The 5 best fast estate cars to buy in 2024 | GRR
Fast estate cars are some of the most adaptable performance cars on the planet – proving that you don't have to drive something boring just because you need space for the family. Here, you'll find some of the best fast estates available, covering a range of budgets and powertrains. Here's our guide to the best fast estates currently on sale.
1. Mercedes-AMG C63 S E-Performance
AMG used to be renowned for producing fast V8-powered estates that were ultra-practical but also brimmed full of character, so it's a shame the C63 S E-Performance is neither characterful or particularly practical.
It does have plenty of performance, however. Its hybridised 2.0-litre four-cylinder pumps out a colossal 680PS (500kW) that, when combined with four-wheel drive, means the Mercedes can get from 0-62mph in just 3.4 seconds. It’s also got a pure electric range of nearly ten miles between charges. Sadly, the 2.0-litre engine’s high-pitched hum can't match a V8 rumble, and the calibration between petrol and electric motors makes the driving experience feel detached. Factor in the C63's heft (2,145kg) and tiny boot (315 litres), and it's fair to say the latest C63 is good, but perhaps not quite as good as its AMG ancestors.
2. Alpina B3
While Mercedes AMG, Audi RS and BMW M have scooped up the majority of fast estate car sales since 1965, Alpina has been offering (often better) alternatives to the mainstream.
And the current B3 is one of its best offerings yet. Like every Alpina, the B3 is designed for fast road work, so its M3-derived, twin-turbocharged 468PS (344kW) S58 engine is torque-rich – it develops 701Nm (516lb ft) versus the M3's 603 (443lb ft) – for effortless overtakes in the mid-range.
Alpina then turns its attention to the suspension, setting it up to provide a buttery-smooth ride that belies the car's rubber-band tyre profiles. Factor in a subtle body kit that'll pass under most people's radar and a speed limiter delete that means the B3 is good for a 188mph top speed, and Alpina's estate must be one of the coolest cars on this list.
3. Audi RS4 Avant Compétition
Mercedes seems to have dropped the ball with its new hybrid C63, and while the new BMW M3 Touring is very good you'll have to get on with its controversial looks and blingy details.
The Audi RS4’s looks on the other hand are bang on the money, displaying a subtle menace that's precisely what you want on a car like this, and while the RS4 has never been the most engaging of sports estates, the new Competition model goes a long way to addressing that.
It gets passive KW dampers, thicker anti-roll bars, a 20mm lower road height, fixed-rate steering and wheels that are 2kg lighter per corner. And, while the engine remains the same as before, the Competition gets from 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds, two tenths quicker than the regular RS4. The result is a car with the character glaringly absent from the standard model.
4. Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo
Adaptability is at the heart of any good fast estate, and they don't come much more adaptable than the Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo – an explosively fast EV that handles like a Porsche, has raised suspension and four-wheel drive for the occasional rough-road excursion, and a shooting-brake boot that's ideal for lugging hefty loads.
Performance is mind-blowing, as you'd expect. This off-road-ready Taycan can accelerate from 0-62mph in 2.9 seconds and gallops silently to a top speed of 155mph. A range of up to 285 miles is decent for a performance EV. The Cross Turismo handles almost as well as the standard Taycan but adds another layer of comfort that's welcome in a wagon ultimately used to shift people and stuff. Factor in its beautifully designed interior, and few estates can get close to the Porsche’s Swiss Army Knife functionality.
5. BMW M3 Touring
The BMW M3 has been trouncing its Mercedes C63 and Audi RS4 rivals for pure driver enjoyment for years, but it's always stumbled in one area – you couldn't have an estate. Well, that all changed when the BMW M3 Touring was finally unveiled at the Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard in 2022, complete with BMW’s trademark splitting tailgate.
What does that mean? It means you get the M3's instinctive chassis and huge power combined with space for four adults and a boot that'll happily swallow the family's four-legged friend. Nevertheless, it's the drive that's central to M3's appeal. It gets from 0-62mph in 3.7 seconds and packs a four-wheel-drive system that can be balanced towards the rear end for more excitable cornering, right up until the point of no return, at which point it lights up the front wheels dragging you out of an embarrassing impact with the scenery. It's a compelling character that makes it the best fast estate currently on sale.