Our Favourite Small Estate Cars

The Skoda Octavia Estate is a class-leading small estate car which ticks all the right boxes. It is one of the most practical vehicles in the sector, with one of the largest boots too, housing 610 litres of space or a massive 1,740 litres with the rear seats folded down. Inside, the cabin is spacious and comfortable and well-equipped as standard, although we’d recommend upgrading to the SE trim level if it’s within your budget. This adds rear parking sensors, dual-zone climate control, and a wealth of optional extras. Overall, the Octavia is good value for money, with strong build quality and a five star safety rating. Plus, it comes with a good range of frugal engines for low running costs and is quiet and relaxing to drive.

The smallest estate car in the BMW roster, the 3 Series Touring, is often the car to beat when it comes to upmarket and executive estates. What sets it apart from the competition is the fact that it is one of the best to drive in the segment, with excellent handling and great performance to call upon when you need it. It oozes drivers appeal and it has that unmistakable BMW shine. The styling is impeccable, instantly attractive and desirable. Inside, the car is suitably plush and (typical of the famous marque) comfortable, spacious, and designed with a keen eye for detail, including a host of neat touches, such as an opening rear windscreen. It has a large 500-litre boot too, proving practical for everyday use.

If you’ve always liked the look and sound of the Volkswagen Golf hatchback, but wished it had more space and greater practicality, then check out the estate version. Like the hatchback, the estate is one of the best in its class. It is very practical and spacious, with a massive 605-litre boot that extends to 1,620 litres with the rear seats folded down. In addition, the Golf Estate is excellent to drive, providing a smooth ride experience and light steering. It also comes well-equipped as standard, including an 8.0-inch colour infotainment screen, Bluetooth and DAB radio. Other exemplary features include a high-quality cabin, strong build quality, and a five-star safety rating.

For an all-rounder of a small estate car, check out the Vauxhall Astra Sport Tourer. It’s a hatchback-based model that is really good in almost every department: it enjoys a spacious cabin with comfortable seats, an upmarket design, and good practicality, with a 540-litre boot that can grow to 1,630 litres with the rear seats folded. Plus, it comes well-equipped as standard with a 7.0-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, DAB digital radio, air-conditioning, as well as useful USB ports and cruise control. Furthermore, it has an excellent range of engines to choose from, with frugal variants and more powerful options available. The Astra Sport Tourer is great to drive too, striking the ideal balance ride comfort and driver’s engagement.

It’s hard to believe the Kia Ceed Sportswagon estate is only in its third generation. More so, that the latest variants continue to improve upon an already successful formula. It has quickly established itself as a true rival to leading small estates like the Skoda Octavia Estate and Volkswagen Golf Estate. Whilst it is a bit lacking in the style department, with pared-back looks, the Ceed Sportswagon nonetheless impresses, with a high-quality cabin in keeping with the competition, lined with soft-touch plastics. This spacious car also boasts a leading boot, up there with the best at 625 litres, extending to 1,694 litres of space with the rear seats folded down. Furthermore, it comes well-equipped for its price tag and when bought it new it comes with Kia’s leading 7 years warranty.

Introduced in 2007, the Clubman estate is based upon the Mini Hatch, but offering greater practicality and a lot more space, all the while staying true to the Mini formula – distinctive styling and a fun driving experience. It’s a very cool car, with unique features like a twin barn-door boot and a wealth of personalisation options to configure the vehicle to your own tastes. Inside, the upmarket cabin is comfortable and well-laid out, with plenty of space throughout to stretch the legs. It’s practical too, with lots of cup holders, cubbies, and storage areas, in addition to a decent-sized boot. Where the Mini Clubman excels as a small estate, however, is in its playful character, from its stylish good looks, to its agile steering – it’s a fun car through and through.

Unveiled in 1999, the Skoda Fabia Estate is a small supermini-based estate that enjoys excellent levels of practicality and a spacious cabin with a good amount of leg and headroom, seating tall adults comfortably. It also sports a large 530-litre boot that can extend to 1,395 litres when the back seats are folded down. Plus, for extra storage it provides generous door pockets, under-seat drawers, and cup holders. When it comes to driving, the Fabia has low running costs and a fairly engaging drive experience, with agile steering for nipping around the city. Best of all, the Fabia has an affordable starting price from new, as well as lots of excellent used deals on the pre-owned market. It’s a small estate that is great value for money.

When it comes to styling, estate cars often look more functional and reserved in their design. The same cannot be said about the Renault Megane Sport Tourer, which is a very stylish looking hatchback-based estate with sleek lines and a sporty edge. Unfortunately, those looks don’t transfer into the driving experience, which isn’t as engaging or as fun as others on this list. Instead, the car focuses more on comfort and practicality, with a spacious cabin that provides plenty of leg and headroom in the front and rear. It has lots of useful cubbies and bays for storage, as well as a 521-litre boot. Overall, it’s a great small estate, especially for those wanting a practical and stylish model.

The Hyundai i30 Tourer might not be the most fun small estate car to drive, but it is impressively comfortable and very well refined, proving to be a great motorway cruiser. Inside, the high-quality cabin comes with plenty of soft-touch plastics and plush seating, with the dashboard well-laid out for the driver. It’s spacious and practical, with a large 602-litre boot. Furthermore, it offers low running costs with a varied range of petrol and diesel engines, all of which provide a good return on the fuel with excellent miles per gallon. Finally, the Hyundai i30 enjoys a full five star Euro NCAP safety rating too.

The Seat Leon ST is a sportier looking small estate car with the pedigree to match, providing a fun driving experience aided by good handling and a comfortable cabin. If the vehicle has an air of familiarity behind the wheel that’s because (as part of the Volkswagen Group) it has the same underpinnings as the Skoda Octavia and VW Golf, which is never a bad thing as both of those cars prove themselves through their popularity. Furthermore, there are enough differences between the three vehicles that they all have a different personality and feel that goes beyond the exterior design. The Seat Leon ST is the more vivacious option of the trio with its strong styling and character. Inside, the interior is spacious enough for five adults and it has good levels of practicality for daily use, including a large 587-litre boot, extending to 1,620 litres when needed via lowering the rear seats.