Whisper this, but while your mates fall for the supposed charm of an SUV, the smart money goes on an estate car. In most cases, they’re nicer to look at, better to drive and more practical. Your dog will thank you for the extra space and lower boot lip.
Here, we’ve listed 10 of the best estate cars you can buy, all of which will slot into family life like a Golden Retriever. Perhaps the greatest news of all is that Volvo has returned to selling wagons in the UK, meaning you can continue the dream of owning an estate from the Swedish marque.
These are our top picks, presented in alphabetical order.
Audi A6 Avant
Audi has been experimenting with its badging of late, but the A6 Avant is back to being a rival for the BMW 5 Series Touring. Forget ideas of full-electric propulsion here, as the latest A6 Avant is offered with petrol, diesel, or plug-in hybrid powertrains.
Yes, we did say diesel, and the 204hp 2.0-litre TDI comes with a very effective mild-hybrid system that helps reduce lag when accelerating. It sees the A6 Avant run on battery power more often than you would expect, although the 295hp full plug-in hybrid version is on hand for those who demand more electrification.
Boot capacity ranges from 460 to 503 litres depending on the engine picked, which is below rivals from BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Cabin space for passengers is generous, though, meaning there should be few complaints from those in back.
It is also competitively priced against key rivals, starting at around £55,000, with an interior that looks and feels reassuringly upmarket. Combined with a smooth ride, stylish looks, and plenty of tech, the A6 Avant remains a top choice for estate fans.
BMW 3 Series Touring
The BMW 3 Series Touring commands almost £3,000 more than the 3 Series saloon, but it’s worth every penny. Diesel engines have departed, leaving a choice from the humble 320i petrol, plug-in hybrid 330e, or 392hp M340i.
Oh, and don’t forget the wild M3 Touring, which delivers 510hp, but still has a 500-litre boot capacity, and even retains the split tailgate found on the regular 3 Series wagon.
It all makes the 3 Series Touring one of the best estate cars around in 2025, with timeless styling, an upmarket interior, and plenty of practicality. In many ways, BMW’s smallest estate is probably all the family car you will ever need.
We said: “The latest BMW 3 Series is a car at the top of its game. It’s practical, packed with tech, quick and efficient… and a great driver’s car.”
BMW 5 Series Touring
BMW’s model range used to be so easy to understand, with a selection of saloons or estates in varying sizes. Now, with so many SUVs and more on offer, the lineup is less succinct. However, the 5 Series Touring remains as the BMW option for those who need more space and prestige than the 3 Series Touring, with prices from £54,000.
The latest BMW 5 Series Touring range is more complex, though, and there is an absence of diesel power from the UK lineup. Instead, buyers can pick from petrol, plug-in hybrid, or even all-electric with the i5 Touring. For maximum performance when transporting dogs or luggage, there is the astonishing 727hp M5 Touring on offer.
Make no mistake, the latest 5 Series Touring is a big car on UK roads, with its width in particular meaning you will need to pick parking spaces with care. The payoff is an interior that offers generous accommodation for four, and a boot capacity of 570 litres that does not diminish in plug-in hybrid spec.
All of this is backed by a driving experience that remains engaging and composed, regardless of the powertrain picked.
Dacia Jogger
Wait, is the Dacia Jogger really an estate? It could be argued that it falls into the MPV category, but the station wagon-inspired looks mean we are more than happy to recommend it here. Oh, and the fact it happens to be a seriously good family car, with a bargain price.
The entry level version costs slightly over £20,000 which, in this economy, makes it a genuinely affordable option for those who need seven seats. Engine options are simple, and consist of a 109hp petrol or 140hp petrol hybrid with an automatic gearbox.
Dropping the third-row flat results in 565-litres of boot capacity, easily outdoing many of the premium estates on our list. Fold and tumble the second row, and this swells to a van-like 1,800 litres, which should be enough for almost any wagon need.
We said: “Part-people carrier, part-estate and part-SUV, the clever Dacia Jogger cherry-picks the best bits from several categories of car. Above all, it offers seven seats and a huge amount of practicality for remarkably little cash.”
