The Estate Isn’t Dead Yet. The Best Estate Cars Of 2024

Much is made of the rise of the SUV in recent years, and you’d be forgiven for thinking that the days of great estate cars are behind us. But that’s a bunch of hooey. Sure, the saturation of the big-boot market might be gone, but there are still some quality estate cars out there, giving you practicality and all sorts of other deliciousness without the need for jacked-up suspension.

Here’s our round up of our favourite best new estate cars on sale in 2024.

BMW 3 Series Touring BMW M3 Touring

If you need a do-it-all car, the BMW 3 Series Touring is a great place to start. It’s dynamically the best in its class, and there are myriad options when it comes to the balance of performance and price. If cash is no object then an M3 Touring is perhaps all the car you’ll ever want, but even lower down the range you’ll find a spacious, comfortable and luxurious car that handles very nicely indeed and is packed with tech. We hope BMW makes the 3 Series Touring forever and ever and ever.

Audi RS6 Avant Audi RS6 Avant Performance

Acres of space. Class oozing from every understated but beautifully finished pore. Subtle intent visible only to those that know what they’re looking at. The uninitiated will see a nice-looking Audi estate, but we know about the 4.0-litre V8 and the 600-odd horsepower. Is the RS6 Avant the ultimate factory-built sleeper? We can’t say for sure, but yes, yes it is.

MG5 MG5 EV

Calm down, frothing petrolheads. Not every car has to be brimming with horsepower and fancy finishes. The MG5 is an example of a car that does exactly what it sets out to do, and does it very well. It’s an affordable, non-SUV electric car that doesn’t cost much and ticks the boxes for its target customers, and while we can’t see many people getting very excited about it, Car People should understand why it’s a good machine. Not everyone wants horsepower and sexy lines, but lots of ordinary folk want a good battery range for their money and a stonking warranty. Although if MG wants to make an Xpower version, we won’t complain.

Skoda Octavia Estate Skoda Octavia Estate vRS

For a Does Everything car that keeps costs impressively low and is packed with features to make life easier, not much can beat the Skoda Octavia Estate. It’s huge inside with a massive boot and loads of rear legroom, and it’s a comfortable ride, which makes it a fantastic car for long road trips. Sure, it’s not going to set the world on fire with pin-sharp handling, and like all VW Group cars of late the infotainment is a bit hit and miss. But it’s got an umbrella included and an ice scraper in the fuel flap. You don’t get that in an RS 6. Oh, and if you need something bigger, the Skoda Superb Estate is just as good.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate Mercedes-AMG E63 S Estate

Taking the position of “basically a posh Skoda Superb” is the huge-booted E-Class Estate. In standard form it’s comfortable and decent in the bends, with a massive load space, beautifully swanky interior and a great infotainment system. If you’re a glutton for acceleration, there’s the E53 4MATIC, which is doused with 425bhp for a 3.8-second acceleration time. And it’s a plug-in hybrid, so you’ll save a tenner on car tax and spend nothing on fuel for up to 62 miles of electric motoring. Win win win. Should you want to just burn money on fuel, then the E63 S with its 604bhp V8 will manage that for you.

Seat/Cupra Leon ST Cupra Leon Sportstourer

Skoda Octavia not quite exciting enough for you? Then try the Seat equivalent, which drops in some extra excitement while keeping the prices very attractive. The boot isn’t quite as big as in the Octavia, but it’s spacious nonetheless, and it’s sharper to drive, too, particularly in sporty FR form. Or you could opt for the more hardcore Cupra version, which gives you 328bhp and a sub-five-second 0-62mph time. Just don’t spec the copper wheels. They’re silly.