Picture this: your kids are old enough to drive and have their first cars. Some of them are even moving out of the family home.
Suddenly, you don’t need a large family vehicle to haul around your kids and all their stuff. It’s just you and your partner, hopefully enjoying a much quieter home.
That silence in your home means you can actually hear yourself think. And now, all of a sudden, you hear yourself thinking: “Do I really need that big SUV in the garage?”.
Free from the shackles of having to schlep your kids all over town, you can now replace your vehicle. But what do you go for?
We posed this scenario to the CarExpert editorial team, which includes an empty-nester. There was a strict budget cap of $70,000 before on-road costs, but otherwise team members were allowed to choose any new vehicle – that meant any powertrain type, any body style, and any brand.
Here are the models the team chose.
Marton Pettendy, Managing Editor
Ford Ranger V6 XLT 4×4 dual-cab
I’m an empty-nester but I can’t afford a Porsche 911 GT3, and both the VFII Holden Ute SS and MC Mondeo are still going strong.
So I’d buy a Ford Ranger V6 XLT 4×4 dual-cab, which slots in neatly under our price cap at $67,990 plus ORCs.
In fact, it’s better value than ever following the axing of the bi-turbo diesel four and the addition of more V6 variants as part of the MY26.50 Ranger lineup.
The Ranger remains Australia’s best ute and the only one developed here, and the XLT is the sweet spot in the range.
I don’t need a Raptor or a Super Duty – just the grunt to tow whatever I want, and the most useful ute equipment Ford offers, without any of the superfluous stuff I don’t want to pay extra for.
With a few choice off-road mods, it’s all the Ranger I’d ever need to head west in.
MORE: Explore the Ford Ranger showroom
James Wong, Marketplace Editor
Cupra Formentor
This one genuinely had me stumped – $70,000 can buy you a lot but also not much when you’re thinking of an aspirational empty-nester purchase.
A few cars came to mind, like the Alfa Romeo Giulia, BMW 3 Series Touring, and Mini Countryman SE Favoured – all vehicles that are sporty, luxurious and fun, but still have a good level of practicality in case the kids (or their kids) want to be carted around, or if our fellow empty-nester friends need a ride to the golf club or winery.
But, with that budget, a lot of the premium marques are off-limits, as are a lot of mid-life crisis cars like a Porsche 911. So, it got me thinking…
At that stage of life you’re likely to want something a little more special, that might do the things I mentioned above but also has a bit of flair and uniqueness to it. Add in some kerbside appeal or wow-factor because, well, you’ve earned it.
I’m not a camper, and I don’t need something that’s going to haul a caravan or scale a rocky trail, so I can cancel that skillset out.
Thinking with a more mainstream brain, there aren’t a whole lot of vehicles that, for me, fit that bill. Sure, a Mazda MX-5 or Ford Mustang are cool and fun, but are both a bit too common and also don’t really quite nail that usability brief – plus, if my back gets any worse than it is now when I’m 60, getting in and out of these is going to require a lot of trips to the chiro.
So, maybe somewhat predictably, I landed on the Cupra Formentor. Its sharp design stands out in traffic, it’s fun to drive regardless of the engine you choose, it offers a mix of features, technology and practicality, and it has a whiff of premium about it but wears an alternative badge. It’s also a little higher and easier to get in and out of than a Leon.
Personally, I’d take either the VZx or VZe. One more for the boy-racer at heart, the other being a more considered all-rounder. Most importantly, both sneak under that $70,000 barrier.
MORE: Explore the Cupra Formentor showroom
Damion Smy, Deputy News Editor
Honda Prelude
A Honda Prelude would be a good fit for an older version of child-less me. As the hair I have left starts to turn grey, it seems more suitable than the brilliant GR86 I still pine after, as the Toyota coupe is too stiff for my other half and doesn’t really have any sense of occasion.
And as much as I love MX-5s, fitting into them can be tricky, and the Prelude has a tad more flexibility in terms of space. We know the Civic chassis it uses is brilliant and, yes, I would like more grunt, but it’s a decent thing if you can get in and out of it without straining your back. And as I lose my senses it would only seem faster and faster…
My 80-year-old dad gave up his Subaru Liberty for a Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe a few years ago, validating my leaning towards a two-door, even if a new Mustang is beyond the specified budget these days.
