Are estate cars becoming more popular than SUVs?

A resurgence in estate car popularity could topple the SUV from its market-dominant position

The world of cars can be a bit like riding a rollercoaster.

You’ve got your highs, your lows – and sometimes, spins that really throw us through a loop (or two).

From global pandemics which saw factories close, to semiconductor shortages that decimated available stock levels, it’s safe to say it’s been a bumpy ride for carmakers over the past few years.

But not all surprises are bad.

Take the end of Q1 this year, when we were very pleasantly surprised indeed.

Why? Because our most popular model for this quarter came from unexpected pastures: the humble estate car.

More specifically, the Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer was your top choice of car for the start of this year.

And in a world where for so long the SUV has been top dog, we’re loving this refreshing change of pace.

But is this a one-off fluke, or are we about to see a seismic shift in the motor industry that will see the SUV finally lose its crown?

Only time will tell.

But that won’t stop us from having a good crack at predicting the future for the estate car.

What is an estate car?

Cars come in all different body styles, and the estate (as it’s known in the UK) is one of them.

It’s also known as a shooting brake – a term that’s been bandied about since the 1930s – though that’s less common now.

In the old US of A, you’ll hear it called a station wagon. But that makes us think of Conestoga wagons and Little House on the Prairie, which is not the mental image you want associated with a car.

(Google it, and you’ll see why we’re sticking to the UK terminology for this one.)

The estate is basically a variant on the saloon style, with the roof extended rearward over a shared passenger and cargo area. And, instead of a boot lid, you’ve got a fifth door at the back for rear access.

This body style transforms your standard three-box design into a two-box design which includes four pillars: the A, B, C and D-pillars.

But this extra space is also easier to reconfigure for your lifestyle. Fold down your rear seats and it’s all about the cargo.

Or leave them up and prioritise your passengers.

Either way, you’re winning.

Not-so-humble origins

This might be a personal opinion, but today’s estate cars, for all their benefits, can look a bit ungainly sometimes.

Like someone’s taken a perfectly good hatchback and stretched it out like taffy to make something more practical, but also a little clumsy-looking.

They aren’t as suave as a coupe, or a saloon – they’re built to be practical rather than polished.

So, it may surprise you to learn the estate’s origins is less humble than you’d think.

The name itself reflects the estate’s original purpose: transporting people (and their luggage presumably) between posh country estates and the local train station.

And in early days, these cars were after-market conversions with the new body work made using a wooden frame, or steel and wooden panels.

Possibly, it’s the sort of thing you’d see in an episode of Downton Abbey.

Not many of us are trailing between manors and mansions these days, it’s true. But we reckon that innate functionality is the same today as it was 100 odd years ago.

In other words, the estate is built to fit you and all your bits – no matter your destination.

It may not always be fashionable, but you can bet that kind of practicality is timeless.

Have estate cars ever been popular?

We know we can talk the ear off a donkey when it comes to 70s sports cars.

That doesn’t mean the estate car wasn’t also around at the same time as the gems we regularly wax poetical about.

(One day we might shut up about the Triumph GT6, but it’s not this day).

The estate is understated, maybe under-appreciated – but always plugging quietly away in the background. Like that one pair of jeans at the back of your wardrobe: it’s not always in style, but it always fits well.

And to be fair, there have been some corking estates over the years. They really shone in the 80s. The fashion of the decade may have been terrible, but the cars were nothing to sniff at.

From the Mercedes S123, to the Triumph 2000, to the Volvo 200 – these cars proved very popular for their time, especially with families.

Your grandad probably drove the Volvo 200 series, actually.

Not only was it a practical estate, but the 200 series incorporated a whole host of features from the prototype that was experimenting with safety features.

This made it one of the safest cars around, with very large front and rear crumple zones doing loads to protect passengers in the event of impact.

But the 200 series was far from the only popular estate of its day.

The Hunter Hillman, Chrysler Avenger and Vauxhall Viva HC were also notable for their time – competing well when demand for the small family car was in full force.

And while trends have changed over the years, with superminis, coupe-style sports cars and the family hatchback all having their moment in the sun, the estate is still in high demand.

So, yes – the estate has been popular before. It will be popular again.

And judging by our Q1, it’s even popular right now.

Benefits of leasing an estate car

If it’s not clear by now, the estate car is literally designed to give you more cargo space.

And while SUVs, by their sheer size, can also offer more boot space, it really depends on what kind of SUV you go for.

A subcompact crossover gives you size, but nowhere near the same practicality: when it comes to the inevitable tip run, we know what we’d rather be driving.

Space is important, but it’s not the only trick in the estate car playbook.

As we mentioned earlier, the extra cargo space is adaptable to your needs.

It’s a level of flexibility you often don’t see in other body styles – and we love it for that.

But we love low-running costs too.

The rise of the electric SUV has seen retail prices rocket. The Lotus Eletre (which recently visited Carparison HQ) quickly tops the £100,000 mark when you get past basic spec.

We’d probably have to pay for that with Monopoly money.

Luckily, estate cars generally come with more economical price tags attached.

And while retail prices may climb a little as line-ups start to fully electrify, we don’t expect them to start going for silly money anytime soon.

Lower-running costs also make your real money go further.

Estate cars are more fuel-efficient than SUVs, so you are getting space, flexibility and more for less burden on your wallet.

It all sounds good. But what are they like to drive? 

If you’ve never been behind the wheel of an estate, you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s a clunky ride hauling that long rear end around town.

But the longer wheelbase actually makes for improved handling on the road.

The low centre of gravity and smooth handling also helps squeeze into those truly tight parking spaces we might pass up if we were in an SUV.

Larger windows allow for greater visibility too. Especially in models like the VW ID.7 Tourer, which comes with a Smart Glass panoramic sunroof.

But it’s not the only standout estate on the market.

The BMW 3 Series Touring, Toyota Corolla and SKODA Superb are some of the top players in the estate car game.

They’ve been around the block a few times. And it’s all these benefits and more that make them serious contenders for your next estate car lease.

SUVs vs estate cars

There’s a reason cars come in different body styles.

Because one shape does not suit all: if SUVs are popular, it’s because they suit many of our lifestyles right now.

And while the estate car has always been a steady presence on our roads, it’s rarely taken centre stage in the spotlight.

So, it’s a strong testament to what a class car the ID.7 Tourer is, that it’s so popular.

Do we foresee the estate car toppling the mighty SUV anytime soon?

It’s too soon to say, but if the future of electric estate cars looks anything like the VW ID.7 Tourer, we’d say it stands a fair chance.