Station Wagons Reviews

The reviews below are assigned ratings by ConsumerSearch. These ratings are based on credibility in testing, evaluating and identifying the best Station Wagons. See our ratings criteria

For recommendations of best Station Wagons, see our Fast Answers page, which summarizes what these reviews say. A longer summary and analysis appears in our Full Story report for Station Wagons. Our Where to Buy page contains information on retailers and Station Wagons prices.

Where to Buy

Fast Answers

Full Story

All Reviews

Station Wagons Reviews Reviewed
Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Station Wagons Ratings Comments on Reviews
1. Consumer Reports >> Details/Subscribe	Wagons and Hatchback reviews Editors of Consumer Reports Not Dated		Consumer Reports road tests most new cars, including station wagons. Cars with the highest ratings are endorsed by editors. Consumer Reports buys cars from dealerships anonymously, performs its own road tests and does not advertise for any car companies. Because Consumer Reports is a subscription site, we can't disclose their picks. Editors include wagons and hatchbacks in the same category.

Station Wagons Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Station Wagons Ratings Comments on Reviews

2. Consumer Guide.com	Consumer Guide's Best Buys and Recommendations for 2008 Editors of ConsumerGuide.com� Not Dated		Consumer Guide is an excellent source for pricing and options information, and editors also include road test results that concisely explain each car's numeric scores. Consumer Guide doesn't have a specific category for station wagons, but a number of vehicles that receive the "best buy� or "recommended� designations are available as wagons.
3. KBB.com	Recommended Shopping List: Hatchbacks/Wagons Editors of KBB.com Not Dated		KBB.com, the online home of Kelley Blue Book, offers reviews and automotive recommendations in addition to pricing info. Instead of choosing one vehicle as the best, five top picks are listed in a variety of classes, including wagons and hatchbacks. Links lead to the full review for each car. Critical reviews are based on hands-on testing, along with analysis of features, options and other details. Reviews mention 2007 models, but recommendations have been updated within the past nine months; one of KBB's picks from spring 2007, the Volkswagen Passat, has been dropped.
4. National Motorists Association/The Car Family	The Car Family Reviews Editors of Motorists.org As of Jan. 2008		The National Motorist Association is an organization that attempts to represent the North American driving public in terms of debating traffic-based legislation and the like. Its website is home to a number of automotive columns, including submissions from "The Car Family," in which several family members offer reviews from differing points of view. Several wagons get a mention in the Sept. 2007 article "Best New Cars for 2008� and in the May 2007 article "Best Cars under $15,000.� Model-specific reviews give good marks to the Saab SportCombi wagon and the Scion xB.
5. CarCritic.com >> Details/Subscribe	New car reviews Don Vorderman As of Dec. 2008		This website approaches reviews a bit differently. Rather than providing a detailed report, each one-page write-up focuses on the most salient details like reliability and owner satisfaction. When a wagon doesn't make the grade, CarCritic.com offers suggestions of better alternatives. All of the 2008 wagons are reviewed.
6. Business Week >> Details/Subscribe	Best Wagons Editors of BusinessWeek.com June 2007		In its June 2007 report on Best Wagons, BusinessWeek picks one top wagon for each of ten categories � Best Cargo Room, Safest and so forth. Descriptions of each wagon are brief, but this list provides a good jumping-off point for shoppers looking for a specific attribute in a wagon.
7. Automobile Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	2008 Wagon Reviews Editors of Automobile Magazine Not Dated		Automobile Magazine tests 2008 cars and gives a concise write-up for each top pick. In the site's "Awards� section, one car offered as a wagon � the BMW 3-Series � makes the 2008 Automobile All-Stars list. Runners-up get their own section, where editors lobby for why their pet choice should have made the list. Reviewers are knowledgeable, and reviews are packed with interesting details about each car.
8. Car and Driver >> Details/Subscribe	Station Wagon Car Reviews Editors of Car and Driver Not dated		Although testers at Car and Driver magazine haven't reviewed the 2008 models of many wagons, most wagons on the market do get a review in either their 2007 or 2006 incarnations. Reviewers list the highs and lows of each wagon, and rate each on a scale of one to ten for "enthusiast rating� (driving pleasure) and "consumer appeal� (practical considerations) -- neither of which takes price into account. Among 2008 wagons tested, the souped-up Dodge Magnum SRT8 scores the highest. One of Car and Driver's 2008 10Best Cars � the BMW 3-Series � is available as a wagon.
9. Edmunds.com	2208 Edmunds' Inside Line Editors' Most Wanted Awards Scott Oldham Jan. 6, 2008		Edmunds.com reviews pretty much every car on the market. For their annual "Most Wanted" feature, Edmunds' 13 editors try to agree on their top cars for 2008. This year, no wagons are on the list, and since there is no specific category for wagons elsewhere on the site, reviews here are harder to find. Still, write-ups are based on hands-on road tests.

