Best estate cars for passing the MoT

Is there a better family load-lugger than the Skoda Superb estate? We’d certainly be hard-pressed to find one. Not only does it have a cavernous-sized boot but is has acres of rear legroom. In fact, we reckon only an Audi A8 long-wheelbase has more.

And if you’re worried its cheap price tag means it feels cheap inside, don’t be. Here is a car that feels plenty premium – from the choice of materials to the plastics used. It also feels pretty premium out on the road with minimal road noise, nicely weighted steering and a suspension that soaks up the worst of the UK’s bumps.

There’s also the ‘simply clever’ features, which include an ice scraper that slots into the fuel filler cap and umbrellas that slot into both front doors. There's even a removable magnetic torch in the boot with a 48-hour battery life.

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For enthusiastic drivers who need plenty of boot space, the BMW 5 Series Touring is an excellent option. It’s not the biggest boot in its class – but the 560 litres on offer here is the most that’s ever been offered by a 5 Series.

The focus here is clearly on driver dynamics, which the car has in spades. It handles superbly and is a fine mix of a comfortable ride and taut chassis. So if you need to carry some kids and some shopping home via your favourite B-road the 5 Series is well worth a look.

Equipment levels are impressive too and all models get Dakota leather upholstery, automatic air conditioning, self-levelling rear air suspension, Bluetooth plus both front and rear parking sensors.

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Like its rival, the BMW 5 Series Touring, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate is a large and rather nice family car. But where the BMW’s focus is on driving dynamics, the Mercedes prioritises practicality and comfort.

Expect refinement to rival a limo combined with an almost van-like ability to carry a load (695 litres). Granted, that sounds like an odd combination, but it really works.

And any shortcomings in the driver enjoyment department are more than made up for by its low running costs and the sheer joy of getting behind the wheel on a daily basis.

As you’d expect from Mercedes, build quality feels assured but the car is also generously spec’d with leather trim as standard. Perhaps our biggest criticism is the transmission tunnel that invades rear-seat space, making it a non-starter as a five-seater.

• Best estates for £20,000

For years, the Volkswagen Passat estate has been the go-to family car for those who have outgrown their Golf. It’s never been a wholly satisfying move with many an owner casting a longing look at the far more handsome 5 Series Touring.

Thankfully, Volkswagen produced a Passat to be proud of. As well as combining 650-litres of load space with plenty of kit, it actually took a big step forward in terms of design and engineering.

Its diesel-only engine range keeps running cost low, we reckon the 2.0-litre with 190PS is the way to go (although a 240PS version is available if you absolutely must have a 6.7 second 0-62mph time).

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With a 2017 launch, the earliest Volvo V90s sold in the UK will shortly be taking their first MoT test. So how will they fare? Well, early owners report decent reliability and lately Volvo has a reputation for being slightly better than average come testing time.

That could be enough to cement the V90s reputation as a cracking family car (along with a 560-litre boot). Many drivers were bowled over by its looks and while it might not be as good to drive as a BMW 5 Series, behind the wheel of the Volvo is a very nice place to be indeed. It’s wonderfully finished, with leather upholstery as standard.

And not only is there a generous amount of standard equipment, there’s also lots of safety kit like a semi-autonomous driving system that assists with steering and speed on motorways.

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If you want a solid and spacious family car that won’t let you down at MoT time? Then how about this: the Mazda 6 Tourer.

You’ll find 506 litres of space in the boot, but also plenty of head and legroom in the rear. The opening of the boot is also wide with a flat floor so it’s easy to get things in and out.

You can choose from a 2.0-litre petrol or 2.2-litre diesel, which will suit most buyers and in 150PS guise offers a good balance between performance and running costs.

 road – yet it’s also economical. Official figures are 67.3mpg and while that might not be feasible in real-world driving, fuel bills should still be very small for such a large and practical car.

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Vauxhall has a bad reputation for reliability, but its more recent output like the Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer is a big step forward – both in terms of reliability but also quality

It’s very family-friendly and able to take three child seats across the back, while its boot has room for 540 litres of luggage. The load area is also flat, wide and easy to access.

There’s plenty of kit on hand, too. The basic Design model gets alloy wheels, Bluetooth, air-con, cruise control, a tyre-pressure monitoring system, LED daytime running lights and automatic lights.

• Cheapest estates

The Audi A4 Avant is what you might call a ‘lifestyle’ estate. What does that mean? Well, it means it’s less about moving a sofa and more about shifting your skis in style. That’s why the boot space is slightly below par at 490 litres – but it offers a bit more than a saloon

It’s a good looker though and even better to drive. If you’re a fan of dynamics try and find a quattro version, which has grip for days and stunning composure.

There’s plenty of engine choice, too. You can rock a frugal low-power 1.8-litre petrol or 3.0-litre V6 diesel for a bit of oomph.

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The Kia Cee’d Sportswagon is a great estate. It’s excellent value for money as it comes well equipped and boasts reliability as standard. It’s also got a decent boot – 510 litres. That’s more than you’ll find in estate versions of a Golf or a Focus.

Okay, the interior isn’t as sexy as the Golf’s, but event entry-level models getting air conditioning, Bluetooth, DAB and steering wheel-mounted audio controls.

There are a few engines to choose from, but the best is 1.6 CRDi diesel. It’s more relaxed at motorway speeds than the 1.0-litre petrol and returns decent mpg.

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The Honda Civic Tourer is one of those car’s that just too good. We’d recommend it to anyone looking for a reliable estate in a heartbeat.

This wasn’t a body style that was knocked out on a Friday afternoon as an afterthought. Honda took nearly two years to bring the Tourer to market after the hatchback. The result? Additional headroom and a 624-litre boot.

The best engine is the 1.6-litre i-DTEC diesel (but there’s a 1.8-litre i-VTEC petrol version if you fancy driving everywhere at 8000rpm) which returns more than 70mpg.

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