Wagons can be more fuel-efficient than heavier SUVs, and many models come at a more affordable sticker price—saving money at time of purchase and later at the pump. The most practical strategy is to seek a hatchback or wagon that meets your requirements without buying more car than you need. Consider starting with our lists of recommended wagons and working your way up the line from the smallest and least costly.
Budget Cars There are several budget hatchback cars that provide wagon functionality at an affordable price. These models typically deliver excellent fuel economy and cargo-carrying flexibility. They can be more affordable to purchase and maintain than SUVs, making them appealing as basic commuters and errand runners.
Budget cars can be a particularly good fit for urban drivers and young drivers seeking a first new car. Small Wagons and Hatchbacks More refined than the budget cars, these models are practical transport, with roomier back seats and good fuel economy.
Most have sedan counterparts and sport four doors, along with the added benefit of cargo-carrying flexibility. These are good alternatives to small SUVs because they have similar utility but are more affordable and fuel-efficient.
Family Wagons and Hatchbacks These wagons are midsized SUV alternatives with family-sedan-like fuel economy, handling, and ride. Their roomy interiors can seat five adults comfortably. Some upscale wagons offer a premium interior, all-wheel drive, and added safety features, but their fuel economy typically suffers compared with down-market models. Prices for such mainstream models are more comparable to those of a family sedan or small SUV.
Consult our road tests regarding your choices. Seating and Access Believe it or not, wagons were among the first mainstream vehicles to be offered with three-row seating—now ubiquitous in larger SUVs and minivans. Naturally, the smaller models have somewhat limited room in back. And the middle-rear position is often tight and uncomfortable for adults, especially in the budget models.
Engines and Fuel Economy The powertrain for wagons usually ranges from a small-displacement four-cylinder to a more powerful six-cylinder engine, although V8s are available in a limited number of sporty and luxury models.
The aforementioned uber-expensive European models are true high-performance machines, with enough turbocharged horsepower to run with some sports cars. Expect to pump a lot of premium fuel into these coaches. More and more all-electric hatchbacks are being offered these days. Most of the smaller models deliver miles per gallon in the mids and 30s. Hybrid models, such as the Hyundai Ioniq and Toyota Prius , deliver plus mpg.
Though long-retired and currently a little tricky to find, the Magnum SRT8 deserves mention, here. A solid driveline could take a licking and keep on ticking, and these machines were built to be used hard. With horsepower and no shortage of all-American sound effects from the tailpipes, Magnum SRT8 was an entertaining machine that appreciated a good flogging, and put on a hell of a show.
Used units do pop up for sale from time to time, often with high mileage and in need of a little work. Reasonable rocket-wagons have been a Volvo specialty over the years , and its latest are more handsome, efficient and upscale than ever.
Two are on offer in the new or slightly-used markets, the smaller V60 and the larger V Fully deployed, drivers get monorail acceleration — creamy, smooth, and robust — but tastefully restrained when it comes to the sound effects. Quick and relatively quiet from under the hood, T8-powered Volvo wagons are capable of fully-electric driving on shorter trips thanks to their Plug-In Hybrid PHEV technology. Not only do the V60 and V90 T8 use electricity to reduce fuel consumption, they also use it boost overall output and performance.
The available Bowers and Wilkins stereo system is one of the best on the road, and both models pack stellar headlight performance, too. Shopping used? Be sure to triple-check all charging cables provided with the car for signs of damage or wear, and connect the car to one or more chargers on your test drive to confirm the charging process engages with no issues. The horsepower V6 is twin-turbocharged, and utilizes a super-slippery cylinder-wall coating for efficiency.
Multiple drive modes allow fine-tuning of the responsiveness to your individual tastes. Racy styling cues infuse the high-gloss cabin with a visual sense of anticipation.
The original Panamera was tricky to define. A sedan? A wagon? The Outback also proficiently handles light off-roading. It boasts more overall cargo space than a Toyota RAV4 and has the best fuel economy of any midsize station wagon. Click here to read our review of the Subaru Outback. Why we picked it: The Mini Clubman is the last remaining compact wagon on sale.
