The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate continues to set the standard for premium wagons. It combines remarkable levels of space with excellent luxury and comfort to create a truly graceful way to transport kids and dogs – and right now, it’s the best estate car you can buy if you’re in the market for a larger model.

It’s based on the E-Class saloon, but adds a curvaceous rear end, meaning it has one of the largest load areas you can get in a modern car. In doing so, the E-Class offers significantly greater practicality than its main rivals – the Audi A6 Avant, BMW 5 Series Touring, Jaguar XF Sportbrake and Volvo V90.

While you may no longer be able to specify two rear-facing child seats to turn the E-Class Estate into a seven-seater, the five passengers you can still carry will enjoy sumptuous comfort, masses of space and an impressive-looking interior.

Inside, nearly every surface is covered in soft leather or a quality material, with loads of sound deadening to make even high-speed journeys a hushed affair. Only the odd creaky trim lets it down a little.

The majority of E-Class Estates will be diesel-powered, with four- and six-cylinder units available to give buyers the choice of everything from an efficient cruiser to a torque-filled beast.

But diesel doesn’t have to be the de facto choice, with a range of impressive petrol engines also available. They range from basic four-cylinder units right up to the AMG-tuned E 63 Estate, which uses a twin-turbocharged V8. Plus there are diesel and petrol plug-in hybrids on offer too. The latter is one of the best hybrid estates on the market.

Keep scrolling for our full Mercedes E-Class Estate review, where you’ll find out how we rate the interior, engines and practicality before offering our verdict at the end.

As with all used purchases, do remember to get a car history check. It might just save you from an unpleasant surprise later down the line. Also, don’t forget you can use our valuation tool to get an idea of how much you should be paying for a car. You can also check our reviews section for more information about the cars you are interested in.