What are the best estate cars?

An estate can be a great choice if you’re looking for a practical car. They offer up lots of storage space, allowing them to tackle family and work life with ease, and they’re typically better to drive and cheaper to run than an SUV. In short, they’re the veritable Swiss Army knife of the automotive world.

Choosing an estate isn’t the work of a moment, however, because there’s a dazzling array of options. There are budget models, premium alternatives, frugal diesels, powerful petrols and diesels, and even hybrid and electric choices, as well as everything in between.

If you find that a bit daunting, worry not: our guide to the best estate cars can help you quickly narrow down your new car choices, allowing you to easily pick out a top notch estate that’ll suit your lifestyle perfectly. 

Best family estate car: Toyota Corolla Touring Sports

The Toyota Corolla Touring Sports is an estate that will be a breeze to live with. It’s easy to drive, comfortable, and it comes with up to a ten-year, 100,000-mile warranty. The Toyota’s also a frugal hybrid, further helping you avoid racking up hefty bills. It’s consequently a great choice if you want an affordable and long-lasting car. You shouldn’t be left wanting for boot space either as, with the rear seats up, it offers up to 596 litres of storage. Okay, it’s not exciting, but ease of ownership will appeal more to some than driving fun or style.

Best budget estate car: Dacia Jogger

If you want something flexible and practical, and don’t want to spend a lot, the Dacia Jogger could be just the ticket. It’s cheap to buy yet it offers seven seats and, with the rearmost row of seats folded down, a good 565 litres of boot space. And even though it’s so accommodating, it’s not a huge car, so it’s pretty easy to drive and park. The Dacia does feel a bit cheap, mind, and it’s not going to set any speed records. But, if seven seats might be useful, and usability and value for money are important, it’s a solid choice.

Best luxury estate car: BMW 5 Series Touring

There are lots of luxury estate car options, including the Volvo V90 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, but the BMW 5 Series Touring is still our go-to premium choice. It manages that clever trick of being satisfying to drive while still being comfortable, refined, practical and efficient, making it a superb all-rounder. However, the new generation of Touring is due soon, so you might want to wait for that. As is always the case, it’s worth checking when the next generation of a car is on sale, as you could strike a better deal for the outgoing model or, if you wait, get into the newest model of a car.

Best compact estate: Volkswagen Golf Estate

No one ever got into trouble for choosing a Golf. It’s been the go-to choice for countless buyers for decades, in part because it does everything pretty well. The current estate version’s also very practical, offering up 611 litres of storage space with the rear seats up. It’s not an excessively long or wide estate, though, which means it’s easier to handle in those tighter spaces and on country lanes. There are also a lot of options, including the high-performance R model, so you shouldn’t struggle to find a Golf that meets your needs.

Best hybrid estate car: BMW 3 Series Touring

Go for the 330e version of the BMW 3 Series Touring and you’ll net yourself one seriously accomplished plug-in hybrid estate. It’s a quick and satisfying car to drive, and comfortable, but it can also cover up to 62 miles on electric power alone. That means you could do a lot of your trips without the engine turning over once. The only downside is that the hybrid battery cuts down the boot space, so there’s only 410 litres of storage on offer with the seats up. But if outright practicality isn’t essential, it might be a compromise you’re understandably willing to accept.

Best electric estate: MG5 EV

There are a lot of good electric estate options out there, including the Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer and the BMW i5 Touring, but many are still expensive. The MG5 EV, on the other hand, is a sensibly priced yet competent alternative. It’s been around for a while but its vital statistics, including 250-mile range, are still decent, and doubly so when you consider its cost. It’s not the most spacious of options, and it feels built down to a price in places, but it’s an honest, cheap and useful electric estate. It’s even quite comfortable and decent to drive, adding to its appeal.

Best sporty estate: Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo

The Cross Turismo takes the standard Taycan, which is one of the best electric cars around, and adds a dollop of extra usability, body protection, and ground clearance. The net result is a charismatic and capable estate. Even the base model will get from 0-62mph in 4.7 seconds, but the range-topping Turbo S Cross Turismo can do the same in just 2.5 seconds.

Practicality admittedly isn’t its strong point, and an EV might not suit everyone, but its sheer performance and prestige might sell you on the idea. If you’d otherwise prefer your hot estate with an engine, look at the BMW M3 Touring or BMW M340i xDrive Touring instead.

Key features to consider when choosing an estate car

When you’re searching high and low for the best estate to suit your specific needs, bear the following in mind:

Boot space and seating capacity

Think about what you might need to carry in your estate and use that to help narrow down your options. If you want to carry a bike, camping gear, or several large cases, for example, you’ll need to make sure that the boot is big enough. And, if child seats are important, remember to check the number of ISOFIX mounting points.

Fuel economy and range

There are resources online that will give you some idea of the real-world efficiency of many of these new cars, allowing you to get a better idea of consumption and your fuel or charging costs. What you might also want to consider is range. If you’re doing lots of driving, a car with a small fuel tank or short range can become annoying.

Reliability and safety ratings

Look at reliability reports to make sure you’re getting the most reliable estate car. Check out warranty length, too, as longer warranties can help minimise future bills and fuss. A good safety rating is also essential for many, especially those seeking the best new family car. The Euro NCAP website can provide you with crash test results and safety ratings for many cars.

Advanced tech and infotainment features

There’s a lot of choice in the estate car market but one of the ways you can thin out the herd is by being picky about the technology that you want. You might want a car with plug-in-hybrid technology, LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors, or driver assistance technology such as adaptive cruise control. Make a list and use it to separate the wheat from the chaff.

Running costs, including maintenance and insurance

You’ll want to tot up the potential running costs of any new car purchase, before you jump in with both feet, just to avoid any shocks. Remember to factor in fuel costs, insurance, depreciation, servicing, tax costs, and any other expenses such as breakdown services or charging costs.