The best estate cars to buy in 2024

Written by Luke Wilkinson Published: 29 January 2024 Updated: 29 January 2024

Estate cars are facing a difficult future. The all-consuming SUV plague is sweeping across the motoring landscape, ousting any family car that has even the vaguest hint of low-slung sportiness. Such is the extent of the problem that Volvo – the archetypal estate car manufacturer – has decided to pull all its estates from the UK market to instead focus on its SUVs.

We think that’s a real shame because if you’re in need of a truly practical car, estates have SUVs licked in almost every category. They often have larger, longer boots than SUVs, which means it’s easier to use them to carry cumbersome things like wardrobes, appliances and furniture.

They’re also more comfortable and better to drive than SUVs because they share their mechanicals with manufacturer’s saloons or hatchbacks. That means they have conventional ride heights and suspension setups that are better suited to driving on the road. Some are even quite exciting.

If you’re still not sold on the merits of estate cars, their last benefit might nudge you over the line. Estates are generally more fuel efficient than SUVs, simply because they’re more aerodynamic. Their low-slung profiles and extended rear ends mean air passes over their panelling with less resistance, and the engine needs to exert less energy to move the car along.

The effect is so great, that Volvo thought it was worthwhile to use estate cars in the British Touring Car Championship during the 1990s to try and gain the upper hand in the series. What more of an endorsement do you need? Now scroll down to read our list of the best estate cars on sale in 2024.

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What is an estate car?

An estate is a practical family car for those that don’t want an SUV. They’re generally based on conventional hatchbacks or saloons – and they’re characterised by their boxy profiles, long rooflines and extended boot space, all of which make them better at carrying people and luggage.

Manufacturers are steadily shying away from the term ‘estate,’ however. Audi and BMW have respectively labelled their estates as Avant and Touring since the 1980s – but the nameplate variety in the class has now expanded to include Sportbrakes, Sport Tourers and Sport Wagons.

Not all estates are created equal, either. Some use their bodywork for form rather than function. The Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake, for example, is barely any more practical than the standard CLA, simply because Mercedes used the extra space over the rear axle to make a statement with the car’s styling rather than improve its practicality.

Why buy an estate car?

The advantages are clear. Estates allow you to carry loads of luggage and passengers. They can also turn their hand to part-time delivery van duties – by lowering the rear bench, you can unlock enough boot space to carry huge appliances such as refrigerators or washing machines.

An estate car often has a little more space for rear passengers, too. Manufacturers achieve this by either increasing the car’s wheelbase slightly or moving the rear bench further over the rear axle (as the boxier rear end provides the additional space to do so). Plus, an estate’s roofline doesn’t swoop downwards towards the rear bumper, so passengers also gain a little extra headroom.

Why shouldn’t I just buy an SUV?

That’s a good question that many buyers identify with. SUV sales are skyrocketing while estates are gathering dust on dealer forecourts. We can see why the trends have shifted, too, because an SUV offers a few advantages over an estate car.

Their raised driving position gives a more commanding view of the road ahead while also making the car easier to get into and out of. Plus, that extra bit of suspension travel means the car is better at dealing with potholes and uneven surfaces. There’s also a psychological ‘arms race’ argument. If everyone else is driving around in big, heavy SUVs, drivers might feel at greater risk in a smaller car.

But estate cars offer their own set of advantages. Chiefly, they’re lower and lighter than SUVs, which improves their performance and fuel efficiency dramatically. They also tend to be better packaged, which means they offer more boot space and greater passenger comfort within the same footprint.

Estates are normally also cheaper and better value than their SUV equivalents. The Ford Focus Estate, for example, offers around 100 litres of extra boot space compared with the Kuga SUV, yet prices start at almost £5,000 less.

Keen drivers should also note that we’ve yet to find an SUV that we like driving more than its estate car equivalent. Lower, leaner cars are simply more composed in the bends and more fun on a twisty road.

* These deals are indicative examples of some packages available as of 29 January 2024, but are subject to change without prior notice. Everyone’s financial circumstances are different and the availability of credit is subject to status. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Parkers cannot recommend a deal for you specifically.

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Luke Wilkinson is Deputy Editor of Parkers. He’s worked as an automotive journalist for five years, starting his career as a Staff Writer at Auto Express before climbing through the ranks at Bauer. He spends his time writing news, reviews and features for Parkers and its sister title, CAR magazine.