There is Click here to read our review of the Mini Clubman. For , a manual-transmission option returns to the Clubman after a one-year absence. Europeans tend to buy more wagons than Americans, so most wagons offered in the U. Mainstream wagons from Audi and Mercedes-Benz are now exclusively of this variety, but Volvo offers crossover-like wagons and conventional ones.
Why we picked it: New for , the E All-Terrain is an impeccable choice for luxury buyers who need room for the family and all their stuff—but want more style than an SUV can offer.
It also adds an adjustable air suspension. Click here to read our first drive review of the E All-Terrain. Why we picked it: Based on the A6 sedan, Audi introduced the first lifted, off-road themed Allroad in The newest incarnation of both the A6 sedan and Allroad wagon debuted for Power comes from a silky horsepower turbocharged 3. Audi quotes only 30 cubic-feet of cargo space, but that only counts the space behind the rear seats.
Its capacious interior is luxurious, tech-forward, and as stylish as the exterior. The V90 comes with one of two 2. The turbocharged T5 offers horsepower, and the turbo-and-supercharged T6, which comes only with all-wheel drive, makes There are also two trims: the sporty-looking R-Design and the frillier Inscription.
The Cross Country gets the lifted, body-kitted, off-road treatment offered on Volvo wagons since and comes only as a T6. The V90 also packs in a ton of driver-assist and in-car tech, retaining its traditionally high marks for safety. Power comes from the same 2. The T5 hits 60 mph in the mid six-second range, while the T8 gets up to speed about two seconds faster.
The V60 shares many of the V90s virtues, with gorgeous design work, a comfortable cabin and lots of driver-assist and in-car technology.
Why we picked it: The A4 Allroad applies the lifted, off-road theme treatment seen on the larger A6 Allroad to the smaller A4, which straddles the line between compact and midsize.
Its extra ground clearance isn't enough for it to undertake legitimate off-roading alongside Jeeps and Toyota 4Runners. But it gives the A4 Allroad the same kind of advantage as the Subaru Outback or the Volvo V60 Cross Country when it comes to tackling rutted dirt roads and snowy byways.
Quattro all-wheel drive is standard and a turbocharged four-cylinder engine provides peppy power with decent fuel economy. The Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo is what you get when you want the sportiness of a in the body of a station wagon. To be more precise, the Sport Turismo is the long-roof version of the Porsche Panamera sedan. Both of these four-door hatchbacks boast an array of powerful powertrains, including plug-in-hybrid variants called E-Hybrid that prioritize performance over fuel savings.
Just peep the credentials of the Turbo S E-Hybrid: horsepower, a top speed of mph, and a host of track-ready hardware. What about the all-electric Porsche Taycan? Well, it's not available as a roomy wagon or with the driving range of the gas-only Panameras. While the latter still lacks the immersion of the best Porsche products , the Panamera Sport Turismo and its kin are great to drive and deliver a truly luxury experience—for a substantial sum, of course.
So what if it's not the fire-breathing six-figure RS6 Avant? The Audi A6 Allroad is still a handsomely styled luxury wagon with its own party trick—an adjustable air suspension with better ground clearance for when adventures take a more rock-strewn path.
The car's spacious cabin is borrowed from the A6 sedan and is an exercise in s modernism with its many screens and displays. It's also well equipped with luxury features and comfortable enough for long road trips.
The A6 Allroad's exterior has been slightly ruggedized, with gray plastic lower-body cladding, large inch wheels, roof rails, and revised front and rear bumpers. Too large and too pricey for you? Check out the A4 Allroad , which offers the same adventurous image and many of the same features in a cheaper, smaller package.
Audi A6 Allroad. America is the land of excess, except when it comes to station wagons, but the Audi RS6 Avant is a brutally powerful and bold-looking example of this rare breed. Based on the excellent Audi A6 Allroad wagon , the hot-rod version wears RS-specific bodywork and gets exclusive go-fast goodies. At its heart is a hp twin-turbo V-8 that produces raucous noises and pairs with a paddle-shifted automatic transmission as well as a dynamic version of Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system.
This terrific trio helps launch the Avant to 60 mph in just 3.
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