The best station wagons of 2024: rating for car enthusiasts

Despite the fact that the car market is increasingly being taken over by SUVs, their victory is far from over. And motorists can buy excellent station wagons that combine power, dynamics and practicality.

Station wagons can meet any need in terms of size, performance, and functionality. Whether it is excellent ride comfort, exceptional efficiency, or supercar performance and handling, there is a station wagon that will suit a driver with completely different requirements. Autocar has collected a dozen options that can cover the widest range of needs.

Skoda Superb

The fourth-generation model relies on practicality, versatility, comfort, and simplicity, but this time there is even more space inside the Superb, and an even more efficient engine is under the hood. The model is built on the same MQB Evo platform as the Volkswagen Passat, so it offers the same 690 liters of trunk space or 1920 liters with the rear seats folded down. In the plug-in hybrid, the luggage compartment is reduced to 510 liters, but in return the driver receives a larger battery. In general, the new Superb is not very sporty or particularly comfortable, but it manages to balance these two factors neatly. On the road, it is quite an obedient and stable car.

BMW 5 Series Touring

The BMW 5 Series Touring remains an all-rounder that covers all possible aspects and remains almost unattainable for competitors. Elegant style, easy handling, large interior space and a whole lot more features make this German a niche leader. The trunk volume of this generation of the 5 Series Touring is 560 liters (it decreases to 430 liters in PHEV). Fold down the rear seat and you have up to 1700 liters for any need. Moreover, the rear suspension here is designed specifically for heavy loads. In addition, the 5 Series hides its bulkiness well with excellent steering and impressive maneuverability. In recent years, the engine lineup has been reduced to four-cylinder diesel and gasoline options and a powerful six-cylinder gasoline engine. The manufacturer also offers a PHEV model.

Dacia Jogger

The Jogger offers all the space and utility you need, including a truly useful third row of seats, for significantly less money than most standard hatchbacks. And that doesn't mean that Jogger drivers will have to give up many amenities. Yes, the car's interior is more modest than its competitors, but it is equipped with everything you really need. Choose one of the very favorable high trim levels and you'll get heated seats, cruise control and satellite navigation, as well as a touchscreen infotainment system that works more logically than many more advanced systems. The 1.0-liter gasoline engine is hardly powerful, but thanks to the quick six-speed manual transmission, it does its job quite well. If you need an automatic transmission, then the Jogger Hybrid is the right choice, which also provides very impressive fuel economy.

BMW 3 Series Touring

The little brother of the 5 Series Touring combines many of the strengths of its larger sibling in a compact body. It offers maneuverability, driver involvement and a well-chosen appearance that makes you feel at home even on a winding stretch of road. The 3 Series also has a well-designed interior, and its trunk has a capacity of 500 liters (or 410 liters in PHEV) with the rear seat installed. The model's standard engine range now consists of a 2.0-liter gasoline, 2.0-liter diesel, and 2.0-liter PHEV, but you can still have an inline-six with a gasoline or diesel engine in the form of the M340i and M340d.

Jaguar XF Sportbrake

The rear-wheel drive, diesel D200 XF Sportbrake has suddenly become one of the most attractive offers on the market. With the model, you get arguably the best handling chassis in this class, combined with Jaguar's excellent steering system. The top-of-the-line P300 model combines the 2.0-liter 296 hp gasoline engine from the Jaguar F-Type with all-wheel drive and is an all-weather family car with a comfortable interior and infotainment system worthy of a premium car.

Citroën C5 X

Combining coupe style with SUV and station wagon qualities, the vibrant French car paves its own path to practicality. The soft suspension may be unusual, but otherwise it provides a flexible and light ride, while the padded seats give a sense of comfort. Despite its dapper exterior, the C5 X has a spacious interior that looks good and is well put together. The model also offers a large trunk that can hold a very useful 540 liters of luggage with the rear seats folded down, although this figure drops to 485 liters in PHEV. The C5 X comes with a 1.2-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine. This is a pretty decent powerplant capable of providing excellent economy, but the impression is slightly spoiled by a somewhat capricious automatic transmission.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate

The E-Class becomes even more convincing in wagon form. It offers a spacious 615 liters of trunk space, and if you remove the rear seats, it's 1830 liters. Although in the case of PHEVs, the volumes will be slightly smaller - 460 and 1675 liters, respectively. Several changes have also been made for the latest E-Class. Mercedes has invested well in screens and technology. Higher trims get what Mercedes calls a Superscreen, which combines a large center screen with a smaller screen for the passenger. The PHEV, out of the entire lineup, is likely to be the most comfortable as it comes with a softer suspension.

Ford Focus Estate

For decades, Ford's midsize car has been the standard choice for families. With the growing popularity of SUVs, the Focus has been slightly relegated to the background, to the point where there will be no more new generation of the model after the current generation ends in 2025. And fans of the brand are already mourning this loss. The Focus now comes equipped with a mild hybrid 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine with either 123 hp and a six-speed manual transmission or 153 hp and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The latest redesign also introduced a huge multimedia screen. The trunk volume of the model is 608 liters, increasing to 1653 with the seats folded down. If you really want that hot hatchback experience, the wagon is also available in the form of the 276-horsepower Ford Focus ST.

Toyota Corolla Touring Sports

Until recently, the Toyota Corolla was synonymous with a boring car - reliable but lacking in charm. However, everything has changed with the introduction of the 12th generation car, which has all the traditional strengths of the Corolla, but at the same time combines a certain style and a large portion of driver appeal. Thanks to Toyota's Next Generation Architecture, the Corolla has an excellent balance of ride and handling. These days, the Corolla is always a gasoline-electric hybrid, but you have the choice of a 1.8-liter or 2.0-liter engine. The 1.8 received a significant power boost to 138 hp, which improved its performance. The 2.0, on the other hand, received a slight boost to 193 hp, making it pleasantly lively.

Audi A6 Avant

Audi's large wagon can't match the novelty of the E-Class or the driving pleasure of the 5 Series, but it still has plenty of advantages. It is available with four-cylinder gasoline, diesel, and PHEV engines. It has an attractive, spacious, well-equipped interior. And while the multimedia system has been criticized for its clumsy attempt at haptic feedback, the interface is fast and logical, and there's a separate screen for climate control, making it easier to use than some modern systems. The A6 Avant also scores high marks for its practicality as a station wagon. The 565-liter trunk is accessed through a fairly wide entrance that doesn't have an awkward threshold. And if you want to go fast, there is always the Audi RS6 Avant with a powerful diesel V6.

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