In this article, we’re going to be checking out some of the very best sporty family estate cars that are currently available on Motors. We’re looking for it all; space, comfort and performance all rolled into one good-looking package. It’s a tough requirement, that’s for sure, but manufacturers have often entered into this niche segment to create some truly exceptional models.

The top 10 sporty family estate cars

Family cars and sports cars may sit at opposite ends of the car spectrum, but that doesn’t mean that sports cars can’t be practical – or that practical cars can’t be sporty.

We’ve rounded up some of the most appealing family estate cars that blend style, comfort, practicality and substance in one. They include:

  1. Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo (2020-present)
  2. BMW 5 Series Touring (2017-present)
  3. Skoda Octavia vRS Estate (2013-2020)
  4. Volkswagen Arteon Shooting Brake R (2017-present)
  5. Ford Focus ST Estate (2012-2018)
  6. Peugeot 508 SW PSE (2018-present)
  7. Audi S4 Avant (2009-2015)
  8. Mercedes-AMG C63 Estate (2015-2021)
  9. Volkswagen Golf R Estate (2016-2020)
  10. Volvo V90 T8 (2016-2020)

1. Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo (2020-present)

Porsche’s Taycan broke new ground for the brand as it looked to blend its famously skilled approach to building sports cars with a desire for more electrification. The end product was the Taycan or, if you’re after something a little more practical, the Taycan Cross Turismo.

It gets all the same great features as the regular Taycan – such as a range of over 300 miles – but with its estate-car-like design, it’s got a little extra boot space. Plus, because the rear end of the Taycan is a little larger in its switch to Cross Turismo, it’s a little better suited to carrying those larger, bulkier items such as prams or buggies. It’s ideal for a family on the go and with an electric powertrain, it won’t cost the earth to run, either.

Best Features

  • One of the best ranges of any EV.
  • Impressively solid build quality.
  • Great to drive and very sporty for its size.

Things to consider

  • Used prices have tumbled – great if you’re buying, not so pleasant if you’re selling.
  • You’ll need a home charge point to top-up easily.
  • The Taycan is a large car so not great for those with limited parking space.

2. BMW 5 Series Touring (2017-present)

BMW has a great back catalogue of sporty family estates, but it’s the 5 Series which is our pick of the bunch. Why? Well, as the largest ‘wagon’ that the brand offers it’s got the most amount of space, yet it still retains a sporty driving style that can turn those dreary everyday drives into something a little more exciting. You can get this generation with a range of punchy straight-six engines, too, with the 3.0-litre-powered 540i being the best option for drivers who like some extra performance.

But go-faster options aside, the 5 Series remains comfortable and effortlessly easy to drive. Longer journeys are where the 5 Series feels most at home, but twisty backroads certainly won’t unsettle it either.

Best Features

  • Large and comfortable.
  • Loads of boot space and plenty of rear-seat legroom.
  • High-output engines add some extra spice to the 5 Series.

Things to consider

  • Powerful engines will cost more to run.
  • This age of 5 Series is known to wear through tyres quickly.
  • Expect to see many high-mileage models on the used market.

3. Skoda Octavia vRS Estate (2013-2020)

Skoda might be best known for its rather sensible models, but occasionally it goes a little off-the-wall. With the Octavia, the result of that change of direction is the vRS Estate, a model which gets all of the same great practicality of the standard car, but with a usefully powerful engine under the bonnet.

Skoda makes tweaks to the handling and suspension of the vRS, too, while inside you’ll find upgraded seats and plenty of diamond quilted stitching to help make things feel a little more special. However, none of the usefulness of the regular Octavia Estate is lost, making this a great car for those who still need plenty of space from their sporty family estate car.

Best Features

  • Just as practical as the ‘regular’ model.
  • Loads of availability on the used market.
  • Surprisingly efficient if driven smoothly.

Things to consider

  • Always check the car’s history – these models are known for being driven hard.
  • Interiors can feel a little cheap in places.
  • Ride can be quite firm at low speeds.

