Best estate cars 2024 – the top choices if you need a big boot

As we've said, there's more to being an excellent estate than just the ability to accommodate a family in comfort or the occasional wardrobe, because the best of them are also cosseting, frugal and dependable. And it’s these qualities that propel the Corolla Touring Sports to the top of this category.

Unlike any of its direct rivals at the cheaper end of the estate market, the Touring Sports is a hybrid, so it can run on electric power alone for short distances to help conserve petrol. In our recommended 1.8-litre form, the Corolla averages 62.7mpg, beating a comparable petrol or diesel Ford Focus Estate or Skoda Octavia Estate.

What’s more, ride comfort is impressive, striking a fine balance between suppleness and control. And the Toyota brand has an exemplary reliability record, so buyers can rest assured that they’re unlikely to be let down by their car.

Crucially, the Touring Sports is eminently practical, too, with a large, square load bay that has a low, flat load floor for easy access.

"The Corolla’s new 10.5in touchscreen is a big improvement on the previous model’s. As well as being bigger, it now comes with wireless phone mirroring, clearer menus and shortcuts down the left side of the screen to make it easier to hop between menus." – Neil Winn, Deputy Reviews Editor

Read our Toyota Corolla Touring Sports review

While it's not as frugal as the Corolla Touring Sports, the Skoda Octavia Estate still strikes an excellent balance between practicality, comfort and value.

We managed to fit nine carry-on suitcases in the boot, so none of your passengers will need to pack light. And it's not just luggage that's well catered for; there's also loads of leg and head room in both the front and rear of the car.

Our favourite engine is the 1.5 TSI 150 petrol, which offers a welcome performance boost over the entry-level 1.0 TSI 110 petrol. We’d also recommend going for SE Technology trim, which adds several desirable features, including front parking sensors and sat-nav.

"Before long, the Octavia will include ChatGPT artificial intelligence, so you’ll be able to ask your car just about any question you like, from how hot (or not) the weather is at your destination, to something that’ll help with your children’s homework." – Dan Jones, Reviewer

Read our Skoda Octavia Estate review

Mercedes has a long history of building large and luxurious estate cars, and the latest E-Class Estate is its best yet, despite the E300e plug-in hybrid having a higher boot floor and smaller luggage capacity than other models in the line-up.

On the other hand, the E300e is by far the cheapest E-Class Estate for company car tax, and its official electric range of 69 miles means you'll be able to complete many journeys without troubling the petrol engine at all.

On top of this, ride comfort is an E-Class Estate strength, no matter which version you choose, and the interior looks fantastic – particularly at night, thanks to the dramatic ambient lighting.

"The steering-wheel-mounted touchpad controls are fiddly to use, so you're better off using the effective voice control system." – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

Read our Mercedes E-Class Estate review

While there aren't currently many fully electric estate cars to choose from, that doesn't mean the MG5 EV is here by default.

True, quite a few combustion-engined rivals can carry more, but the MG5 still has enough space to handle your holiday luggage or a large child’s buggy.

It's temptingly priced, too, and you get loads of kit for your money; even entry-level SE models come with 16in alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control and keyless entry and start.

"The MG5 is quite softly sprung, which is good for comfort when you're cruising at speed, yet thanks to the considerable weight of its battery being positioned low down, it doesn't lurch about excessively through corners." – Neil Winn, Deputy Reviews Editor

Read our MG5 EV review

The regular Seat Leon is one of the best family cars to drive, and likewise, this Leon Estate handles very tidily indeed. 

There are three petrol engines to choose from, and our recommendation is the 128bhp 1.5-litre (badged 1.5 TSI 130) because it keeps the price down and still offers all the performance you're likely to need.

While FR models feature sports suspension that can feel a little firm, most other versions get a softer set-up that does a good job of rounding off ruts and bumps in the road.

Elsewhere, the Leon offers loads of space for both passengers and luggage, and no matter which engine option you choose, you shouldn’t find it expensive to run. Add in attractive pricing and running costs and the Leon Estate is an excellent choice.

"If comfort is a priority, and it will be to many estate buyers, it’s best to stick with SE, SE Dynamic or one of the Xcellence trims, rather than FR, which comes with sports suspension. You’ll feel potholes and pimples rounded off a little better and it’s less fidgety, too." – Steve Huntingford, Editor 

Read our Seat Leon Estate review

The C5 X will cost more to run as a company car than some rival estates, even if you choose the fuel-saving plug-in hybrid version, because its official electric-only range of 39 miles places it in a higher tax band than some.

