Feeling young at heart? Look no further than our top three sporty estates: blending family friendliness with performance to keep your inner racer alive.
After some fun for all the family? Or at least fun with all the family? We’ve got you covered. Packing five seats, ample boot space, and hundreds of horses, our top three performance estates are ideal for hauling the family around — without letting things get boring.
Think family, think safety. Whether purely recreational, or during the school run, the following picks can all be partnered up with the Continental SportContact 7 to harness their power, and deliver high-end performance with safety you can trust. Oh, and as winner of DriverReviews’ 'Best tyres for large family cars' award, the SportContact 7 has the public vote too.
3. Skoda Octavia vRS Estate
Image credit: Skoda
Now, the Skoda Octavia vRS Estate may be a bit of a sleeper looks-wise, but thanks to its sloped styling, large frame, and mildly aggressive façade, it still hints that it’s concealing something a little bit exciting.
The vRS Estate is far from the most powerful on the list, but there are still 261 ponies under the bonnet courtesy of its 2.0-litre engine, so it’s no slouch: jumping from 0-62 mph in just 6.5 seconds. And, thanks to its technological crossover with the Golf R, there is some engaging handling to be found as well — although the overall vehicle size is evident at times.
But, its true strength lies in another area: practicality. With 40.4 mpg, it sure is economical for what it is. Fancy maximising this endurance with a matching tyre? Enter the SportContact 7, using an extra-soft BlackChili compound combined with an extra-stiff pattern to provide performance which can last.
Spoiler alert: this is also the cheapest option on our list, coming in at a somewhat family friendly £40,390 price point. This is evident in the interior which, while sporty, is somewhat stripped back. It’s comfy enough though, and with 640 litres of boot space, there’s plenty of room for the family’s gear. +1 point for practicality.
Image credit: Audi