There was a time when fast cars meant coupes and supercars. Then a handful of manufacturers decided to hide outrageous performance inside long roof wagons and executive sedans with room for luggage, dogs and family duties. The result was a golden era of cars that could demolish autobahns, embarrass supercars and still haul furniture on Sunday. These ten estates and touring sedans represent the absolute peak of that idea.
BMW M5 Touring (E61 V10)
The E61 M5 Touring remains one of the most unhinged production wagons ever built. A naturally aspirated V10, lifted straight from BMW’s Formula One era thinking, revved past 8,000 rpm and produced savage acceleration. The fact it sat under a discreet estate body made it even more outrageous. It was heavy, complex and thirsty, but nothing else like it has existed since.
Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon
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AMG perfected the formula with the E63 S Wagon. Twin turbo V8 power, all wheel drive traction and brutal straight line speed turned this family hauler into a genuine supercar slayer. Launch control starts are violent and repeatable. It remains one of the fastest accelerating wagons ever sold while still being comfortable enough for long distance touring.
Audi RS6 Avant (C7 and C8)
The RS6 Avant redefined what a fast estate could be. Twin turbo V8 power, relentless mid range torque and Quattro traction allow it to deploy speed in any conditions. On wet or cold roads it simply disappears into the distance. It is not the lightest or most playful, but few cars cover ground faster in the real world.
Porsche Panamera Turbo S Sport Turismo
The Panamera Turbo S proved that Porsche could make a long roof car that still felt like a Porsche. With massive power, razor sharp stability and near supercar pace, it shattered assumptions about what a touring sedan could do. It is devastatingly fast at high speed and composed in a way few large cars can match.
Alpina B5 Touring
Alpina took the BMW M5 Touring idea and refined it. The B5 Touring trades raw aggression for immense, effortless speed. Twin turbo power arrives smoothly and never feels strained. It is a high speed missile designed for long distances, where it feels almost unstoppable.
Jaguar XF Sportbrake SVR (Project 8 Derived)
Jaguar flirted with insanity when it explored high performance estates. While rare, SVR tuned Sportbrakes based on Project 8 engineering showed just how fast a Jaguar wagon could be. Massive power, stiff chassis tuning and a sense of theatre made it unforgettable, if slightly terrifying at speed.
Audi RS4 Avant
The RS4 may not top acceleration charts, but its ability to maintain speed on challenging roads earns it a place here. Naturally aspirated V8 versions combined grip, balance and relentless pace. It excels where straights end and corners begin, making it devastatingly quick on real roads.
Mercedes-AMG CLS 63 Shooting Brake
The CLS Shooting Brake blended four door coupe styling with estate practicality and V8 muscle. It was brutally fast in a straight line and felt far more aggressive than its elegant shape suggested. AMG gave it an engine that ignored subtlety entirely, turning it into a long roof muscle car.
Volvo V60 Polestar Engineered
Volvo surprised everyone with the V60 Polestar. While not a V8 monster, its combination of turbocharging, hybrid assistance and sharp chassis tuning delivered serious pace. It proved that modern performance did not need excess displacement to be devastatingly effective.
BMW M3 Touring (G81)
The arrival of the M3 Touring felt like the closing of a long awaited chapter. Twin turbo straight six power, rear bias all wheel drive and true M car handling finally gave BMW fans what they wanted. It is brutally fast, usable year round and proves the touring sedan still has a future.
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25 Facts About Car Loans That Most Drivers Don’t Realize
