Before SUVs became common, the station wagon was the go-to vehicle for carrying more than five passengers and a load. They were often big powerful cars with third-row seating that might face the rear or the front of the vehicle.
Enter the modern version of the classic station wagon. The Mercedes E-Class offers the space of an SUV with the performance of a sedan.
Features of the Mercedes E-Class Wagon
With seating for seven, the Mercedes E 450 4MATIC All-Terrain Wagon offers seating for everyone on a platform that makes some sports cars look slow. In addition, air body control allows you to raise and lower your car’s ride height at a button. This is excellent if you need to rise above the terrain to get where you need to go.
Then Mercedes combines 4-Matic all-wheel drive and a 3.0 liter, inline 6-cylinder engine that produces 362 horsepower. With its mild hybrid system, the 450E Class Mercedes gets an estimated 21 city and 28 highway miles per gallon. The base price of the 450E Class wagon is $68,400, which places it squarely in the Luxury SUV competition.
That’s excellent mileage for a station wagon that can make the run from zero to 60 miles per hour in 5.3 seconds. In addition, this big Mercedes station wagon is a sleeper that can blast past sports cars without breaking a sweat. The towing capacity of the Mercedes E 450 4MATIC All-Terrain Wagon is 4630 pounds.
Three cars similar to the Mercedes E-Class Wagon
There are very few station wagons that are currently marketed. However, the engineers have become clever with their designs, and the outcome is new body styles with the same utilitarian attributes of a station wagon or SUV.
1. BMW X6 Sports Activity Coupe
Although the BMW X6 xDrivei is not a traditional station wagon, it is a fastback four-door coupe with plenty of power and all-wheel drive as a standard feature. Available in three trim levels, the starting MSRP is $67,350 and ranges from $109,600 for the well-appointed, more powerful BMW X6 M.
The BMW X6 Core model is powered by a BMW M TwinPower turbo 3.0L inline 6-cylinder that produces 335 horsepower. In addition, however, the BMW X6 has eBoost 48-volt, mild hybrid technology. This combination returns an estimated fuel mileage of 21 city/ 25 highway and 23 combined miles per gallon.
That’s good mileage for a vehicle that can make the run from zero to 60 in 5.3 seconds. Unfortunately, seating in the X9 is for five, with no third seat available. Nevertheless, the towing capacity of the BMW X6 Core is an impressive 7200 pounds when properly equipped.
2. 2023 Jaguar F-Pace
Classified as a compact luxury crossover, the Jaguar F-Pace is much more. Not quite as large as the Mercedes E450 Wagon, the F-Pace is available in three trim levels. The Jaguar F-Pace has a starting MSRP of $52,400. Next is the F-Pace R-Dynamic, and the top-of-the-line Jaguar F-Pace SVR has a starting MSRP of $89,500.
The starting MSRP of the F-Pace base model is powered by a 2.0L inline 4-cylinder that produces 247 horsepower, which will propel this Jag from zero to 60 in 6.9 seconds. Next, step up to the more expensive Jaguar F-Pace SVR and get a 5.0L V8. It produces 542 horsepower and will launch the SVR from zero to 60 in 3.8 seconds.
Fuel mileage for the F-Pace base model hasn’t been determined. However, the 2022 F-Pace base model returns fuel mileage of 22 city and 27 highway miles per gallon. Those numbers should be close to what the 2023 model F-Pace will achieve. The towing capacity of the F-Pace is 5291 pounds.
3. Audi RS 6 Avant
The Mercedes E450 Wagon is quick for a big car, but it has nothing on the Audi RS 6 Avant. Long, low, and lean, the Audi RS 6 Avant has a sculpted body that screams, ‘Look at me, I’m fast! And it is, especially for a station wagon.
Although very similar to the Mercedes E Class Wagon, the Audi RS6 Avant has a starting MSRP of $116,500. Powered by a turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 that produces 591 horsepower, the Audi RS 6 Avant can make 60 miles per hour, from a standstill, in a blistering 3.5 seconds.
Power from this V8 is sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. The fuel mileage for the Audi RS 6 Avant is 15 city/ 22 highway and 17 combined miles per gallon. Unfortunately, it has no third-row seats, so it only has five seats. However, it has the power to tow up to 4630 pounds, which is identical to the Mercedes E450 Wagon.
