Best family estate cars
Wayne and Coleen Rooney have splashed out £190,000 on a pair of Overfinch Range Rovers as baby wagons for the arrival of their son, Kai.
But not everyone is a multi-millionaire football superstar, so here are some affordable family estates.
The sixth generation Passat estate has pedigree, and it shows. This is a model which rewards its owner with clever simplicity, solid feel and slow-burner looks which still look as good now as the year the Passat was launched. A huge range of engines spans from a 104bhp economical diesel up to a 295bhp 3.6-litre V6.
The Mondeo range took a big leap forward in 2007 when the latest model was launched to critical acclaim. It’s a more premium product than before - taking the fight to Audi and BMW - but still with a Ford price tag starting at around £18k. A great balance between handling and ride and a wide range of engines should suit all comers.
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The Audi A4 Avant has built up a loyal fan base of customers who love its discreet design and prestige cache. Eye-catching LED daytime running lights signal its presence to all other road users. The best-in-class interior is a great place to spend time, and folding the rear seats down gives you 1,430 litres of space.
Is there a better-looking estate than the Mazda 6? If so, we’re struggling to think of one. With flared front wheelarches taking inspiration from the RX-8 sports car and piercing front and rear lights it’s a very modern dog-mover. In keeping with Mazda’s ‘Zoom Zoom’ approach the handling is first rate and the 2.2-litre diesel is punchy as well as being refined.
With its rear-wheel drive and fine engines, the 3 Series Touring has long been the estate of choice for driving enthusiasts. The 302bhp 335i is very quick, accelerating from 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds. Maximum boot space isn’t the best, but 1,385 litres is still respectable. Prices start from around £22k, and strong residual values mean you should get a decent percentage back when it comes time to sell.
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