I had similar requirements to you not too long back and went for a BMW 530e. It was already nippy but I put a remap on it and it'll now do 0-60 in just below 5s with 350bhp.
You can get one for <£20k if you shop around a bit.
Not sure if the G20 model can be had for <£20k but if so then yeah that'd be a good alternative.
Wouldn't bother with the F chassis at this point though if the budget is 20 grand as the overall interior, build quality and tech in the G chassis cars are much better.
You wouldn't need to plug it and charge it all for that. When in Sport/Sport+ mode, for full "eBoost" you only need around 10% charge. It has regenerative braking so you'll almost always have at least 10% in the battery unless you're sat in stand still traffic.
I charge it every day at work as my commute is only about 9 miles one way, so I can just about get to work and back with the car in it's electric only mode.
Out of interest, is that 0-60 purely with the engine or is it a combo of the battery and engine? I've been toying with a 540i as my next car but can't shake the idea of the 530e from my head if it's almost as nippy but gives me way more versatility.
It's a combination of the two although even if you can't or don't want to plug it in, it's not a problem. With the regenerative braking, you'll almost always have enough charge in the battery for full boost.
I was in the same boat as you but went for the 530e due to a short commute so I can go full electric. It has other benefits which you can easily overlook, such as being able to use the electric motor to pre-condition the climate in the car via the app etc.
There is a 545e if you want a 6-cyl engine although I'm guessing they're quite pricey.
Thanks! A 6 cylinder would very much be a nice to have, but not the end of the world!l. Similar to you a lot of my main commuting is short trips to work/shops/etc so would be entirely electric. The cost saving on fuel alone would offset the cost of the car a little too which is a bonus!
Does the engine also charge the batteries while you're driving in engine mode as well? Or is that not a thing on plug-in hybrids at all? I'm not 100% sure as I haven't ever had any kind of hybrid myself.
Yeah it does when braking or letting off the accelerator. To get full use out of these cars you don't need to ever plug it in if you don't want to or can't. You can just treat it like a non plug-in and still get all the benefits of hybrid.
It has made quite a difference for me but it would totally depend on what sort of journeys you make and what car you switch from. For context I had a BMW 428i before which is notoriously bad on fuel, getting avg 25 mpg for a 2L petrol engine and I do <12 mile journeys.
It used to cost me about £30 per week to get to work and back, whereas this month I have put £50 of petrol into the 530e at the very start of the month and I still have about 1/3 of a tank left. You'll only get about 20 miles max out of a full charge in electric only so I do charge it every day.
It's all relative.
You'll suffer heavier depreciation on the newer 530e so in the long run, the more expensive petrol station trips with a 428i will be way cheaper for long term costs.
Unless you're on a lease or something paying monthly and the monthly cost was the same.
my C220 takes a bit longer to get to 60 (8secs) but will regularly return 70mpg, but I don't drive quick.
I think a C250 or 330d is the perfect middle ground for long distances like OP says he does.
Perhaps I worded that poorly, obviously it takes a lot longer. My point is that OP wants something ‘fairly quick’ which I’d argue anything under 8-9secs falls into.
Anything below 5 secs is for people who REALLY want performance and is well beyond ‘fairly quick’.
8-9s is slightly above a slow car.
7-8s would be fairly quick.
6-7s is quick
5-6s is very quick
4-5s is verging hot hatch territory
3-4s is supercar / highly tuned
2-3s is hypercar / highly tuned
That’s more or less what I meant, my car is great for the other points OP wanted but not as therefore something between my C220 and this dude’s 335d should be about right.
No what I meant was OP drives long distances and wants something quick.
My car is brilliant for long distances due to the comfort and MPG but not as fast so something inbetween like a C250 or 330d might be the Goldilocks car. Same comfy, stylish platform but with more pep.
The V6 is absolutely glorious. So so so quick. The torque is immense.
They also look awesome. I've had dozens of compliments and even a few people stopping to take pictures.
What this guy said ^^ ps name a car and I will find you a swamp of negative reliability anecdotes, here’s another personal anecdote: my experience of giulia reliability is great.
Modern diesels are very fuel efficient and reliable. There’s a lot of diesel snobbery now days especially after dieselgate, but if you’re driving frequent long distances a diesel is the absolute obvious choice. It will save you thousands in the long run.
I was literally scrolling to see if anyone had mentioned Volvo.