Station Wagons Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Station Wagons Ratings Comments on Reviews

10. IFCAR.net	IFCAR's Picks for Best-In-Class Editors of IFCAR.net Not Dated		Editors at IFCAR, the Institute for Consumer Automotive Research, have delivered a guide to what they consider to be the best in class for the 2007 model year. More recent single-model reviews show some of these 2007 picks are no longer recommended, so the site would be more useful if the entire list were updated. An impressive number of wagons are mentioned. The segment is split into four sections: compact, mid-size, entry-lux and luxury wagons. Picks are based on hands-on testing, and most wagons get a full write-up.
11. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety	Top Safety Picks 2008 Staff of IIHS Not Dated		The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is a non-profit organization focused on minimizing injuries, property damage and other losses due to vehicular accidents. Unfortunately, there is no station wagon category for crash-test results, but the Audi A3, A4 and A6 and the Saab 9-3 are all awarded the status of Top Safety Pick by the IIHS, and all are available as wagons.
12. FuelEconomy.gov	2008 Most and Least Fuel Efficient Vehicles Environmental Protection Agency Not Dated		FuelEconomy.gov is the place to find EPA estimates on fuel economy for any given car. In addition to simply listing the vehicles, the site also provides a single page where users can look at the most and least fuel-efficient vehicles in any class. The most fuel-efficient midsized wagon is the Volkswagen Passat (the Honda Fit, covered in our report on economy cars, tops the small wagon/hatchback category). The least efficient small wagon is the Audi S4 Avant, and the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG is the least efficient midsized wagon. No other criteria are included.
13. Kiplinger Personal Finance >> Details/Subscribe	The Best of the 2007 Cars Mark Solheim Dec. 2006		Kiplinger magazine makes annual picks based on long-term reliability and costs, along with performance and crash-test results. Editors don't write long, detailed reviews. Write-ups are short and to the point. But we appreciate the focus on practicality. Awards are given for best overall, most fuel efficient, best for safety, etc. However, we haven't seen a best-car feature from this magazine for the 2008 model year.
14. IntelliChoice.com	Best Overall Values of the Year Editors of IntelliChoice Not Dated		For the past 21 years, IntelliChoice has been giving selected vehicles Best Overall Value of the Year awards, in terms of initial pricing as well as ownership costs. A 2008 update is not offered, but two station wagons win the award for 2007: the Subaru Outback in the "Midsize/Large Wagon" category, and the Toyota Matrix in the "Small Wagon" category. This report doesn't include a lot of other evaluations, but since few editors focus on value and cost of ownership, this review is helpful.
15. U.S. News & World Report	U.S. News Car & Truck Rankings Editors of USNews.com As of Jan. 2008		U.S. News and World Report has collected other publications' reviews of wagons and translated them into numeric scores for several 2008 models. Editors don't perform their own testing, and often, there isn't a clear delineation between 2007 and 2008 model years. Six wagons are chosen as top-rated here. While the individual write-ups are helpful, editors don't try to compare and contrast station wagons.
16. BuyingAdvice.com	5 Most Reliable Sedans and Station Wagons (Family) Editors of BuyingAdvice.com Apr. 30, 2007		One wagon offered for 2008, the Subaru Outback, makes this site's list of most reliable sedans and wagons. It is not clear how the specific numeric scores were reached, although the site lists experienced automotive journalists as contributing writers and says it elicits online surveys from car owners. Write-ups are brief.
