Last updated November 28, 2025 by
Tom Wiltshire
10 best estate cars: our favourite load haulers, from fast to frugal
The trusty estate car has been around for a lot longer than the family SUV, and though it’s becoming increasingly overlooked, this list of the best estate cars proves there’s still life in the wagon yet.
The latest and greatest estate cars combine huge boots with efficient hybrid or plug-in engines, posh and spacious interiors and fantastic, rakish looks. They’re also typically nicer to drive than the equivalent SUV, thanks to being lower and lighter. Whether you’re looking for something small and practical like the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports, something posh and premium like the BMW i5 Touring or simply something massive like the Skoda Superb Estate - you’ll find a car you like on this list.
And our expert car reviewing team has spent plenty of time with all of them, loading the boots and back seats up and driving them in town, on the motorway and on country lanes, so you can be sure we’re recommending the absolute best.
Best for: living up to its name
It takes guts to name one of your cars ‘Superb’, but it feels justified when talking about the Skoda Superb Estate. It’s one of the few cars that the entire Carwow road testing team completely agrees on - it’s cavernously practical, super-comfortable to drive on the motorway, comes with a wide range of excellent engines and is great value to boot. In a nutshell, it’s the best estate car on sale today.
The Superb Estate is quite unassuming to look at, but it’s smart. Skoda’s distinctive mustache grille combines with a long, low silhouette to make a car that looks handsome rather than frumpy.
It pulls off the same trick inside. While the materials used aren’t quite as posh as you’d find in German counterparts like the BMW 3 Series, they’re still pretty good. We love the design, too, particularly the three configurable dials which can adjust the climate controls, volume or drive modes depending on what you ask for. It’s a really neat way to add some extra functionality outside of the large 10.3-inch touchscreen.
Even with our most demanding testers on hand, the Superb Estate feels absolutely cavernous. We could sling a pushchair and a weekly shop into the massive 690-litre boot at the same time and still have space left over. And, unlike some smaller estates like the Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer, you don’t suffer a cramped back seat in exchange for the huge boot.
There are petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid engine options available. The diesel is fantastic for long journeys - you can easily do over 600 miles to a tank. The plug-in hybrid is also an excellent option thanks to super-low company car tax and a long electric range of over 70 miles in our testing - though you do lose a bit of boot space to battery storage.
To be critical - and trust us, it’s hard to do - the Superb isn’t much fun to drive on a twisting country lane, and the suspension feels a little firm at lower speeds. Despite this, the Skoda Superb Estate is a phenomenal car with a huge breadth of ability, so it gets a wholehearted recommendation from us.
It takes guts to name one of your cars ‘Superb’, but it feels justified when talking about the Skoda Superb Estate. It’s one of the few cars that the entire Carwow road testing team completely agrees on - it’s cavernously practical, super-comfortable to drive on the motorway, comes with a wide range of excellent engines and is great value to boot. In a nutshell, it’s the best estate car on sale today.
The Superb Estate is quite unassuming to look at, but it’s smart. Skoda’s distinctive mustache grille combines with a long, low silhouette to make a car that looks handsome rather than frumpy.
It pulls off the same trick inside. While the materials used aren’t quite as posh as you’d find in German counterparts like the BMW 3 Series, they’re still pretty good. We love the design, too, particularly the three configurable dials which can adjust the climate controls, volume or drive modes depending on what you ask for. It’s a really neat way to add some extra functionality outside of the large 10.3-inch touchscreen.
Even with our most demanding testers on hand, the Superb Estate feels absolutely cavernous. We could sling a pushchair and a weekly shop into the massive 690-litre boot at the same time and still have space left over. And, unlike some smaller estates like the Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer, you don’t suffer a cramped back seat in exchange for the huge boot.
There are petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid engine options available. The diesel is fantastic for long journeys - you can easily do over 600 miles to a tank. The plug-in hybrid is also an excellent option thanks to super-low company car tax and a long electric range of over 70 miles in our testing - though you do lose a bit of boot space to battery storage.
To be critical - and trust us, it’s hard to do - the Superb isn’t much fun to drive on a twisting country lane, and the suspension feels a little firm at lower speeds. Despite this, the Skoda Superb Estate is a phenomenal car with a huge breadth of ability, so it gets a wholehearted recommendation from us.
