Station wagons
With a long roof, four passenger doors, and a relatively upright hatch, wagons provide plenty of space and style.
If you're consider a smaller crossover but interested in a lower ride, consider a wagon for your next vehicle.
Popular wagons
All-wheel drive wagons
Enjoy a balance of all-weather capability and ample space
- 75.6 cu.ft. max cargo space (2023)
- 26 city, 32 highway MPG (2023)
- Prices range from $14k-$48k
- 60.5 cu.ft. max cargo space (2022)
- 22 city, 31 highway MPG (2022)
- Prices range from $20k-$55k
- 58.5 cu.ft. max cargo space (2023)
- 24 city, 30 highway MPG (2022)
- Prices range from $20k-$47k
- 73.5 cu.ft. max cargo space (2020)
- 21 city, 29 highway MPG (2020)
- Prices range from $22k-$35k
Research station wagon models
Wagon models
Standard all-wheel drive
FAQs about station wagons
The definition of a station wagon is a bit murky and they come in a few different flavors. The Subaru Outback is a wagon that also comes with a load of ground clearance for light off-roading, while the Volvo V90 Cross Country is a more classic wagon with a low ride height, large trunk and fifth door to access it.
Wagons can, at times, be confused with crossovers. The most noticeable difference, generally, is the wagon's sloping roof and lower ride height. SUVs, particularly those with all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, are often built to do some manner of off-roading, while wagons are typically people haulers. So while the Chevrolet Suburban has been referred to as a wagon in the past, it doesn't mesh with the style of a typical wagon.
You can think of wagons as stretched out hatchbacks; or of hatchbacks as scrunched up wagons. They typically have a large trunk opening, referred to as a hatch, liftback, or fifth-door, but wagons are generally more than 20 inches longer than hatchbacks. A wagon's length gives it the sleek proportions that differentiate it from other vehicle types.
A hot hatch is essentially a sporty hatchback. Examples include the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Hyundai Veloster N. If you're looking for the increased storage of a hatchback without compromising on spirited driving, this category is for you.
Yes, but they're an endangered species thanks to increased competition from SUVs. You won't find manufacturers referring to them as station wagons anymore; they're simply "wagons." The Mercedes-Benz E Class and Audi A6 are examples of modern wagons.
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How we ranked these vehicles
Our "Best of" lists represent the most popular vehicles with CarMax customers. To create the Best lists, our analysts look at CarMax vehicle and sales data over a recent 6-month period and rank the top selling vehicles in order. Looking back over a 6-month period allows for the highest sample size possible while also providing up-to-date pricing information. Each list includes the specific dates used when it was generated. Some articles may include data points with lower sample sizes.
To create our "Most Reliable" lists, our analysts pull the top most reliable vehicles—in order—according to RepairPal rankings. RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2006-2020 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features. RepairPal Reliability Ratings are provided by RepairPal and CarMax is not responsible for their accuracy. Learn more about RepairPal reliability ratings.
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