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate
Mercedes-Benz was arguably the architect of the premium station wagon market, and the latest E-Class Estate shows the German marque is not slowing down. Although, the latest version of its biggest estate actually has less boot capacity than the model it replaces.
It does still offer a sizable 615 litres of space to transport your lifestyle accessories, which makes it more generous than the Audi A6 Avant or BMW 5 Series Touring. Just be aware that the plug-in hybrid E-Class Estate sees this slashed to 460 litres, though.
Intriguingly, Mercedes offers the E-Class Estate with a choice of petrol or diesel PHEV powertrains. This can offer a range on battery power alone of up to 68 miles, beyond what rival plug-in hybrid wagons can deliver. The rest of the lineup includes a host of conventional petrol and diesel engines, along with a rabid 449hp AMG E53 performance model.
The Mercedes E-Class Estate remains reassuringly expensive, with prices beginning from over £56,000 for the E200 Urban Edition. Higher trim levels come with a 12.3-inch display for the front-seat passenger, and the whole cabin feels like a true premium product.
Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo
The Taycan was revolutionary for Porsche when first launched in 2019, becoming the German marque’s first all-electric model. After the initial enthusiasm, demand for premium EVs has waned, but that does nothing to diminish the effectiveness of the Taycan Sport Turismo.
It commands a £1,000 premium over the regular Taycan saloon, but brings greater practicality and – arguably – better looks, too. For those who want a dose of off-road style estate action, there is even the jacked-up Cross Turismo version to consider.
Prices for the Taycan Sport Turismo begin from around £89,000, and stretch all the way to the £163,000 Turbo S model with a colossal 952hp. The GTS version is perhaps the sweet spot in the lineup, with 700hp and the potential to officially cover up to 380 miles when fully charged.
We said: “As you’d expect with more power than the old Taycan Turbo, it’s brutally fast. A full-bore launch control getaway feels downright violent, and is something you will probably try only once. Four-wheel-drive traction rockets you off the line, then speed builds relentlessly and seamlessly until you either lose your nerve or, well, lose your licence.”
Read our Porsche Taycan GTS Sport Turismo review
Skoda Octavia Estate vRS
If your heart says you want a Volkswagen Golf GTI but your head wants a Skoda Octavia Estate, the vRS is the car for you. Last year the Skoda’s 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine was upgraded to deliver 265hp, along with 273lb ft of torque. Sadly, the efficient diesel engine option has been dropped for the UK, meaning it is petrol or nothing for the vRS Estate now.
With the seats up, the boot can still swallow 640 litres of luggage, which is impressive for a car of this size. Fold the seats, and the capacity increases to 1,700 litres. Prices have crept up to start beyond £41,000, meaning the Octavia vRS Estate gets hit with the expensive car supplement. It still presents as a relative bargain for the performance and practicality available, though.
We said: “Skoda wants the new Octavia vRS to deliver more technology and more space, and to feel like a premium product. It manages all of this with room to spare, whilst maintaining the performance and practicality that have gained it such a committed following.”
Read our Skoda Octavia vRS review
Skoda Superb Estate
Across four generations, the Skoda Superb Estate has become an option for those who want a family wagon with generous levels of space, refinement, and comfort all included. That the Superb comes with relatively affordable pricing only adds to its appeal.
This really is a big estate, with up to 690-litres of boot capacity with the rear seats in place, growing to 1,920 litres when the back bench is folded flat. Both front and rear passengers benefit from acres of space, too. Extra points are scored by the Superb for having a dashboard that still features clever rotary dials, in place of relying on a touchscreen for everything.
Engine options include petrol and diesels, plus an effective plug-in hybrid setup. The latter does see a reduction in boot capacity, but holds massive appeal for company car drivers. Prices begin at just over £38,000, undercutting the related Volkswagen Passat.
We said: “With a degree of body-roll and light but precise steering, the Superb iV Estate feels akin to a classic American station wagon, offering smooth and relaxed progress. Just without the wood grain vinyl on the outside.”