Best for: going fast... really fast
If purchase price were no object and petrol was free, you can bet there’d be an Audi RS6 on our driveway. It has an unbeatable combination of staggering performance and immense practicality, making it akin to a supercar you can use every day for the school run and to pop to the shops.
It looks phenomenal; low and squat, with enormous wheels in extra-wide wheel arches. The front grille and headlights have serious ‘get out of my way’ energy, and the howl of the 4.0-litre V8 engine only adds to that.
With 630hp on tap, the RS6 is far quicker than any practical estate car has a right to be. With prodigious grip from its four-wheel drive system and immense power no matter where you are in the rev range, it’s a car that reliably puts a big silly grin on our faces.
Yet it has a fantastic dual character - it’s comfortable and quiet on the motorway, and round town its air suspension irons out rough roads. There’s even a four-wheel steering system to make tight turns and car parks easier to navigate.
Though it isn’t the largest estate car inside - its 565-litre boot is one of the smaller capacities on this list - it’s still hugely practical for a car with this much performance. The seats are comfortable, we could find space for all our odds and sods, and the triple-screen dashboard is actually quite a bit easier to use than the one in the newer A6 Avant e-tron.
With a massive price tag of more than £100,000 and fuel economy that hovered around 20mpg during our testing, the Audi RS6 is definitely a heart-over-head purchase. But if you can justify it, it’s hard to imagine anybody being disappointed.
If purchase price were no object and petrol was free, you can bet there’d be an Audi RS6 on our driveway. It has an unbeatable combination of staggering performance and immense practicality, making it akin to a supercar you can use every day for the school run and to pop to the shops.
It looks phenomenal; low and squat, with enormous wheels in extra-wide wheel arches. The front grille and headlights have serious ‘get out of my way’ energy, and the howl of the 4.0-litre V8 engine only adds to that.
With 630hp on tap, the RS6 is far quicker than any practical estate car has a right to be. With prodigious grip from its four-wheel drive system and immense power no matter where you are in the rev range, it’s a car that reliably puts a big silly grin on our faces.
Yet it has a fantastic dual character - it’s comfortable and quiet on the motorway, and round town its air suspension irons out rough roads. There’s even a four-wheel steering system to make tight turns and car parks easier to navigate.
Though it isn’t the largest estate car inside - its 565-litre boot is one of the smaller capacities on this list - it’s still hugely practical for a car with this much performance. The seats are comfortable, we could find space for all our odds and sods, and the triple-screen dashboard is actually quite a bit easier to use than the one in the newer A6 Avant e-tron.
With a massive price tag of more than £100,000 and fuel economy that hovered around 20mpg during our testing, the Audi RS6 is definitely a heart-over-head purchase. But if you can justify it, it’s hard to imagine anybody being disappointed.
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Battery range up to 359 miles
Best for: electric luxury
The BMW i5 is an all-electric estate car that’s closely-related to the petrol-powered 5 Series, but it feels a bit more luxurious thanks to that silent powertrain and the effortless power delivery you get from an electric motor. Like the rest of the 5 Series range, it’s very comfortable, feels posh inside and it’s great to drive.
Inside, the design is pretty futuristic with a huge curved panel encompassing the driver information and infotainment screens. There’s also lots of ambient lighting and some chintzy crystal knobs which make it feel a bit nightclubby - it might not be to your taste, but there are some nice nods to usability.
We particularly like that you can control the whole infotainment screen through a rotary knob on the centre console, which is great because even for our longer-armed testers the edges of the touchscreen display felt a bit of a stretch.
The i5 has roomy back seats that are very comfortable, and a 570-litre boot that’s a nice square shape making it practical for your everyday detritus. It’s a shame that it doesn’t retain the handy opening rear window of the previous-generation 5 Series, though.
There are two motor options - a rear-wheel drive eDrive40 model with a range of up to 370 miles, and a ludicrously quick M60 with twin motors and a reduced range of 321 miles. That’s not the longest range in an electric estate - the Audi A6 Avant e-tron can do over 400 miles to a charge - but it’s a pretty good figure nonetheless.
The BMW i5 is an all-electric estate car that’s closely-related to the petrol-powered 5 Series, but it feels a bit more luxurious thanks to that silent powertrain and the effortless power delivery you get from an electric motor. Like the rest of the 5 Series range, it’s very comfortable, feels posh inside and it’s great to drive.
Inside, the design is pretty futuristic with a huge curved panel encompassing the driver information and infotainment screens. There’s also lots of ambient lighting and some chintzy crystal knobs which make it feel a bit nightclubby - it might not be to your taste, but there are some nice nods to usability.
We particularly like that you can control the whole infotainment screen through a rotary knob on the centre console, which is great because even for our longer-armed testers the edges of the touchscreen display felt a bit of a stretch.
The i5 has roomy back seats that are very comfortable, and a 570-litre boot that’s a nice square shape making it practical for your everyday detritus. It’s a shame that it doesn’t retain the handy opening rear window of the previous-generation 5 Series, though.
There are two motor options - a rear-wheel drive eDrive40 model with a range of up to 370 miles, and a ludicrously quick M60 with twin motors and a reduced range of 321 miles. That’s not the longest range in an electric estate - the Audi A6 Avant e-tron can do over 400 miles to a charge - but it’s a pretty good figure nonetheless.
Battery range up to 424 miles
Best for: a roomy electric estate
Volkswagen knows a thing or two about making estate cars - it’s been building the Passat for decades. You can think of the ID7 Tourer as an electric Passat - it’s spacious, comfortable and good to drive, though that all comes at the expense of a bit of fun.
The ID7 Tourer looks great. It successfully blends a classy silhouette with some futuristic details - we particularly like the optional two tone paint and the front and rear light bars.
The interior goes a bit too far in the other direction, though. It’s minimalist to a fault, with not just the climate controls but even the direction of the air vents relegated to a touchscreen menu. We found it works just about okay, but it’s a bit glitchy and not too easy to use on the move with too many menus to navigate.
Still, we like how high-quality the dashboard feels - there are loads of nice materials, and the seats are really comfy. They also have plenty of room for the tallest of passengers - and at 605 litres in capacity, the ID7’s boot is the biggest of any electric estate car.
Range is another strong point. Even the base model can do over 300 miles to a charge, while if you go for the longest-range car you get an official figure of more than 420 miles and a real-world range of about 370 miles. That’s super-impressive.
No ID7 is particularly fun to drive, though; it feels heavy, even the dual-motor GTX which is meant to be the sporty one in the range. But it’s a great motorway cruiser, which feels like a more natural habitat for the ID7 Tourer anyway.
Volkswagen knows a thing or two about making estate cars - it’s been building the Passat for decades. You can think of the ID7 Tourer as an electric Passat - it’s spacious, comfortable and good to drive, though that all comes at the expense of a bit of fun.
The ID7 Tourer looks great. It successfully blends a classy silhouette with some futuristic details - we particularly like the optional two tone paint and the front and rear light bars.
The interior goes a bit too far in the other direction, though. It’s minimalist to a fault, with not just the climate controls but even the direction of the air vents relegated to a touchscreen menu. We found it works just about okay, but it’s a bit glitchy and not too easy to use on the move with too many menus to navigate.
Still, we like how high-quality the dashboard feels - there are loads of nice materials, and the seats are really comfy. They also have plenty of room for the tallest of passengers - and at 605 litres in capacity, the ID7’s boot is the biggest of any electric estate car.
Range is another strong point. Even the base model can do over 300 miles to a charge, while if you go for the longest-range car you get an official figure of more than 420 miles and a real-world range of about 370 miles. That’s super-impressive.
No ID7 is particularly fun to drive, though; it feels heavy, even the dual-motor GTX which is meant to be the sporty one in the range. But it’s a great motorway cruiser, which feels like a more natural habitat for the ID7 Tourer anyway.
Best for: a fun driving experience
As far as compact estate cars go, we’ve long thought the BMW 3 Series is one of the best you can buy - it’s so highly recommended because it’s not just practical, but it’s posh and great fun to drive.
It’s even quite a looker - it’s low-slung, with a well-proportioned blend of purposeful aggression and friendly curves. To our eyes, it looks better as this Touring estate than it does as a saloon - though you might disagree.
