Station Wagons: Reviews

Updated June 2010

April 27th:
What the End of Pontiac Means To You

Best station wagon overall

2010 Subaru Outback

Base MSRP: $22,995 to $30,995 Learn More

The redesigned 2010 Subaru Outback wagon just about has it all, experts say: plenty of passenger and cargo space, class-leading safety and reliability, improved fuel economy and standard all-wheel drive so capable it wins… Motor Trend's Sport/Utility of the Year award. Some testers do find the bigger 2010 Outback station wagon less nimble than before, but most say the roomier cabin is worth the trade-off. Among Best Reviewed wagons, only the three-row 2010 Ford Flex (Base MSRP: $28,950 to $42,465) is more spacious. If you don't need all-wheel drive, the 34-mpg 2010 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI (Base MSRP: $24,615) stows almost as much cargo and is more full efficient than all other wagons, including the 24-mpg Outback.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org tests the 2010 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited (fully equipped, but with the base engine) and ranks it against ...

Edmunds.com: Suitable for either on- or off-road pursuits, the spacious, comfortable 2010 Subaru Outback becomes one of Edmunds.com's Top ...

Motor Trend: Beating SUVs with badges ranging from GMC to Mercedes-Benz, the new, bigger 2010 Subaru Outback wagon wins Motor Trend's ...

Cars.com: The advantages of the 2010 Subaru Outback go on and on in this Cars.com write-up. Spacious rear legroom, a quality cabin, ...

PopularMechanics.com: The 2010 Subaru Outback is more capable than ever, Popular Mechanics concludes. It "scrambles effortlessly" off-road and is ...

Autoblog.com: Despite its more SUV-shaped frame, the 2010 Subaru Outback still "feels closer to a sports sedan," Chris Shunk says. He likes ...

The New York Times: "Not just for Yankee blizzards anymore," the redesigned 2010 Subaru Outback is safer, more civilized, more fuel-efficient and ...

Kiplinger.com: Kiplinger.com names the Subaru Outback both the best new wagon and best wagon overall for 2010. Testers find many of the same ...

MotherProof.com: This website tests vehicles from a mom's point of view. Sara Lacey tests the top-level 2010 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited for ...

FuelEconomy.gov: This chart compares the 2010 Subaru Outback's fuel economy with that of other wagons. It shows government fuel-economy ...

SaferCar.gov: The Subaru Outback is one of the safest station wagons you can buy, according to government crash tests. The Outback earns ...

IIHS.org: Another stellar crash-test performance earns the 2010 Subaru Outback a Top Safety Pick designation from this nonprofit agency. ...

TheTruthAboutCars.com: Unlike other critics, Jonathan Gregory thinks the 2010 redesign hurts the Subaru Outback. He says it looks bloated (although ...

CNET: CNET, a tech-review site, accordingly reviews the base Subaru Outback's technology. All-wheel-drive technology is excellent, ...

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Premium station wagon

2010 Audi A4 Avant

Base MSRP: $35,350 Learn More

In test after test, the 2010 Audi A4 Avant outclasses other station wagons with its beauty, agility and perfect government crash ratings. Other luxury wagons rely on roaring power and aggressive looks, but experts prefer… the nimble (and still powerful) A4 Avant and its understated quality. The A4 Avant includes standard leather upholstery and all-wheel drive -- two features that cost extra on the rival 2010 BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon (Base MSRP: $35,700 to $37,700). The A4 Avant's 23 mpg combined fuel economy also leads the luxury wagon class. The Audi A4 Avant is smaller than some competitors (including all other Best Reviewed wagons), but testers say it provides plenty of rear legroom and cargo space for a young family.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Edmunds.com: Yet again, the 2010 Audi A4 Avant wagon appears on Edmunds.com's Top Recommended Wagons list. This thorough review covers ...

SaferCar.gov: The Audi A4 Avant is the only wagon that earns perfect 5-star ratings in every government crash test. This website run by the ...

