Times Five
The humble station wagon has largely fallen victim to the rise of SUVs. That’s strange, because they are far cooler than SUVs, argues Damien O’Carroll. Here are some of our favourites.
Cupra Leon Sportstourer
Yes, the Skoda Octavia RS is very cool (and a good wagon option), but let’s face it – more obscure is cooler, which makes Seat’s hot wagon on the same platform extremely cool indeed.
Not quite here yet, the Seat Leon Sportstourer will arrive in New Zealand in VZ guise packing a 228kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo four driving all four wheels. It will scamper to the open road speed limit from a standing start in just 4.9 seconds and, well, just look at it!
It is expected to land here in July, and will cost $65,900.
Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo
Of all the Porsche wagons, the GTS is the perfect mid-life crisis car. The GTS packs Porsche’s mighty 353kW/620Nm 4.0-litre turbo V8 driving all four wheels, but with a strong rear wheel bias. And it is one of the sexiest things on wheels.
It will reach 100kmh in just 3.9 seconds, rip up a winding road like a supercar, and ride in superb comfort when don’t want thrills. But it does thrills too. The Sport Turismo range starts at $205,400 for the Panamera 4, topping out with the GTS at $280,600. For now.
Audi RS 4 Avant
You can’t have a list of cool wagons without the RS 4.
The RS 4 is what springs to mind for many when you say ‘‘fast wagon’’, and for good reason – it’s not just brutally fast, it is also one of the most iconic Audis.
Some might hold the RS 6 in higher regard, but the bigger car has increasingly become a superfast grand tourer recently, while the 331kW/600Nm RS4 is small enough to retain an almost sportscar like agility.
For $153,500 it offers massive bang-for-your-buck appeal.
BMW M340i Touring
Although BMW doesn’t yet offer a full-blown M3 alternative to the RS4, it is coming. But for now, the 285kW/500Nm M340i is a good hint of what is to come.
The M340i is an AWD belter that embodies everything that has made the 3 Series ‘‘the ultimate driving machine’’, with a superbly balanced chassis, powered by a silky smooth, howling straight six.
Fantastic down a winding back road, the M340i is equally happy around town. And for $132,900, it is cheaper than the RS4, and what the M3 Touring will be as well.
Volvo V60 Estate
You only have to look at the Volvo V60 to know why it is on this list. Then also consider Volvo’s awesome wagon heritage.
Sadly, Volvo NZ has dropped the ultimate V60 from its lineup – that’s the T8 R Design plug-in hybrid – but the 192kW/400Nm T5 looks just as awesome.
On the road, the V60 is more about comfort than ultimate handling, and it does comfort superbly well. We would hope Volvo would still sell you a T8 if you wanted one. If not, the T5 is still a great option, costing $79,990.