The 3 Series has an excellent interior with a sleek dual display on the dashboard. Material quality feels great, and you only notice cheap plastics in places where they don’t matter like the bottom of the door trim or low down on the centre console.
Where it loses out is a natural by-product of its size - the 3 Series Touring is quite a small estate car, so it doesn’t have tons of room inside. The 500-litre boot is well-proportioned and much more useful than the one in the 3 Series Saloon, but there’s not very much room in the back and so adults will feel cramped on a long journey.
But if you can live with that, you’ll get the best-driving ‘normal’ estate car on the market. Though it’s not a performance monster like the Audi RS6 (you’ll need the firebreathing M3 Touring for that) the 3 Series Touring is both comfortable round town and on a long trip, while simultaneously being beautifully balanced and great fun on a twisting country road.
As far as compact estate cars go, we’ve long thought the BMW 3 Series is one of the best you can buy - it’s so highly recommended because it’s not just practical, but it’s posh and great fun to drive.
It’s even quite a looker - it’s low-slung, with a well-proportioned blend of purposeful aggression and friendly curves. To our eyes, it looks better as this Touring estate than it does as a saloon - though you might disagree.
The 3 Series has an excellent interior with a sleek dual display on the dashboard. Material quality feels great, and you only notice cheap plastics in places where they don’t matter like the bottom of the door trim or low down on the centre console.
Where it loses out is a natural by-product of its size - the 3 Series Touring is quite a small estate car, so it doesn’t have tons of room inside. The 500-litre boot is well-proportioned and much more useful than the one in the 3 Series Saloon, but there’s not very much room in the back and so adults will feel cramped on a long journey.
But if you can live with that, you’ll get the best-driving ‘normal’ estate car on the market. Though it’s not a performance monster like the Audi RS6 (you’ll need the firebreathing M3 Touring for that) the 3 Series Touring is both comfortable round town and on a long trip, while simultaneously being beautifully balanced and great fun on a twisting country road.
Battery range up to 46 miles
Best for: practicality on a budget
You might wonder what the point of the Skoda Octavia Estate is, when the Skoda Superb (above) already does everything so brilliantly. Well, the Octavia still has a place, because it’s a useful degree smaller and cheaper than the Superb, yet offers almost as much practicality.
It looks a lot like a baby Superb - there’s a handsome grille/headlight combo and sharp creases down its flanks. Inside, it’s much more upmarket than previous Octavias, but is entirely touchscreen-driven with precious few physical controls. That’s a shame, as it means it’s not as easy to use as its bigger brother.
Still, you can’t argue with the space on offer. Even your tallest friends will be able to get comfortable in the back, while the boot space is just 50 litres down on the Superb at a mammoth 640 litres. Fold the seats down and it becomes an impromptu van.
We’ve found the Octavia Estate to be a fantastic companion on a long journey, whether you go for one of the peppy petrols, the super-efficient diesels or the company car tax-friendly plug-in hybrid. It’s not terribly comfortable around town, though, feeling quite stiff over bumps.
You might wonder what the point of the Skoda Octavia Estate is, when the Skoda Superb (above) already does everything so brilliantly. Well, the Octavia still has a place, because it’s a useful degree smaller and cheaper than the Superb, yet offers almost as much practicality.
It looks a lot like a baby Superb - there’s a handsome grille/headlight combo and sharp creases down its flanks. Inside, it’s much more upmarket than previous Octavias, but is entirely touchscreen-driven with precious few physical controls. That’s a shame, as it means it’s not as easy to use as its bigger brother.
Still, you can’t argue with the space on offer. Even your tallest friends will be able to get comfortable in the back, while the boot space is just 50 litres down on the Superb at a mammoth 640 litres. Fold the seats down and it becomes an impromptu van.
We’ve found the Octavia Estate to be a fantastic companion on a long journey, whether you go for one of the peppy petrols, the super-efficient diesels or the company car tax-friendly plug-in hybrid. It’s not terribly comfortable around town, though, feeling quite stiff over bumps.
2026
Comfortable Cruiser Award
Highly Commended
Battery range up to 442 miles
Best for: stylish long-range commuting
The Audi A6 Avant e-tron gives the Volkswagen ID7 Tourer a proper run for its money when you’re looking for maximum range in an electric estate car. The best rear-wheel drive model will officially do 442 miles to a charge, which is remarkable for something this big and practical - even though that figure is more like 400 miles in the real world, it’s still good.
