Fastest estate cars in the world
- Gareth Herincx
- @garethherincx
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If you want a practical car for a big family or an all-round load-lugger with performance and driving dynamics, you’re not limited to SUVs and people carriers.
Mostly German, there’s a whole convoy of blisteringly fast estate cars on the market from less than £30,000, right up to £120,000.
We’ve sifted through the brochures to select 20 of the fastest station wagons out there. As you will see, acceleration is probably the best performance indicator because many have their top speed electronically limited to 155mph…
MINI John Cooper Works Clubman - 148mph
Now boasting a twin-turbocharged 231bhp engine, MINI’s Clubman load-lugger gets the John Cooper Works treatment, plus serious performance and ALL4 all-wheel-drive. Acceleration from 0 to 62mph takes just 6.3 seconds and it’s priced from £30,180.
Volkswagen Passat GT TSI - 148mph
With its not insignificant top speed, VW’s big estate makes it into the Top 10 fastest estate cars. Its 2.0-litre turbo diesel takes it to 62mph in 6.3 seconds, but with 650 litres, it’s got one of the biggest boots. Priced from £38,360.
Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer - 152mph
Plump for the range-topping Elite Nav Turbo 4×4 version of Vauxhall handsome big estate and there’s some series performance on tap with all-wheel-drive. Its 256bhp 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine is good for a 0-60mph time of 7.1 seconds. Priced from £30,360.
Ford Focus ST - 154mph
Ford’s engaging and surprisingly potent estate version of the Focus ST is fastest when fitted with the 247bhp 2.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine which is good for a 0-62mph time of 6.7 seconds. Price from just £27,015.
Skoda Octavia vRS 245 - 155mph
Skoda’s sporty estate (known as the ‘Combi’) is powered by the same 242bhp 2.0 TSI engine as the Volkswagen Golf GTI Performance, allowing it to sprint from 0-62 mph in just 6.7 seconds. Priced from a bargain £28,795.
Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 Shooting Brake - 155mph
If the standard CLA four-door coupe isn’t quite as practical as you’d like, then this rapid 45 AMG with four-wheel drive and a 355bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine should do the trick. Good for a 0-62mph time of just 4.3 seconds, it’s a smart choice. Priced from £45,845.
Seat Leon ST Cupra 300 - 155mph
Seat’s most powerful road car ever features a 4Drive all-wheel-drive system and DSG-auto gearbox, and is powered by a sweet 2.0-litre petrol turbo developing 296bhp. It can sprint to 62mph in just 4.9 seconds and it’s priced from £30,895.
Mercedes-AMG E 43 4MATIC Estate - 155mph
Thanks to a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 developing 396bhp and four-wheel drive, this motorway muncher can sprint from standstill to 62mph in 4.7 seconds and yet still transport a couple of dogs. Priced from £58,865.
Jaguar XF Sportbrake - 155mph
The second generation XF Sportbrake is easily the best-looking estate car on the market. Currently the fastest version is the 3.0-litre V6 turbocharged diesel (296bhp) which has a 0-60mph time of 6.1 seconds and is priced from £49,600. Sadly the 375bhp supercharged petrol V6 from the F-Type, already seen on the XF saloon, isn’t available for the UK-spec Sportbrake – for now. If it was, it would be near the top of this list..
BMW 3 Series Touring - 155mph
Opt for the 335d xDrive M Sport Touring and its powerful 3.0-litre turbo diesel will take you to 62mph in just 4.9 seconds. Add to that BMW’s superb driving dynamics and all-wheel-drive and you have a superbly swift compact estate. Priced from £43,720.
Volvo V90 T8 Twin Engine - 155mph
When you add up the power from the handsome Volvo’s 2.0-litre petrol turbo and electric motor, you reach an impressive 400bhp. That’s enough to power this plug-in to a 0-62mph time of just 4.8sec. Priced from £59,705.
Mercedes-AMG CLS 63 Shooting Brake - 155mph
Estate cars don’t get much sleeker than the’Shooting Brake’ version of the CLS – here in range-topping 63 AMG form. Its snarling 5.5-litre twin-turbocharged V8 powers it from 0-60mph in just 3.8 seconds. Priced from £89,130.
Audi RS 4 Avant - 155mph
At the heart of the iconic Audi RS 4 Avant is a 2.9 TFSI bi-turbo developing 444bhp and 442lb ft of torque – enough to take the car from 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds. Priced from £61,625
Volvo V60 Polestar - 155mph
The V60 is the hidden gem of the Volvo range. Blessed with a powerful 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo, developing 362bhp, it can sprint from 0-60mph in just 4.5 seconds. Priced from £50,765.
Volkswagen Golf R Estate (Performance pack) - 168mph
A top speed limited to 155mph applies to the Golf R in both hatchback and estate forms. However, it’s unrestricted when the Performance Pack is specified – unleashing the full potential of the car’s 306bhp 2.0-litre TSI engine. Priced from £35,700 (plus £2,975 for the Performance Pack).
Audi RS 6 Avant (Performance pack) - 186mph
Estate car royalty in the shape of the Audi RS 6 Avant quattro with Performance upgrade. Under the bonnet is a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 with 597bhp, helping this impressive load lugger sprint from 0-62mph in 3.7 seconds. Specify carbon brakes and Audi will up the speed limiter to 186mph. Priced from £88,345.
Mercedes-AMG E 63 S 4MATIC+ Estate - 186mph
Powered by a brutal 604bhp twin-turbo V8, this autobahn express is capable of supercar acceleration – 0-62mph in just 3.5 seconds to be exact. Add to that a huge 640-litre boot (or 1,820 litres with the rear seats down) and you have a remarkable package. Priced from £91,290.
Alpina B3 S Bi-Turbo - 188mph
Powered by a glorious 3.0 litre twin-turbo petrol engine, this BMW 3 Series-based load lugger takes just 4.3 seconds to reach 62mph from standstill. Elegant, dynamic and powerful, it will set you back £63,000.
Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo - 188mph
The slightly more practical sister to the regular Panamera, the Turismo is a bit longer and roomier. Choose the 542bhp 4.0-litre V8 turbo and it will reach 62mph from standstill in just 3.8 seconds. Priced from £117,247.
Alpina B5 Bi-Turbo Touring - 201mph
This BMW 5 Series-based station wagon is currently the world’s fastest production estate car. At the heart of the new Alpina B5 Bi-Turbo is a 4.4-litre 600bhp twin-turbocharged petrol V8 which outputs 590lb ft of torque, powering it to 62mph from standstill in just 3.5 seconds. Priced from £91,000.