The Wagon By Any Name—Avant, Estate, Station—Gives Us So Much To Love
Loving wagons can be hard. It’s a type of car that, despite having loyal fans, doesn’t exactly have a large following. Even car manufacturers seem uncommitted about offering a wagon in their lineup. These days, a handful of carmakers with wagons include Mercedes-Benz, Subaru, Audi, BMW, and Volvo.
The European car companies go back and forth with performance versions or high-ground-clearance versions of their wagons, and interestingly enough, these seem to appeal to enthusiasts and men the most. But I love a wagon. And I love them in all their iterations. I was lucky enough to drive two at Heels & Wheels, an event for female automotive journalists, this past September.
This story was 100% human researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks. No AI was used. Additionally, I was a guest at Heels & Wheels, but all opinions are my own.
The Volvo V90 Cross Country: A Most Elegant Wagon
I could not have been happier to get behind the wheel of the 2024 Volvo V90 Cross Country. It has been way too long since I’ve driven one, and I instantly remembered why it’s been a favorite of mine for a long time. When I first became a parent over 20 years ago, the Volvo Cross Country was a coveted family-mobile for good reason. A wagon with some ground clearance is a great alternative to an SUV. It’s sleek, it’s sinewy. It has very little bulk. It has great safety ratings. And yes, they faded from our consciousness during the time my kids grew up; but with the resurgence of turntables and vinyl, I’m hoping that wagons come back, too. In fact, a wagon could be the perfect empty-nesting car for me.
The V90 Cross Country has a 2-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine. When accelerating, there is very little turbo lag, the wagon gets up and goes almost instantly. It’s paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The Volvo wagon is such a perfect city car, especially if you live in an area that gets inclement weather or if you like to take road trips. It’s nimble and fun to drive. What’s not to love?
Video: How does the Volvo V90 Compare to the Volvo EX90? Tour the EX90 with us!
The Elegance Continues Inside the Volvo V90
The V90 is beautiful outside and in. The exterior is athletic and lean. It’s got just the right amount of chrome. The sparkle continues inside with a crystal gear shift located on the center console. Tech is at the forefront with a 9-inch touchscreen display, but its vertical orientation looks sophisticated and interesting. There is a 12-inch digital driver’s display that makes the interior look balanced. It’s easy to read. The leather seats are soft to the touch but supportive and would be so nice over long distances. In fact, the V90’s seats have been lauded as some of the best in the business. I agree.
The quiet interior and zen-like placement of all buttons, cupholders, and gauges made the V90 so relaxing to be in. The sound system was crisp and clean sounding. The price of the V90 Cross Country as I tested it was $72,995 and I can only hope to spend more time in this gem of a wagon soon.
Built For Speed: The Audi RS6 Avant Sport Wagon
Remember I mentioned carmakers sometimes produce performance wagons? Audi makes one called the RS6 Avant and I have to be transparent: I’ve always wanted an Audi Avant (Avant is wagon in Audi lingo) and this car may have reignited that longing. To still be transparent, the RS 6 Avant I tested was $144,040, so there aren’t any compromises in this car. And also, I may still be left wanting the RS 6 Avant until I track down some extra dough.
Read: How the Audi Q7 and Q8 are Alike and Different, Plus a Few New Details for 2025
The Distinctive Shape of a Wagon Sets It Apart
The RS 6 Avant looks distinctive, it is fun to drive something that has so much character. The giant wheels with smoked-out spokes looked so dang good and brought out all the angles on the Avant. The car is literally sharp, with hood creases and a rear spoiler. The creased belt line along the side of the RS 6 Avant just screamed speed.
The Modern Wagon Shape Is More “Speed” Than “Station”
And the Avant fulfilled every expectation. The RS 6 Avant has a twin-turbocharged V8, and for 2024 produces an eye-watering 621 horsepower. The Avant will go from 0-60 in 2.9 seconds. You read that right. So the car will get up and go like few other cars on the road. And unlike sports cars that get that same kind of speed, you can also take it to get groceries, or go skiing, or just plain life your life in it.
Read: Is the Volvo V90 Station Wagon the World’s Most Perfect Car?
The Audi RS 6 Avant Wagon Puts Power In Your Hands
I absolutely loved the acceleration, of course. Additionally, the Avant stuck to the road like nobody’s business. The braking was crisp and sharp without being overly grabby; it definitely added to the driving experience. I loved the visibility out of the RS 6 Avant, too.
The Cargo Space, but Not the Heft, of an SUV
It helps that the cargo space in the RS 6 Avant is deep with 30 cubic feet of capacity behind the back seat. And because it’s a wagon, you can pile things up a bit more than in a sedan. It’s also got a power liftgate and seating for three in the back seat.
Audi’s Screens Keep You Focused and Highly Functioning
There are a ton of screens in the RS 6 Avant. There is a lot of information to take in if you so choose. There is a 12.3-inch driver information display that will tell you everything from your speed and rpms to navigation and what station is on the satellite radio. Then, in the center of the dash are two more screens. The top one is the multimedia display and the bottom one handles climate control. In the back seat, passengers can control their climate via a screen too.
Exceptional Wagons Are Fitted With Exceptional Interiors
Speaking of seating, the seats in the RS 6 Avant are beautiful. They have a cool quilted pattern in the leather, and the back seat seats three people. And herein lies the conundrum, perhaps, of the wagon: Only five people allowed. So if you wanted to carry all your kids and their friends around, you’d have to make some different choices than a wagon.
It’s OK To Forgo a 3rd Row
That said, lots of people opt for two-row SUVs despite not having a third row. I had a two-row SUV during the time I was raising kids and alternately had days I was okay with not having the capacity of a school bus. It was also a hassle at times not to be able to seat more people.
The Car, Elevated: A Wagon Delivers So Much More
Fundamentally, most cars don’t do all the things you want them to do all of the time. For most people, a wagon will fit the bill beautifully the majority of the time. Wagons, Avants, Estates, whatever you call them, continue to hang around because they’re really freaking great. Like your copy of Fleetwood Mac’s Rumors playing on your turntable, wagons are iconic and deserve your love, respect, and consideration.
Categorized:Car Culture