped for the estate because (in no particular order):

The rear passengers had more headroom (for son and his many 190+cm friends).

Squarer rear doors allow slightly better headroom on access (for elderly in-laws)

Reports that rain runs off the hatch into the boot when opened and I have not noticed that this is an issue with the estate, in fact when open it provides a fair amount of protection as long as the rain is falling near vertical.

I can take three people, luggage and stow  three road bikes with front wheels removed in a fore/aft vertical position inside the estate (with one rear seat lowered) which would not be possible with the hatch.

Roof rails are very handy for overflow situations (although I wish they were easily removable for the other 95% of non use).

Windows allow better rear 3/4 vision than hatch (imo)

Huge rear hatch window would act like a greenhouse on one of our Australian hot days.

Estate better looking (imo)

 

The  downsides of the estate I can think of:

 ~35kg weight penalty (not sure of the difference on the Superb)

Slightly higher drag coefficient (0.31 on Octavia estate compared to 0.30 on hatch), I assume similar for Superb.

Rear window on estate does get very dirty very quickly in rain or on our Australian dirt roads, so the rear wiper and use is mandatory. I assume similar for Superb

 

Those were my decision factors and observations, but your requirements and preferences will rule your decision.

 

5 hours ago, Gerrycan said:

If you are not going to use the space above the window line then you might as well save money and buy the hatch as they are near identical size below.

Except they aren't, The estate is quite a bit taller under the cover. The difference may not be enough for some, but was the main reason for our choice of estate over hatch. 

Another consideration; I tested the hatch and estate back-to-back on two separate occasions and both times noticed an increase in road noise, in the estate. 

 

 

39 minutes ago, penguin17 said:

Another consideration; I tested the hatch and estate back-to-back on two separate occasions and both times noticed an increase in road noise, in the estate. 

 

Same experience with the Octavia. Since 2010 we have tested 4 Octavias and have really wanted to like them. Ideal size, spec and back in 2010 with the VAT free offer and broker prices the deals were stunning.

 

In 2010 both cars we tested were 1.4 TSi estates, think they were 122 PS at the time. After a 110 PS Focus TDCi estate the performance was great and space in the car and boot was way better. But the road noise in both was ear shattering, the first one was so bad the wife wanted me to do a U turn and take it back, difficult on the M1. Cannot remember the exact specs, think one was an Ambience on 15" wheels and the other an Exclusive on 16's. The one on 16's was better but that may be down to better trim in the more expensive model. Back in the 5 year old Focus felt like getting into a new car, no Skoda for us.

 

Before we did the deal on the Superb we decided to give the Octavia another go since we feared that the Superb might be too big in car parks like our Mondeo had been. With the new MQB chassis we hoped for better things, after all we had been driving a 1.4 TSI Leon with the MQB chassis for over 3 years and that was a very quiet car. First up was the estate and it was just like 2010, unbelievable noise. Next up was a hatch (much prefer the Octavia in Estate shape but with the deals on the table lets give it a go) and it was actually fine except for some wind noise near the mirror. Since this was the only Octavia out of the 4 with that issue I ignored it as a one off or a badly fitted screen. Back to the dealer to do the deal only to be told that the order books were closed until the facelift arrived in February and only stock cars were available, no 1.4 TSI SE-L hatches were available.

 

So we bought the Superb hatch, no regrets especially when you consider that the Superb SE spec was actually better than the Octavia SE-L spec in many respects and the Superb was cheaper.

I came from a Seat Exeo ST which had 442L of boot space to a Superb Hatch with 625L, the difference in practicality is night and day. Other cars, E-Class saloon 490L, Astra Hatch 370L (500L for Estate assuming 2010 - 2016 model), so the Superb Hatch is more practical than many estates out there (under the boot cover of course).

 

The fact you are asking about 35L of extra space in the Estate then I think its the estate for you, rather be looking at it than for it!