The station wagon is on the verge of extinction. Only a handful of automakers continue to sell vehicles in this body style. Despite our affinity toward wagons, which combine the versatility of an SUV with the more engaging handling of a sedan, the market for these vehicles continues to shrink.
In an attempt to reverse this cycle and attract would-be SUV buyers, many of today’s wagons wear plastic body cladding and faux skid plates that mimic the rugged nature of their more upright SUV counterparts. Some even pair their visual addenda with mechanical upgrades to improve their off-road capability.
Still, not all wagons resort to this approach. Take the 190-mph Audi RS6 Avant for example. It shoots to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds, which is seven-tenths quicker than a Porsche 718 Cayman GTS sports car. But you’re more likely to bump into the Wienermobile on the highway than spot one of these fiery four-ringed chariots. Yet, the fact Audi sees a business case for such a model in America gives us hope yet for the wagon’s future on our shores. Whether it’s an off-road- or performance-oriented wagon you’re interested in, the awardees on our 2023 Editor’s Choice list ought to scratch your wagon-loving itch. Each of these wagons was put through our
detailed testing regimen to ensure these machines truly live up to the hype.
Here are the best station wagons for other model years:
