Best Electric Estate Cars 2024: The Complete Guide For The UK

Electric Cars: The Basics

For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we would recommend a read of the following articles:

EV Knowledge

Dec 1, 2022

Types Of Electric Cars: The Complete Guide For The UK

Electric Cars: The Basics For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we would recommend a read of the following articles: Sign up to the e-zoomed Electric Living…

EV Knowledge

Nov 4, 2022

Electric Cars: Pros And Cons: The Complete Guide For The UK

Electric Cars: The Basics For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we would recommend a read of the following articles: Sign up to the e-zoomed Electric Living…

EV Knowledge

Mar 9, 2022

Top Jargons Used For Electric Driving: The Complete Guide For The UK

Electric Cars: The Basics For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we would recommend a read of the following articles: Sign up to the e-zoomed Electric Living…

EV Knowledge

Aug 2, 2022

Air Quality: The Complete Guide For The UK

Electric Cars: The Basics For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we would recommend a read of the following articles: Sign up to the e-zoomed Electric Living…

EV Knowledge

Nov 15, 2022

Are Electric Vehicles (EVs) A New Invention? The Complete Guide For The UK

Electric Cars: The Basics For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we would recommend a read of the following articles: Sign up to the e-zoomed Electric Living…

Overview

Despite the significant increase in the adoption of electric cars in the UK, the availability of estate electric cars, in particular, estate pure electric cars, still remains limited. Though estate cars have much to offer, these spacious vehicles lack the appeal and popularity of SUVs. Possibly, the reason, why automotive manufacturers have been less enthusiastic to introduce new pure electric estate cars.

Having said that, for those families and businesses keen on practicality, in an environmentally-friendly estate electric vehicle (EV), there are options available, as both, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and battery-electric vehicles (BEVs).

For those new to electric driving, a BEV is also referred to as a ‘pure electric car’. In general, we encourage buying a BEV, instead of a PHEV. The reasons are many! In the earlier stages of the development of modern electric cars, the range was limited. As an example, the first-generation all-electric Nissan Leaf had an e-range up to 70 miles. Range anxiety, in the past, was for a good reason!

The development of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles was a natural progression in our endeavour to find cleaner forms of transportation. Incorporating the benefits of combining an electric motor and an internal combustion engine (ICE), has helped as a ‘stepping stone’ from conventional petrol and diesel vehicles to lower emission electric vehicles. A PHEV, offers both: lower tailpipe emissions and reducing the concerns over limited electric range.

However, the recent pure electric cars are fast making the need for PHEVs redundant, as we migrate to zero-tailpipe emission electric driving. The latest all-electric cars are capable of much longer distances on a full charge. In fact, some of the more recent BEVs deliver an electric range over 350 miles, on a single charge. A 400% increase in electric range, compared to the 2010 Nissan Leaf!

A number of factors have contributed to the improvement in electric range. Some of these include: enhanced vehicle aerodynamics, increased EV battery size and improved battery management. A number of current pure electric cars incorporate an EV battery size closer to 100 kWh, and in a few EVs, an even larger onboard EV battery. In comparison, the first-generation Nissan Leaf had a 24 kWh onboard EV battery.

Though ‘electric range’ continues to be central in the narrative of electric driving, it is worth putting in context the distance travelled by cars in the UK. In fact, most trips are short. As an average, a single trip is less than 10 miles, and the average distance travelled a day, is less than 30 miles. Hardly surprising, given that the majority of our trips are to the local grocery store, local gym, local high street etc.

Even for longer distance trips on a regular basis, a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) is the better choice, given the improvement in public EV charging infrastructure. Apart from zero-tailpipe emissions, pure electric cars have many other advantages, to include: a smoother ride, less noise pollution, instant torque, cheaper driving cost per mile, lower operating and maintenance costs, and more!

It is indeed a pity, that currently there are only two automotive manufacturers that have introduced pure electric estate cars, MG and Porsche. MG Motor UK Limited (MG Motor), is a UK headquartered British automotive manufacturer, now owned by the Chinese automotive company, SAIC Motor. The all-electric MG5 has a compelling propositions for those seeking an affordable and practical, estate car. At the other end of the spectrum, the all-electric Porsche Taycan Turismo, is a good fit for those that seek a premium and high performance estate EV.

The MG5 EV is available in one EV battery size (61.1 kWh), which is certainly a practical and useful size. The automotive manufacturer claims a pure electric range up to 250 miles on a full charge. Even adjusting for real-world driving conditions, the MG electric car should be able to deliver over 215 miles. More than sufficient for most needs! The MG5 electric estate also offers DC charging capability up to 150 kW DC. It will take up to 35 minutes to achieve an 80% charge at 150 kW DC. Using a 50 kW DC rapid charger, the EV can be charged from 10%-80% in 61 minutes.

For those who remain keen on PHEV estate cars, we would recommend choosing an EV with a larger EV battery size and electric range. This way, the advantages of electric driving can be leveraged more often, to include, financial savings. Driving on the e-mode is significantly cheaper than using the petrol or diesel engine.

The upgraded Volvo V60 PHEV and V90 plug-in hybrid estate cars are good examples. Both EVs incorporate an 18.8 kWh onboard EV battery with a quoted WLTP range over 50 miles. Moreover, both electric cars have lower tailpipe emissions (up to 20g CO2/km), compared to other estate plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. We at e-zoomed strongly encourage choosing a PHEV with lower tailpipe emissions!

Another excellent example, is the all-electric Mercedes-Benz C Class estate. The C Class PHEV has a 25.4 kWh onboard EV battery, with a claimed zero-tailpipe emission range up to 65 miles (WLTP certified). Of course, the real-world electric range will depend on a number of factors, to include: driving profile, speed, passenger load, weather and road condition etc. Assuming a 60 mile electric range is more realistic and establishes the C Class PHEV as class-leading.

You can read a complete guide on each of the electric estate cars on the e-zoomed Electric Living Blog by following the links below.

Lease Electric Car

Gallery

Best Electric Estate Cars 2024

Audi A6 Avant, BMW 330e Touring, Cupra Leon, Kia Ceed Sportswagon, Mercedes-Benz C Class, Mercedes-Benz CLA 250e, MG5 EV, Peugeot 308 SW, Renault Megane Sport Tourer, SEAT Leon E-Hybrid, Skoda Octavia, Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer, Volkswagen Passat GTE, Volvo V60 and Volvo V90

Best Electric Estate Cars (BEVs & PHEVs)

Brand/ Model	Battery Size (kWh)	Electric Range (WLTP)	Tailpipe Emissions (CO2/km)	Type Of Vehicle
Audi A6 Avant TFSIe	17.9 kWh	40 miles	34 – 30g	PHEV
BMW 330e Touring	11.15 kWh	32 – 37 miles	42 – 32g	PHEV
Cupra Leon	12.8 kWh	32 miles	29g	PHEV
Kia Ceed Sportswagon	8.9 kWh	29.2 miles	33g	PHEV
Mercedes-Benz C Class	25.4 kWh	65 miles	13g	PHEV
Mercedes-Benz CLA 250	15.6 kWh	42 miles	24g	PHEV
MG5 EV	61.1 kWh	250 miles	0g	BEV
Peugeot 308 SW	12.4 kWh	37 miles	24 – 30g	PHEV
Porsche Taycan Turismo	79.2 kWh/ 93.4 kWh	222 -305 miles	0g	BEV
Renault Megane Sport Tourer	9.8 kWh	30 miles	30g	PHEV
SEAT Leon E-Hybrid	12.8 kWh	36 miles	27g	PHEV
Skoda Octavia	13 kWh	43 miles	23 – 27g	PHEV
Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer	12.4 kWh	37 miles	25g	PHEV
Volkswagen Passat GTE	13 kWh	37 miles	28g	PHEV
Volvo V60	18.8 kWh	54.7 miles	18g	PHEV
Volvo V90	18.8 kWh	52.2 miles	20g – 19g	PHEV

Lease Electric Car

While e-zoomed uses reasonable efforts to provide accurate and up-to-date information, some of the information provided is gathered from third parties and has not been independently verified by e-zoomed. While the information from the third party sources is believed to be reliable, no warranty, express or implied, is made by e-zoomed regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. This disclaimer applies to both isolated and aggregate uses of this information.