Best estate cars for 2024

Much like MPVs, estate cars aren't the default choice for large families these days, because of the increased popularity and availability of SUVs. But with a lower profile and normally much lower kerb weight, they can often be more efficient and rewarding to drive.

Most estate cars are also immensely practical, with almost all models offering capacious boots. These are capable of swallowing everything from holiday luggage to kids' bikes and larger purchases from the local garden centre.  

Estate cars need more than a big boot to be a Best Buy, though – our tests cover everything from reliability and comfort, to fuel-efficiency and safety. If a model doesn't stack up in those key areas, we won't recommend it. You'll find our top recommendations for the best new and used estate cars in the tables below. Plus we reveal some models that aren't worth your money.

Browser all our lab tested new and used estate car reviews

Best new and used estate cars

We've broken down our pick of the best estate cars into two categories, to help you choose the one that will best suit you and your family. 

• Medium estate cars will benefit those who want more boot space without losing the benefits of a hatchback around town; they're typically a little longer than their hatchback counterparts, but otherwise very similar. 
• Large estate cars give you oodles of space and are ideal if you regularly transport lots of passengers or equipment, but they can be a little more unwieldy in town than medium estates, though often excel at comfortable motorway journeys.

Only Which? members can view our expert impartial reviews in the tables below. Log in to see the estate cars we recommend. If you're not already a member,  join Which? to unlock all of our expert reviews, including our Best Buys and Don't Buys.

Best new medium estate cars

The best mid-size estates don’t compromise on practicality or safety. Some will even appeal to keen drivers.

Best new large estate cars

Forget the days of undesirable boxes on wheels. The best large estates hit the mark for comfort, driver appeal and on-board technology.

Best used small estate cars

Small estates available to buy new are thin on the ground, but there are a few used options worth considering.

Best used medium estate cars

You needn’t compromise on safety or creature comforts just because you’re buying used. Our pick of the best medium estates won’t see you feeling short-changed.

Best used large estate cars

They’re less popular than they used to be, but there’s plenty of high-quality large estates available nearly new and used.

Our latest estate car reviews

Want to find out how the newest estates have fared in our tests? Read our latest and most-recently updated estate car reviews.

Not found the car for you? Browse all our estate car reviews.

Should you buy an estate car, SUV or MPV?

Estate cars used to be the default choice for families and for anyone needing to carry a lot of luggage, but MPVs and particularly 4x4s have captured the attention of many buyers in recent years.

The best MPVs (people carriers) usually offer much greater seating flexibility, along with more headroom and – in some cases – the option of seven seats. 

However, they're normally more prosaic to drive and less visually appealing than a sleekly styled, lower-slung estate. If you're after something with room for seven, have a look at our guide to the best seven-seater cars.

High-riding large SUVs and 4x4s, as well as small SUVs and crossovers, claim to offer much of the practicality of estate cars, although our tests highlight models that come up short inside, despite taking up lots of room on the road. However, SUVs have a higher, more commanding driving position, and some – depending on the model – will also have better off-road ability. Full-sized four-wheel-drive cars are often more expensive to buy and run, though.

Where estate cars tend to have the upper hand is on the road, as they're often little different to drive than their hatchback or saloon counterparts. This is in contrast with SUVs that, unless you go for a particularly performance-orientated model, can feel heavy and unwieldy on twisting roads.

Consider a 4x4 estate car

Another small niche in the estate car market is that of off-road-biased estates. Arguably kicked off by the ‘Allroad’ series of Audis, such models add increased (and sometimes adjustable) ride height, four-wheel drive and a smattering of body protection, to improve their ability on rough tracks and slippery terrain.

The idea is that you get some off-road capability without sacrificing discreet looks and agile handling. Models we’ve tested include the Seat Leon X-perience and Audi A4 Allroad.

Other estate models, such as the Subaru Levorg, come with four-wheel-drive as standard. Quattro versions of the Audi A4 Avant and A6 Avant also have four-wheel drive, as do some versions of the BMW 3 Series Touring. This is intended for increased road holding and grip, though, rather than any additional off-road ability.

We test cars more thoroughly than anyone else

Our tests go further than those carried out by other organisations, and because Which? is independent, you can trust our reviews to give you the full, honest and impartial truth about every car we test.

Every car we review is subjected to more than 300 individual tests in a lab, on a test track, and on real roads – and we really clock up the miles, driving around 500 miles in every car we test.

Testing in controlled lab conditions means the results we collect are directly comparable between different cars, helping us to determine exactly which models are better, and why, and helping you find the perfect car for your needs.

And so you know which cars are likely to prove reliable for years to come, we also gather feedback from thousands of UK car owners through the Which? Car Survey, using it to generate detailed reliability ratings for the cars we test.

Read more about how we test cars.

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