Estate cars can offer a lot of practicality and comfort, which particularly suits a family lifestyle. However it’s possible to get the impression that a car with these qualities has to sacrifice things like pure speed and agility as a consequence.
But, while they may not have the most exciting body shapes, estate cars which are fast and remain very practical do in fact exist. In fact there are numerous examples of fast estate cars on offer within today’s new car market. Certain premium and more affordable brands offer estate car variants with powerful engines and eye-catching performance figures, and there’s a large variation on the prices and the 0-62 times on offer.
In this guide we pick five of our favourite fast estate cars available to buy new right now. All of these entries have the space and versatility to suit a family and the running costs remain respectable, but they can all go from a standstill to 62mph in under seven seconds. Our best fast estate cars can also suit a wide range of budgets, from just under £25,000 to over £80,000.
Audi RS6 Avant
The most performance-focused version of Audi’s largest estate, the RS6 Avant has all the qualities needed to serve as everyday family transport. But it could also leave a lot of modern sports cars biting its dust.
Powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine boasting 552bhp, the Audi RS6 Avant will cover the 0-62mph sprint in just 3.7 seconds, making it one of the fastest estate cars available to buy. The Quattro four-wheel drive powertrain used gives the Audi sharp and more unique handling characteristics compared to other premium-badged fast estate cars.
The RS6 Avant is just as roomy inside as the A6 Avant which it is based on. Rear passengers should find plenty of head and legroom and not many alternatives can match or surpass its standard boot capacity of 565 litres.
With pricing set at about £78k, the Audi RS6 Avant is one of the most expensive estate cars on the market and the average fuel economy is below 30mpg. If you have a big enough budget to suit, however, then you should find yourself delighted with this car’s classy cabin and ferocious pace. It certainly is one of the best fast estate cars available on the market.
Mercedes C-Class Estate C63 AMG
The standard Mercedes C-Class estate already features attractive styling, a very roomy cabin and a useful loading bay which can store between 490 litres or a massive 1,510 litres with the seats folded.
Though it isn’t the most practical estate on the market, it’s the sporty style and driving set-up that really sets this apart from most, and that especially applies to the powerful C63 AMG spec.
Starting from around £61k, the C63 AMG has a 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine that delivers 470bhp, or 503bhp for the more expensive AMG S version. This results in a 0-62mph sprint time just one or two tenths above four seconds. A combined fuel economy of 33.6mpg and a CO2 output of 196g/km is not too bad either for a car with such exciting performance potential.
An additional fact which might interest you is that this fast estate is used as the official medical car for the Formula 1 World Championship.
Volkswagen Passat Estate BiTDI
The latest Volkswagen Passat estate is a high quality family car with a well-designed cabin, plentiful equipment and a comfortable drive. However, while none of the engines could be accused of being sluggish, a pure performance derivative is something you probably wouldn’t expect from a car with such a sensible image.
While the Passat estate technically doesn’t have a performance-focused derivative, the GT and range-topping R-Line trims do offer a particularly potent diesel unit. The 2.0-litre twin-turbocharged BiTDI engine offers 237bhp which contributes to a 0-62mph sprint time of just 6.3 seconds, plus a top speed of 149mph, making it one of the fastest estate cars.
With priced starting from around £36k, the Passat with the BiTDI is considerably more expensive than other specifications available in the estate’s range. However, you do get a lot of kit, practicality and performance for your money. Also, with a CO2 output of just 140g/km and an official average fuel economy of 52.3mpg, this will be a lot cheaper to run compared to some of other best fast estate cars out there.
Skoda Octavia vRS Estate
If you’re interested in one of the best fast estate cars but you’re budget doesn’t put you within reach of the premium options, then never fear. There are some decent alternatives available at a much more accessible price and the Octava vRS estate is a prime example.
Like its hatchback counterpart, the vRS estate has fairly understated looks but its performance figures command respect. It’s available with either an 181bhp 2.0-litre diesel or a 217bhp 2.0-litre turbo petrol unit. While the latter is quicker, covering the 0-62mph sprint in 6.9 seconds, the diesel version is still rather brisk, covering the same sprint in 8.2 seconds. The diesel unit is also more affordable, which makes this car one of the most value-for-money and best fast estates around.
Starting from about £25k, the Octavia vRS estate has sharp handling and easy-going steering and its large and well-made interior is very comfortable. The boot also measures at a very impressive 610 litres as standard.
The low-cost diesel, combined with the Octavia estate’s practicality can also appeal especially to those business car drivers looking for something both fast and logical.
Ford Focus ST Estate
Priced from a little over £22,000, Ford’s fast estate is certainly one of the more affordable selections for car buyers looking to mix the practicality of this body style with a feisty level of pace.
The Focus ST estate can be chosen with either a 247bhp 2.0-litre EcoBoost turbo petrol engine or an 181bhp 2.0-litre TDCi diesel. If speed is a priority than the EcoBoost should satisfy by delivering a 0-62mph sprint time of just 6.5 seconds. The diesel impresses, however, offering a 0-62mph time of 8.3 seconds but also averaging 67.3mpg (compared to 41.5mpg for the petrol models).
Like the standard Focus estate, this car has a 476 litre boot and is very capable when used for weekly shopping trips or hauling the family long distance. Ford, however, has also dedicated a lot of time to make the Focus ST estate handle in an agile manner which should entertain those looking for some driving fun.