Station wagons are very popular among those who value interior space, large luggage compartment volume and wide operating capabilities. Modern representatives of this segment are perfect not only for commercial purposes, but also for daily movement around the city, so such models should not be neglected. But is it possible to buy a decent station wagon for reasonable money? Our rating contains the best specimens, the cost of which starts from 500,000 rubles, but does not exceed 990,000 rubles.
What is a Station Wagon and how does it differ from a Sedan and a Hatchback?
A station wagon is a type of car body that is maximally oriented towards combining the functions of a passenger vehicle and a light truck. Usually created on the basis of a sedan, making maximum use of all its parts and components.
It was this unification that determined the differences between station wagons and hatchbacks. The former retain a long rear overhang, which is completely unusual for hatches. At the same time, the cars have the same rear luggage compartment door, but it leads to a body compartment of a completely different volume.
Here, the needs of buyers are no longer limited to transporting a couple of suitcases, but claim serious cargo of large dimensions.
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Otherwise, the cars are similar, they have an odd number of doors, unlike sedans, developed interior transformation capabilities, and also approximately the same disadvantages.
There are no fundamental generic differences, except for the mentioned overall length, with a hatchback in the cargo-passenger body, but we can highlight some features that are characteristic of most cars.
Naturally, manufacturers do not make cars that are identical in outline; there are models that are immediately difficult to clearly classify into one category or another, but the basic signs exist:
- the rear parts of hatchbacks are usually better designed by designers; there is no clear focus on the body for maximum capacity;
- sports station wagons are much less common than “hot” loaded hatches;
- universal cars are not compact, which is important for urban use;
- these classes have incomparable production volumes, station wagons are not so widely in demand;
- If a hatchback is usually a largely independent structure, then a station wagon is most often formed from a sedan by simply replacing the trunk lid and rear pillar structure with a glass frame with a voluminous superstructure.
In inexpensive model lines, almost everything, including geometric dimensions, chassis elements, and sometimes even rear optics, is taken from the sedan. This simplifies development and production, but creates certain disadvantages, which will be discussed below.
Characteristics and advantages of a station wagon
Today, most often a station wagon is a “derivative” of a sedan, with a large trunk volume and a fifth door. Mass production factories most often produce a sedan first, and after a short period of time a station wagon comes off the assembly line. A modern “barn” most often has five doors (by the way, in North America the fifth door is not recognized), less often it is a three-door station wagon. An integral accessory of the station wagon is the “stretched” roof rails, emphasizing its length.
A station wagon differs from a hatchback in the long rear part of the car; often the length of a sedan and a station wagon are the same, but sometimes the “universal” body is a little longer. It is by this characteristic feature that one can distinguish a liftback from a station wagon; even in a liftback, the rear door is located at a sharper angle. The station wagon roof is longer, it smoothly flows into the fifth door, most often the car interior is combined with the luggage compartment.
Typically, the seats in such a body can be transformed into a flat floor; this is done for the convenience of transporting long or bulky cargo. This transformation of the interior makes it possible for two adults to comfortably spend the night. The free space with this seat position significantly exceeds 1000 liters!
Skoda Superb station wagon
Increasingly, station wagons are made with increased load capacity, usually by 100-250 kg. Cars of the same series, the same year, in different bodies may have different suspension. Many craftsmen prefer to install reinforced parts on their sedan in order to use it “to the fullest.”
Fans of this body model know a lot of subtleties, for example, an avid fan of a station wagon will never buy a car with a threshold (when, when the rear door is open, the trunk floor flows into a protruding threshold), this is not practical for a station wagon. There are many models with a separately opening rear window (when the rear door is closed and only the window can be opened).
In fact, there are a huge number of variations of this body, from double doors to a sliding automatic threshold.
Unusual station wagon from Aston Martin
Increasingly, station wagons began to be purchased as family cars, because you can sit in this roomy body with the whole family and go on a long journey, taking with you a lot of necessary things. Yes, you really don’t have to limit yourself in anything, worry that things won’t fit into the trunk and you’ll have to be cramped in the cabin.
Today every brand has this body type. Every year the popularity of station wagons is gaining momentum. They are not only more practical than sedans, but also look more aesthetically pleasing and sophisticated. Now this is no longer the car that resembles a “work shed”, now it is an SW (Sport Wagon) from which it is simply impossible to take your eyes off.
Peugeot 508 Sport Wagon 2019
It should also be noted that station wagons are highly valued on the secondary market. Selling a “car” in decent condition will not be difficult.
What are the station wagon body types?
Utility bodies were created in different directions, focusing on maximum internal volume, comfort, design or sportiness. Therefore, several separate categories were identified within the class.
- A traditional station wagon, a car with a large, pronounced rear overhang, developed “aquarium” type glazing, a clear two-volume body, and an almost vertically located rear door.
In such models, not only lifting trunk lids can be used, but also double-leaf doors of vertical or horizontal orientation.