It’s a slinky-looking thing, which is great for efficiency at high speeds. But it still looks like an Audi, thanks to the distinctive faux grille at the front.
Inside, it debuts a new interior design for Audi, which seems to be based on the mantra ‘MORE SCREEN. MORE.’ The infotainment display is huge, so is the driver’s information panel, and on top models you can even get a third screen for the front passenger. It’s a bit of a gimmick, though - most of our passengers just preferred to play on their phones instead.
All this display does mean the dashboard looks a little cluttered, and it also feels cheap in places - some of the switchgear down on the centre console is creaky and generally it doesn’t feel as bombproof as the old A6.
It’s good to drive, though. We found it very comfortable around town, and when you get on the motorway it feels like you’re gliding. But be aware that, as estate cars go, it’s not all that practical, with just 500 litres of boot space - and the low ceiling means it’s not that great for bigger items.
The Audi A6 Avant e-tron gives the Volkswagen ID7 Tourer a proper run for its money when you’re looking for maximum range in an electric estate car. The best rear-wheel drive model will officially do 442 miles to a charge, which is remarkable for something this big and practical - even though that figure is more like 400 miles in the real world, it’s still good.
It’s a slinky-looking thing, which is great for efficiency at high speeds. But it still looks like an Audi, thanks to the distinctive faux grille at the front.
Inside, it debuts a new interior design for Audi, which seems to be based on the mantra ‘MORE SCREEN. MORE.’ The infotainment display is huge, so is the driver’s information panel, and on top models you can even get a third screen for the front passenger. It’s a bit of a gimmick, though - most of our passengers just preferred to play on their phones instead.
All this display does mean the dashboard looks a little cluttered, and it also feels cheap in places - some of the switchgear down on the centre console is creaky and generally it doesn’t feel as bombproof as the old A6.
It’s good to drive, though. We found it very comfortable around town, and when you get on the motorway it feels like you’re gliding. But be aware that, as estate cars go, it’s not all that practical, with just 500 litres of boot space - and the low ceiling means it’s not that great for bigger items.
8. Mercedes E-Class Estate 2023
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate review
Best for: ultra-comfortable wafting
The Mercedes E-Class Estate is a venerable example of a posh family estate that really soaks up the miles. It’s extremely comfortable, with a great range of engines, and the interior feels superbly posh.
Mercedes still offers the E-Class with an old-school diesel - unlike the BMW 5 Series - and there’s also a really interesting diesel plug-in hybrid, which gives you great economy on long journeys combined with silent, emissions-free motoring around town. It’s the best of both worlds.
All versions of the E-Class are rather expensive though, and the price can rocket if you want the poshest equipment such as the eye-catching ‘Superscreen’ dashboard. We reckon you don’t need the most expensive variant, though - go for the E 220d in Exclusive Premium trim, and add the optional air suspension - you’ll end up with an incredibly comfortable car that still costs less than £70,000.
There’s also tons of space inside. The 615-litre boot isn’t the largest anymore, but it comfortably beats out both the Audi A6 Avant and the BMW 5 Series Touring, and there’s loads of rear legroom too. No wonder the E-Class is so popular with German taxi drivers.
The Mercedes E-Class Estate is a venerable example of a posh family estate that really soaks up the miles. It’s extremely comfortable, with a great range of engines, and the interior feels superbly posh.
Mercedes still offers the E-Class with an old-school diesel - unlike the BMW 5 Series - and there’s also a really interesting diesel plug-in hybrid, which gives you great economy on long journeys combined with silent, emissions-free motoring around town. It’s the best of both worlds.
All versions of the E-Class are rather expensive though, and the price can rocket if you want the poshest equipment such as the eye-catching ‘Superscreen’ dashboard. We reckon you don’t need the most expensive variant, though - go for the E 220d in Exclusive Premium trim, and add the optional air suspension - you’ll end up with an incredibly comfortable car that still costs less than £70,000.