MORE: Explore the Honda Prelude showroom
Ben Zachariah, Road Test Editor
Toyota GR Corolla
While my go-to answer is the Mazda MX-5 (the answer to any question is always MX-5), the Honda Prelude impressed me recently, and I feel it is an excellent solution for someone who doesn’t need more than two doors, but still wants something a little sporty, a little efficient, and a little stylish.
But for a couple of things: I like performance cars, and this assignment is about what we’d buy with our own hard-earned. The other thing is, my parents were still there to support me for many years after I flew the coop – helping me move house, collecting me (and my friends) from the side of the road when my cars broke down, picking me up from the mechanic, whatever. Which means a tiny two-seater convertible, or even a small coupe like a GR86 or BRZ, are out of the question.
I enjoyed the Formentor V recently, but the Skoda Octavia RS wagon is more my speed. It doesn’t come with a manual these days, however, which has me zeroing in on a Toyota GR Corolla. If the budget didn’t allow for the Toyota, my answer would have been a Hyundai i20 N.
It’s not often that I find my grip on the key fob tightening as I hand it back, but that was the case with the GR Corolla I drove it earlier this year. Sure, it’s not the fastest or the most exciting, and it’s certainly not the most spacious, or even particularly good value. But love is fickle, and the zingy hot hatch got under my skin.
Like the i20 N and GR86, the GR Corolla can be used as a well-mannered grocery-getter during the week, but also to carve up a mountain road when you need an adrenaline rush. It’s still a five-door hatchback, so it can collect the kids from their O-week party, take a few small boxes to their sharehouse, and scare your daughter’s new boyfriend on a loose gravel road. There’s even room for a baby seat, should that situation arise.
It also has very intuitive controls, with stalks where you want them, uncomplicated climate controls, and large buttons with legible fonts – all good things for an old codger with grown-up kids. No offence, Marty…
MORE: Explore the Toyota Corolla showroom
Josh Nevett, Deputy Marketplace Editor
Mazda MX-5
MX-5 is always the answer. It always has been and, at least for now, still is.
Kids out the door equals less responsibility equals time to reward yourself for decades of hard work, and there’s no better way to treat yourself than by buying an attractive, engaging and invigorating convertible sports car. In Soul Red, of course, and with a manual transmission.
I’m not so fussed about body style, although the RF is a little more special in my eyes, and looks better with the top up.
You can’t go wrong with any MX-5 though, so enjoy that empty nest!
Sean Lander, Head of Video
Kia Tasman X-Pro
Don’t change the channel, there is method to my madness.
$70,000 is way less than what most empty-nesters would be spending. In reality, if you managed to survive getting your child(ren) to adulthood, you have earned the right to overextend yourself (or have a reasonable enough income) to splash on something nicer. My Mum went from the petrol V8-powered 100 Series family wagon to a Ram Laramie. Such is the case with many folks who find themselves with a few empty bedrooms.
But if we must restrict the budget to $70,000, the Tasman comes in waaaaay under that price thanks to the generous discounts available right now. Which means you have plenty of money to fit a big ol’ bullbar to the front of it and do your (and our) eyes a favour.
Mockery aside, the Tasman is a fantastic vehicle. Plenty of power (don’t let the on-paper numbers fool you – it was the fastest four-cylinder diesel in our recent ute megatest), a great ride, huge tray, decent towing ability, and the interior is one of the best you can get in a ute.
The X-Pro has the added bonus of proper off-road kit, so you can finally do that Big Lap you always wanted to do.
If the off-road gadgetry isn’t to your fancy, save even more cash and get the X-Line.
Sure, it ain’t the best looking thing in the world, but people should buy it because it will compel Kia to make more utes and, when they give it a facelift, it will be one of the must-have utes on the market.
William Stopford, News Editor
Hyundai Sonata N Line
Do you know what would absolutely hit the spot? A Mazda 3 sedan with the turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and all-wheel drive. Subtle, elegant styling, a torquey turbocharged engine, and an upscale interior with compact exterior dimensions? Sign me up!
