Best estate cars

Estate cars are big and practical, and the best offer boot space that matches much bigger SUVs and 4x4s - while still retaining the comfort and driveability of a standard hatchback or saloon. Our top ten features a line-up of cars that blend these key characteristics together.

The car at the top of our list is the Skoda Superb. Its huge boot and two-stage automatic tailgate make it the most practical estate by far. Its well-built interior is the equal of its premium brand rivals - like the Audi A6 Avant. The best for performance is the new BMW 5 Series Touring, its rear-wheel drive lay out giving it good handling, while powerful engines like the turbocharged six-cylinder engine in the BMW 535i make it quick off the mark.

Skoda Superb estate

£18,915 - £30,910

5.0 /5

The Superb Estate manages to successfully combine the talents of the hatchback with an even bigger load area. It's still easy and comfortable to drive, but boasts 633-litres of boot space – and that's with the rear seats up. Fold them down and there is a mammoth 1,865-litres of space available.

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Audi A6 Avant estate

£32,455 - £56,050

4.5 /5

Audi's A6 Avant is a quality estate car with a spacious and well equipped interior. The Avant comes with a range of impressive engines and the option of quattro four-wheel drive. The 2.0 TDI diesel is impressively efficient, while fans of high performance will love the powerful 3.0-litre TFSI petrol models, although these do have a big thirst.

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Mercedes-Benz E-Class estate

£31,485 - £43,120

4.5 /5

If the Mercedes-Benz E-Class saloon is the archetypal executive saloon, then the E-Class Estate is its more practical relative. The estate’s styling is arguably neater than that of the saloon, while the interior benefits from all that additional space in the rear.

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BMW 5 Series Touring estate

£32,305 - £58,175

4.5 /5

The practical boot is just one part of the equation that makes the new BMW 5 Series Touring so desirable. This elegant and spacious estate model looks good and offers class-leading build quality. It’s comfortable to ride in, and relaxing to drive, while the rear seats in particular offer plenty of space for passengers.

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Volkswagen Golf estate

£18,460 - £25,165

4.5 /5

Volkswagen produces the Golf Estate for those who want the classy looks, solid build and comfort of the Golf hatchback in a simple, yet more practical package. The spacious boot increases the carrying capacity of the Golf significantly, the loading area growing from 350 litres in the hatch to 505 litres in the Estate.

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Ford Mondeo estate

£19,350 - £31,005

4.5 /5

Adding the versatility of an estate car boot to the already vast and capable Ford Mondeo makes for a virtually unbeatable combination of practicality, space and drivability. Some rivals, like the Honda Accord Tourer and Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer, are ‘lifestyle’ cars that give up some space for style - the Mondeo doesn’t.

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Mazda6 estate

£20,110 - £24,335

4.4 /5

The Mazda6 Estate is a fantastic all-rounder that offers exceptional value for money. The large boot and spacious cabin mean it's very practical, while low running costs and strong resale values make it a great long-term ownership prospect. Reliability is good and the 6 is certainly one of the better looking estates on sale. It's also good to drive.

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Volkswagen Passat estate

£20,930 - £28,135

4.4 /5

While the Passat Estate doesn’t have the most spacious cargo area among its rivals, you’d still call it a very practical car. All the qualities that make a good estate are present and correct: a large, square boot with a big opening; a split-folding rear bench seat that easily folds flat for increased luggage space; and a useful amount of storage around the cabin.

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Honda Accord Tourer estate

£23,510 - £33,305

4.3 /5

The Accord Tourer is just as good to drive as the saloon version, and equally quiet and comfortable on long journeys. Build quality is superb, as is reliability - which has always been a strong point of the Honda.

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Volvo V70 estate

4.0 /5

The V70 is the epitome of what Volvo is famous for - it’s a big, comfortable and safe estate car. It’s not the biggest in its class, but few will be disappointed with its luggage carrying capacity. Choose one of the three available diesel engines, and it also offers low running costs - especially the DRIVe version. The V70’s trump card, though, is its long-distance comfort.

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