What is the best used estate car?
Estate vehicles are popular choices for practical family cars, with large boot space and roomy interior cabins. But which is best, if you don't care about badges you can get some amazing deals read more...
BMW 5 Series Touring (2010-17)
The BMW 5 Series Touring is widely regarded as the leader of the pack when it comes to executive estate cars, and for good reason. The saloon leads its class, and arguably, the estate does too. Look for a model from around 2013 and expect prices to start at around £13k.
The 2010 model of the 5 Series Touring is 100kg lighter than its predecessor thanks to the use of lightweight materials such as aluminium, which has resulted in impressive gains in areas such as fuel economy.
The most popular engine choice (chosen by 85% of customers buying new) is the 520d, the 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine of which has the winning combination of 187bhp and 65.7mpg. There’s a large range of other petrol and diesel engines, with rear or all-wheel drive available.
Even entry level trim comes with features such as self-levelling air suspension at the rear of the car, LED lights and parking sensors.
It’s a fantastic family car, with plenty of space, comfortable seats and a 570-litre boot, which is 10 litres bigger than the Volvo V90. The interior is of exceptionally high quality, with leather seats standard, a Professional Navigation system and a 10-inch central screen. Even when travelling at speed on the motorway, the cabin is exceptionally quiet, making those long distance journeys comfortable for all passengers.
Mercedes E Class Estate (2010-16)
We’re looking at models from 2013 onwards here – a 2013 facelift updated the styling, improved performance and added a raft of safety features. There’s models from 2013/14 available for under 20k today on Carsnip.
What’s immediately noticeable about the E Class Estate is the size of it – the interior is huge. It’s got great amounts of leg and headroom, and can easily fit five adults. Additionally, the E Class is the only car on this list available with an optional seven seats. It’s also got one of the largest boots of it’s class; at 695 litres with the rear seats in place and 1820 litres with the seats down, it’s significantly larger than the BMW’s.
Similar to the BMW, this estate loses nothing compared to its saloon sibling. It’s got a plush interior and performs incredibly well, whether on long-distance motorway drives, around country lanes or just for trips to the supermarket.
Looking at the engines available, there’s two 2.0-litre diesels, a 3.0-litre diesel and the monstrous 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine in the AMG-tuned E43. The 2.0-litre diesel has four cylinders, and although the engine it replaced in the previous model was 2.1-litres, this is actually more powerful and more economical – it’ll return up to 60mpg.
Fuel economy won’t be so good if you do opt for the AMG E63. Performance is incredible in this beast – its 401bhp will propel you from 0-62mph in 4.7 seconds.
Volvo V90 (2016-)
The Volvo V90 is a great alternative to the premium German brands represented here. It’s at the pricier end of the spectrum as it’s only recently manufactured, but certainly worth the investment.
Think of a Volvo and you may think of a boxy, sensible, large and safe estate. This is indeed one of the safest cars out there, and it is indeed large. But it’s also a clear challenger to the premium brands when it comes to luxury, style and performance.
The v90 interior is spacious, comfortable and luxurious, with a minimalist feel to it. With four trim levels available, even the entry-level Momentum trim has heated leather seats, LED lights and dual zone climate control. There’s a good range of optional luxury equipment such as open grain wood inlays and a fantastic Bowers & Wilkins sound system.
The V90 is packed with fantastic tech, which is all controlled by a large central touchscreen. The infotainment system supports apps like Spotify and you’re able to connect your iPhone and use Apple CarPlay too.
There’s only one engine available – a 2.0-litre diesel with either 187 or 231bhp available, the latter of which is four-wheel drive. The 187bhp will return an impressive 62.8mpg and the more powerful variant delivers 57.6mpg. Both engines are available only with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
True to its class, the V90 is hugely practical. Not only are their useful storage spaces dotted around the cabin, there’s a 560-litre boot, which expands to 1526 litres with the seats down. Although it’s not the biggest in its class, it’s plenty of space for luggage or big shopping trips.
These executive estates handle just as well and are just as luxurious as the saloons. With more space and large loading areas, they make a great choice – find a great estate car on Carsnip today.