There’s just one catch: Mazda doesn’t sell it here.
My second thought is a mid-size, rear-wheel drive sedan from a premium brand. But there’s nothing under $70,000, at all.
So, where does one go for something a little less family-friendly that’s still comfortable for the commute and offers the performance I desire?
There’s a growing number of electric options, and the MG IM5 cuts a sharp figure in traffic. Even in mid-spec Platinum trim it offers 300kW of power and is absolutely loaded to the gunwales with kit. Alas, my only experience driving it was a series of parking-lot demonstrations – not enough to allow me to confidently recommend it. Likewise the sharply priced Mazda 6e, which I haven’t had the chance to drive yet.
The petrol-powered Hyundai Sonata N Line I have driven, however, and it’s like a more mature i30 Sedan N. It’s still front-wheel drive, which is not necessarily my preference, but it’s sharply styled, offers strong performance, and is loaded with kit. With the Kia Stinger dead and the Genesis G70 priced out of this scenario, it’s the next best thing from the Hyundai Motor Company.
I’d also give a shout-out to JWo’s pick of a Cupra Formentor. Particularly if you’re coming out of an SUV, it still offers that SUV ride height but otherwise doesn’t feel like an SUV at all. It’s fun to drive and stylish inside and out, and I’d happily have one in my garage.
MORE: Explore the Hyundai Sonata showroom
Max Davies, Marketplace Journalist
Skoda Octavia RS wagon
I needed very little time to decide that I’d be going for a wagon. Hell, I’d have a wagon even before I was an empty-nester.
What took more time to settle on was exactly which wagon. The prospect of a Skoda Superb sounds absolutely lovely to me, but the 195TSI Sportline wagon is just outside of our budget at $74,990 drive-away. There is still the Superb Select PHEV wagon for $66,990 drive-away, but I’d much rather the power and amenities of the higher-spec variant.
Then I thought of the Subaru WRX Sportswagon, which tops out at $63,990 before on-road costs. But I really wouldn’t need a performance-car-based wagon as my main vehicle, and I expect to still have the WRX itch scratched by a different car at that point in my life.
So instead I’d settle on a different Skoda, the Octavia RS. It’s still a fairly sharp wagon, but it’s generally more compliant in its ride thanks to Volkswagen’s clever Adaptive Chassis Control suspension setup. It’s also spacious enough, quick enough, and within budget at $64,990 drive-away – all-wheel drive is the only thing I’d miss.
Importantly, it’s quite stylish, and I’d spend an extra $300 for Smokey Silver Metallic paint to make it even more so.
MORE: Explore the Skoda Octavia showroom
Dave Kavermann, Motoring Journalist at CarExpert New Zealand
Skoda Elroq Select 85
Well done. You can finally get a car without making sacrifices for everyone else.
The kids have left home. The kids’ junk has disappeared from the boot. The daily school run is a distant memory. For the first time in years, you can buy a car because it suits you and not others.
That’s where the Skoda Elroq Select 85 comes into its own.
It doesn’t chase trends with gimmicky tech or attention-grabbing styling. Instead, it focuses on getting the fundamentals right – something that’s becoming increasingly rare.
Its size is spot-on for Australia and New Zealand. Compact enough to squeeze into busy shopping centre carparks or narrow city streets, yet spacious enough for weekends away, or the inevitable grandkids’ visit. There’s plenty of luggage space, and the cabin feels genuinely premium without coming with a luxury-car price tag, even though you’re in the flagship model.
The electric drivetrain is another sweet spot. With more than 500km of real-world driving range, the Elroq 85 has a big enough battery to make road trips feel normal rather than something that requires meticulous planning. For most EV owners, charging becomes something you do at home anyway.
What really sets it apart, though, is how easy it is to live with. The ride is supple, the cabin is quiet, and the elevated seating position makes getting in and out easy.
Better yet, Skoda hasn’t buried every function inside a touchscreen, so everyday tasks remain refreshingly simple.
Like every good Skoda, it’s packed with thoughtful touches that make life easier rather than more complicated.
And if you haven’t grown up yet, it’s fast enough to get into some trouble. With 210kW and 545Nm on tap, any drive can raise a smile.