10 Best Station Wagons for the Money

Once upon a time in America, station wagons were the most popular vehicles on the road for big families. The shift away from wagons began with the rise of the minivan in the mid-'80s and accelerated with the onslaught of SUVs and crossovers. With American manufacturers shunning station wagons in recent years, imports have kept the flame alive.

When the Buick Roadmaster ended its run in 1996, it was thought by many to be the last great traditional station wagon. With optional woodgrain flanks, rear-wheel drive and an LT1 V8 under the hood, the Roadmaster was a bodacious all-American apple pie hauler. While Buick has a new station wagon on the way for 2018, its roots can be found in Europe, not the USA. Our list of the best station wagons for the money runs the gamut from highly affordable through marvelously luxurious.

The luxurious 5-passenger Mercedes-Benz E400 4MATIC station wagon is engineered to whisk your family to their destination with unmatched comfort and safety. The 329-horsepower 3.0-liter V6 biturbo engine is mated to a 9-speed transmission and factory-rated at a scant 5.3 seconds in the 0-60 mph sprint. The E400 4MATIC’s interior finish choices are extensive. The back seat provides 39.6 inches of headroom, 35.8 inches of legroom, and 57.1 inches of shoulder room. The rear cargo area provides a generous 35 cubic feet of storage behind the second-row seats. The Mercedes-Benz E400 4MATIC has a starting MSRP of $62,300, but the E-Class wagon can easily run north of $80,000 when optioned out. It just might be the best station wagon for the money, if you have plenty to spare.

Volvo’s steadfast support for the station wagon stands out among manufacturers and the high-performance V60 Polestar leads their stellar lineup of family chariots. The 5-passenger V60 Polestar’s 362-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-banger is mated to an 8-speed automatic. It’s quite the grocery-getter, covering the 0-60 mph sprint in a blistering 4.5 seconds. Torque-vectoring all-wheel drive and Öhlins shocks keep the Polestar glued no matter the conditions. The rear seat provides 37.6 inches of headroom, 33.5 inches of legroom, and 55.2 inches of shoulder room, while the cargo area offers 43.8 cubic feet of cargo capacity. The V60 Polestar’s starting MSRP of $61,600 is a huge leap over the base V60’s starting price tag of $36,150.

The 5-passenger Volkswagen Golf SportWagen is a marvelous alternative to a conventional SUV or crossover. The front-wheel drive Sportwagen has a starting MSRP of $21,580, while the taller all-wheel drive Golf Alltrack starts at $25,850. Sadly, Volkswagen no longer offers the extremely fuel efficient turbodiesel TDI models, but the standard 170-horsepower turbocharged 1.8-liter inline-4 delivers plenty of pep and reasonable fuel economy (25 city/35 highway mpg). The rear seat provides 38.6 inches of headroom, 35.6 inches of legroom, and 53.9 inches of shoulder room. There’s ample room to haul stuff, with 30.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seats and 66.5 cubic feet overall.

BMW 3-Series wagons are among the best buys for the money. The 2017 328d xDrive Sports Wagon is the most fuel-efficient petroleum-powered all-wheel drive station wagon available in America. It's no slouch off the line, with an official EPA rating of 30 city/40 highway mpg and a 0-60 mph time of 7.6 seconds. The 3-Series wagon’s back seat provides 38.3 inches of headroom, 35 inches of legroom, and 55.1 inches of shoulder room. The cargo area allows for 27.5 cubic feet of capacity behind the back seats and 61.5 cubic feet, overall. The 328d xDrive has a starting MSRP of $44,450, while the (faster but less fuel-efficient) gasoline-powered 330i xDrive starts at $42,950.

With standard all-wheel drive and a starting MSRP of just $18,395, the thoroughly revised 2017 Subaru Impreza 2.01 5-door is the best small station wagon for the money in colder climates. The 152-horsepower horizontally-opposed boxer 4-cylinder engine is offered with a standard 5-speed manual or optional Lineartronic 7-speed CVT transmission. The back seats provide 38 inches of headroom, 36.5 inches of legroom, and 55.6 inches of shoulder room. The cargo area allows for 20.8 cubic feet of storage behind the back seats and a total of 55.3 cubic feet behind the front seats. While small cars tend to depreciate quickly, Subarus retain their value better than most vehicles. The Impreza is a safe bet.

The 5-passenger Kia Soul is one of those vehicles that defies description. While its wheelbase may seem relatively short, the Soul’s interior provides a remarkable amount of room at a bargain price. Kia refers to the Soul as a crossover, but the abundance of interior volume may have influenced the U.S. EPA to classify the Soul as a station wagon. This is a great little car for families with big kids. The back seat provides 39.5 inches of headroom (without a sunroof), 39.1 inches of legroom, and 54.7 inches of shoulder room. There’s 24.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat and a total of 61.3 cubic feet overall (without the cargo under tray). The base Soul has a starting MSRP of just $16,100. It's the best station wagon for the money when your budget is tight.

As the smallest station wagon on our list, you might expect the low-slung MINI Cooper Clubman to offer cramped quarters. Climb inside the cabin and you’ll find it to be remarkably spacious. The back seat provides 38 inches of headroom, 34.3 inches of legroom, and 52.8 inches of shoulder room. The split rear doors can be opened by a swing of the foot under the bumper to reveal 17.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row with a total of 47.9 cubic feet. The base Cooper Clubman has a starting MSRP of $24,100. It’s the best station wagon for the money if you crave a little hauler that handles, but you'll want to keep an eye on the bottom line as you add options.

Odd though it may seem, the U.S. EPA classifies the Chevrolet Bolt as a station wagon. Spend some time in the saddle and you’ll understand. Like a boxer that punches above its weight, the Bolt delivers unparalleled versatility. It’s remarkably fun to bob and weave through city traffic with an electric drivetrain that delivers instantaneous response and a 0-60 mph time under seven seconds. The back seat easily accommodates adults, but is a bit narrow, offering 37.9 inches of headroom, 36.5 inches of legroom, and 52.8 inches of shoulder room, while the cargo area allows for 16.9 cubic feet of storage behind the back seats. The Bolt’s $37,495 starting MSRP is offset by a federal tax credit of $7,500. It's the best small station wagon for environmentally conscious folks.

While Ford bills the 7-passenger Flex as a utility vehicle, let's call it what it is: the best and boxiest station wagon on the road today for large families. The angular design provides oodles of interior space and the MSRP starts at $30,025 for the base Flex SE. The second row provides 40.5 inches of headroom, 44.3 inches of legroom, and 58.1 inches of shoulder room, while the third row provides 38.7 inches of headroom, 33.3 inches of legroom, and 50.8 inches of shoulder room. There are 20.0 cubic feet of cargo capacity behind the third row, 43.2 cubic feet behind the second row, and 83.2 cubic feet overall. The optional 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V6’s 365 horsepower delivers plenty of scoot.

With its roots in the Opel Insignia, the sporty 5-seat 2018 Buick Regal TourX station wagon has an international heritage. You’ll find a 250-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 under the TourX’s hood, mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The second row provides 39.6 inches of headroom, 36.9 inches of legroom, and 55.4 inches of shoulder room. There’s 32.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat and 73.5 cubic feet overall. The Regal TourX rides on a front-wheel-drive architecture, with all-wheel drive offered, as well. The Regal TourX is slated for availability in late 2017. Pricing has not been announced, but we're sure it'll earn a spot amongst the best station wagons for the money.