We review the top 10 estate cars

For space and practicality, nothing used to beat an estate car. But the advent of crossovers and MPVs have eaten into this market.

So great was the lure of estates and their added usefulness that over the years individuals have coughed up huge wodges of cash to have estate car versions specially built of Ferraris, Rolls-Royces and even Aston Martins.

 

Audi finds sufficient demand to build the hilariously quick RS6.

Estates don’t only come in different sizes but for different lifestyles too.

Here we list the Sun Motors Top 10 estate cars. We’ve included our expert’s ratings and reader ratings. We also want to know which of these motors you think is the best. So get voting, and we’ll print the results in Sun Motors in the coming weeks.

Jaguar XF Sportbrake

Sun rating: 4/5

THE GOOD

• It’s great to have Jaguar fighting in this class

THE NOT SO GOOD

• 2014 Which? Car Survey said 2012 Sportbrake least reliable new luxury car with reliability rating of 85.7%
• Cabin quite a tight fit for four adults

 

The XF Sportbrake is for those who need a bit of extra space –  but not a lot.

The Sportbrake is only available with diesel power; a 2.2 litre with 161bhp or 197bhp or a 3-litre with 237bhp or 271bhp.

You have to work the smaller four-cylinder engine hard and it’s not that economical so go for the 237bhp six-cylinder if you can afford it.

Some rivals have better fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

Jaguar advises avoiding fuel with high biodiesel content.

Cabin looks and feels a bit dated. Pricey touch screen satellite navigation isn’t as good as an accessory fit one.

Boot space not as good as a Mercedes E Class Estate but matches BMW 5-Series Touring and Audi A6 Avant.

Watch out for: Brake judder. Rear brake pad wear.

Volkswagen Golf Estate

Sun rating: 4/5

THE GOOD

• Honest product
• Good load capacity but not that much bigger than the hatchback

THE NOT SO GOOD

• Steep prices
• Potential flywheel problems on diesels, especially if used a lot round town

Volkswagen replaced its sixth generation of the Golf last year (2013) and introduced the fifth edition of the estate, but we look at the fourth generation here.

This means the 2009-13 Estate has the later looks but is based on the 2007-2009 Golf but with cleaner and uprated petrol and turbo diesel engines.

Engine choice is less than with the hatchback but still ample. The two petrol engines, a 1.2 litre 105bhp and a 1.4 with 122bhp deliver peppy performance. You should get around 45mpg real world out of the 1.4.

TFSI engines prefer a diet of high octane fuel though.

Turbo diesels are 90bhp and 105bhp from the 1.6 litre or 140bhp from the 2-litre. Most popular is the 105bhp. Expect around 52mpg.

The generous boot space seems a bit at the expense of rear seat space but unless you are carrying masses of heavy gear the car drives just like the hatchback.

Volkswagen’s Golf Estate is probably the best compact estate you can get but you certainly pay for it as the Seat Leon ST and Skoda Octavia Estate effectively offer same car for less money.

Watch out for: Turbocharger oil seals on diesels, climate control fully functional, water in brake lights.

Ford Mondeo

Sun rating: 4/5

THE GOOD

• Harsh depreciation means you get a lot of car for your money
• Spacious and capable
• Good reliability overall

THE NOT SO GOOD

• Some cabin trim cheap/fragile

Like its saloon and hatchback brothers, the Mondeo Estate is fun to drive as well as being  spacious and practical.

It is also well equipped with equipment as standard you have to pay extra for on more prestige makes.

Reliability is mainly very good.

Revamped in 2010 with a fresh face, better quality interior fittings and yet more standard equipment.

The 2-litre TDCi is a good engine choice. Zetec trim includes alloy wheels and climate control.

Ride is jittery on bigger wheels. Low profile tyres are more prone to puncture and cost more to buy.

Ecoboost engines might suit low mileage drivers but early petrol engines feel ‘flat’.

Watch out for: Air conditioning, faulty brake servo making brakes very heavy, remote control central locking not working, badly scratched rear bumper suggests car has worked hard.

Kia Cee’d Sportswagon

Sun rating: 4/5

THE GOOD

• Style and space
• Carrying capacity
• That warranty

THE NOT SO GOOD

• Gear change on manuals can become sloppy

Korean car manufacturer Kia has built on the success of its Cee’d hatchback with the spacious, value for money Sportswagon estate.

It’s not as sporty to drive as its styling and name suggest but there’s more load space than you will find in a Ford Focus Estate.

Well-built and comfortable, it is backed by a seven year/100.000 mile warranty that can be passed on to the next owner.

There’s a choice of 89bhp 1.4 or 126bhp 1.6 litre turbo-diesel engines. There aren’t particularly quiet or powerful and there are reports of owners finding cars less powerful after services.

Ride comfort is very good but tyre noise is wearing on some surfaces.

Watch out for: Check steers smoothly and quietly (bearings) and air conditioning works fully.

Skoda Superb Estate

Sun rating 4/5

THE GOOD

• You could almost move house with one of these
• Top notch value
• Very good quality

THE NOT SO GOOD

• You tell us

That you see Skodas being used as taxis tells you something about their reliability, space and carrying abilities.

The cabin of the Superb makes a Mercedes S-Class feel dimensionally challenged and there’s huge load capacity as well.

It’s good value for money too compared to rivals but don’t bother with the DSG automatic gearbox which gives you heart failure when it hesitates sometimes after emerging from junctions.

Neat touches include rear passenger foot rests, a magnetic torch, down lighters on the tailgate and even an umbrella housed in one of the rear doors, but the rear seats don’t fold in any particularly clever way.

Rear parking sensors a good idea as it’s a long way to the back.

Watch out for: Satellite navigation packs up after a few years use. Petrol engines can use quite a lot of oil if engine is run in too gently rather than being used more enthusiastically.

Audi A4 Avant

Sun rating: 3.5/5

THE GOOD

• Quality product that looks great
• Lovely cabin
• Quattro 4×4 models too

THE NOT SO GOOD

• Known engine and transmission problems
• Very firm ride on wheel/suspension options

 

Audi launched the current great-looking Avant Estate in 2008 and facelifted it in 2012 with changes to lights, interior trim including steering wheel and electric tailgate option on top models.

Improved engines saw fuel consumption fall 11% on average across the wide engine range.

For a compact estate there is good luggage volume and the space is sensibly shaped. Some people don’t find the driver’s seat comfortable on long journeys.

The car really suits the 2.0TFSI petrol which should deliver around 36mpg while high mileage drivers will get 42 to 50 from the 2.0TDI diesel.

Strong residual values mean you won’t lose a fortune when you move the car on.

Watch out for: Oil pump problems on earlier 2.0TDI engines. Usual dual-mass flywheel grief on diesels.

Volvo V70

Sun rating: 3.5/5

THE GOOD

• Comfy and spacious
• Well built in the main

THE NOT SO GOOD

• Dull to drive and quite noisy
• Some dealers have poor reputation

Think big estate car and people used to think Volvo. But that was back in the days when Volvos were designed with a ruler and a set-square.

The V70, allegedly beloved of antique dealers who were always collecting grandfather clocks in them, was the Big Daddy.

The car is still as comfortable, and even safer than before, but in the quest for more style some practicality has been lost.

Front seats are exceptionally well shaped and comfortable but dynamically the car feels leaden.

There’s a wide choice of petrol and turbo diesel engines. The 2.0 five-cylinder D3 is the sensible choice and sounds almost sporty.

Watch out for: Water leak from windscreen into car’s electronics. Some pulley belt failures (70,000 miles), fuel injectors (80,000 miles).