What does a station wagon look like?
Most automakers, when creating a new model range, use one wheelbase (the distance between the axles of the wheels), on which they install different body types: station wagon, coupe, hatchback, liftback and sedan. The station wagon type is most often the longest version on this list.
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The car can be easily distinguished by its long roof, which always ends in a large door that opens upward. On the sides, most models have two doors on each side. Sometimes there are three-door versions (two on the sides and one on the trunk side). It is rare to see models whose trunk lid is divided into two parts that open sideways rather than upwards.
Some American station wagon models have a split rear door, one part of which opens up and the other opens down. This modification allows you to transport long loads without the need to secure the trunk lid. In such cars the sash is not glazed.
The rear door can be vertical. In this design, the machine is very practical, because it will be possible to transport large loads with right angles. This could be a washing machine, refrigerator, things packed in cardboard boxes. Sometimes drivers use such a car to transport things whose dimensions are larger than the volume of the trunk. In this case, while driving, a large amount of dust and exhaust gases enter the cabin.
There are modifications with the rear deck installed at an angle. Manufacturers create such cars not only for the sake of presentable appearance. The aerodynamic properties of such cars are higher than classic station wagons with a rectangular trunk shape.
Pros and cons of an extended car body
The advantages and disadvantages of semi-trucks stem from their origins and the compromises made in the layout.
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Pros:
- the ability to accommodate large cargo of small weight; the suspension, although slightly strengthened, is not very different in terms of load capacity from other passenger chassis;
- unlike pickup trucks, the cargo is protected from weather and crime;
- transformation of the interior makes it possible to focus the same car both on the transportation of passengers, including with an additional row of seats, and on the full use of cargo volume;
- passenger suspensions provide acceptable comfort;
- for family use, you can have one car for all occasions, up to the purchase of all-wheel drive all-terrain station wagons;
- the ability to aerodynamically design a long, two-volume body makes it possible to build a spacious car with low fuel consumption;
- Wide unification with mass-produced sedans ensures low cost.
Minuses:
- significant size creates inconvenience for urban use;
- placing people and cargo in the same volume reduces comfort and complicates the operation of the climate system;
- large rear overhang reduces cross-country ability;
- when the rear door is installed almost vertically, the glass located in it is constantly dirty;
- station wagons are not so prestigious, which has caused them to be replaced by crossovers and SUVs;
- difficulties in combining a large internal volume with external design and aerodynamics, something has to be sacrificed.
A modern station wagon is a niche car with its own circle of fans; despite the competition, there is no need yet to fear its complete displacement from model lines.
Shapes and dimensions
For the first time, cars of this type were produced in America by the middle of the 20th century. However, the body received this name in the CIS countries.
The station wagon is radically different from the familiar sedan. This is expressed in the shape of the trunk, combined with the car’s interior, and in the presence of an additional door that provides access to the trunk. A universal body is usually equipped with five doors, much less often there are only three. To separate the cargo compartment from passengers, today it is practiced to install a mesh between the trunk and the passenger compartment. This element also helps avoid injury to passengers during an accident.
There are station wagons that have a sloping roof, like a hatchback. However, they are distinguished from their comrade by a much longer rear overhang. Modern cars with this type of body are capable of transforming the rear part, allowing for an increase in the trunk. Such cars, depending on the model and classification, are equipped with two, three, and sometimes four rows of seats. The latter option applies to American models that have the body of a full-size sedan, as well as cargo chassis.
Cars equipped with a 65 station wagon body are equipped with a side-opening or lifting rear door. Some of the models, mainly from North American manufacturers, are equipped with a rear door in the form of flaps that open independently, where the upper one is always longer than the lower one. Among domestic cars with a similar body type, you can also find the GAZ-22.
The rarest variety is the one in which the upper part of the rear door is equipped with a window. If necessary, such a door can be completely removed inside. This design dates back to the 50-70s of the last century, and it was combined mainly with the hardtop station wagon top produced in America.
Full-size station wagons produced in the 70s have a completely unique rear door opening option. Their lower part, by means of an electric drive, went into the floor, and the glass from above was pressed inside the roof. The roof of a car with a station wagon body can be raised at the rear, which significantly increases the volume of the trunk.
Models with fixed windows in the rear are called vans. Americans call such cars “delivery sedans,” and small vans with a minibus base are called “vans.”
The most affordable station wagons on the Russian market
Affordability is the most important feature of a car when it comes to such practical cars.
Lada Granta
Available in four body types, including a station wagon, where the rear part is borrowed from Kalina. Prices start at approximately 500 thousand rubles, the exact figures depend on the configuration and the abundance of promotions and special offers.
Lada Largus
In fact, this is a Renault Logan with a body of increased capacity, that is, a foreign car. A very popular car, comfortable, reliable, with huge internal volume, is in great demand. Prices – from 620 thousand.
