Best wagons to buy now
SUVs are flavour of the month, but a traditional wagon delivers just as much convenience, better dynamics and lower running costsAustralians love the space and practicality that high-riding SUVs offer – sales figures are proof of that. Indeed, SUVs are outselling passenger vehicles in most size segments.
But, let’s not let the popularity of SUVs totally eclipse the benefits offered by other vehicle types. First and foremost, we’re talking about the trusty station wagon, which is just as flexible but more dynamic and cheaper to run than a similarly sized SUV.
Here we’ve selected six wagons from six brands suited to a variety of needs, from the budget-conscious buyer to the ride-or-die performance car enthusiast.
Keeping the wagon love alive, these cracking good cars will make you think twice about the need for a SUV.
Skoda Octavia
Despite being part of the Volkswagen family (whose members includes Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini and Porsche), Skoda remains a bit of an unknown quantity in the Australian market.
But it’s a brand that many buyers find hard to turn their back on once they’ve been behind the wheel and, subsequently, crunched the numbers.
Priced between $29,490 and $49,090 (plus ORCs), the Skoda Octavia punches well above its weight where value for money is concerned – it’s Skoda’s second best selling vehicle, right behind the Kodiaq large SUV.
Good technology and safety equipment underpin a vehicle that has family values top of mind. It’s available with two four-cylinder turbo-petrol engines across three model variants. It can take a 75kg load on the roof and will tow up to 1500kg (braked). The more spirited driver will love the top-spec 2.0-litre turbocharged Octavia RS 245.
Audi RS 6 Avant
Whoever said the humble family wagon can’t deliver a punch of adrenalin has never been behind the wheel of the Audi RS 6 Avant (Audi-speak for wagon). It’s both the wolf and the sheep, Jekyll and Hyde, practical and potent.
Synonymous with prestige style and a premium price tag to match, Audi is not for everyone. But for those with the funds, the Audi RS 6 adds sporting prowess to the mild-mannered wagon like few others can. Powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, the Audi RS 6 Avant sprints to 100km/h in just 3.6sec – this is no ordinary family runabout.
A 565-litre boot, ISOFIX child seat anchors, an electric tailgate and a braked towing capacity of 2500kg go one step further in positioning the Audi RS 6 as the ultimate family wagon.
Priced from $216,000 (plus ORCs), it ain’t cheap, but the great news is it’s more affordable than ever before, at more than $25K less than its predecessor!
What are you waiting for? Practicality has never looked so sexy.
Subaru Levorg
Subaru is a brand famous for its symmetrical all-wheel drive system, advanced safety technology and the fact for decades it slayed gravel on the world rally circuit… In short, we believe its wagons deserve your attention.
The petrol-only all-wheel drive Subaru Levorg wagon is available in four trim levels and with two turb-petrol boxer engines. The GT and GT Premium run a 125kW/250Nm 1.6-litre unit and the GT-S and STI Sport move up to a 197kW/350Nm 2.0-litre, all paired to a continuously variable transmission.
All Levorg models get a reversing camera, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keep assist and collision avoidance technology. And all but the entry-level GT feature blind spot monitoring, lane change assist, rear cross traffic alert and side view monitor. The sleek new 2021 Levorg promises even more, but you’ll have to wait until next year for that.
The boot (489-1413 litres) will devour the family load and 40:20:40-split, electrically operated rear seats up the flexibility. You can also tow 800-1500kg (braked) depending on the variant. Four USB charge points and two 12-volt outlets have your plug-in devices well and truly sorted.
Priced between $37,240 and $53,240 (plus ORCs), it’s hard to look away.
Mazda6
If you haven’t driven a Mazda lately, do so. While the Japanese brand continues to build on its stable of SUVs (it currently has five), its sole wagon offering remains a great alterative. Indeed, Mazda’s mid-size Mazda 6 wagon is the prize pick of its genre.
Available in four model variants and priced between $35,790 and $51,190 (plus ORCs), the 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine (140kW/252Nm) is available with a six-speed automatic only. The mid- and top-spec GT and Atenza add turbocharging to the tune of 170kW/420Nm.
Entry-level equipment levels are commendable and you’ll find Mazda’s checklist features more extensive standard equipment than its pricey Euro rivals -- not only creature comforts but all-important safety kit.
As you move to the top-of-the-range Atenza the Mazda6 beautifully mimics the finish of more expensive Euro brands. The boot (506-1648 litres) is lineball with rivals and it’ll tow 1500kg (braked).
The infotainment interface is one of the most intuitive to navigate and the Mazda6’s family-friendly second row is spacious and comfortable. It features a fold down armrest with USB charge point.
Volvo V60
In times gone by the Volvo brand was synonymous with safety above all else. Bloody Volvo drivers also unfairly copped their share of flack.
Roll forward to 2020 and Volvo has more than a solid set of airbags in its arsenal. Volvo’s wagons and SUVs reign supreme, built on a base of practical and environmentally friendly platforms with a sophisticated and minimalist design aesthetic.
R-Design versions add some sporting intent, if you must.
The Volvo V60 is offered in four variants – three using the naturally aspirated T5 2.0-litre engine and the top-spec T8 R-Design adding plug-in hybrid tech to its 2.0-litre supercharged and turbocharged petrol engine to develop 330kW and 670Nm. It’ll sprint to 100km/h in a far from sluggish 4.5sec.
Its boxy proportions proffer a 529-litre boot that grows to 1441 litres when the seats are folded flat and it’ll tow 1800-2000kg (braked).
Priced between $56,990 and $86,990 (plus ORCs), the Volvo V60 brings something different to the game.
BMW M3 Touring
OK, so you can’t buy this wagon yet... Indeed, BMW’s super sedan turned wagon is not due to tear up Australian tarmac until 2022, but it would be completely remiss of us not to draw your attention to it.
Although there have been M5 Touring load-luggers in the past, the 2022 BMW M3 Touring (BMW-speak for wagon) is the first wagon in almost 34 years of M3 history.
The BMW M3 Touring will be powered by the same 375kW/600Nm twin-turbo inline six-cylinder that will grace the next-gen M3 sedan to be launched next year.
Getting your hands on one will be your only problem, but if you’re an M3 fan you probably already knew that. Two words: start saving.
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