It is a truth universally acknowledged that estates are, well, boring. They’re cars for carrying cargo, lugging loads. They’re just functional utilitarian boxes, aren’t they?
Not a bit of it. Estate cars can be cool. As proof of this, think about models that are available as both saloons and estates. Which one looks better? The estate, right? Every. Single. Time.
Apart from the styling advantages that estates have, there’s another equally compelling reason to buy. Because of the assumption that estates are boring, nobody pays much attention to them, meaning that they make great Q cars, cars that look ordinary but actually have amazing performance - we've included a couple of just such cars on this list.
Not all the estates we’ve chosen here have jealousy-inducing performance, but they all have something to offer, from the practicality and versatility of increased boot space to understated style. And, yes, there are a few that have the performance angle covered, too.
The Best Estate Cars for 2025
- Seat Leon Estate (2020-)
- Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer (2020-)
- Toyota Corolla Touring Sports (2019-)
- Skoda Superb Estate (2024-)
- Volvo V60 (2018-2023)
- Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer (2024-)
- Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate (2024-)
- Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo (2017-)
Seat Leon Estate (2020-)
The Seat Leon is one of the better family cars on the market, either as a hatchback or an estate. Sharing its platform and mechanical parts with the Volkswagen Golf, the Leon nudges the scales in its favour for many because not only is it cheaper to buy, but also because the exterior design is sharper and more stylish, with a sense of Iberian flair. The estate version (formerly known as the Leon ST, which stood for ‘Sports Tourer’, but now it’s just the Leon Estate) has all the style of the hatch, with sharp character lines on the bodywork, along with an enormous 620-litre boot.
The interior is a little more conservative but, depending on the trim level you choose, there are some very useful features and technology available. The engine range also has something for everyone, with petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid versions on offer, but our choice is the flexible 1.5 TSI, as it's a good all-rounder. There is also a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine in the Cupra variant that is tuned to around 300bhp, which is on a par with the Golf R: it’s quick and huge fun. But the big boot (which can expand to 1,541 litres by folding the seats down) is the main reason for getting the estate version, rather than the hatch. It’s big enough for most uses, especially if you have young children and need to carry buggies and all sorts of other related paraphernalia.
Seat Leon Review
Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer (2020-)
It’s often overlooked in the pantheon of great estates, but frankly, the Astra shouldn’t be. Vauxhall’s handsome mid-range family hatchback has spawned an equally attractive family-sized wagon, that benefits from a choice of mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric power.
With a mild hybrid powertrain, the Astra can sometimes feel a little underpowered — especially when it’s fully loaded — but as a plug-in, it makes much more sense, with enough power and smooth delivery to make this an effortless car to drive.
It’s also comfortable, with taut but smooth suspension that irons out all but the worst lumps and bumps, and means the Astra feels right at home on the motorway. And Vauxhall has thought carefully about the Astra’s interior, giving it extra usability thanks to the separate row of climate control buttons that mean you don’t have to rely on the touchscreen infotainment system to adjust the temperature.
Stylish design means it looks good inside, too, even in the entry-level model. Further back, of course, there’s a roomy 516-litre boot in the plug-in models — more than you’ll get in the MG 5 EV — while petrol Astras can boast a whopping 597 litres.
Vauxhall Astra Review
Toyota Corolla Touring Sports (2019-)
If you want an estate car that’s reliable, above all else, then there can only really be one option: the Toyota Corolla. The Corolla Touring Sports, to give it its full name, benefits from the backing of Toyota’s peerless reliability record, not to mention a whopping 10-year warranty, assuming you take it back to the main dealer each year for its servicing.
Thing is, ‘twas ever thus with Toyota’s estates — but previous versions have been, well, more than a little bit like eating unsweetened porridge for every meal. Filling and nourishing, sure, but oh so dull.
The Corolla Touring Sports changed all that; its shark-nosed styling and swoopy interior made it appealing enough to be desirable for more than just its dependable nature. Combined with a roomy interior, a huge boot, a brace of extremely frugal hybrid powertrains — upgraded with more power and even greater fuel efficiency when the Corolla was facelifted in 2023 — and a comfortable, easy-going way of getting down the road, that makes the Corolla one of the best estate cars — and a tempting alternative to the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf estates.
Toyota Corolla Review
Skoda Superb Estate (2024-)
Skoda’s engineers have the uncanny knack of being able to somehow squeeze every inch of space out of their cars. Whatever the size and class of car, the Skoda model will always offer more headroom and legroom and a bigger boot than the rest. And that's never handier than when you’re buying an estate. We could have included the Fabia or Skoda Octavia Estate in this list (the latter of which is offered in sporty vRS form if that’s your thing), but we plumped for the Skoda Superb Estate because, well, it has one of the biggest boots of any car: 690 litres are available when all the seats are in place, which is enough for quite a few cases or cabin bags, while the 1,920-litre load area when the rear seats are folded down is bettered only by a Black Hole.
