Best estate cars
With 4x4s becoming increasingly popular and manufacturers developing niches crossovers we never knew existed, the estate car as we know it is almost forgotten. But if you need space and practicality but don’t want the cumbersome body of a crossover or the inflated running costs of an SUV, there's still plenty of choice on the new-car market.
The likes of the BMW 3 Series Touring and Mazda6 estate can drive like sportcars, while being so stocked with equipment and technology you half expect them to carry the kitchen sink. Cars like the Jaguar XF Sportbrake mix desirability and practicality, while Hyundai and Kia offer truly rounded packages on a shoestring budget.
So if you need a practical car but don’t want a jacked-up SUV, here are the best new estate cars currently on sale.
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1
Mazda6 Tourer estate
£21,265 - £28,045
By incorporating the its new design language, Mazda has transformed its new estate into a truly desirable family car. The well-balanced Mazda6 is a joy to drive and if fitted with the capable 2.2-litre diesel, it’s affordable to run, too. Alloy wheels, xenon headlights and a 5.8-inch touchscreen are standard across the range.
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2
Skoda Superb estate
£19,155 - £33,815
The Skoda Superb estate is supremely practical and great value to boot. Alloy wheels and front fog lights are standard on all cars, while the huge load area swallows more luggage than an Audi A6. There’s a great range of economical-yet-responsive engines, with the 2.0 TDI diesel is the pick of the range.
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3
BMW 3 Series Touring estate
£29,710 - £39,170
BMW has raised the bar with its latest 3 Series, and the estate is no exception. It’s great to drive, with an impressive blend of performance and economy, plus practicality and build quality are also improved. What’s more, the tailgate glass opens separately, allowing for easy loading when you’ve got a full pair of hands.
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4
Kia Cee'd Sportswagon estate
£16,895 - £24,795
The Cee’d SW is a prime example of how far Kia has come in recent years. The practical, comfortable and refined estate car looks great, but don’t be fooled by the name – the Cee’d is far from sporty to drive. All cars come with Kia’s comprehensive seven-year warranty, so should prove reliable, too.
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5
BMW 5 Series Touring estate
£32,955 - £50,555
If you like the sound of the BMW 3 Series but need more space, try the 5 Series for size. With a 560-litre boot, it’s five litres down on the huge Audi A6 but makes up for it with an unrivalled driving experience and a top-quality interior. Go for one of the economical diesels and you should manage to keep running costs down, too.
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6
Hyundai i40 estate
£19,645 - £28,670
Forget the Ford Mondeo or Toyota Avensis estate, if you want a good value family car with room for that kitchen sink, take a look at the Hyundai i40. Its roomy, well-equipped interior puts more premium rivals to shame, while the smooth ride makes it genuinely comfortable on long motorway runs.
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7
Audi A6 Avant estate
£32,770 - £56,700
The Audi A6 Avant is forgiven for its unadventurous looks thanks to impressive build quality, practical interior and range of fast-but-efficient engines. Comfortable seats and a big boot make it an extremely capable, if slightly expensive, family car.
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8
Jaguar XF Sportbrake estate
£31,940 - £51,505
Estate cars don’t come much more desirable than the Jaguar XF Sportbrake. It’s only the carmaker’s second-ever estate, but the sweeping roofline and squat profile doesn’t mean it’s lacking in practicality. A big boot and spacious interior make it a true challenger to the BMW 5 Series.
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9
Hyundai i30 Tourer estate
£16,295 - £24,025
The i30 Tourer is a slightly more practical version of the i30 hatchback. It offers another 150 litres of boot space and a more versatile interior. Hyundai’s useful five-year warranty is another plus point, which, along with efficient petrol and diesel engines, should help keep running costs down.
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10
Mercedes E-Class estate
If outright space is top of the agenda, not a lot comes close to the Mercedes E-Class. The boot is huge and the interior impressively practical, but get carried away with the options list and the list price can spiral. That said, it’s a truly dependable family car and resale values tend to be strong.
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