17. JDPower.com	Car reviews Editors of JDPower.com Not Dated		J.D. Power and Associates says it bases its ratings on feedback from product owners -- the result of massive owner-satisfaction surveys. Consumers can search by car type for top performers in three categories: quality, dependability and performance and design. There is no wagon category � instead, wagons are sprinkled throughout other categories. When cars' numeric scores are low, the written review sometimes fails to explain why. JD Power's site is very helpful when searching for scores on specific cars, but less useful if you haven't narrowed down your choice.
18. MSN Autos	New Car Reviews Ann Job and Dan Jedlicka Not Dated		Longtime automotive journalists Ann Job and Dan Jedlicka write in-depth expert reviews of each car, topping each review with a list of pros and cons, a "bottom line� statement and a numeric rating. In addition, Consumer Reports' overall score and snapshot review of the car is displayed alongside for most reviews. The BMW 5-Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class score highest among cars offered as wagons. Some of the reviews are dated; Job hasn't reviewed the BMW 5-Series since 2004, for example. A tab on each car's review leads to a section for user reviews, with an average user rating. This is a good package of different types of reviews; if more models were up-to-date, it would be even better.
19. Motor Week >> Details/Subscribe	Road Test Search Editors of MotorWeek.com As of Jan. 2008		MotorWeek, PBS's auto program, tends to test cars that are new models � or newly overhauled by automakers. You can search for reviews by make and model. Two wagons that saw major changes for 2008 have been tested: the Volvo XC70 and Scion xB. Several reviews for 2007 or even 2006 models can still give you a good sense of the car, provided it hasn't changed much. The reviews are thorough, and they include practical information such as how well a wagon gripped when they tested it on slick roads. But some the old reviews you'll find on MotorWeek's site don't reflect problems that have since cropped up in certain cars.
20. MotherProof.com	Latest Wagon/Hatchback Reviews Editors of MotherProof.com As of Jan. 2008		Kristin Varela, a mother of two, founded this site in 2004 when she couldn't find the information she needed in other car reviews, such as, "How do booster seats fit?" or "Do kids have a hard time with the seat belts in this car?" and "Do the close-to-the-seats doors continually slam little fingers?" MotherProof.com's "mom-testers� don't rank station wagons, and none have been tested in their 2008 incarnations. But consumers with families will find kid-centric information here they probably won't find anywhere else. The site is now affiliated with Cars.com.
21. New Car Test Drive	Best Cars for the Commute Editors of NewCarTestDrive.com Not Dated		Veteran automotive journalists are asked to recommend the best cars for commuters, and one of the ten picks is a wagon: the Suzuki SX4. This site also offers thorough single-car reviews of several 2008 wagons.
22. Road & Track >> Details/Subscribe	Buyer's Guide Editors of Road & Track Not Dated		Reviewers at Road & Track magazine say they don't bother with the "reliable wheeled device for runs to the grocery store,� and you won't find any wagons on their lists of top cars. But you can search their Buyer's Guide by make and model, turning up capsule reviews of some station wagons. Reviews are heavy on engine information, but they also include "What's Hot� and "What's Not� about the cars, prices and a list of specs such as luggage capacity and fuel economy.
23. GreenerCars.com	The Best of 2007 Staff of GreenerCars.org Not Dated		GreenerCars.org is just what it sounds like: an environmentally friendly site that focuses on cars with the lowest levels of emissions, highest fuel efficiencies, etc. The site has gathered together the vehicles that have the highest "green scores" and put them on a single page for easy browsing. The greenest small wagon (a hatchback) is the Honda Fit, which is covered in our report on economy cars. The site's mid-size wagon pick, the Ford Focus wagon, has been discontinued for 2008. This website has interesting information on environmental issues.

