Your Guide to Wagon Cars

A wagon is a vehicle style that is longer relative to its height and featuring an elongated roofline to offer greater cargo capacity than the sedan on which it is typically based.

While a wagon – also known as a station wagon or an estate – prioritises space for luggage, lifestyle accessories or other types of cargo, it can still carry the same number of occupants as its sedan relative.

An upward-swinging tailgate – powered tailgates are becoming increasingly common – provides convenient access to the cargo area, further emphasising a wagon’s greater versatility compared with a sedan. Wagons are available with front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, while some variants – such as Volvo’s V60 model – feature higher suspension and protective body trim to allow greater opportunities for travelling on unsealed roads.

Plenty of people still love the wagon for its combination of versatility and car-like experience – especially handling that benefits from a lower centre of gravity.