In partnership with Auto Trader
Used Car of the Year Awards 2021: Estate cars
With demand for used cars on the rise, you’ll want to know which are the best buys. That’s where our annual Used Car Awards come in. These are our favourite estate cars...
BMW 5 Series Touring (2017-present)
There’s probably no such thing as the ultimate all-round car, because people have varying needs and wants, but we’ve always thought if you had to pick just one, it’d be the 5 Series Touring.
Simply put, it takes all we love about the 5 Series saloon – the wonderful driving manners, the comfort, the classy and well-appointed interior with its brilliant infotainment system – and adds in an extra dose of practicality, thanks to its huge and easily accessible boot. For most people, it’s all the car they’ll ever need.
It beat all other cars at this price point, including a previous winner in the shape of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate, by virtue of being better to drive and nicer to be in, and it sees off the other price point winners from Skoda and Volkswagen by offering that bit more all-round ability and then adding in that tempting opulence.
That you can pick up a two-year-old example of our favourite version, the refined and efficient 520d in well-equipped SE trim, while saving yourself around £15k on the price of a new one makes it outstanding value, too.
Read our full used BMW 5 Series Touring review >>
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Also consider...
Skoda Octavia Estate (2013-2020)
Best buy less than £10,000
The Octavia Estate has always been one of our favourite cars. For our budget, you can get a four-year-old example in our recommended 1.4 TSI 150 SE form. What you’ll get is a fantastic all-rounder that’s good to drive, comfortable and more spacious than the rival Volkswagen Golf Estate and Seat Leon ST.
Read our full used Skoda Octavia Estate review >>
Find used Skoda Octavia Estate for sale >>
Volkswagen Passat Estate (2015-present)
Best buy less than £15,000
The Passat is one of the classiest estates you can buy, as well as tremendous value at this price point, helping it to see off rivals such as the Ford Mondeo Estate and Vauxhall Insignia ST. It’s good to drive, comfortable, practical and reliable, too. We’d shop for the economical 2.0 TDI 150 diesel in well-equipped SE trim.
Read our full used Volkswagen Passat review >>
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