Author: Sam Hardy
Winner: Audi A6 Avant
There’s always something deeply desirable about Audi estates – and the latest A6 Avant has the highest want-one factor yet. It combines an extremely usable luggage area with neat features such as an electronic sensor which opens the tailgate if you wave your foot under the bumper – ideal if you’ve got your hands full. Of course, as well as being practical it’s also sophisticatedly stylish, and in 3.0-litre TDI quattro form, fast, secure and remarkably economical. Factor in cabin quality that cannot be matched in the class with a wide range of engines to suit most levels of expenditure, and you’ve got a brilliant large estate.
Commended: BMW 5 Series Touring
Handsome, huge inside and great to drive, the 5 Series is a very complete car – if one that’s not quite as stylish as the A6.
Commended: Mercedes E-Class Estate
If it’s all-out space you’re after, then the E-Class estate is the one to go for – fold the seats flat and you’ve got an enormous 1,950 litres to play with.
Commended: Volvo V60
A genuinely interesting alternative to the German default choices, the V60 DRIVe is a spacious and comfortable high speed cruiser for business mileage.
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