29 Feb 08
Who needs a people-carrier? The kids may love being chauffeured to school in a high-riding MPV, complete with rear-seat DVD screens, individually electrically-adjustable 'captain's chair' seats and console boxes to carry their entire toy collection, but these things are expensive.
And many MPVs will now be liable for the £25-a-day London congestion charge, levied on models emitting more than 225g/km of carbon dioxide or, if registered before March 2001, with engines larger than 3000cc.
With this in mind, and an impending economic downturn, isn't it time you thought about downsizing?
Here are 10 compact, economical but well-packaged and practical estate cars, big enough to carry a couple of kids, the odd dog or two, and a fair amount of family paraphernalia. Oh, and they don't drive like great big vans, either.