Other cars similar to the Mercedes E-Class Wagon
Surprisingly, the E450 Wagon has several competitors with station wagons. However, smaller SUVs will give the Mercedes E-Class Wagon a run for its money by offering seating for seven to eight and the big Mercedes station wagon performance.
4. Audi A4 Allroad
The Audi A4 Allroad hits all the marks for a car similar to the Mercedes E450 Wagon. However, it’s a little lighter in power than the big Mercedes Wagon.
It is powered by a 2.0L inline 4-cylinder that produces 261 horsepower. This power allows the Audi A4 Allroad® to run from zero to 60 miles per hour in 5.5 seconds.
Seating is for five in the Audi A4 Allroad, as it is a slightly smaller wagon than the Mercedes. The estimated fuel mileage is 24 city/ 30 highway and 26 combined miles per hour. The towing capacity of the A4 Allroad is 5500 pounds when properly equipped.
5. Audi A6 Allroad
In size closer to the Mercedes E450 Wagon, the Audi A6 Allroad, like its smaller sibling, is a very capable station wagon. The starting MSRP of the A6 is equipped with a 3.0L inline 6-cylinder that produces 335 horsepower.
This engine gives the A6 the power for a zero to 60 time of 5.1 seconds. Yet it still only has seating for five, even though faster and larger than the A4 Allroad.
Fuel mileage for the Audi A6 Allroad is 21 city/ 28 highway and 23 combined miles per gallon. The towing capacity of the Audi A6 Allroad is the same as the A4, which is 5500 pounds.
6. BMW X4 Sports Activity Coupe
Like its larger sibling, the BMW X4 Sports Activity Coupe is a four-door, fastback sport sedan with almost as much space as a station wagon. Although the X4 only has seating for five, there are very nice seats that let your passengers sit back and enjoy the ride.
The X4 xDrive30i’s starting MSRP is $51,800. The top model, the more powerful BMW X4 M, has a starting MSRP of $73,000. The Core X4 xDrivei is powered by a 2.0L inline 4-cylinder TwinPower Turbo that produces 248 horsepower.
The fuel mileage of the BMW X4 xDrive30i is 23 city and 29 highway miles per gallon. In addition, the towing capacity of the BMW X4 Sports Activity Coupe is 5700 pounds when properly equipped.
7. 2023 Genesis GV70
The Genesis GV 70 is also a large crossover, not a station wagon. However, its stance is not as high as many SUVs. In a very short time, Genesis’s reputation led me to add this vehicle to cars similar to the Mercedes E Class Wagon. However, like many others on the list, the Genesis GV70 only has seating for five.
There are two trim levels for the Genesis GV70. The GV70 2.5T AWD and the GV70 3.5T AWD. The first level is powered by a turbocharged 2.5L inline 4-cylinder that produces 300 horsepower. The GV70 3.5T, however, gets a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 that produces 375 horsepower.
Fuel mileage of the GV70 2.5 is 22 city/ 28 highway and 24 combined miles per hour. The towing capacity of both trim levels is 3500 pounds, which puts the GV70 as one of the lighter haulers on this list.
8. Hyundai Palisade
The Hyundai Palisade is also an SUV. However, it has a nicely appointed cabin with luxury touches similar to the Mercedes. The base Hyundai Palisade SE has a starting MSRP of $34,950.
The Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy is the most expensive model and has a starting MSRP of $48,900. Although there is more than one trim level for the Palisade, there is only one engine option. The 3.8L V6 of the Hyundai Palisade produces 291 horsepower.
All trim levels have front-wheel drive as standard equipment. However, every model can have an all-wheel drive system as a factory option.
Fuel mileage for the Hyundai Palisade with front-wheel drive is 19 city/ 27 highway and 22 combined miles per gallon. Although the Hyundai Palisade has the power to tow 5000 pounds, your Palisade will need the optional all-wheel drive to do so.
9. Infiniti QX55
The body style of the Infiniti QX55 resembles the BMW A4 more than the Mercedes. However, it looks good and is as capable as the Mercedes, although seating is for five, not seven. There are three trim levels, though.
The base QX 55 Luxe AWE has a starting MSRP of $49,150. The top model is the AX55 Sensory AWD, with a starting MSRP of $57800. Power for all three trim levels comes from a Turbo 2.0L inline 4-cylinder that produces 268 horsepower.