There’s also tons of space inside. The 615-litre boot isn’t the largest anymore, but it comfortably beats out both the Audi A6 Avant and the BMW 5 Series Touring, and there’s loads of rear legroom too. No wonder the E-Class is so popular with German taxi drivers.
Best for: fuel economy
Plug-in hybrid and electric estate cars may get all the headlines for range and running costs, but there’s a lot to be said for the self-charging hybrid system in the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports. If you’re a private buyer, rather than a company car user, it’s a superb option that reliably returns over 60mpg without ever needing to be plugged in.
It’s very much a sensible purchase - no version of the Corolla really tugs at your heartstrings, and the styling inside and out is pretty staid. It feels exceptionally well-built, though, so it’s no wonder Toyota feels confident in offering up to ten years of warranty cover.
As an estate car, it has good and bad points. The rear legroom is pretty tight, and we found it quite difficult to squeeze a bulky child seat in. On the other hand, the boot is massive for the size of car - at 598 litres, it’s easily capable of swallowing the biggest of pushchairs. You lose a few litres if you opt for the more powerful 2.0-litre engine, though you don’t really need to do this - the 1.8 is more than nippy enough.
Plug-in hybrid and electric estate cars may get all the headlines for range and running costs, but there’s a lot to be said for the self-charging hybrid system in the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports. If you’re a private buyer, rather than a company car user, it’s a superb option that reliably returns over 60mpg without ever needing to be plugged in.
It’s very much a sensible purchase - no version of the Corolla really tugs at your heartstrings, and the styling inside and out is pretty staid. It feels exceptionally well-built, though, so it’s no wonder Toyota feels confident in offering up to ten years of warranty cover.
As an estate car, it has good and bad points. The rear legroom is pretty tight, and we found it quite difficult to squeeze a bulky child seat in. On the other hand, the boot is massive for the size of car - at 598 litres, it’s easily capable of swallowing the biggest of pushchairs. You lose a few litres if you opt for the more powerful 2.0-litre engine, though you don’t really need to do this - the 1.8 is more than nippy enough.
Battery range up to 35 miles
Best for: stylish looks on a budget
The Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer shares its basic recipe with the Toyota Corolla Sports Tourer - take a family hatch and give it a lot more room in the back. The Astra looks great, with its blacked out ‘Vizor’ face and sharp lines. The interior is smart too, if a bit monochrome.
With 597 litres of boot space and a reasonably roomy back seat, the Astra Sports Tourer is very practical, and whether you opt for the petrol hybrid or the pricier plug-in hybrid it’s very comfortable over long distances.
We also found it surprisingly agile down a twisty road, thanks to quick steering. The engines are a bit noisy, though, and while the base models are great value the top-spec cars don’t really feel worth the money.
The Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer shares its basic recipe with the Toyota Corolla Sports Tourer - take a family hatch and give it a lot more room in the back. The Astra looks great, with its blacked out ‘Vizor’ face and sharp lines. The interior is smart too, if a bit monochrome.
With 597 litres of boot space and a reasonably roomy back seat, the Astra Sports Tourer is very practical, and whether you opt for the petrol hybrid or the pricier plug-in hybrid it’s very comfortable over long distances.
We also found it surprisingly agile down a twisty road, thanks to quick steering. The engines are a bit noisy, though, and while the base models are great value the top-spec cars don’t really feel worth the money.
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Factors to consider when buying an estate car
Size:
While bigger might often be seen as better when it comes to boot size, if you don’t regularly fill your boot to its entirety or need to carry items so large that you need to fold the seats, then you’re better off with a slightly smaller option that’s easier to park and thread through tight streets.
Budget:
The price of the estate cars on sale varies so much these days it’s staggering, and more expensive doesn’t necessarily mean better. As a money-no-object treat then the Audi RS6 Avant is an excellent bit of extravagance to have on your driveway, but the truth is a Skoda Superb Estate offers more space inside for a fraction of the cost.
Fuel economy and efficiency:
If you’re on the hunt for a car that can keep up with a Ferrari but carry as much cargo as a Range Rover, then you should expect to pay a pretty penny at the pump - or make regular trips to the charging station. If you’ve got a home charger and spend most of your time in town then an EV choice will be the cheapest to run, but on longer trips a diesel or hybrid option will be friendliest on your wallet.
