SIX OF THE BEST FAMILY ESTATE CARS
THESE DAYS, THE traditional family car is not quite as popular as it used to be. Buyers tend to favour crossovers and SUVs for their more rugged, adventurous image. But there are some sound reasons to choose a family car, especially an estate. If you want plenty of space for luggage, estate cars beat crossovers hands down.
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT ESTATE
Our favourite GTE Price £38,310 Kerbweight 1760kg
85% match figure 1496kg Legal towing limit 1600kg
Noseweight 90kg
There’s very little that the Volkswagen Passat doesn’t do well. It has been one of the very best estate cars for many years, and recent revisions have made this perennial tow car favourite even better.
Most significantly, last year’s updates saw the reintroduction of the GTE plug-in hybrid. This had been withdrawn from sale when demand outstripped supply, but now it’s back in the line-up and expected to take a quarter of all Passat sales.
We reviewed the GTE a few months ago, and were thoroughly impressed with its towing ability. The combination of a smooth 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol and a punchy electric motor give a combined output of 218hp. The
