Over the last number of years, we have seen the inexorable rise of the SUV. These big beasts are now everywhere on our roads and I have a problem with them. In the early days, they were promoted as being somehow rugged when they patently were not. Nobody is fooled by that any more.

Sure, a few have pretensions towards some off-road ability but most are never meant to venture on the rough stuff. They are essentially inflated hatchbacks and, if I’m honest, I am at a loss to understand why people like them so much.

There seems to be an optimum shape that is like a template to manufacturers: in short, they all look very similar to me with some exceptions. That’s not to say they are bad cars, it’s just that I think the public has sleepwalked into them seeming to equate size to usefulness.

It seems clear to me that the SUV has used those big shoulder pads to nudge aside the sleeker estate car of old. There was a time when that’s all you got: a saloon car with a conservatory built on the back. With the proliferation of soft-roaders now, the station wagon’s days as the reliable do-it-all family motor of choice seem to be gone but I believe that there is life in the old dog yet.

Family use

The rise of the SUV has put a dent in the sales of estates for family use. Clearly, there are still plenty about called ‘‘Estate’’ or ‘‘Avant’’ or ‘‘Touring’’. Most manufacturers have one or many more variants in their range but they have taken a back seat as far as the family wheels are concerned.

In my view, the station wagon is one of the finest driving cars you can get for your money just because it is so versatile. They are about balancing practicality and performance, ergonomics and efficiency, frugality and fun. They carry the load and they fit the bill for drivers in that they handle pretty much as well as their saloon or hatchback counterparts.

Estates are equally at home monstering fast country roads, cornering with aplomb. Most SUVs at speed will handle the corners with all the grace of a newborn lamb. They are simply too tall and bulky.

Estates can accommodate your kids and their bikes and they are easier to load, being lower, obviously.

The rear cargo space is as big and sometimes bigger than equivalent SUVs.

Sleek low-riding estate cars can slip through the air far better than SUVs and most have smaller wheels and tyres. Thus fuel economy should be better.

In driving, it would be a finicky driver indeed who could find a difference between the estate and the saloon/hatch equivalent.

Most smaller SUVs are based on more manoeuvrable hatchbacks from the same stable. I know which I would prefer to drive.

Both types of vehicle are road- and family-friendly and each has its merits. People seem to like the commanding position of the SUV, looking down on smaller cars. They perceive them as being more roomy and adaptable, but this is not the case.

When you look within certain ranges you can see where there is a serious decision to be made as to whether the estate or the small SUV in the range make sense.

Kia comparison

Optima Sportswagon v Sportage

Having driven the Kia Sportswagon last year and with a Sportage parked outside my house every day, I was interested to compare them. The Sportage obviously has the height, which is helpful for getting small people in and out and getting the shopping into the back.

The other big advantage of the Sportage is the perceived higher seating position.This is nice but it comes with the disadvantage of feeling a little disconnected on the twisty stuff. The Sportswagon feels like a normal car and handles in such a way that it can be a bit of fun as well as doing all the load-lugging stuff, if not better, than the Sportage.

Driving position

When compared on paper, the two cars are very similar in pricing and spec but the Sportswagon is a good bit longer and a little wider but with the lower driving position it feels bigger in tight spots.

There are advantages and disadvantages with each car but I think that the old reliable estate can do everything that an SUV can do, and more.

In a lot of cases an estate/station wagon is the better option as a family car but the car companies have backed the SUV and sales of the little soft roaders will continue to outstrip estates for the foreseeable future.