Best estate cars 2023

BMW's latest 3 Series is its best-steering car of recent times, and the 3 Series Touring estate and matches this 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 Corolla Touring Sports’ rear seats are cramped for six-footers, but this hybrid estate offers super-low fuel consumption and CO2 emissions that make it an excellent choice for both private and company car drivers. 

In addition, the Corolla's ride is cosseting and its standard spec is generous; even entry-level models come with automatic lights, dual-zone climate control and heated front seats.

There’s no need to look beyond the cheapest 1.8-litre version, either, because this offers all the performance you’re likely to need, while returning around 60mpg in real-world conditions. That’s not to say the more powerful 2.0-litre option is thirsty; it managed close to 50mpg in our hands.

Mercedes has a long history of building large family estate cars, and the latest E-Class Estate is its best yet. 

It offers more luggage space than most of its rivals, fitting eight carry-on suitcases in our tests, and there’s plenty of room for your passengers to stretch out.

The interior feels sophisticated and plush, and the E-Class’s infotainment system is responsive and features menus that are well laid out.

Our pick of the E-Class’s engine range is the 191bhp 2.0-litre diesel found in the E220d, but whichever version of the E-Class you go for, make sure you specify air suspension; it’s an expensive option, but it delivers a dramatic improvement in ride comfort.

The Volvo V90 may be the biggest estate in the Swedish brand's modern range, but it's the V60 that's the company's best. 

It's still a very roomy choice and feels every bit as classy as its larger sibling, yet it's cheaper to buy and run, as well as being more comfortable and better to drive.

Most of the V60’s engine options are petrols with mild hybrid technology to help lower your fuel bills. Our favourite is the 194bhp B4P, which is best suited to hauling several people plus their luggage.

Alternatively, if you fancy a plug-in hybrid, the Recharge T6 model can officially travel for up to 54 miles before its petrol engine takes over.

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

While FR models get sporty 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 that only just misses out on a podium place.

The Citroën 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 34 miles places it in a higher tax band.

Still, the C5 X is impressively comfortable, 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.

There aren’t currently many fully electric estate cars to choose from, but the MG5 EV is the best of the breed. It combines a respectable range (officially up to 250 miles) with a comfortable ride and serenity at speed.

Most combustion-engined estate car rivals can carry more, but the MG5 EV still has enough space to handle your weekly shop, holiday luggage or a large child’s buggy.

You get a lot of kit for your money with the MG5, too; even entry-level SE models come with 16in alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control and keyless entry and start.

The latest 5 Series Touring shows BMW at the top of its game. This is a hugely appealing luxury estate car because it's comfortable, quiet and enjoyable to drive, with an interior that feels classy.

Standard self-levelling rear suspension helps it to cope with the heftiest of loads. Speaking of which, you can fit more into its boot than you can into some rivals; indeed, in our test, the 5 Series Touring swallowed eight carry-on suitcases.

There’s a range of petrol and diesel engines to choose from, plus a frugal plug-in hybrid with an official electric range of up to 35 miles.

All Octavias give you loads of standard equipment and generous interior space, but the estate version adds a whopping boot for even greater practicality.

We managed to fit an astonishing nine carry-on suitcases in the boot; that’s two shy of what the larger Skoda Superb Estate can hold, but still enough to mean that none of your passengers will need to pack light.

We're particularly keen on the plug-in hybrid iV model, which has an official electric range of 41 miles. There’s also a range of efficient diesel engines for long-distance drivers, and peppy petrols with fuel-saving mild hybrid technology.

As good as the Octavia is, it has to settle for second place on this list, because the even bigger Skoda Superb Estate strikes the sweet spot of practicality, comfort, low running costs and value. 

In fact, with masses of load space for flat-pack furniture or suitcases and palatial comfort for passengers, it's one of the most impressive family holdalls in any class of car.

There’s an engine option to suit most buyers, too, whether you favour petrol or diesel – plus there’s the ultra-frugal plug-in hybrid model. As well as being able to cover most commutes on electric power alone, this version is also one of the quickest in the range.

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