Best Estate Cars of 2013

BMW 5 Series Touring

Best estate car more than £25,000

Our favourite 5 Series Touring might cost almost £35k, but it's still good value at this price.

The 520d's first-class ergonomics, precision build and luxurious materials make it feel every inch the posh exec, yet it's also great family transport, thanks to its huge cabin and boot.

It's pretty rapid, too, with a smooth and gutsy diesel engine and a super-slick eight-speed automatic gearbox that always seems to be in the right gear. What's more, that auto 'box doesn't hurt fuel economy or CO2 emissions.

The 520d Touring is more fuel- and tax-efficient than any rival with comparable performance, then. In fact, it makes some much smaller and slower cars look quite dirty.

Our one criticism is that you have to spend an extra £985 on Variable Damper Control to make the latest 5 Series ride and handle as a BMW should, but if you do spec this option you end up with a car that shows great poise at all times.

Top-notch refinement rounds off the 520d's impressive list of talents.

Read the full BMW 5 Series Touring review