We’ve been living in SUV land for many years, with every new car seemingly either a crossover or a full-blown Sports Utility Vehicle.
Estate cars were at peak popularity between the 1970s and 1990s in Britain, serving as the go-to family car before SUVs came on the scene.
While sales and choice have dwindled in recent decades, the estate car hasn’t been entirely forgotten, with many buyers and brands staying loyal to the benefits of a good old-fashioned family wagon.
The huge space they offer for family holidays, dog owners and car sharing remains appealing to many buyers and estate cars do look classy on the driveway.
And in the case of BMW’s Touring models or Audi’s RS models, they can even be thrilling drives.
So, to honour those drivers who don’t want an SUV but still want practicality and driving fun, we’ve rounded up eight estate cars worth the money across all price brackets. Here they’re ranked from expensive to affordable.
A ‘driver’s estate’ the BMW M5 Touring costs a pretty penny but delivers driving thrills and practicality
1. BMW M5 Touring
Price: from £116,160
BMW launched its ‘Touring’ models in 1987 – the estate versions of their saloon cars.
Considered the ‘driver’s estate’ these models bring sporty driving dynamics to everyday motoring – rather like Audi RS models.
Thanks to its high-performance M TwinPower Turbo V8 petrol engine and electric motor, the M5 Touring plug-in hybrid brings you 727bhp, 0-62mph in 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 155mph.
Plus, you get an all-electric range of 37-41 miles which is great for keeping daily running costs down.
There’s an electric (BMW i5 M60 xDrive Touring) as well.
And the interior marries sports design and luxury for a track-inspired cabin.
Boot space: The luggage compartment of the BMW M5 Touring holds 500 litres, and 1,630 litres when the rear seats are folded down.
2. Denza Z9GT
Price: c. £100,000
This Shooting Brake brings Chinese EV engineering into the estate world.
It could go in the performance section due to its insane 1,140bhp and 0-62mph in just 2.7 seconds – quicker than a Porsche Taycan 4s and only 0.2 seconds shy of the Aston Martin Valhalla hypercar – but due to its electric motor we’re playing it in the EV section.
And this estate is the fastest charging EV in the UK: It’s compatible with BYD’s Flash Charging which means it can charge at 1,500kW speeds and deliver 10 to 70 per cent charge in five minutes and 10 to 97 per cent in nine minutes.
It’s also laden with tech – like rear-wheel steering, ‘crab walk’, and 360-degree compass turn parking.
Boot space: 495 litres with all five seats in place and around 920 litres with all rear seats folded.
The Porsche 4S Cross Turismo is a versality luxury ‘estate’ with huge performance and 381 miles of electric range
3. Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo
Price: from £99,200
The estate-style body of the 4S Cross Turismo means Porsche fans can, if they have deep pockets, get a family-friendly car that’s not an SUV and enjoy the Stuttgart at the same time.
With 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds and 590bhp, this estate car brings all the performance you’d expect from Porsche and range of up to 381 miles.
Versatile as well as practical, the 4S Cross Turismo has an elevated ground clearance and even ‘Gravel Model’ for off-road needs.
You can get the optional Porsche Electric Sport Sound too if you want synthetic noise that will make you feel ever so slightly like you’re driving a combustion car.
Boot space: 446 litres with five seats in place. This extends to 1,212 litres with the rear seats folded.
Audi is bringing its A6 into the electric era as the A6 Avant e-tron with 456bhp and a range of 444 miles
4. Audi A6 Avant e-tron
Price: from £65,165
Audi is famed for its classy estate cars which make middle class parents look stylish at the school gates.
And the RS versions make driving an estate car thrilling, fun and like owning a sports car – just with a big boot.
The A6 Avant e-tron brings Audi’s estate prestige into the electric era with 456bhp, 0-62mph (with launch control) in 4.5 seconds and a range of up to 444 miles on a single charge.
A recycled leather-free interior, a huge panoramic roof, a curved OLED panoramic infotainment screen and 3D immersive sound means this good-looking electric estate is also a very plush place to sit.
Boot space: 545 litres with five seats in place. Fold the rear seats down and you get 1,422 litres.
The Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer offers 545 litres of boot space and up to 422 miles of EV range
5. Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer
Price: from £52,225
Volkswagen has dominated the estate car market since it launched the Passat Estate in 1973, followed by the Golf Estate in 1993.
Now VW is taking on the electric estate market with its ID.7 Tourer, an estate with a range of between 357-422 miles, making it an EV that can go the distance on any family road trip.
With a sophisticated exterior, a premium, light interior with a dimmable panoramic roof and massage seats, the ID.7 is great for everyday family life.
Boot space: You get 545 litres with all five seats in place but thanks to the option of adjusting the angle of the rear seats this can go up to 605 litres. Rear seats folded and you get 1,714 litres.
The Seat Leon Estate is a staple for estate buyers and it’s very affordable too as well as offering a huge boot
6. Seat Leon Estate
Price: from £27,210
Spain’s Seat is owned by VW, but the brand has its own cult following thanks to its affordable and relatively sporty cars.
The Leon Estate is smart if not the most exciting estate car to look at, but it does everything a family wagon should.
The interior has enough ‘cool’ features to keep it premium, with ambient lighting and a minimalist cockpit with a 10.25-inch digital driver display and a 10-inch touchscreen.
There are multiple trim levels to choose from and new engines including a 1.5 TSI and an eHybrid plug-in option.
If you want to keep your fuel costs down, then opt for the plug-in hybrid with an impressive electric-only range of 82 miles and a total range of 559 miles.
Boot space: 620 litres with five seats in place and 1,620 litres with all seats folded down.
Kia’s new K4 Sportswagon is very affordable yet stylish and packed with tech and space for all the family and luggage
Read More
Best seven-seat cars: From luxury SUVs to a budget estate that costs £19,000
7. Kia K4 Sportswagon
Price: from £26,795
South Korean carmaker Kia is known for reliability, quality and value-for-money, and its new K4 Sportswagon promises all of this is estate form.
The exterior design allows this forthcoming affordable estate car to hold its own against other premium wagons, and its cutting-edge tech gives you bang for your buck.
The triple panoramic display combines a 12.3-inch digital cluster, 5.3-inch climate screen, and 12.3-inch infotainment, and you get intuitive voice control to handle every need.
Ambient lighting, sustainable materials and comfort features such as heated and ventilated seats make it feel premium with a capital P inside.
There are four trims to choose from and a wide range of powertrains including mild hybrid.
Boot space: 604 litres with five seats in place and around 1,439 litres with the rear seats folded.
The cheapest estate car on the market? The Dacia Jogger can be a five-seater or a seven-seater and is very economical
8. Dacia Jogger
Price: from £18,995
The cheapest estate car on this list, you’ll find it hard to find a less expensive estate out there.
Technically part estate and part MPV, the Jogger has been ferrying families around on the cheap since 2021.
Definitely not luxurious; this car gets it done as it offers seven seats and generous boot space for as little as £19k.
Still, it doesn’t scrimp as you get a 10-inch screen and a 7-inch driver display and even wireless charging.
Easy to clean, cheap to run thanks to its hybrid powertrain and well-stocked safety kit, it’s a great buy if you’re on a budget.
Boot space: 212 litres with all seven seats in place and 712 litres with five seats up. This goes up to 2,085 litres with rear seats folded.
