Used Car of the Year 2008 - Estates

Winner: Mercedes E280 CDI Avantgarde 5dr
Year: '05/55
Price: £16,985

The E-Class is a Mercedes built the old-fashioned way. It combines rock-solid engineering, sophistication and safety, but is still entertaining to drive and enjoyable to own.

However, the car's real strength is its sheer ability to carry stuff around. The boot is vast enough to take 690 litres with the rear seats up, and a whopping 1950 litres with them folded down.

Which model?
Our experts chose the six-cylinder, 3.0-litre E280 CDI because of its great performance and better resale values.

Its 190bhp makes it surprisingly rapid off the line, and it has plenty of pull for when it's fully laden. Best of all, it does an average of 38.2mpg.

The Avantgarde version is well appointed, with goodies such as electrically adjustable seats, climate control, and electronic stability control. This model was fitted with a manual gearbox as standard, but autos are desirable, so you'll pay a bit more for one.

Running costs
If it has an Achilles heel, then it's running costs. Road tax will be £210 a year and, if the Government gets its way, that could go up to £300 next spring.

Servicing won't be cheap at franchised dealers (which is advisable on cars still under warranty, to protect their resale value), but there are plenty of independent specialists if you want to cut your bills.

The E-Class is reliable and, if it does break down, it comes with 30 years' roadside assistance from the first registration date.

A few years back you could find these newer Mercs only at franchised dealers. They still have the best ones, but they're now also at supermarkets and independents. These may be cheaper, but won't come with such comprehensive dealer back-up.

Power: 190bhp
Fuel economy: 38.2mpg (average)
0-60mpg/top speed: 8.2sec/148mph
Insurance: Group 14
CO2: 202g/km
Service intervals: Variable

Runners-up
VW Passat Estate 1.9 TDI S '06/06 £10,260
Vauxhall Vectra Estate 1.9 CDTi 120 Exclusiv '07/56 £7795
Vauxhall Astra Estate 1.6 Club, '05/05 £5400
Jaguar X-type Estate 2.0d Sport, '05/05 £9700