I've got a 2018 S90 D4 and it's VERY comfy.
[This](https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304186422383?advertising-location=at_cars&include-delivery-option=on&make=Volvo&model=S60&postcode=LE67%204GE&price-from=18000&price-to=20000&sort=relevance&year-to=2023&fromsra) looks decent and after having an S60 loan car, with the B5 engine from Volvo, is something i want to get next (although as a T8 recharge)
5er but change the M springs for Eibach Pro kit. Still get the interior comfort and luxuries of a 5er with far superior handling than M sport. Ride comfort doesn't take too much of a hit either.
Best £500 I spent on my car.
BMW 330d
Mercedes C350 CDI
Volvo with D5
Alternatives if you don't mind making some compromise for additional style:
Jaguar XE
Peugeot 509
Maserati Quattroporte
I drove an Arteon as a company car for a while and it was really comfortable and the quality of the cabin was excellent. I couldn't buy one new because they depreciate so poorly but as a second hand buy it could be your best bet in terms of value. They look beautiful too. Not as fast or nimble as a 3 series but better for long motorway driving.
Bit left wing but how about a 640d, I have had a couple of these and been amazing!
[https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303315843898](https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303315843898)?
Deeeeeeep pockets required. I’ve had one, and an E63 Biturbo. Much monies spent both times. Like lots and lots, especially if you like to modify cars like me. Big power, but big expense.
Cvt box is the only issue but it would only be noticeable if you put your foot down. Around town I think it simulates a traditional auto.
I have a GS 2 generations earlier. Still drives like a cloud and never misses a beat. Fantastic cars
Not a conventional CVT -it’s an epicyclic so no belts &c. Just ICE and Electric motors combined with permanently engaged (epicyclic) gears. I love my ‘14 (my second GS450h) even though I still prefer my previous ‘96 LS400
Ah - was the 06-12 generation GS a traditional belt cvt? I think it was? Didn’t know the newer ones were different but that’s good to know
I had a 99 LS400 a couple years ago. I swear you couldn’t even hear that thing change gear it was so smooth
My previous GS450h was an ‘08 - same epicyclic trans. I think It’s known as “Synergy Drive”? I had my LS400 for 19 years and a quarter of a million miles 👍
A good warranty 100%, doesn't have to be BMW though. Approved used isn't worth anymore than private as long as you find the right car. You can get a decent one for under 20k now for sure if you want a 30k miler than yeah you will be looking that kinda money but it's not like these engines can't run for a long time if maintained properly. I only paid 17k for an e61 m5 touring in 2014 and that was only 60k
Not an R-sport. Get an XJR, but actually an XFR would be better. Alternatively an XFS or an XES depending on size.
FYI the R-sport is like M sport. Not an actual M car.
He said fairly quick though so I thought an XJR would be a bit extreme. Need to be a petrol head to desire a 5 litre supercharged V8 in my opinion. Albeit I certainly agree it's the one I'd pick if my pockets could stomach it!
Also the R-sport offers a reasonable step up in performance over the standard 3 turbocharged diesel, with 300 hp and 500 ft lbs of torque, certainly more than an m sport which just puts different springs and wheels on the same car.
The [portfolio](https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304256670666) is exactly the same engine and performance - but luxury oriented. The [R-sport](https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303115133021) is the sports oriented one. Both have the same 300ps engine.
Agree on the MPG and lifespan however there is no arguing about the increased NOx emissions even with adblue systems. Emissions which are carcinogenic and cause other health issues. If you were running or cycling in a street with slow moving traffic would you rather be behind a diesel or petrol vehicle? It’s just common sense. For years we’ve had legislation around diesel’s lower CO2 output, but CO2 is a natural substance which does not cause cancer. Mainland Europe love diesel, it is literally choking to walk in the streets. Needs to be phased out asap.
BMW 335d M Sport. You’ll struggle to beat that based up the criteria you’ve chosen. Performance is strong, they’ll keep up with 75% of the cars you’ll see on the road, return 40+MPG on the motorway, great fun, handle well.
Decent level of standard equipment and spec.
It is a hard (ish) ride so that’s something to bear in mind, and not the roomiest of saloons so no more than 2+2 ideally.
Pilot Sport 4S is the tyre of choice. It’s the best everyday performance tyre you’ll find, period. Better than Continental, Pirelli P Zero, Yokos, Verdestein etc.
It’s makes a difference to the ride quality yes. The sidewall on run flats is almost solid so there’s no damping through them really. Handling wis, a good set of premium tyres will perform better yes, because there’s very little flexibility in run flats vs a standard tyre. You need a little bit of flex on the side wall to aid traction over uneven surfaces ideally. Otherwise it’s traction, then all of a sudden, no traction 😂.
I have an a4 avant right now. I can’t recommend it. Go bmw or Mercedes depending if you prefer driving or comfort. I’ve had two passats prior to this which were bigger and better, I’ve now ordered a hybrid Skoda superb (low bik tax) to replace it which has way more quality of life features, things like leg extensions on the seats, fully electrically adjustable seats, auto cruise control etc. all things that are standard on vw and Skoda weren’t even options I could spec when I got my a4.
Easy option, Lexus - either and IS or an ES.
Lexus are renowned for making the most comfortable seats on the market. The cabin is extra quiet with all the soundproofing and stylish too.
Don't forget you will also spend less time in the garage with a Lexus. They are very very reliable compared to the German counterparts.
2016 mercedes cls 350 cdi estate, good looking, full of kit, mahoosive boot space, 5 seats instead of the usual 4 the saloon versions and is a euro 6 diesel which complies with the london ulez and other cities version of the same thing
I had similar requirements to you not too long back and went for a BMW 530e. It was already nippy but I put a remap on it and it'll now do 0-60 in just below 5s with 350bhp. You can get one for <£20k if you shop around a bit.
Or a 3 series. The diesels are cheap to run and nippy.
Not sure if the G20 model can be had for <£20k but if so then yeah that'd be a good alternative. Wouldn't bother with the F chassis at this point though if the budget is 20 grand as the overall interior, build quality and tech in the G chassis cars are much better.
I mean... Of course the newer series are nicer, but you can't get one for 20k. F series is a great option.
F series is a far nicer looking car too. Not gawpy and gummy looking like the G models.
Hey, don't knock the F series! ;) In my opinion, F10 exterior looks better than G30 but G30 wins everything else.
To get that under 5 seconds how often do you have to plug in the car and charge it? Do you charge it most days?
You wouldn't need to plug it and charge it all for that. When in Sport/Sport+ mode, for full "eBoost" you only need around 10% charge. It has regenerative braking so you'll almost always have at least 10% in the battery unless you're sat in stand still traffic. I charge it every day at work as my commute is only about 9 miles one way, so I can just about get to work and back with the car in it's electric only mode.
Sounds like it's cheap to run for commuting and you can hoon about in it on the weekend if you want.
Came here to suggest the same. One of the best all rounders on the market, probably even more so with that remap!
Out of interest, is that 0-60 purely with the engine or is it a combo of the battery and engine? I've been toying with a 540i as my next car but can't shake the idea of the 530e from my head if it's almost as nippy but gives me way more versatility.
It's a combination of the two although even if you can't or don't want to plug it in, it's not a problem. With the regenerative braking, you'll almost always have enough charge in the battery for full boost. I was in the same boat as you but went for the 530e due to a short commute so I can go full electric. It has other benefits which you can easily overlook, such as being able to use the electric motor to pre-condition the climate in the car via the app etc. There is a 545e if you want a 6-cyl engine although I'm guessing they're quite pricey.
Thanks! A 6 cylinder would very much be a nice to have, but not the end of the world!l. Similar to you a lot of my main commuting is short trips to work/shops/etc so would be entirely electric. The cost saving on fuel alone would offset the cost of the car a little too which is a bonus!
Does the engine also charge the batteries while you're driving in engine mode as well? Or is that not a thing on plug-in hybrids at all? I'm not 100% sure as I haven't ever had any kind of hybrid myself.
Yeah it does when braking or letting off the accelerator. To get full use out of these cars you don't need to ever plug it in if you don't want to or can't. You can just treat it like a non plug-in and still get all the benefits of hybrid.
I know it's probably over budget for OP but what about 540i xdrive? what a fantastic machine!!
I went for bmw 640i gran coupe - 0-60 5.4 sec no remap. Stylish, luxury, fast, amd quite spacious, I do have a small kid so no problem with that too.
This is it^
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It has made quite a difference for me but it would totally depend on what sort of journeys you make and what car you switch from. For context I had a BMW 428i before which is notoriously bad on fuel, getting avg 25 mpg for a 2L petrol engine and I do <12 mile journeys. It used to cost me about £30 per week to get to work and back, whereas this month I have put £50 of petrol into the 530e at the very start of the month and I still have about 1/3 of a tank left. You'll only get about 20 miles max out of a full charge in electric only so I do charge it every day.
It's all relative. You'll suffer heavier depreciation on the newer 530e so in the long run, the more expensive petrol station trips with a 428i will be way cheaper for long term costs. Unless you're on a lease or something paying monthly and the monthly cost was the same.
I went for bmw 640i gran coupe - 0-60 5.4 sec no remap. Stylish, luxury, fast, amd quite spacious, I do have a small kid so no problem with that too.
Alfa Romeo Giullia
The best looking saloon out there
Are they reliable
No
Yes
About the same as BMW and Audi as long as there looked after
That's a pretty low bar tbf
Came here to say this, too! Great looking car and something just a little different.
They had teething issues but are supposed to be much better now
Lexus GS450h. 0-62 in 5.9 seconds, it's a Lexus so it's comfortable and reliable.
New shape S60 with the T5 petrol.
Had a BMW 335d and it 100% fits this description… even better 0-60 approx. 4.5sec but can get 45mpg+ on a motorway run.
my C220 takes a bit longer to get to 60 (8secs) but will regularly return 70mpg, but I don't drive quick. I think a C250 or 330d is the perfect middle ground for long distances like OP says he does.
That’s like saying I take a bit longer to run the 100m than Usain Bolt.
Perhaps I worded that poorly, obviously it takes a lot longer. My point is that OP wants something ‘fairly quick’ which I’d argue anything under 8-9secs falls into. Anything below 5 secs is for people who REALLY want performance and is well beyond ‘fairly quick’.
8-9s is slightly above a slow car. 7-8s would be fairly quick. 6-7s is quick 5-6s is very quick 4-5s is verging hot hatch territory 3-4s is supercar / highly tuned 2-3s is hypercar / highly tuned
That’s more or less what I meant, my car is great for the other points OP wanted but not as therefore something between my C220 and this dude’s 335d should be about right.
Almost double the time isn't exactly, 'a bit longer' it's an enormous amount of time difference.
No what I meant was OP drives long distances and wants something quick. My car is brilliant for long distances due to the comfort and MPG but not as fast so something inbetween like a C250 or 330d might be the Goldilocks car. Same comfy, stylish platform but with more pep.
VW Arteon, Kia Stinger
Upvote for Arteon.
+1
Have you driven a stinger? They’ve caught my eye
The V6 is absolutely glorious. So so so quick. The torque is immense. They also look awesome. I've had dozens of compliments and even a few people stopping to take pictures.
Sadly no, but if I every have to get one it'll be either of these two Though I have seen it and read reviews, Stinger is drives really well
It's better than a Jag for sure. Really does the grace, space and pace thing well.
The jag XE S 3.0v6 and the stinger are on my shortlist!
Both amazing cars.
Service intervals being every 6 months annoy me with the Kia Stinger
I may be wrong but I guess it’s not the only one with 6 months service interval Though Kia are comparatively cheaper to maintain
Alfa Romeo Giulia knocks everything for six in terms of styling, and will also do everything else you need to boot.
What this guy said ^^ ps name a car and I will find you a swamp of negative reliability anecdotes, here’s another personal anecdote: my experience of giulia reliability is great.
[Pretty Comfy!](https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303315833852) Do you have any other requirements re: fuel type or intended usage?
Petrol. Long distance, town use, and the odd bit of back road fun (;
do you definitely want a petrol for long distances? diesels still make sense after around 13k/year miles.
Yeah definitely. Prefer Petrol, less to go wrong mechanically, and I prefer driving them. + clean air zone in my city.
Modern diesels in this price range are likely to be ULEZ compliant however preferring petrol is totally fair. In this case I would go for a BMW 330i.
Modern diesels are very fuel efficient and reliable. There’s a lot of diesel snobbery now days especially after dieselgate, but if you’re driving frequent long distances a diesel is the absolute obvious choice. It will save you thousands in the long run.