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: The Audi A4 sedan and wagon models earn the highest rating of Good in front-, side- and rear-crash tests by this nonprofit ...

FuelEconomy.gov: This website, run by the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy, provides detailed fuel economy and ...

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org has tested only the all-wheel-drive sedan version of the redesigned Audi A4. However, many of the findings ...

ConsumerSearch.com: Except for a navigation-system update, the Audi A4 Avant carries forward unchanged from 2009, so our full analysis of that ...

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Seven-passenger wagon

2010 Ford Flex

Base MSRP: $28,950 to $42,465 Learn More

Yes, you can seat seven adults in stretch-out comfort without turning to a minivan or SUV, experts say. The 2010 Ford Flex's square, retro-inspired shape easily accommodates three rows of seats, which fold flat to create… a class-leading 83-cubic-foot cargo bay. Critics like the Flex's handsome style, excellent crash ratings and available all-wheel drive. Testers say the base V6 engine can feel weak, but a newly optional turbocharged "EcoBoost" V6 solves that problem -- although one test finds it guzzles more gas than the base engine. At 18 to 19 mpg, the Flex is on par with minivans but is less fuel-efficient than most wagons. The budget-priced 2009 Kia Rondo (Base MSRP: $17,495 to $22,295) seats seven in a much smaller cabin and gets 22 mpg combined. If you don't need to seat seven, the five-passenger 2010 Subaru Outback (Base MSRP: $22,995 to $30,995) offers better fuel economy, nearly as much cargo space as the Flex and standard all-wheel drive at a lower price.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Edmunds.com: For families who can't stand minivans, Edmunds.com says the Ford Flex is a stylish and comfortable seven-seat alternative. ...

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org ranks the Ford Flex in the SUV category. Expert testers here provide clear ratings for reliability, ...

InsideLine.com: Edmunds Inside Line editors post tons of interesting details here from their long-term test of the 2009 Ford Flex. After ...

The Wall Street Journal: Optional gadgets like a six-pack refrigerator and giant sunroof can't make up for the "inherent shortcomings" of the Ford ...

The Wall Street Journal: Jonathan Welsh likes the regular Ford Flex much better than his colleague (above), but -- although he finds the new ...

ConsumerGuide.com: ConsumerGuide.com tests both the regular and EcoBoost versions of the Ford Flex and -- unlike The Wall Street Journal's tester ...

TheTruthAboutCars.com: The new turbocharged EcoBoost engine improves the Ford Flex's acceleration, which is the only real problem Jack Baruth has ...

CNET: The Ford Flex EcoBoost earns an Editors' Choice award at CNET, thanks to its powerful, efficient turbocharged engine and ...

Canadian Driver: In its Bring It On! Series, CanadianDriver.com tests vehicles' winter driving capabilities. Ottawa gets less snow than usual ...

Autoblog.com: Dan Roth calls the Ford Flex EcoBoost "the ideal car" for hauling a family and all the accompanying stuff. He likes the clean, ...

Cars.com: For the second straight year, the Ford Flex is Cars.com's pick for 2010 Family Car of the Year. As at Edmunds Inside Line, ...

Automobile Magazine: Another repeat victory here; Automobile Magazine names the Ford Flex one of its Automobile All-Stars for the second straight ...

SaferCar.gov: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash tests 2010 vehicles and posts the results here. The Ford Flex earns ...

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety classifies the Ford Flex as a midsize SUV and ranks it against other vehicles in ...

FuelEconomy.gov: The Environmental Protection Agency classifies the Ford Flex as an SUV. This chart includes federal fuel-economy estimates for ...