4. Volkswagen Arteon Shooting Brake R (2017-present)

The standard Arteon is already a pretty-looking thing, but that elegance takes a step up in the transformation to Shooting Brake. With this, the Arteon gains an even more practical boot, while the sloping roofline gives a good level of access to the back of the car. Like the standard Arteon, the Shooting Brake offers loads of rear-seat space and headroom, meaning that this is great for families that like to take on long-distance drives.

Opt for the sportier ‘R’ model and you’ll get an Arteon Shooting Brake equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine that comes straight from the famous Golf R. It powers all four wheels through an automatic gearbox, too, allowing the Arteon to deliver better grip even when the conditions outside worsen.

Best Features

  • ‘R’ cars are still very comfortable at high speeds.
  • Loads of equipment included as standard.
  • Plenty of space inside.

Things to consider

  • Shooting Brake R isn’t an overly common sight on the used market.
  • A very long car – it takes some effort to park.
  • Rearward visibility isn’t very good.

5. Ford Focus ST Estate (2012-2018)

The Focus is one of the go-to family cars in both the used and new markets, but it’s the ST Estate that delivers on our brief for this article. It’s roomy, practical and well-made, while solid materials ensure that this Focus will deal with family life easily. However, with a 10mm drop in ride height over the standard car and an uprated engine, the ST is one of the most dynamic cars of its type. As a result, it’s great fun to drive whatever the occasion.

That tuned suspension does mean that the Focus ST is quite a firm drive – particularly at slower speeds – but the byproduct of this is that the ST corners flatly with very little roll. But thanks to a big boot and a reasonably spacious cabin, everyone from the family can come along and enjoy the ride.

Best Features

  • Very dynamic to drive.
  • Still extremely practical thanks to a large boot.
  • Plenty of kit included as standard.

Things to consider

  • Petrol engine is extremely thirsty.
  • Tyres will need replacing frequently.
  • Lots of used Focus ST cars will have been driven hard.

6. Peugeot 508 SW PSE (2018-present)

Peugeot’s funky-looking 508 SW is a refreshing change to the more ‘everyday’ estate cars currently available and in PSE form it’s got a sporty twist, too. While a relative newcomer – and therefore a less-common sight on the used market – the PSE, which stands for Peugeot Sport Engineered – is a great option for those after a sporty family estate which is a little different.

It’s a plug-in hybrid car, too, so you’re able to top up the batteries to give you an electric range of up to 34 miles. In fact, Peugeot claims that with fully charged batteries, you could return up to 134mpg, making this one very budget-friendly sporty estate car. Remember, you’ll need to have somewhere that you can reliably charge in order to get the best from the PSE.

Best Features

  • Eye-catching styling looks great.
  • Plenty of equipment inside.
  • Decent performance from plug-in hybrid setup.

Things to consider

  • You’ll need a home charge point to get the best efficiency from the PSE.
  • Oddly small steering wheel takes some getting used to.
  • Seating position itself is a little high.

7. Audi S4 Avant (2009-2015)

Audi has always been able to create fast estate cars that still deliver on the practicality basis and the S4 is a prime example of this ability. With a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 petrol engine, this generation of S4 manages to bring excellent performance without overly scary fuel usage. Plus, it’s all wrapped up in an estate body style that offers a large boot and a good level of rear-seat space.

While the S4 will command a higher price tag over more ‘usual’ A4 versions, you do get plenty of equipment to make up for it while the high level of build quality that you get from this practical Audi should ensure that used models still look fresh today. As with any high-performance used car, make sure that the S4 has been serviced regularly to avoid some headaches down the line.

Best Features

  • Quattro all-wheel-drive makes the S4 accomplished in all weathers.
  • Practical and well-made throughout.
  • V6 engine sounds great.

Things to consider

  • Will cost more to service, run and repair than a standard S4.
  • Does feel relatively heavy to drive.
  • V6 engine will need well maintaining.

8. Mercedes-AMG C63 Estate (2015-2021)

If it’s a car with character that you want, then the Mercedes C63 AMG is the car for you. The 4.0-litre V8 engine under the bonnet is one of the most famous ever made; bustling with noise and incredibly powerful, it transforms the ordinary C-Class into an all-out muscle car. Of course, you’ll pay for this in terms of efficiency – the C63’s economy will easily drop into single digits if the car is pushed hard – but as far as engines go, it’s hard to beat.

Elsewhere, the C63 offers up plenty of interior space and a large, easy-to-access boot. Some interior materials aren’t up to the usual Mercedes standard, but with its sparkling driving dynamics and impressive engine, this seems like a worthy trade-off.

Best Features

  • Engine is one of the best in the business.
  • Just as practical as the standard C-Class Estate.
  • Large boot is easy to access.

Things to consider

  • Will be expensive to fuel.
  • Interior plastics aren’t the nicest.
  • Infotainment system is dated by modern standards.

9. Volkswagen Golf R Estate (2016-2020)

The Volkswagen Golf R is held in high esteem among those who value a performance estate car that can deliver in all weathers. With its clever four-wheel-drive system and a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, the Golf R is a car to battle through the elements in – and come out the other end still smiling.

As a family car it does well, however, thanks to its spacious boot and well-made interior which is trimmed in robust but good-to-the-touch materials. While other hot-hatches (and hot estates) of the Golf’s heyday may have been a little more focused, the Golf counters with a relatively comfortable ride and that day-to-day appeal.

Best Features

  • Superbly capable in all conditions.
  • Loads of space inside.
  • Good build quality throughout.

Things to consider

  • Rivals might be sharper to drive – but they’re less comfortable.
  • Used examples tend to be driven hard – make sure you check a car’s history thoroughly.
  • Tyres will wear out quickly on the all-wheel-drive Golf.

10. Volvo V90 T8 (2016-2020)

You might not think of Volvo in a particularly sporty light but it does have its moments. Take the V90 T8. It’s a big, comfortable estate car with acres of interior space and some clever on-board tech, yet with its plug-in hybrid setup which is both turbocharged and supercharged, the T8 can out-pace a whole lot of other cars. With 316bhp, it’s a match for many cars on this list, in fact, yet with a full battery it should be able to manage around 28 miles of electric-only driving – ideal for when you’re just nipping around town.

In classic Volvo estate fashion the V90 has a long, angular design which gives great access to the boot while with its seats folded down, it offers up an almost van-like level of loading space. For bigger families, the V90 is a great choice.

Best Features

  • Plug-in hybrid combines efficiency and performance.
  • Loads of interior space and a big boot.
  • Plenty of availability on the used market.

Things to consider

  • A home charger is a must-have.
  • Main screen is just starting to show its age.
  • Can feel quite heavy to drive.

What to consider when looking for sporty family estate cars

Naturally, with a sporty family estate car, there are some primary considerations. For one, it needs to be – naturally – sporty, so that means something with a little more performance than your ‘normal’ estate. But being a ‘wagon’ means that it also needs to provide a big boot, while a family vehicle has got to have plenty of space in the back for kids of all ages.

You may also want to consider what safety features are on-board, too. Most sportier models come equipped with more complex traction control systems than your ‘regular’ car, while many cars on this list have dedicated driving modes that you can toggle between depending on the conditions or situation.

Features to look for in a sporty family estate car

There are many things to look out for if you’re after a sporty family estate car. As we’ve touched on, most of these models are at the tip-top of the range and that means they get lots of bells and whistles – but it’s good to see if a car you’re looking at has features like heated seats to make winter-time driving more comfortable, or maybe smartphone connectivity features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

With these high-performance models we’d also be looking for a comprehensive history that allows you to get a clearer picture of how a car has been looked after. Remember, running costs are often higher for cars of this type, so ensuring that it has been cared for prior to you taking the keys is of the utmost importance. You may want to run a background history check to ensure that there isn’t any outstanding finance, too.