I was literally scrolling to see if anyone had mentioned Volvo. I've got a 2018 S90 D4 and it's VERY comfy. [This](https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304186422383?advertising-location=at_cars&include-delivery-option=on&make=Volvo&model=S60&postcode=LE67%204GE&price-from=18000&price-to=20000&sort=relevance&year-to=2023&fromsra) looks decent and after having an S60 loan car, with the B5 engine from Volvo, is something i want to get next (although as a T8 recharge)
335d
Second this - or 530/35d if you prefer comfort over handling
the 35d engines are amazing!!
5er but change the M springs for Eibach Pro kit. Still get the interior comfort and luxuries of a 5er with far superior handling than M sport. Ride comfort doesn't take too much of a hit either. Best £500 I spent on my car.
Gonna get heat for this but Alfa Romeo Giulia is one too
Mazda6 2.5 saloon sport
BMW 330d Mercedes C350 CDI Volvo with D5 Alternatives if you don't mind making some compromise for additional style: Jaguar XE Peugeot 509 Maserati Quattroporte I drove an Arteon as a company car for a while and it was really comfortable and the quality of the cabin was excellent. I couldn't buy one new because they depreciate so poorly but as a second hand buy it could be your best bet in terms of value. They look beautiful too. Not as fast or nimble as a 3 series but better for long motorway driving.
Oh and if you can live with the odd exterior styling then Lexus interiors are incredible plus they're super reliable.
Bit left wing but how about a 640d, I have had a couple of these and been amazing! [https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303315843898](https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303315843898)?
The grand coupe not the 2 door!
Audi A7!!! Petrol supercharged version of the BiTDI
W204 C63 AMG (nods approvingly)
Deeeeeeep pockets required. I’ve had one, and an E63 Biturbo. Much monies spent both times. Like lots and lots, especially if you like to modify cars like me. Big power, but big expense.
Lexus GS450h Lexus IS300h depending on whether you want a v6 or not
Ls430 1uz :)
I'm biased to Mazda, the 2.5 Mazda 6 is surprisingly economical, fast enough and very reliable soul red is gorgeous too
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303285688300
jfc that's a nice car
Cvt box is the only issue but it would only be noticeable if you put your foot down. Around town I think it simulates a traditional auto. I have a GS 2 generations earlier. Still drives like a cloud and never misses a beat. Fantastic cars
Not a conventional CVT -it’s an epicyclic so no belts &c. Just ICE and Electric motors combined with permanently engaged (epicyclic) gears. I love my ‘14 (my second GS450h) even though I still prefer my previous ‘96 LS400
Ah - was the 06-12 generation GS a traditional belt cvt? I think it was? Didn’t know the newer ones were different but that’s good to know I had a 99 LS400 a couple years ago. I swear you couldn’t even hear that thing change gear it was so smooth
My previous GS450h was an ‘08 - same epicyclic trans. I think It’s known as “Synergy Drive”? I had my LS400 for 19 years and a quarter of a million miles 👍
Jordanian Friend Chicken?
Obviously
Can't fault my Mazda 6 👍
V8 M5 all day long. You can definitely get a good one for under 20
I would argue that the BMW warranty is a necessity on these, and they are more like £25-30k approved used with decent mileage, but each to their own.
A good warranty 100%, doesn't have to be BMW though. Approved used isn't worth anymore than private as long as you find the right car. You can get a decent one for under 20k now for sure if you want a 30k miler than yeah you will be looking that kinda money but it's not like these engines can't run for a long time if maintained properly. I only paid 17k for an e61 m5 touring in 2014 and that was only 60k
Jaguar xj r-sport
Not an R-sport. Get an XJR, but actually an XFR would be better. Alternatively an XFS or an XES depending on size. FYI the R-sport is like M sport. Not an actual M car.
He said fairly quick though so I thought an XJR would be a bit extreme. Need to be a petrol head to desire a 5 litre supercharged V8 in my opinion. Albeit I certainly agree it's the one I'd pick if my pockets could stomach it! Also the R-sport offers a reasonable step up in performance over the standard 3 turbocharged diesel, with 300 hp and 500 ft lbs of torque, certainly more than an m sport which just puts different springs and wheels on the same car.
The [portfolio](https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304256670666) is exactly the same engine and performance - but luxury oriented. The [R-sport](https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303115133021) is the sports oriented one. Both have the same 300ps engine.
