10 Estate Cars That Look Better Than Their Saloon Siblings

Estate cars are supposed to be the sensible option. You take a perfectly fine saloon, extend its roofline, enlarge its boot and create something much better suited to children, dogs and taking large items to the tip.

Occasionally, though, practicality improves the design rather than spoiling it. From elegant shooting brakes to unapologetically enormous Swedish wagons, these are 10 estate cars that we reckon look even better than their saloon siblings.

Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon

Alfa Romeo gets it right more often than not, even when it’s designing hulking SUVs.

The Italian marque got it very right with the 159 saloon, which is regularly cited as one of the best-looking four-doors ever made. Yet when the Sportwagon followed in 2006, it somehow managed to improve on it further.

Its extended roofline and sharply tapered rear give it a more balanced, purposeful shape without diluting that magnificent triple-headlight front end. It wasn’t the roomiest or lightest estate in its class, but fitted with the 3.2-litre V6 and Q4 all-wheel drive, it certainly had the looks, noise and character expected of an Alfa.

Jaguar XF Sportbrake

The original XF was already one of Jaguar’s best-looking modern saloons, but the Sportbrake gave its sleek shape an extra dose of presence. Its long roofline flowed neatly into the rear rather than looking like an estate section had simply been grafted on, while the narrow glasshouse helped it retain the saloon’s low, muscular stance.

It was also available in properly serious forms, including the supercharged XFR-S Sportbrake, which turned a sensible-looking family wagon into a 542bhp monster. Even in more ordinary trim, though, the estate looked more distinctive and arguably more complete than the saloon.

Peugeot 508 SW

The seldom seen second-generation Peugeot 508 is a genuinely handsome saloon – but the SW’s longer, lower shape suits its sharp styling even better. Its frameless doors, narrow rear lights and gently sloping roofline make it look more like a sleek shooting brake than a conventional family estate.

The range even included the 508 PSE, which combined plug-in hybrid power with four-wheel drive and proper aggressive styling. It may not have been the last word in boot space, but when an estate looks this good, practicality almost becomes a bonus.

Genesis G70 Shooting Brake

The G70 saloon is neat enough, but the Shooting Brake is the version that really gives Genesis some visual identity. Its extended roofline, curved rear glass and distinctive twin-line lights make it look far more interesting than the conventional four-door.

Rare, handsome and different, the G70 Shooting Brake is appealing in a way that its German rivals often struggle to match.

Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo

The standard Porsche Taycan is hardly awkward, but its roofline can look slightly bulbous from certain angles. The Sport Turismo fixes that perfectly by extending the roof rearwards, creating a cleaner and more balanced silhouette all without losing the low, wide stance that makes the Taycan so striking.

Unlike the raised-up Cross Turismo, it keeps the saloon’s road-focused appearance while adding extra space and usability. Better yet, it’s still brutally fast in the right specification, only now there is enough room in the back for passengers and luggage to enjoy the experience too.

Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake

The CLA saloon’s swooping roofline is meant to give it four-door coupe proportions, but it also leaves the car looking slightly hunched from some angles. The Shooting Brake stretches that shape out, giving the CLA a longer and more elegant profile while retaining its frameless doors and aggressive front end.

It also offers one of the easiest routes into a genuinely rapid estate, thanks to the AMG CLA 45 S Shooting Brake. It may not be the biggest estate around, but it proves practicality does not have to come with a boxy silhouette.

BMW 3 Series Touring

The BMW 3 Series saloon has always been smart rather than dramatic, but the Touring adds just enough visual interest to make it the more desirable shape. Its longer roofline gives the car better proportions, particularly in M Sport trim, without sacrificing the tidy, rear-wheel-drive stance associated with the 3 Series.

More importantly, it drives with much of the same precision as the saloon while offering considerably more everyday usability. Whether it is a sensible diesel or an M340i with a six-cylinder engine, the Touring has long been the 3 Series for people who want one car to do almost everything.

Mazda 6 Tourer

The Mazda 6 saloon is a seriously handsome and understated set of wheels, but the Tourer arguably makes better use of the brand’s flowing Kodo design language. Its gently tapering roofline and sculpted rear bodywork give it a cleaner, more cohesive shape than many of its boxier rivals.

It was never the fastest or most premium estate in its class, sure, but that was part of the appeal. The Mazda 6 Tourer offered good looks, a pleasant interior and something slightly different from the German alternatives, all without shouting about it.

Saab 9-3 SportWagon

The 9-3 saloon was unmistakably a Saab, but the SportWagon gave its understated styling a sharper and more purposeful edge. Its distinctive rear lights, steeply raked tailgate and wraparound rear glass made it look unlike almost every other estate of its era.

Naturally, the one to have was an Aero, particularly with the tasty turbocharged 2.8-litre V6. It was quick, quirky and not quite as polished as its German rivals, but those imperfections are exactly what make old Saabs so appealing today.

Volvo V90

Volvo has spent decades perfecting the art of the estate car, so it is hardly surprising that the V90 looks more natural than the related S90 saloon. Its vast proportions, long roofline and upright rear give it real presence, while the slim lights stop it from looking like a simple box on wheels.

The interior is every bit as elegant, and versions ranging from relaxed diesels to powerful T8 plug-in hybrids give it plenty of breadth. Volvo may now be focusing more heavily on SUVs, but the V90 remains proof that a proper Swedish estate is difficult to beat.