Six Estate Cars with the Biggest Boots

In a market where SUVs appear to have taken the crown, a trend that has virtually wiped out MPVs, estate cars are also under serious pressure from the popularity of this type of vehicle.

Although they have lost ground to SUVs in sales over the past decade, estates still provide what many buyers want: space, versatility and… greater efficiency, thanks to their lower weight and reduced aerodynamic drag.

This article brings together the six estate cars with the largest boots - each offering more than 600 litres of capacity - measured with the second row in place and up to the parcel shelf.

Skoda Superb Estate: up to 690 litres

The new Skoda Superb Estate is enormous. At 4.9 m long, it unsurprisingly has room for just about everything. Its boot is rated at 690 litres - 30 litres more than the previous generation - and this rises to 1,920 litres when the seats are folded down, enough to carry your whole life with you.

It is offered with three different powertrains: mild-hybrid petrol, plug-in hybrid petrol and diesel.

Bear in mind that boot capacity differs according to the powertrain. While the mild-hybrid petrol and diesel Superb Estate versions are rated at 690 litres, the plug-in hybrid offers just 510 litres. The “blame” lies with the location of the 25.7 kWh battery beneath the boot floor.

Prices start at €40,393 for the mild-hybrid petrol version (1.5 TSI mHEV, 150 PS), €50,320 for the diesel (2.0 TDI, 150 PS), and €49,117 for the plug-in hybrid (1.5 TSI iV, 204 PS).

Volkswagen Passat Variant: up to 690 litres

The Volkswagen Passat has entered its ninth generation exclusively as an estate, the Variant, bringing a 690-litre boot that expands to 1,920 litres when the rear seats are folded.

It is no coincidence that it posts the same figures as the Skoda Superb Estate: both models were developed alongside one another by Skoda and are built at the same factory in Bratislava, the Slovak capital.

As expected, it is available with the same types of powertrain: mild-hybrid petrol, plug-in hybrid petrol and diesel. Its range is broader in terms of output, however, spanning from 122 PS to 272 PS. The Passat eHybrid, the plug-in hybrid, also sacrifices boot space, with 510 litres.

Prices begin at €42,711 for the mild-hybrid petrol model (1.5 eTSI, 150 PS), €48,937 for the diesel version (2.0 TDI, 122 PS), and €50,617 for the plug-in hybrid (1.5 TSI eHybrid, 204 PS).

Skoda Octavia Estate: up to 640 litres

If estates really are heading towards extinction, as MPVs did, the Skoda Octavia Estate may be the last one standing: the Czech estate has been Europe’s best-seller for several consecutive years.

Like its larger Superb sibling, the Octavia Estate has space for virtually everything. At almost 4.7 m long, it is slightly more compact, yet still provides a claimed 640 litres of boot capacity. Folding the rear seats increases this to 1,091 litres.

Unlike the other estates here, its boot capacity remains unchanged regardless of engine choice, as there is no plug-in hybrid version. The range includes mild-hybrid petrol, petrol and diesel options.

Prices start at €31,726 for the petrol version (1.5 TSI, 116 PS), €36,282 for the diesel (2.0 TDI, 116 PS), and €34,630 for the mild-hybrid (1.5 TSI MHEV, 116 PS).

Kia Ceed Sportswagon: up to 625 litres

The Kia Ceed Sportswagon is nearing the end of its career - it was launched in 2018, and the next generation has already been caught in spy photographs.

It measures 4.6 m long - 30 cm shorter than the two estates above - and sits one segment lower, but its boot is still huge: 625 litres, expanding to 1,694 litres with the seats folded.

There is, however, a caveat. Those 625 litres are available only with the petrol engine. Once again, capacity is significantly reduced in the plug-in hybrid Ceed Sportswagon, which offers only 437 litres.

The petrol version (1.0 T-GDI, 100 PS) starts at €26,650, while the plug-in hybrid model (1.6 GDI PHEV, 143 PS) starts at €40,700.

SEAT Leon Sportstourer: up to 620 litres

Launched in 2020, the SEAT Leon Sportstourer sits only five litres behind the Ceed Sportswagon for boot space: 620 litres, rising to 1,450 litres.

Recently updated, the Leon is offered with three powertrains: petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid petrol, with outputs ranging from 115 PS to 204 PS. As with the estates above, the plug-in hybrid loses boot capacity, dropping to 470 litres.

The Spanish estate also has a more sporting-looking sister model, inside and out: the CUPRA Leon Sportstourer. Its outputs are higher, ranging from 150 PS to 272 PS. It is worth a look.

Prices start at €33,749 for the petrol version (1.5 TSI, 115 PS), €36,430 for the diesel (2.0 TDI, 115 PS), and €43,495 for the plug-in hybrid (1.5 eHybrid, 204 PS).

The CUPRA Leon Sportstourer starts at €38,918 for the petrol version (1.5 TSI, 150 PS), €44,348 for the diesel (2.0 TDI, 150 PS), and €46,738 for the plug-in hybrid (1.5 e-Hybrid, 204 PS).

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate: up to 615 litres

Mercedes-Benz’s large estate has a long tradition of offering boots capable of swallowing everything, and the latest E-Class Estate generation, launched last year, does not disappoint.

This almost five-metre-long estate delivers 615 litres of capacity. Fold the seats and 1,830 litres become available.

The E-Class is available with four powertrains: mild-hybrid petrol, mild-hybrid diesel, plug-in hybrid petrol and plug-in hybrid diesel. Outputs range from 163 PS to 595 PS, making it the most powerful estate on this list.

Prices begin at €66,100 for the mild-hybrid diesel version (2.0 d, 163 PS), €67,650 for the mild-hybrid petrol version (2.0 turbo, 204 PS), €77,000 for the plug-in hybrid petrol model (2.0 turbo, 313 PS), and €79,000 for the plug-in hybrid diesel (2.0 d, 313 PS).

For the plug-in hybrid versions, prices start at €74,050 for petrol and €76,050 for diesel.

Alternatives

Fortunately, there are still more estates on the market and, despite not making this group, they also offer plenty of room for both passengers and luggage.

Some examples include the Peugeot 308 SW, Ford Focus SW, Opel Astra Sports Tourer, Toyota Corolla Touring Sports, Volvo V60 and the new Audi A5 Avant: