Best estate cars in 2025

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 it used to be: and it was pretty huge to begin with. We thought the previous version's 660-litre load bay 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 want to buy a car that really can do everything, look no further than a BMW 5 Series Touring. And we mean everything: there's now an i5 Touring, meaning you can spec the car as a full EV as well as a plug-in hybrid or a conventional petrol. 

In some ways, though, choice has reduced: there's only one petrol available (the 520i) and not a single diesel option. That's a shame, as while diesels are a little out of fashion now, an oil-burning 5 Series Touring has long been one of the most versatile cars around.

The latest model does at least bring with it lashings of very impressive tech, and a fantastic interior and incredible refinement. More than ever, it feels like a slightly downsized 7 Series. But the outgoing model is still so impressive that we'd heartily recommend going for a used one as an alternative to the latest one, which will give you more options in terms of combustion powertrains, while also saving you a fair few quid.  

Both the new and old examples provide an impressive 1700 litres of luggage space with the rear seats dropped, a figure only really beaten by load-luggers like the Skoda Superb Estate. Impressively, the 530e and 550e derivatives don't lose any boot space relative to the pure combustion 520i, and that's often not the case with PHEVs. 

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 the Toyota feels at home both around town and out on the motorway.

Citroen is always at its finest when making cars that nobody else would, and the C5 X estate is a prime example of this. It's unusual styling may have similarities to the Audi A6 Allroad or Volvo V90 Cross Country, but the French car makes no claims to even the mildest of off-road pretensions.

Heck, this isn't even an estate car at first glance due to the way the rear end slopes. That does mean the Citroen C5 X is not the most spacious wagon you can bag for your buck, but it is one of the most intriguing and stylish. It's fair to say the C5 X is right up there with Citroen's best like the CX and, dare we say it, the DS Safari when it comes to oddball appeal.

It's not all science fiction looks, though, as the C5 X has a supremely smooth ride, is well equipped and roomy for people, and you have a choice of petrol, mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid models.

Go on, dare to be different and try the Citroen C5 X. We reckon you'll be as surprised as you are fascinated by this unusual estate car.

Volvo has, for many years, been synonymous with large estate cars, because it's built some of the best in the business over the years. A wee while ago, however, the Swedish firm did the unthinkable: it withdrew all of its saloon and estate cars from sale in the UK to concentrate on building and selling SUVs.

Predictably, that decision was met with a small public outcry and, not too long later, Volvo brought back its V60 and V90 estate cars (although not the S60 and S90 saloons they were based on, interestingly) 'by popular demand'. And the bigger V90 is more than worthy of inclusion here.

The V90 is effortlessly stylish inside and out, it has a comfortable and relaxed manner on the road, and its two plug-in hybrid powertrains offer you up to 54 miles of all-electric range, fuel economy of up to 353mpg, and power outputs of up to 455PS.

However, because it's now offered only as a PHEV, the boot capacity has shrunk to 488 litres, which some might consider defeats the point of a big estate car. However, it'll still be big enough for many, and it doesn't detract from the V90's other talents.

The latest Octavia Estate has grown in size versus its predecessor that was launched in 2013, giving you more space while still undercutting the competition in terms of price, including the related Volkswagen Golf Estate and SEAT Leon Estate. It looks fresher than ever, too, having been facelifted in 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 (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, and even a vRS performance version. 

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 (which they always do), while the massive - and we mean massive - 640-litre boot is great for swallowing tonnes of family detritus. 

We mentioned the SEAT Leon Estate just now when talking about the Skoda Octavia Estate, but we preferred the Skoda for its bigger boot. However, what if the SEAT's boot is big enough for you, and you want something a little racier? Well, the Cupra Leon Estate could well fit the bill.

The Cupra Leon is getting on a bit now, being a legacy from when Cupra was the sporty part of the SEAT brand, rather than a brand in its own right. It has the Leon Estate matched for space and practicality, then, but provides it in a package that also has some serious performance-car chops. That's ably demonstrated by the range-topping version's 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that makes 300PS and enables a 0-62mph sprint time of 5.7 seconds, and the adaptive suspension system that helps keep all that power going in the right direction.

And despite its age, the Cupra Leon still looks the part inside and out, thanks in no small part to a 2024 facelift that brought racier styling and more interesting interior finishes. If you want to combine practicality and fun, then this car delivers both in spades.

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 than it is for boot 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 an easy 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. However, this is still one very appealing and capable family car.

Eyebrows were firmly raised at the price of the Dacia Jogger when it was launched. Today, it's still a massive bargain, starting at around £19,000. Opt for a used example, and the value for money becomes astonishing. 

No other estate car comes close on price, then, and there isn't a single other new wagon that comes as a seven-seater. You can also easily remove the third row of seats and fold the second row flat, opening up an incredible 2094 litres of boot space to play with.

There are some downsides, however, and not just that your mates might call you up whenever they need help bringing home their latest Ikea haul. For one thing, the interior feels basic, and for another, the 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine in the 110 versions is not very refined. 

The 1.6-litre, four-cylinder engine in the 140 Hybrid is smoother, but you'll need to pay quite a bit more if you want that: it isn't available with the base Essential trim, so the cheapest option is an Expression Hybrid coming in at over £23,000. 

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 has 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 rough edge, 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 68 miles, which is one of the best figures on the market, and that gives it an official fuel economy figure 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.