There’s a choice of petrol and diesel engines, and there’s also a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) called the iV with impressive fuel economy for low running costs and a real-world electric range of over 50 miles. Buyers can also choose a car with a four-wheel-drive system, while the various trim levels all have well-equipped standard specifications. All in all, it's one of the best estate cars out there. Also worth a look if size truly is everything is the Volkswagen Passat Estate, which shares a platform with the Superb, and so is similarly vast inside.
Skoda Superb Review
Volvo V60 (2018-)
For those of us of a certain age, the name Volvo almost inevitably conjures up mental images of big, boxy estate cars, the ones that the Swedish brand built in the '80s and '90s. But things have changed, and these days a Volvo estate car is every bit as sleek and as stylish as one of its German rivals. Perhaps even more so.
The V60 is definitely worth seeking out. Since the launch of the second-generation XC90 in 2015, all Volvo models have a minimalist, Scandinavian design, which looks just as good on the V60 estate as it does on its bigger brother, the Volvo V90.
The same goes for the interior, which is beautifully appointed and has some of the most comfortable seats you’ll find in any car. The 529-litre boot is also pretty sizeable, so not only will you have a cool-looking container, but it’s also practical. Plus, of course, there’s the sense of safety that the V60 will afford you. Volvo has been an innovator in this area for decades, so it should come as no surprise that the V60 has a five-star Euro NCAP rating, thanks to some cutting-edge crash avoidance technology. Not feeling a Volvo badge? Then try the Audi A6 Avant instead.
Volvo V60 Review
Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer (2024-)
If you want a large, luxurious electric estate car, your choices are fairly limited these days. You could opt for the BMW 5 Series Touring in electric i5 form. Or you could go the Audi A6 Avant e-tron.
Or you could peel yourself away from the premium brands and look instead at the Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer. We know, we know — a Volkswagen instead of an Audi or BMW sounds like a step downmarket. But believe it or not, the ID.7 feels like a proper alternative to its illustrious rivals.
Take the interior quality, for example. Even the most basic ID.7 Tourer feels plush from within, with high-quality upholstery and a smart dashboard design. Further back, it aces practicality; you’ll find acres of room in the rear seats and a vast boot capacity — 605 litres, to be precise, which makes it the roomiest electric estate car on the market.
Then there’s the way it rides. Granted, it doesn’t offer an exhilarating driving experience, but the ID.7 is unbelievably smooth and quiet for a new car — more so than the BMW, and on a par with the Audi or a Mercedes E-Class Estate. Yet it costs less than any of those three cars. And in larger-battery Pro S form, it’ll easily cover up to 350 real-world miles on a charge. All of which makes it a compelling choice.
Volkswagen ID.7 Review
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate (2024-)
Like its rivals, the BMW 5 Series and Audi A6, the latest E-Class is a technological tour de force. With huge touchscreens, disco-like ambient lighting, and some of the most advanced safety systems on the market, it feels as much of a super-computer as it does a car.
What's so impressive, then, is that despite all of this tech, Mercedes has been able to retain a sense of tradition with the E-Class - and that includes the tradition of the estate version having an enormous boot. To make the most of that, you'll need to go for one of the mild hybrid engines (both petrol and diesel are offered) rather than the plug-in hybrids, because only then can you enjoy the full 615 litres of boot space on offer. Classy, comfortable, and relatively understated, the latest E-Class Estate would make for a tremendous family wagon.
Mercedes E-Class Review
Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo (2017-)
Whenever you hear the name Porsche, you’re guaranteed a beautiful design, brilliant engineering and pretty much the pinnacle of car ownership. But Porsche builds sports cars, not estates, we hear you cry. Not so, we say. Because since 2017, the German brand has produced a ‘shooting brake’ (an estate that is more focused on being sleek, rather than capacious) version of its Panamera executive saloon, known as the Sport Turismo. And yes, it is an estate, but it’s also a sports car.
In fact, the 670bhp Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo is one of the most powerful estate cars currently in production, with a 0-62mph time of 3.4 seconds. Not only does the Sport Turismo have speed to spare, but it has all the trappings of luxury in the high-quality cabin, offers a superb driving experience and can transport four people in comfort (well, relative comfort, depending on how the driver sets up the adaptive air suspension). Oh, and it also has a 515-litre boot, so it’s practical, too.
Porsche Panamera Review