Which are the best station wagons in Australia?
A station wagon was once the preferred vehicle when it came to family transportation. Today, however, more people tend to go with an SUV or a large sedan. But that does not mean the station wagon does not have its place in the motor world.
SUVs may be more stylish, but wagons may often be cheaper, with comparable boot space and extra legroom for the rear seats. If you have older kids or are generally looking for an affordable family car, a spacious wagon could give you the comfort and convenience you need at a reasonable price. Besides luggage space and the price tag, you should also compare factors like safety and mileage to pick the right vehicle for your needs.
Disclaimer
This article is over two years old, last updated on July 21, 2022. While RateCity makes best efforts to update every important article regularly, the information in this piece may not be as relevant as it once was. Alternatively, please consider checking recent car loans articles.
How to choose the best station wagon for you?
While space is usually the primary consideration for people who choose to buy a station wagon, there are other things you should consider as well. Station wagons are often purchased as family vehicles, so safety and comfort are equally important.
A good place to start your search for the best station wagon in Australia is on car review sites like CarsGuide that test, review, and rate cars regularly. CarsGuide recently rated the best station wagons in 2022 based on features like price, size, fuel efficiency, and performance.
You can review this list to find models that fit your budget and meet your requirements. For example, if you are looking for a family wagon, you can check the top-rated family wagons by CarsGuide for 2022. Some of the models on this list are:
- Skoda Superb
Source: www.skoda.com.au - Mercedes-Benz E Class
Source: www.mbusa.com - Audi A4
Source: www.audi.com.au
If you are searching for an affordable wagon, Skoda Fabia is CarsGuide’s top pick for wagons under $25k in 2022.
To select the best car for your household, you should also look at the ANCAP Safety ratings of the models you shortlist. The Australasian New Car Assessment Program, or ANCAP, is a car safety assessment programme based in Australia that crash-tests cars and rates them based on safety and reliability.
You can find the ANCAP Safety ratings for the station wagons you shortlist on ANCAP's official site. In general, the safest car is the one with the highest and most recent ANCAP Safety rating. ANCAP Safety rating criteria are updated yearly even though the ratings remain valid for up to six years.
Factors to consider when comparing station wagons
Station wagons are often purchased for the extra boot space and spacious passenger cabins, but those are not the only features to consider when comparing station wagons. A car's safety is non-negotiable, and comparing ANCAP Safety ratings can help you pick a reliable station wagon for your family.
It's also important to consider the price of a car and its ongoing costs while setting a budget. If you plan to take out a car loan, you should calculate your monthly repayments and run that figure by your household budget to check whether you can afford it or not.
Don't forget to add the running costs to your calculation, such as insurance premiums, maintenance and fuel, to ensure you can keep up with the payments.
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