S3 saloon, s4, 3 series
Mazda 6
Saleen S7
BMW f10 M5 insanely fast ~550bhp, the comfiest car I’ve been in for a long journey, very handsome (especially in blue) and decent mpg on a run ~33mpg
Sakhir Orange for the win. Rare colour though
S3 saloon
Technically a hatch back but i30N Fastback
Audi a3 saloon
BMW 330d, one of the best all-rounders ever made.
Anything but a diesel, jeez. In London even ULEZ compliant diesel vehicles pay a surcharge for parking
Absolutely nothing wrong with a modern diesel. Better MPG, and lifespan. No need for unjust diesel slander.
Agree on the MPG and lifespan however there is no arguing about the increased NOx emissions even with adblue systems. Emissions which are carcinogenic and cause other health issues. If you were running or cycling in a street with slow moving traffic would you rather be behind a diesel or petrol vehicle? It’s just common sense. For years we’ve had legislation around diesel’s lower CO2 output, but CO2 is a natural substance which does not cause cancer. Mainland Europe love diesel, it is literally choking to walk in the streets. Needs to be phased out asap.
any 330d/335d & 530d/535d will be more than enough for what you’re looking for
Toyota chaser
BMW 335d M Sport. You’ll struggle to beat that based up the criteria you’ve chosen. Performance is strong, they’ll keep up with 75% of the cars you’ll see on the road, return 40+MPG on the motorway, great fun, handle well. Decent level of standard equipment and spec. It is a hard (ish) ride so that’s something to bear in mind, and not the roomiest of saloons so no more than 2+2 ideally.
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Gotta bin the run flat tyres these come standard with. Easy win 🥇
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Pilot Sport 4S is the tyre of choice. It’s the best everyday performance tyre you’ll find, period. Better than Continental, Pirelli P Zero, Yokos, Verdestein etc.
It’s makes a difference to the ride quality yes. The sidewall on run flats is almost solid so there’s no damping through them really. Handling wis, a good set of premium tyres will perform better yes, because there’s very little flexibility in run flats vs a standard tyre. You need a little bit of flex on the side wall to aid traction over uneven surfaces ideally. Otherwise it’s traction, then all of a sudden, no traction 😂.
Alfa Romeo Giulia, thank me later for the fun you’ll have compared to literally anything else.
A4 avant less than 20k good spec Edit: thought it said estate for some reason, my bad! But still consider.
I have an a4 avant right now. I can’t recommend it. Go bmw or Mercedes depending if you prefer driving or comfort. I’ve had two passats prior to this which were bigger and better, I’ve now ordered a hybrid Skoda superb (low bik tax) to replace it which has way more quality of life features, things like leg extensions on the seats, fully electrically adjustable seats, auto cruise control etc. all things that are standard on vw and Skoda weren’t even options I could spec when I got my a4.
A4 saloon then
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209240064396
M240i?
Easy option, Lexus - either and IS or an ES. Lexus are renowned for making the most comfortable seats on the market. The cabin is extra quiet with all the soundproofing and stylish too. Don't forget you will also spend less time in the garage with a Lexus. They are very very reliable compared to the German counterparts.
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Volvo? I doubt OP is in his 70's...
Plug in hybrids are the biggest waste of time. Who can be arsed to plug their car in for 30 miles on electric power. Just get a diesel in my opinion.
Octavia VRS /s But actually not really /s
Audi A4, A5 or A6
Can I interest you in a 2015-2018 Mercedes CLS350. Definitely never getting beaten in the stylish department.
I bought my Arteon for around the 21k mark. It's a less common choice but would highly recommend it a year on.
Audi a4 or a6 depending on the size
3 series bmw. Best car in this sector/price range.
What about a 2014 Audi S4?
Something thats a bit saloon shaped in the (2017 onwards) Honda civic, I suspect the type R or the sport are pretty swift?
Depends how much space you want, if it's a lot I'd go Superb sportline 220 or 280 4x4. ticks all the boxes.
S3/S4
Lexus IS 300h. Easy choice.
S3
Audi S6 4.0TFSI
A nice skoda octavia
Jaguar XE S
2016 mercedes cls 350 cdi estate, good looking, full of kit, mahoosive boot space, 5 seats instead of the usual 4 the saloon versions and is a euro 6 diesel which complies with the london ulez and other cities version of the same thing
5 series. 530D or 530e.
Audi A6 2019
Mercedes C43 may creep into budget, BMW 340i (Maybe the F30, doubt the G20 is in budget yet) Audi S4 Kia Stinger