Read our Skoda Superb iV Estate review
Toyota Corolla Touring Sports
The Toyota Corolla Touring Sports is backed by a warranty covering up to ten years, offered with a pair of efficient hybrid powertrains, and comes with the reassurance of Toyota’s reputation for reliability. We’d opt for the 2.0-litre over the 1.8-litre, because it’s both quicker and more economical.
It might surprise you to discover that the Corolla is surprisingly good to drive, while even the entry-level Icon model comes with a generous level of standard equipment. Dual-zone climate control, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are fitted to all versions.
We said: “Build quality is excellent, and the hybrids in particular feel quiet and well insulated from the outside world. It’s all rather premium, with a sense that the car is built to last. Overall, the new Corolla is an excellent car that should be on the shortlist of buyers looking for a smart and efficient family hatchback.”
Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer
Pure battery electric options for estate cars remain relatively rare, with the Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer proving to be one of the exceptions. As part of the German marque’s growing electric lineup, the ID.7 Tourer is an appealing alternative to the inevitability of an electric SUV.
What sets the ID.7 Tourer apart is its impressive range, with up to 422 miles possible on a single charge. With the rear seats in place, the ID.7 Tourer can accommodate 605-litres of luggage, rising to 1,714 litres with the rear bench folded flat.
Prices for the ID.7 Tourer are on the high side, starting from almost £52,000, with the performance GTX version beyond £60,000. This likely makes it better suited to company car drivers, but they will be getting a great electric estate to use.
Volkswagen Passat Estate
The new Volkswagen Passat is as close as you can get to a premium estate car without paying a premium price. It feels upmarket for the price and comes very close to offering the high standards set by Audi and BMW.
It’s also huge inside. Its 690-litre boot is more than you would find in a BMW 5 Series Touring, and folding the rear seats down boosts this to a colossal 1,920 litres. That is genuinely vast, and far beyond the Passat’s premium rivals, and matches the aforementioned Skoda Superb exactly.
Prices for the latest Passat begin at around £40,000, which makes it something of a bargain compared to those other upmarket German wagons. The Skoda Superb is slightly cheaper, but the Passat brings its all-important Volkswagen badge cache to the ownership experience.
Volvo V60
Guess who’s back, back again? The Volvo V60 made a quiet return to UK pricelists last year, after the Swedish marque previously discontinued it due to slow sales. Cue an outpouring of grief from estate aficionados, and now relief that the BMW 3 Series Touring rival has returned.
Unlike many of the premium estates on this list, the Volvo V60 gives no pretension of being sporty or dynamic. Instead, this classic wagon majors on delivering cocooning comfort, helping shelter you (plus your passengers and luggage) from the outside world.
The boot can take 648-litres of luggage with the rear seats up, rising to 1,431 litres when they are folded down. Although not quite as vast as the (now discontinued again) V90, it gives the V60 an effective combination of size and space.
Power comes from a mild-hybrid petrol engine, or a full plug-in hybrid model, both of which feature a luxurious cabin, designed with Scandi minimalism in mind. Costing from around £42,000, the Volvo V60 is possibly all the estate you really need.
Rolls-Royce Corniche Shooting Brake
Finally, how about an option for an estate if money truly is no object? For a truly bespoke family wagon, Dutch-born designer Niels van Roij has transformed a 1981 Rolls-Royce Corniche coupe into a magnificent shooting brake.
All the bodywork from the B-pillar backwards is new, taking around 7,000 hours to shape. This does include hand-painted coachlines for the British Racing Green paintwork, and even a bicycle rack hidden behind the rear bumper.
Niels van Roij has also treated the Corniche’s interior to a makeover, including beige leather, green tweed, and deep lambswool carpets. Even the rear bench seats can be folded flat electrically. As for the price, it’s best not to ask…
We said: “Rolls-Royce famously described its cars’ power outputs as ‘adequate’ – and so it proves. The Corniche’s 240hp fuel-injected engine is certainly no firecracker, but release the foot-operated parking brake, click the column shifter into ‘D’ and it will gather speed gracefully, cresting a wave of brawny V8 torque.”
Read our Rolls-Royce Corniche ‘Henry II’ shooting brake review
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