The estimated fuel mileage of the Infiniti QX 55 is 22 city/and 28 highway miles per gallon. The towing capacity of the Infinity QX55 is 1065 pounds.
10. Mini Cooper S Clubman
The smallest station wagon on the list, all models seat five, the Mini Cooper S Clubman is available in three trim levels. The Mini Cooper S Clubman gets its power from a TwinPower Turbo that produces 189 horsepower and drives the front wheels. Its starting MSRP is $29,900. The zero to 60 times with this engine is 6.9 seconds.
The Cooper S All4 uses the same engine, adds all-wheel drive, and has a starting MSRP of $41,650. The top model, John Cooper Works All4, has a starting MSRP of $47,850.
However, it gets more grunt from the same 2.0L 4-cylinder that has been tuned to turn out 301 horsepower, which is a game changer. This trim level gives the Cooper the power to scoot from zero to 60 in 4.6 seconds.
Fuel mileage for the Mini Cooper S Clubman is 25 city/ 35 highway miles per gallon. The towing capacity of the Mini Cooper S Clubman is 2860 pounds.
11. Porsche Taycan 4 Cross Turismo
Available in four trim levels, the starting MSRP of the Porsche Taycan 4 Cross Turismo is $97,700. At the other end of the price range is the Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo, with a starting MSRP of $190,000. You get 750 horsepower to launch the Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo from zero to 60 miles per hour in 2.7 seconds. Whoosh!
Although the other cars on this list are gas-powered, with one hybrid in the mix, the Porsche Taycan 4 Cross Turismo, is an electric vehicle. For some, that’s a deal breaker. However, it’s a dream come true for others.
The fuel mileage of the Porsche Taycan is 76 MPGe, and the towing capacity is zero pounds. Unfortunately, the Porsche Taycan cannot be used to tow.
12. Porsche Panamera
Like the Taycan, the Porsche Panamera is available as a sedan or with a Turismo body that turns this platform into a handsome station wagon. The Panamera 4 Sport Turismo has a starting MSRP of $103,200. The top-shelf gas model Panamera Turbo S Cross Turismo has a starting MSRP of $190,000.
A 2.9-liter V6 powers the Panamera 4 Sport Turismo with a twin-turbocharged gas engine that produces 325 horsepower. Unfortunately, fuel mileage for this model is not available yet. However, the Panamera Turbo S Cross Turismo has up to 750 horsepower when using the electric launch feature.
The Panamera Turbo S Cross Turismo can tow up to 7700 pounds. The fuel economy of this Porsche model is 19 city/ 22 highway and 20 combined miles per gallon.
13. Volvo Estate Wagons
Volvo has always kept a station wagon in their line-up, and they currently have three trim levels. Volvo has two gas-powered Estate Wagons and a plugin hybrid. Almost every car manufacturer has an electric-powered vehicle or a hybrid. Volvo is not different, and they added the hybrid to their line of Estate Wagons.
The base V60 Cross Country has an MSRP of 48,800. The next trim, the V90 Cross Country, has a starting MSRP of $54,450. Finally, the V6 Recharge plugin hybrid has a starting MSRP of $70,550. Both are big, beefy station wagons with the capacity and capability to take you across town or the country.
Fuel mileage for the gas-powered V60 Cross Country is 23 city/ 30 highway and 26 combined miles per gallon. The towing capacity for all models of the Volvo Estate Wagon is 2000 pounds. This is enough weight to tow a small boat or travel trailer.
14. Volkswagen Atlas
The Volkswagen Atlas is not a station wagon. Instead, it is a mid-size SUV with a starting MSRP of $34,335 for the SE. The top-level Volkswagen Atlas SEL Premium R Line has a starting MSRP of $51,505. However, instead of a four-cylinder engine, it gets a 3.6-liter V6.
Power for the Volkswagen Atlas is from a 2.0 liter inline 4-cylinder that produces 276 horsepower. Or you can opt for a 2.0L inline 4-cylinder that produces 235 horsepower. The estimated fuel mileage for the Volkswagen Atlas is 21 city/ and 25 highway miles.
As one of the largest SUV Volkswagen has built, the Atlas is a viable contender against station wagons and SUVs. In addition, the lower entry price of some of these cars gives you a lot of bang for your buck.
The towing capacity when equipped with the four-cylinder engine is 2000 pounds. However, if you opt for the upgraded R-Line with a V6, your towing capacity increases to 5000 pounds.
