If you want to buy a car that really can do everything, look no further than a BMW 5 Series Touring. The best estate car going, it's a superb all-rounder: a premium car with a first-class interior, a big boot, and a driving experience that strikes the perfect blend of sportiness and comfort. There's a reason our team of reviewers awarded the 5 Series Touring 10 out of 10: it's almost impossible to find fault with.

It's a strikingly handsome estate car (more so than the 5 Series saloon, we reckon) and one that exudes class alongside garish SUV alternatives. It's certainly on the large side, but that means it's simply cavernous inside. The boot can accommodate a mighty 1700 litres of luggage with the rear seats dropped, which is only really beaten by load-luggers like the Skoda Superb Estate.

You'll pay a premium for a new BMW 5 Series Touring, but you can save thousands by looking for a nearly-new example. How does £10,000 off a 530e M Sport sound?

The Skoda Superb Estate has always been a car that provides huge space and massive practicality in a package that offers incredible value for money in comparison to rivals, and the latest version, released in 2024, does the job even better than ever.

For starters, the huge space it offers is even huger than ever. We thought the previous version's 660-litre loadbay could never be beaten, but the latest version ekes out another 30 litres for a gargantuan total of 690 litres. That rises to 1920 litres if you fold down the rear seats. If you don't, you'll have five seats that are surrounded by a scarcely believable amount of space, making the Superb a hugely practical family car. The cabin is nicely trimmed, too.

Granted, it's not the most exciting car to drive, but who cares about that when it's so comfortable and refined? It's also offered with a broad range of engine options, and all versions come well equipped as standard.

If you don’t need the space of a big, premium wagon, the BMW 3 Series Touring combines all the versatility of a family estate car with the feel-good factor of a sports saloon.

You get a wide choice of petrol and diesel engines with the 3 Series Touring, as well as a plug-in hybrid. If you want an estate car to cover the commute during the week before heading to the hills at the weekend, the plug-in hybrid 330e could be a really good choice. It can travel up to 35 miles under electric power alone, taking just over 2 hours to charge from a wall charger. 

The BMW 3 Series Touring has a 500-litre boot capacity with the rear seats in place, which is comparable with the likes of the Mercedes C-Class and Audi A4 Avant. That said, it is narrower between the wheel arches, so some bulkier items might be harder to get in the back. One nice touch is that the rear window can open independently of the rest of the tailgate, which is great for quick access to the boot with smaller items.

If you're more concerned about doing your bit for the environment than having a flash badge on your bonnet, take a look at the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports. It's a hybrid estate car powered by a choice of 1.8- or 2.0-litre petrol engines, combined with an electric motor for maximum frugality.

The best thing about the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports? It actually isn't a compromise at all. You get a thoroughly acceptable interior, with a lot more clever features and soft-touch finishes than the old Auris it replaced.

It's also pretty good to drive. No, it's not going to be as fun as a BMW 3 Series, but it's impressively comfortable over broken British road surfaces. That petrol-electric drivetrain means it's incredibly refined, too, and it feels at home both around town and out on the motorway.

The electric estate car market is yet to really take off, with most manufacturers concentrating their efforts on where the cash is: electric SUVs. The first mass-market electric estate car is the MG5 and even though it's short of rivals, it's still a really appealing package in its own right.

For a start, it represents really good value money. You can buy a new one for £31,000 but, if you're not fussed about having the latest facelifted example, you can bag a used MG5 EV for around £20,000. That's decent value for money for a used electric car that's practical enough to be your main family transport.

And it doesn't really feel like a budget car, either. The interior feels just as well finished as you get in a Vauxhall Astra (if not better), while thanks to a facelift, the car also looks sharper than it used to. Its 250-mile range will be sufficient for most, too. It's easy to see why the MG5 is proving such a hit with Uber drivers.

Much like the BMW 5 Series Touring and Mercedes E-Class Estate, the Audi A6 Avant is an ultra-sophisticated and ultra-spacious premium wagon that’ll make you think twice about buying an SUV.

