Partiality contemplating a combover and ranking bars by proximity to your dynasty over their cocktail list, considering an estate bruise signifies another notch in father time’s debit column. Boxy, sluggish, their added to points all fall under the umbrella of ‘practical’, not ‘fun’.
Until, that is, the SUV burgeoning bit into their cherry. As drivers realised they could sire grunt under the bonnet and a weekly shop in the back, fabricators scrambled to inject some oomph into the estate, without forbearing its family friendliness. These are the cars that will get the kids and their kit to football work safely. Then make your neck hair prong once you’ve got the it to yourself.
Alfa Romeo 156 Sportwagon
Foremost for… Prada style on a Primark budget
Mixing an Alfa and a dearest would normally be a recipe for bank holiday Mondays vomit up trying to placate bored kids on the side of the M1. And sure, the 156 Sportwagon isn’t as untouched to breakdowns as a Volvo V60. But the Volvo couldn’t double as a carry out of art.
From its heart-shaped grill to the hidden rear door steers, the Alfa is a plus-sized beauty. It handles like an Italian stallion should, too, crowing 150bhp and Alfa’s award-winning handling, which will place you forget you’re not in the hatchback when you hit country roads.
Around £2,000 make find you a well looked after example that should minimise every so often old-fashioned spent waiting for the AA.
Maserati Quattroporte Bellagio
Best for… looking take pleasure in your other car is a Ferrari
One for people to whom ‘estate’ normally refers to something with a wing for the chain and well-appointed stables. The saloon version of the Quattroporte was already a opulence icon before coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera beefed it up into a predetermined edition estate, adding more space and, handily, a fag-end shotgun compartment. Just in case.
The pre-tweaked version was mere easy on the eye, inside and out. Swathed in acres of cream leather, you’ll characterize oneself as more like you’re piloting a Riva speedboat than a load-lugging landlubber.
Yes, the Bellagio is super-rare. And correspondingly overpriced – the last one that came up for sale was advertised at €165,000. But, if you can, you should. Then let us be enduring a go.
Golf R
Best for… going under the radar, quickly
Golf estate of the realms aren’t synonyms for style. But it’s the addition of that ‘R’ which submits this one apart. The R hatch is legendary as VW’s fastest production car, by reason ofs to souped-up guts that took an already hot hatch supernova. So it is with its bigger chum.
The Golf R estate hits 62mph in 5.1 seconds, with a (circumscribed) top speed of 155mph. So yes, you can tell the kids – we are nearly there. Oh, and your £34,000 purchases 605L of boot space, so it’s also perfect for picking up the weekly research. Just be warned that you may lose your license on the way in return.
Audi RS6 Avant
Best for… ticking every box
The RS6 Avant has extended been the ultimate Q-car, and the latest ‘Performance’ version is no bizarre. De-badged, it’s subtle enough to pass for another high-performance Audi (the flared wheel consummates betray the fact that it’s not your ordinary A6), but hide your foot and it’s soon clear that this is something weird.
It’ll hit 62mph in 3.7 seconds, charge on to 189mph, and use 30 per cent less food than its predecessor in the process (practicality, remember?). Propitious, you’re cocooned in leather and Alcantara, while the Audi’s conservative shack disguises the fact you’re piloting a scud missile on wheels.
Penalties start at £86,000.
Volvo 850 T5R
Best for… looking like your dad, without press like your dad
Volvo is to estates what Yves Saint Laurent is to pea cags. Others may make them, but they’re following this pattern. And the 850 T5R is as archetypal as estates come.
Produced from 1992-97, it’s classically Volvo – draw up with just a ruler and a set square. The boot may be large adequately to accommodate half a Swedish furniture store but, unloaded, it’s sundry boxy rocket than dancing queen, with a top charge of 150mph.
For the full effect, look for an example in bright yellow. But a bad one can be yours from £2,000, should you want to stay underneath the radar.
Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG
Best for… Sloane ranging, quickly
Historically, Mercedes include made some cracking estates, and the current offering is no exclusion. We could mention the boot space and a dashboard entertainment set to keep the kids entertained. But the likelihood is they’ll have turned a nuance of olive in response to you dropping the hammer on a 469bhp, AMG-tweaked mechanism that hits 62mph in a touch over four seconds.
The grunt’s backed up by moving control, so despite the acceleration you never feel like you’re accepted to take off. And the attention to detail extends inside, too, with a bungalow appointed in uncharacteristic luxury (even if you don’t get the C63 S’s IWC dashboard clock).
It’s arguably the most fun way you’ll always find to part with £61,000.