The entry-level 128bhp 1.2-litre PureTech 130 engine has good acceleration, with plenty of oomph from low in the rev range. In fact, the official 0-62mph sprint time of 10.4sec makes it slightly quicker than the Skoda Octavia Estate 1.0 TSI, despite that being a smaller car. 

The C5 X is impressively comfortable, too, and it's hard to beat in terms of refinement, with engine noise fading away at motorway speeds and wind and road noise being suppressed better than most rivals can manage.

The boot is smaller than some others here, but if you’re looking for an estate car with a slightly raised, SUV-like driving position, the C5 X has you covered.

"The C5 X is a long car, so you won’t be surprised to learn that there's a lot of leg room in the rear – and certainly enough to compete with the limo-like Skoda Superb Estate." – Darren Moss, Deputy Digital Editor

Read our Citroën C5 X review

The C-Class Estate is not as fun to drive as the BMW 3 Series Touring, but it’s still a great choice thanks to its comfy ride and a range of punchy yet efficient engines. 

Speaking of engines, our pick of the bunch for private buyers is the C220d diesel. It can propel the C-Class Estate from 0-62mph in 7.4sec, and officially return more than 60mpg.

The C300e plug-in hybrid, meanwhile, is the best bet for company car drivers – its 69-mile official electric-only range keeps benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax bills low, while standard rear air suspension means the PHEV has the comfiest ride in the C-Class range.

"The C220d counters the handling of the 3 Seriees by offering greater comfort. Adaptive sports suspension is standard with all trim levels, and it does a great job of soaking up the worst effects of potholes and imperfections as you drive along." – Dan Jones, Reviewer

Read our Mercedes C-Class Estate review

BMW's 3 Series is its best-steering car of recent times, and the Touring matches that with stellar body control and plenty of grip, yet still manages to serve up good ride comfort and relaxing refinement. 

Add to all that a spacious interior – featuring one of the best infotainment systems you’ll find on any new car – and the tax-efficient plug-in hybrid tech of the 330e model, and there's an awful lot to like. 

True, plenty of other estate car rivals have bigger boots, but the 40/20/40 split rear seats and separately opening tailgate window of the 3 Series Touring are nifty practical touches.

"The 14.9in central infotainment screen can be controlled by touch or voice, or via a handy rotary controller that makes this the easiest system in the class to use on the move. It’s a real shame, though, that the air-con controls are now on the touchscreen." – Steve Huntingford, Editor 

Read our BMW 3 Series Touring review

The A6 Avant is a comfortable and beautifully built estate car, and despite not having as big a boot as its closest rivals, it forms a compelling package.

The entry-level petrol engine (badged 40 TSI) is the one we’d go for. It's got enough oomph to propel the car along swiftly, even when it's fully loaded, and even choosing it in entry-level Sport trim gets you a host of useful kit. 

We recommend adding Audi’s optional four-wheel drive system to improve traction. While it doesn’t bring handling up to the standard set by the Jaguar XF Sportbrake, it reduces the tendency for the steering wheel to tug unnaturally when you accelerate hard.

"Every A6 Avant comes with the latest MMI dual-touchscreen infotainment system. Unfortunately, it's a step back from the set-up in older Audis and the 5 Series, which feature simple buttons and switches that are easier to use." – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

Read our Audi A6 Avant review

The Focus Estate is based on the Ford Focus hatchback, which is a solid performer that outshines many rivals for driver enjoyment. Add to this the practicality of an estate rear end and you're onto a winner if you want a load lugger with great handling. 

Our pick of the engine line-up is the 1.0 EcoBoost 155, which has a bit more oomph than the less powerful EcoBoost 125 petrol. The driver's seat in the Focus Estate is excellent, and height and lumbar adjustment are standard across the range. 

Our recommended trim is Titanium because it adds a larger infotainment system than Trend, plus dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and start, and LED tail lights. However, it's worth bearing in mind that all trims above entry-level Trend don't have physical buttons for the air-con; you need to use the infotainment touchscreen to alter the temperature, which is more distracting on the move. 

"A shortage of rear space was once a Focus Estate weakness, but that's no longer the case. The latest version has even more leg room than the voluminous Octavia Estate so a six-footer can easily fit behind a similar-sized driver."– Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

Read our Ford Focus Estate review

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