The A6 Avant is pretty big, with a 565-litre boot and enough legroom in the back to satisfy demanding teenagers. As such, it’s not the easiest car to squeeze down country lanes, but on the motorway it’s an extremely relaxing companion.

You can choose from the usual variety of petrol and diesel engines, as well as a plug-in hybrid model badged (confusingly) the 50 TFSI e. This couples an electric motor with a 2.0-litre petrol engine, providing a total output of 299PS. This can cover 34 miles before the petrol motor kicks in.

The latest Octavia Estate has grown in size versus its 2013 predecessor, giving you more space while still undercutting the competition in terms of price, including the Volkswagen Golf Estate and SEAT Leon Estate. It looks fresher than ever, too, having just been facelifted for 2024.

Comfortable and spacious on the inside, the family and dog will love it, as will those who drive for a living and find themselves behind the wheel most of the day (and/or night). The entry-level SE Technology is well equipped but we’d recommend opting for the SE L model to get nice extras including adaptive cruise control, keyless entry/start and heated front seats, along with a plusher interior finish. There’s a wide choice of diesel, petrol and hybrid engines, too.

By far the biggest selling point for the Skoda Octavia Estate, though, is the space on offer. There's generous passenger accommodation, which is great when your kids grow up faster than you thought, while the massive - and we mean massive - 640 litre boot is great for swallowing tonnes of family detritus. 

It's not much of a surprise - given that both are made by the same group of companies - that the latest Volkswagen Passat is very similar to the Skoda Superb we mentioned earlier. As a result, nor is it much of a surprise that the Passat - which is now available exclusively in estate car-form - has its stablemate equalled when it comes to boot space: it has the same 690-litre figure, so it's truly massive.

If anything, it's even more impressive for passenger space, because whichever of the five seats you end up in, you have simply loads of headroom and legroom. This is a car that's very roomy and very practical, making it perfect for families with older children. The interior is also well equipped and pleasantly finished, and it's a pleasant car to drive, too.

The Passat features quite a bit further down our list than the Superb does, and there are a few reasons for that. Firstly, it costs a bit more, and secondly, it doesn't have as broad a range of engines to choose from as the Skoda. It's infotainment screen isn't as easy to navigate, either. With that all being siad, this is still one very appealing and capable family car.

If you’re looking for a stylish estate car that gets you bang for your buck, it’s time to consider the VW Arteon Shooting Brake and for the best value, pick up a second hand model. Its sweeping silhouette gives it a sleek, sporty edge but doesn’t comprise the space on offer inside.

There’s a pleasing 590-litre boot (which is bigger than the pricey BMW 5 Series Touring), giving you plenty of room even with the aforementioned sweeping design. However, opt for the plug-in hybrid model (good for 36 miles on a single charge) and the area is drastically reduced to 455 litres, which will make you think twice about this particular option.

The Arteon Shooting Brake may have a sporty exterior, but you'll find it to be a more serene experience on the road: quiet and sophisticated, getting you to your destination in comfort. The softer suspension negates lumps and bumps in the road, while a spacious cabin has a more luxurious feel than your average family estate, although it’s not quite at the level of Audi, BMW and Mercedes.

Just like the bigger Mercedes E-Class, any thoughts that estate cars are boring will vanish from your mind the moment you take a seat in the Mercedes C-Class.

It’s got a lavish interior, full of the kind of surprise-and-delight features that’ll make you feel good about owning a Mercedes-Benz. You’ll be hard-pushed to find a harsh finish, and standard equipment levels are generous across the range: even entry-level cars will feel far from basic.

It might be a premium car, but don’t expect a C-Class Estate to cost a fortune to run. The C300e is a plug-in hybrid has an all-electric range of 65 miles, which is one of the best figures on the market, and that gives it official fuel economy that spirals into the hundreds. Keep it topped up with electricity, and there's a very decent chance you'll go long periods without using a single drop of petrol.