At some point in life, you might find that the perfect vehicle for your needs is an estate car. This realisation often signals the transition to parenthood, where you require a reliable workhorse capable of ferrying kids, pets, bicycles, and the seemingly endless haul of groceries from the supermarket on a weekly basis.
The days of dreaming about a sleek two-seater sports car are behind you, but deep down, you might take pride in your need for an estate car. You might even consider going beyond the realm of reliability and explore sporty estate cars or off-road models with four-wheel drive and powerful engines while retaining practicality.
For businesses an estate car can be a great alternative to a commercial vehicle, offering ample cargo space but comfortable enough to drive on the motorways between meetings and visits to the office. Plus today there are a number of plugin-hybrid and electric estate cars that can be kinder on the Benefit-in-Kind (BiK).
Understanding the Purpose of an Estate Car
The term ‘estate,’ originally referring to a large area of land, is aptly used to describe the spaciousness provided by top estate cars. Estate cars are all about the boot space. Essentially, they are hatchbacks with elongated rears, offering a significant improvement in storage and cargo capacity. These vehicles are designed with families in mind, capable of transporting people and luggage in equal measure.
The average estate car boasts an impressive boot size, spacious enough to accommodate everything you might need for a camping trip with five people, for instance. Fold down the rear seats, and you can even fit a double bed inside, mattress included. Estate cars are ideal for moving homes, embarking on long adventures, or converting into an emergency bed in the middle of the night.
Many estate cars share a striking resemblance to their hatchback counterparts. In fact, their design is so similar that calling them “cousins” seems too distant; they’re more like siblings. This means estate cars inherit all the design finesse of hatchbacks, and nowadays, it’s easy to find attractive estate cars.
The angular, straight-line designs reminiscent of 1980s Volvo vehicles have largely disappeared. The main consideration when choosing between an estate car and a hatchback is whether you regularly require the additional boot space. If you do, opt for the estate car; if not, a hatchback might be a better fit.
Other Names for Estate Cars
In the UK, most vehicles of this design are called Estate Cars. However, manufacturers have taken it upon themselves to give them fancy names, these include:
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Avant -
Tourer -
Sporting Brake -
Station Wagon -
Sportswagon
Advantages and Disadvantages of an Estate Car
Owning or leasing an estate car is a different experience compared to a standard car purchase. Suddenly, the differences become more significant – you can fit a pair of adult St. Bernards in the back, but parallel parking becomes a new challenge. If you’re wondering why you should consider an estate car, here are some pros and cons to help you make an informed decision:
Pros:
Ample Boot Space
Estate cars are chosen primarily for their expansive boot space. With the rear seats folded down, the boot is spacious enough for a fully-grown adult to lie down comfortably. It’s a balanced compromise between a car and a van in terms of cargo capacity.
Fuel Economy
Estate cars often boast impressive fuel efficiency, especially diesel models. This can lead to reduced everyday fuel costs and surprisingly economical long-distance journeys.
Safety
Estate cars tend to have excellent safety records, with sturdy construction designed to cater to family-oriented drivers.
Luxury
In the higher-end market, luxury estate cars offer expansive cabins and interiors tailored for long-distance drives. Unlike smaller cars, many estates provide ample legroom for even the tallest drivers.
Cons:
Size
While you gain interior space, estate cars can be challenging to park due to their larger exterior dimensions. Modern estate cars come equipped with parking assistance technology, but parking them still requires patience and practice.
Speed
Larger cars don’t necessarily come with larger engines. Many estate cars may lack overall power, affecting both acceleration and top-end speed. Estate cars are often more about a steady pace than speed, especially when carrying heavy loads.
Price
Estate cars tend to be slightly more expensive than other options, although this cost can be offset by the lower running expenses of diesel models.
Lack of Seats
Despite their size, estate cars don’t offer more passenger space than standard hatchbacks. The additional room is dedicated to cargo, and it’s illegal to place a child in the cargo area, no matter how tempting it may be.
Examples of Estate Cars
Here is a list of estate cars that are currently available in the UK:
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Audi A4 Avant -
Audi A6 Avant -
Kia Ceed Estate -
Skoda Octavia Estate -
Ford Focus Estate -
Vauxhall Astra Estate -
Hyundai i30 Estate -
Suzuki Swace Estate -
Volkswagen Golf Estate -
Seat Leon Estate -
Cupra Leon Estate -
Toyota Corolla Estate -
Volkswagen Passat Estate -
Peugeot 308 Estate -
Skoda Superb Estate -
Genesis G70 Shooting Brake -
Peugeot 508 Estate -
Volkswagen Arteon Estate -
BMW 3 Series Tourer -
BMW 5 Series Tourer -
Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo -
Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo -
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate -
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate -
Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Estate
Flexible Short-Term Estate Cars Available
Here is an example of flexible short-term estate cars:
Audi
A4 Avant
Mercedes-Benz
V Class Estate
Skoda
Octavia Estate
Lease an Estate Car
If you’rein the market for a 2/3 year Estate Car on a lease, then why not try our Find a Car Lease service? It takes 3 minutes to complete the form and it’s free, with no obligation to go ahead.
We compare the prices against no less than 12 different funders, as well as manufacturer backed providers such as Alphabet, Mercedes-Benz Finance and VWFS.
Need help?
If you would like any help with an estate car, please contact the team using the ENQUIRY FORM at the bottom of this guide. You can also call us on 01332 290173. We’re always happy to help.
