Top Gear’s guide to: Estates

Some of the best-looking versions of popular cars are estates. And they have practicality to burn

What you need to know

Volume

Check the shape of the boot if you want to carry something specific – litreage is only a rough guide

Driving

Modern estates don’t drive much differently to saloons unless fully loaded

Engines

If you regularly carry full loads, go diesel. If it’s big loads or towing, go big diesel. It’ll help

Need an SUV?

Some estates offer 4x4 and a slightly raised ride. Do you really need a full-size SUV? Really?

Check deck

Some load bays are completely flat – others have seat-shaped humps which restrict load

Estate pace

Audio RS6 Avant, Merc E63 AMG Est, - supercar pace with plentiful practicality. Woo!

9/10

BMW

3 Series Touring

£29,080 – £46,940

Being based on the best junior exec is a good start: this car is a belter.

9/10

Audi

RS6

£80,175 – £87,090

It’s the most amusing car that Audi makes – including the R8 – for sheer wilful silliness.

9/10

Mercedes-Benz

E-Class Estate

£37,810 – £94,910

One of the most practical, sensible and desirable large estates.

9/10

Skoda

Superb Estate

£23,190 – £38,200

Skoda’s kept all of what we loved about the old Superb (size, space, value) and added updated interior tech and a genuinely stylish body. Verging on genius

9/10

Volvo

V90

£38,000 – £57,050

A properly desirable Volvo wagon - finally a decent alternative to the Germans.

8/10

Volkswagen

Golf Estate

£18,925 – £36,265

It's taken Volkswagen a surprising amount of time to get here, but finally we have a Golf Estate that's up with the best.

8/10

Volvo

V60

£23,890 – £53,270

The V60 is a sensible, safe Volvo, just as you’d expect. The estate car of choice if comfort means more to you than handling

8/10

Mercedes-Benz

CLS Shooting Brake

£87,420

If ever there was an estate to get the masses out of their X6s, this is it.

8/10

Subaru

Outback

£29,425 – £32,440

A likeable Swiss Army knife. A bit bland but will shrug off anything thrown at it.

8/10

Hyundai

i40 Tourer

£21,390 – £30,185

Another convincing effort from Hyundai and a tempting alternative to the more obvious Mondeo.

8/10

Audi

A6 Avant

£40,480 – £53,495

Another crushingly good effort from Audi. The new A6 Avant is a one-stop shop for family life

8/10

BMW

5 Series Touring

£39,505 – £54,870

The new 5 Series is as good to drive as the BMW image, and yet it's as refined and plush as a Mercedes E-Class.

8/10

Mercedes-Benz

C-Class Estate

£31,785 – £77,713

Classy, sensible and easy to live with. Not the most exciting small estate on sale, but possibly the most well-rounded

8/10

Land Rover

Range Rover Velar

£44,250 – £66,445

The Velar majors on style but it's still a useful car. It's roomy enough for a family, not so big it's awkward in cities, and capable of unusual off-road feats.