The fastest estate car picks for 2024
A fast estate car is an ideal option if you want space and practicality but still a punchy drive
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Fast estate cars
Choosing your next car can be like selecting your favourite pick and mix sweet – there’s normally one you think you prefer, but in fact, you love them all.
The same can be said for fast estate cars, because they’re all great. Who doesn’t want a fast, reliable, practical and safe family car that looks the part?
Here are 10 of the fastest estates you should consider buying if you want a sports car feel but with loads of boot space.
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Best fast estate car picks
Apina B5 Touring
Porsche Taycan Turbo S Sport Turismo
Mercedes-AMG E63 S Estate
 "Mercedes-AMG E63 S estate")
Mercedes was one of the pioneers of luxury estate cars with its early models such as the W123 from the mid-80s, but it’s now known for producing some of the fastest family cars money can buy.
After spending some time at the brand’s AMG performance branch, the E-Class turned into a monster and was branded the E63 S Estate. It's one of the fastest estate cars you can buy.
Power comes from a turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine that produces 612hp, which has no trouble getting you where you need to be quickly.
This performance Merc also has a whopping 640 litres of boot space, making it one of the most practical cars you can buy that’ll also beat a sports car in a straight line.
As well, you can grab a used Mercedes to enjoy this impress estate at a discount price.
Alpina B5 Touring
One of the lesser-known performance estate cars on the market is the Alpina B5 Touring.
It’s essentially a 5 Series Touring that’s been sent to BMW’s tuner company and made to look and drive like a hooligan. It becomes one of the best fast estate cars on the market.
The B5 Touring features larger wheels and often new paint jobs, and is powered by a twin-turbocharged V8 engine that produces 600hp.
It also offers a supple ride quality that’s helped by its comfortable interior, and its large 570-litre boot is ideal for those longer road trips.
To save some funds, look for a used BMW model and enjoy similar performance at a lower price.
Porsche Taycan Turbo S Sport Turismo
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If you thought the standard Porsche Taycan was a great car then wait until you’re introduced to the Sport Turismo variant, which straddles the line between a shooting brake and an estate.
In its top-spec Turbo S guise, this electric estate car is one rapid family car, with a 0-62mph time of 2.8 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 162mph. Well, what else would you expect from a 762hp car?
Another perk of the Taycan is how many storage options it has, thanks to its front boot (84 litres) and its ordinary boot (446 litres) at the rear totalling a whopping 1,296 litres of space when the rear seats are folded flat. It's a brilliant performance estate car.
Skoda Octavia vRS Estate
 "Skoda Octavia vRS estate")
In its standard form, the Octavia is a fantastic car from Skoda, but if you want a little added spice in your life then the vRS estate version does just that.
In its most basic form, this used Skoda is very fast thanks to its 245hp 2.0-litre engine, but you can also opt for the more efficient vRS iV hybrid model that’s powered by the same 1.4-litre petrol engine as the Volkswagen Golf GTE and Cupra Leon – also with 245hp.
It should be noted that the hybrid variant loses 150 litres of boot space because of the extra batteries, but otherwise, you get a roomy 640 litres.
BMW M3 Touring
 "BMW M3 Touring")
For decades, BMW fans have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of an M3 estate, and these prayers were finally answered in 2022 with the launch of the G81 M3 Touring.
It harnesses all the greatest hits of the current M3 and M4 models but with the added room of an estate body – providing 500 litres of space in the boot.
Power comes from a twin-turbocharged straight-six engine that produces 510hp and a great soundtrack from its quad exhaust pipes. This makes it one of the best sporty estate car picks.
Ford Focus ST Estate
 "Ford Focus ST estate")
Fast Fords have been popular since the 80s, but it was only recently that appreciation grew for its estate cars.
The Ford Focus ST Estate is an affordable entry point into fast estate car ownership, and it helps that it’s also one of the most reliable.
There are two engine options on offer in this used Ford: a 2.3-litre EcoBoost petrol engine that produces 280hp; and a 190hp 2.0-litre diesel that has more torque and is more suited to those longer motorway drives.
Its boot measures 575 litres, which is plenty for families needing to take lots of luggage or the dog on holiday with them.
Porsche Panamera 4S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo
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Once you get over its insanely long name, the Porsche Panamera 4S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo is one of the best fast estate cars money can buy – it might even take that particular crown.
For your £107,000 (cheaper used models can be found), your brand-new Panamera will do it all. Like golf? There’s space for your clubs. Appreciate the need for speed? It’s got it. Like to feel as though you’re driving over a cloud? Its suspension can do that.
It’s simply one of those cars that makes you rethink your entire garage because it’s all the car you’ll ever need.
Power comes from a 560hp 2.9-litre twin-turbocharged V6 that’s mated to an electric motor, giving you a total of 33 miles of electric-only driving.
Plus, you get a decent boot measuring in at 425 litres, which is plenty for most people.
Audi RS6 Avant
 "Audi RS6 Avant")
If you’re a proper petrolhead, you’ll know what the RS6 is all about, and if you’re not then all you need to know is that it’s very fast, very practical, and sounds like a demon breaking out of a cage when you floor it.
While it may be based on the Audi A6, this beast is far from it. Power comes from a very powerful 600hp V8 engine that can propel you from 0-62mph in just 3.6 seconds, then on to an electronically limited top speed of 155mph.
The interior is just as good – if not better – than other used Audi models, and the boot measures in at 565 litres.
Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 Shooting Brake
The obvious choice for a fast Mercedes estate would either be the C-Class or the E-Class, but we want to introduce you to another car in its arsenal: the Mercedes-AMG CLA Shooting Brake.
This sleek performance model is very underappreciated because it’s overshadowed by its larger siblings, but it’s essentially the same in many areas.
You’re still getting that fancy Mercedes interior, a very capable 421hp turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine, and a smooth eight-speed, dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
Additionally, there’s a large 505-litre boot that grows to 1,370 litres when the rear seats are folded flat. Used Mercedes models are cheaper as well, so keep an eye out to catch a deal.
Peugeot 508 SW Peugeot Sport Engineered (PSE)
No, this isn’t a typo – the 508 SW really does use Peugeot twice in its name, and that’s because it’s the fancier sports version.
It may not look it, but this is actually the most powerful production car Peugeot has ever made thanks to its 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, which is helped along by some electric motors to produce a whopping 360hp and 384 lb-ft of torque.
Being a plug-in hybrid, you also get up to 26 miles of electric-only driving in this used Peugeot – plenty for most town and city driving.
The PSE’s boot measures in at 530 litres, which is very good considering the space the added batteries take up.
What to look for in a fast estate car
If you're on the market for the fastest estate car, you'll first want to look at its engine and its statistics. Impressive horsepower stats and turbocharged options are a surefire way to get a performance estate car. For example, you'll get 600hp and a V8 engine from the RS6 - so you know it's going to be blisteringly fast.
After you've discovered a fast estate that matches your power needs, you'll want to make sure it still handles and drives well. A comfortable cruise compliments speed in a way that just can't be skipped. Make sure you're reading reviews to see how it really drives, and maybe consider an electric model for instant torque.
Estate cars are well-known for their space and practicality. The boot size of each model will differ and so will the interior space. Take a look at the dimensions of each car to decide if it's the right size for your needs.