Cash & carry

UPMARKET estate cars have always been popular. In recent years they have become the go-to alternative to the SUV, often delivering more usable space, as well as a more sophisticated and sporty drive.

THERE’S been a Estate version of the C-Class ever since the model arrived to replace the 190E in 1993, and Mercedes is on to its fifth generation, known internally as the W206, which arrived in 2021.

WHILE the BMW 3 Series is into its seventh generation as a saloon, the Touring estate is only on its sixth incarnation, because a wagon version of the original 3 Series was never produced. The current

WHY WE’RE RUNNING IT To ascertain if this upmarket compact SUV can still hold its own in the face of fresher competition If there was ever an era-defining car for a marque, the Evoque is the ultimate

PERFORMANCE: This is the manufacturer’s claimed acceleration time for a car, and is measured from 0-60mph or 0-62mph (0-100km/h), in seconds. ECONOMY/EMISSIONS/RANGE: Combined WLTP economy in miles pe

The cars, bikes, scooters and battery-powered transport that is reinventing the need for speed