A European car can be valuable for two reasons: it avoids certain geopolitical risks and it offers a chance to choose an economical turbo diesel variant. There is also the potential to save money, a point highlighted by Alexander Vinogradov, a longtime auto journalist at Za Rulem, Russia’s oldest and most trusted car publication.
Vinogradov explored the option of buying a used car in Germany with a concrete example — a Peugeot 308 SW station wagon powered by a 1.5 liter turbo diesel delivering 131 horsepower and 300 Nm, with roughly 100,000 kilometers on the odometer.
“When you add customs clearance and related charges, the price comes to 1,350,000 rubles. That’s an excellent deal for a four-year-old wagon equipped with a lot of features,” Vinogradov notes.
That price sits in a similar range to what you’d pay for a comparable car already in Russia, where models with 120 hp and 131 hp turbo diesels are common. Typical listings range from about 1.15 million to 1.39 million rubles, with mileage spanning roughly 92,000 to 194,000 kilometers.
Expert opinion
Alexander Vinogradov, expert for Behind the Wheel, explains:
— A station wagon from Europe in the 1.3–1.4 million ruble bracket isn’t the only option in the ‘golf class’ segment. Within this budget, buyers can consider another French alternative — the Renault Megane, fourth generation, from 2017–2018, which offers a balanced combination of size, practicality, and efficiency.
Likewise, the Opel Astra K from 2017–2018 presents a solid choice, often featuring a 1.4-liter petrol engine around 150 hp, though diesel variants appear with reasonable frequency in wagon form.
The seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf has historically been available as a hatchback, yet more wagons have been imported in recent years, including cross variants. Those are usually priced higher than a million and a half rubles, reflecting the increased demand for extra cargo space and all-wheel options. A typical four- to five-year-old wagon often costs between 1.3 and 1.4 million rubles.
Read about the nuances of importing cars from Europe to Russia and weigh the pros and cons of such vehicles in the October issue of Behind the Wheel, now on sale. The material draws on an article by Alexander Vinogradov titled “Universe,” published in issue No. 10 of Behind the Wheel.
These observations emphasize that European wagons in this price range combine modern features with relatively favorable mileage, all while offering the potential for long-term ownership benefits. For Canadian and American buyers, similar dynamics apply when evaluating European wagons in the same class, where market conditions, maintenance costs, and import rules influence the total cost of ownership and resale value. [Citation: Behind the Wheel]