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Budget boxy wagon

2010 Kia Soul

Base MSRP: $13,300 to $17,195 Learn More

The 2010 Kia Soul is the least expensive wagon you can buy, and its dancing-hamster commercials aim this squared-off wagon at young buyers. But experts say the Soul is no gimmick; it's roomy, safe and, at 28 mpg combined,… more fuel-efficient than the original boxy wagon, the 2010 Scion xB (Base MSRP: $15,850 to $18,320). The Soul also carries the longest warranty of any wagon (five years/60,000 miles, with 10 years/100,000 miles for the powertrain), and experts say Kia vehicles have shown good reliability of late. For even better fuel economy, experts point to the class-leading, 34-mpg, diesel-powered 2010 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI (Base MSRP: $24,615). However, neither of these wagons offers all-wheel drive like the 2010 Subaru Outback (Base MSRP: $22,995 to $30,995).

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org ranks the Kia Soul alongside other wagons and hatchbacks. Wagons are ranked from best to worst, based on ...

Motor Trend: College-student testers unanimously prefer the Kia Soul in this comparo, mostly thanks to its styling. But Motor Trend experts ...

PopularMechanics.com: The Kia Soul wins this comparo, its 31.2 mpg combined fuel economy easily besting the Scion xB's 28.6 mpg and edging out the ...

TheTruthAboutCars.com: The Kia Soul isn't as quirky or smooth-driving as the Nissan Cube, this review concludes. Still, it's functional and ...

ConsumerGuide.com: ConsumerGuide.com names the 2010 Scion xB and Nissan Cube Best Buys -- but not the Kia Soul. They're all "quirky" and "hip," ...

Cars.com: Cars.com names the Kia Soul the best new hatchback of 2010. It's just as safe in crash tests as the pricier Scion xB, costs ...

Edmunds.com: It's less gimmicky than the Nissan Cube and more fuel-efficient than the Scion xB, which makes the Kia Soul "definitely worth ...

CNET: Loaded with music and phone goodies, the Kia Soul distracts shoppers from the fact that it's "unimpressive to drive." Reviewer ...

The New York Times: The Kia Soul proves a teenager magnet at Jerry Garrett's daughter's high school. Garrett appreciates the loads of passenger ...

Autoblog.com: Reviewer Dan Roth likes the Soul, saying, "Its styling is all but universally praised, its price of entry is eminently ...

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: This chart ranks 28 small cars (including small wagons and hatchbacks) from best to worst based on crash tests. The Kia Soul ...

SaferCar.gov: Like most wagons, the Kia Soul performs well in government crash tests, earning a perfect 5 stars for frontal and side-driver ...

FuelEconomy.gov: The Kia Soul's 26 mpg city/31 mpg highway/28 combined fuel economy makes it one of the most efficient wagons, this chart ...

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Most fuel-efficient station wagon

2010 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI

Base MSRP: $24,615 Learn More

No other wagon comes close to matching the diesel 2010 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI's fuel economy. Expect 34 mpg overall (30 mpg city/41 mpg highway), which is good enough to qualify for a $1,300 federal tax credit.… Experts also appreciate the Jetta SportWagen TDI's strong crash ratings and refined, solid feel. Despite its compact footprint, the VW Jetta SportWagen TDI boasts a full-size cargo bay nearly as big as the one in the 2010 Subaru Outback (Base MSRP: $22,995 to $30,995), but backseat legroom in the SportWagen can be a bit tight for tall adults. The 2010 Kia Soul (Base MSRP: $13,300 to $17,195) offers a bigger backseat at a lower price, but with less cargo space and fuel economy (28 mpg) than the Jetta SportWagen TDI.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Edmunds.com: Edmunds.com notes all 2010 changes to the Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI, evaluating it alongside other Jetta models in this ...

SaferCar.gov: This National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website posts government crash-test scores for most 2010 vehicles. The ...

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: All 2010 Volkswagen Jetta sedan and wagon models qualify as Top Safety Picks, earning the highest rating of Good in all types ...

FuelEconomy.gov: The Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI ties with the similar Audi A3 TDI as the most fuel-efficient station wagon you can buy, ...

SaferCar.gov: Some 2009 and 2010 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI models with the twin-clutch direct shift gearbox (DSG) have been recalled, ...

ConsumerSearch.com: The 2010 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI is basically the same as the 2009 version. That model is covered in this detailed ...

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