Station Wagons Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Station Wagons Ratings Comments on Reviews

24. About.com	Your Guide to Cars Aaron Gold Not Dated		Readers will find several wagons interspersed through About.com's "Top 10� lists: Top 10 Fuel-Efficient Cars, Top 10 Small Cars You Can Live With, Top 10 Cars for Women, for Moms, for Dads, for Students. One car offered as a wagon � the Suzuki SX4 � is named among the Best New Cars of 2007. The articles here are jumbled -- for example, there are three different lists of the most fuel-efficient cars -- and nowhere are cars compared. In addition, Editor Aaron Gold doesn't use model years, so readers don't know which specific years are being discussed.
25. AutoWeb.Com	Wagon Car Reviews and Ratings Editors of Autoweb.com Not dated		Car reviews here are grouped into classes, but the dozen or so entries in the "wagon� section are often dated � some dating to 2005. Still, reviews are thorough and well-written by knowledgeable automotive journalists who have tested the cars. The reviews don't directly compare or rank the cars, but a reader interested in a certain model can get a good feel for it by reading these reviews.
26. Splise	Most Popular Wagon Editors of Splise.com Not Dated		Splise.com doesn't beat around the bush: instead of offering up a wordy review, they go the minimalist route. Splise.com's wagon list simply lists the most popular vehicles in order. It's not the most informative site on the Internet, but it is nice for a quick reference.
27. CarzUnlimited.com	Car reviews Editors of CarzUnlimited.com As of Jan. 2008		No wagons make this site's Top 10, a list full of luxury SUVs and sports cars. But several 2008 wagons get single-car reviews, with pros and cons listed for each. Reviewers briefly explain the high and low points of the cars' interiors, exteriors, mechanics and safety.
28. TheCarConnection.Com	SUVs/Wagons Editors of TheCarConnection.com As of Jan. 2008		Reviewers here haven't tested many 2008 wagons, instead listing updates manufacturers have made for each 2008 model and linking to more thorough reviews from prior years. Wagons are not ranked or directly compared with each other.
29. The Washington Post	Cars � Experts & Advice Warren Brown As of Jan. 2008		The Washington Post's auto reviewer, Warren Brown, provides in-depth single-car reviews. The Audi A6 Avant gets very high marks and is deemed a favorite for "road trips." While the tested cars aren't ranked in their class, the reviews are based on hands-on real-world tests on city streets, with kids in tow, so the reviews are fun and insightful to read. Not many 2008 wagons have been tested so far.
30. The Detroit News	Auto Reviews Editors of The Detroit news As of Jan. 2008		The Detroit newspaper collects its own 2008 model reviews, along with reviews from the Washington Post, L.A. Times and other newspapers, into one place. A few 2008 wagons are covered. None seem to be recommended strongly over the others, although some are obviously liked better than others. Like the US News website, this one is better at finding reviews than analyzing them.
31. The New York Times >> Details/Subscribe	Autos Lawrence Ulrich and others As of Jan. 2008		The New York Times doesn't recommend any wagon over the others, but its single-car reviews of several wagons give a good overview of the good and bad points of each, and hands-on tests involve real driving challenges instead of measurements on a track. Not many wagons are reviewed, but a recent positive evaluation of the Volvo XC70 luxury wagon focuses on its safety and new off-road features.
32. The Wall Street Journal >> Details/Subscribe	A Hit Makeover � and a Miss Jeff Sabatini July 13, 2007		According to reviewer Jeff Sabatini, the 2008 redesign of the Scion xB didn't improve it much. In fact, he says, it killed things � the low price, the super-boxy design � that earned it its cult following in the first place.
33. TheAutoChannel.com	Car Reviews Editors of TheAutoChannel.com Not Dated		This site doesn't name any wagons as the best, although it does link to reviews from other sources � largely Edmunds.com � so that it has a review to offer for just about every model on the market.
34. AutoWeek	Car reviews and road tests Editors of Autoweek.com As of Jan. 2008		These single-car reviews are not grouped into classes, and cars aren't ranked. A few 2008 wagons are scattered among the reviews, but many of the reviews are brief.

Station Wagons Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Station Wagons Ratings Comments on Reviews

35. ForbesAutos.com	Car Buyer's Guide: Wagons Bengt Halvorson Sept. 2006		This review gives a lot of information on the evolution of station wagons, along with what users can expect to find on the market currently. The only recommended station wagon is the Mercedes-Benz R63 AMG, an $87,400 vehicle that was discontinued for 2008. This review might rank more highly if other wagons were covered.
36. Road and Travel.com >> Details/Subscribe	2008 New Car Reviews Editors of Road & Travel Not Dated		This site includes a couple of wagon reviews, written by writers who have test-driven the vehicles. Reviews do provide an outline the cars' features, but the reviewers seem to like every car they test, making it difficult to determine which cars are better buys.
37. Epinions	Wagon reviews Contributors to Epinions.com As of Jan. 2008		Car reviews, contributed by consumers, are organized by class. Epinions lists 63 cars it considers wagons � all 2007 models � but few have collected more than a handful of reviews. The Scion xB has the highest score with five stars, but with only four consumers weighing in.