Station Wagons: Reviews

Updated September 2011

Many of us grew up in them, when they were the go-to option for family road trips. Station wagons are less popular now, but you still have a surprising variety to choose from, whether it’s an efficient, compact diesel sport wagon to a more traditional full-sized seven passenger land yacht. You can also find wagons that are good replacements for SUVs, offering better performance and fuel economy to boot. ConsumerSearch explains which station wagons are the best on the market, based on reviewers’ feedback.

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May 25th:
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From: ConsumerSearch

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Best station wagon overall

2011 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen

Base MSRP: $19,995 to $24,995 Learn More

The 2011 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen is recommended by more reviewers and expert sources than any other station wagon for its smooth ride, great safety scores and upscale, practical interior. In addition, the 2011… expandVolkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI variant is the most fuel-efficient station wagon available, with a 34-mpg overall EPA rating. The competing all-wheel-drive 2011 Subaru Outback (Base MSRP: $23,195 to $31,495) is a particularly strong alternative that's roomy, family-friendly and offers SUV-level utility without sacrificing drivability or fuel economy. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Edmunds.com: Edmunds.com explains the one change to the VW SportWagen lineup (it's base engine), and editors provide details on each trim level.

SaferCar.gov: Full crash testing hadn't been completed for the 2011 Jetta wagon when we checked, but the car did receive a 4-star rating in rollover tests.

IIHS.org: The 2011 Volkswagen Jetta sedan and wagon are both Top Safety Picks according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a nonprofit organization that performs crash-tests independent of the government.

FuelEconomy.gov: This Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy site offers detailed fuel-economy information on most current production cars.

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Premium station wagon

2011 BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon

Base MSRP: $37,150 to $39,150 Learn More

Like the sports sedan it's based on, reviewers say the 2011 BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon drives well, rides comfortably and offers room for five people plus their cargo -- qualities that make it the best premium station… expandwagon. Available with rear- or all-wheel drive, the BMW's closest rival is the 2012 Audi A4 Avant (Base MSRP: $36,400). In terms of cargo room, at 61 cubic feet with its seats folded, the BMW has more hauling space than the Audi, which comes in with 51 cubic feet. Though it has a less flashy interior than its rivals, critics say the 3 Series Sports Wagon is very well appointed, ergonomic and luxurious, keeping the wagon at the top of the pack. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Edmunds.com: The 2011 BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon remains almost completely unchanged for this model year, but it does receive an upgraded Harman Kardon audio system.

FuelEconomy.gov: This government website details estimated fuel-economy figures for both rear- and all-wheel drive 2011 BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon models.

IIHS.org: The BMW 3 Series earns the highest rating of Good in frontal- and side-crash tests, but only an Average rating in roof-strength tests.

SaferCar.gov: Here you'll find crash-test scores for the BMW 3 series vehicles.

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Seven-passenger wagon

2012 Ford Flex

Base MSRP: $29,355 to $45,520 Learn More

The 2012 Ford Flex is not only the best pick for wagon shoppers looking to fit seven passengers, at 83 cubic feet with its seats folded, the Flex offers the most cargo space of any wagon. Regular or turbocharged V6… expandengines are offered, as is all-wheel drive. The best alternative to the Flex may not be a wagon at all, but a minivan like the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan (Base MSRP: $23,995 to $30,695), which also seats seven and handily beats the Flex's maximum cargo capacity with a whopping 144.3 cubic feet. The five-passenger 2011 Subaru Outback (Base MSRP: $23,195 to $31,495) beats the Flex's fuel economy while offering comparable cargo space and standard all-wheel drive at a lower price. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Edmunds.com: The editors at Edmunds.com find the Flex to be a very attractive choice in the station-wagon segment and have kept one in their test fleet for two years.

SaferCar.gov: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conducts testing on production vehicles and posts their official results here.

IIHS.org: The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is a nonprofit organization that posts its own independent crash-test results online.

FuelEconomy.gov: The Environmental Protection Agency classifies the Ford Flex as an SUV. Fitted with the less potent 262-horsepower V6, the Flex achieves 17 mpg city/24 mpg highway/19 mpg combined and 16 mpg city/21 mpg highway/18 combined with the more powerful EcoBoost V6.

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Budget wagon

2011 Scion xB

Base MSRP: $16,000 to $18,405 Learn More

For the 2011 model year, the Scion xB is the best budget wagon on the market. Originally hailed as a hip, alternative-looking mode of transportation, the xB wagon has mellowed somewhat and in the process become more… expandaccommodating. The xB's seating room and cargo area are both spacious, allowing more space than some small crossovers and even some midsize SUVs. Though it is priced in the middle of the range for boxy budget wagons, the xB's interior space and unique styling make it an appealing choice when compared with rivals like the 2011 Kia Soul (Base MSRP: $13,300 to $18,495) and the 2011 Nissan Cube (Base MSRP: $14,740 to $21,640). collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Edmunds.com: Edmunds.com editors have little to complain about with the Scion xB except for its gas mileage.

FuelEconomy.gov: At 22 mpg city/28 mpg highway24 mpg combined, the 2011 Scion xB returns respectable mileage according to these results from official government tests, but it still falls short of newer (and larger) vehicles like the Kia Sportage compact SUV.

IIHS.org: The independent and nonprofit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety names the 2011 Scion xB a Top Safety Pick.

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SUV alternative

2011 Subaru Outback

Base MSRP: $23,195 to $31,495 Learn More

The 2011 Subaru Outback is the best SUV alternative. The Subaru wagon's 71.3 cubic feet of cargo area (with rear seats folded) rivals or exceeds that of some SUVs (the Ford Edge, for example, offers 69 cubic feet).… expandAll-wheel drive is standard on the Outback, and its 8.7 inches of ground clearance tops the 2011 Land Rover LR2's (Base MSRP: $35,700) by 0.4 inches. A continuously variable transmission paired to the base 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine produces fuel-economy numbers of 19 mpg city/27 mpg highway/22 mpg combined. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Edmunds.com: The 2011 Subaru Outback is well received at Edmunds.com, where editors call the Outback "an appealing alternative to conventional wagons and crossovers." They aren't happy that the recent redesign did away with the previous generation's sporty handling, but they concede that the extra interior room is a plus.

FuelEconomy.gov: The official government fuel-economy estimates for the 2011 Subaru Outback range from 19 mpg city/27 mpg highway/22 mpg combined with the base four-cylinder engine and manual transmission to 22mpg city/29 mpg highway/24 mpg combined with the base engine and automatic.

SaferCar.gov: According to official government safety-test results, the 2011 Subaru Outback earns an overall rating of 4 stars, with 4-star results in front-impact, side-impact and rollover-resistance evaluations.

IIHS.org: The independent and nonprofit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety names the Subaru Outback station wagon a 2011 Top Safety pick.

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2011 Audi A4 Avant Base MSRP: $36,300

6 picks by top review sites.

2011 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon Base MSRP: $34,465 to $51,165

6 picks by top review sites.

2011 Mercedes-Benz E350 4MATIC Wagon Base MSRP: $56,200

4 picks by top review sites.

2011 Hyundai Elantra Touring Base MSRP: $15,995 to $19,495

3 picks by top review sites.

2011 Kia Soul Base MSRP: $13,300 to $18,495

3 picks by top review sites.

2012 Volvo XC70 Base MSRP: $32,150 to $38,200

3 picks by top review sites.