SUVs have been the default family car for so long that most of us barely question it anymore. They promise space for people and gear, an upright driving position, and the idea that you’re ready for anything—even if most of that “anything” is just groceries and school runs.
The trade-off is that they’re rarely fun to drive, and they’re often bigger, heavier, and thirstier than they need to be. Meanwhile, the station wagon has quietly evolved into something better than most people realize.
Today’s wagons deliver the same everyday practicality—but with sharper handling, better efficiency, and, in the examples below, noticeably more performance too.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including Edmunds, the EPA, and TopSpeed.
Ditch Your Bland SUV and Buy One of These Great Performance Station Wagons Instead
As a car community, we love wagons and what they offer. Now stop talking about it and ditch the SUV. Get one of these great performance wagons.
2025 Volvo V60 Cross Country
How it stacks up against the 2026 Volvo XC60
The 2025 Volvo V60 Cross Country helped kick off the whole wagon-turned-crossover trend, and it’s still one of the few wagons that feels SUV-capable without losing its car-like handling. It’s no track star—its mild-hybrid turbo four hits 247 horsepower—but it’s efficient for a sporty wagon, returning a solid 26 mpg combined.
The 2026 Volvo V60 Cross Country packs 18.3 cubic feet of cargo with the seats up and 60.5 with them folded—just don’t expect a perfectly flat floor. Still, that’s as much—or more—space than some SUVs, and the lower cabin makes hopping in and out a breeze for shorter passengers.
The 2026 Volvo XC60 matches the V60 in size and practicality
The 2026 Volvo XC60 focuses on utility without losing the clean, refined feel Volvo buyers love. It shares the V60’s 2.0-liter turbo mild-hybrid engine—same power, slightly less punch and efficiency thanks to its taller stance—but you can step up to a plug-in hybrid for more performance, range, and efficiency.
Almost the same size as the V60 Cross Country—just a bit shorter, wider, and taller—the 2026 Volvo XC60 B5 gives you a higher ride and more upright seats, making it easier to see out from every row. The taller cabin adds about 10 cubic feet of passenger space, though cargo room takes a small hit with all seats in use.
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2026 BMW M5 Touring
How it stacks up against the 2026 BMW X5 M Competition
The 2026 BMW M5 Touring is America’s first M5 wagon, packing a twin-turbo V8 with a plug-in hybrid motor for 717 horsepower and 0–60 in about 3.5 seconds. It’s slightly quicker than the 617-horsepower X5 M Competition but less efficient overall, even with 25 miles of electric-only range.
The 2026 BMW M5 Touring is probably the most famous performance wagon today, tied to the 7 Series sedans, IX SUV, and 5 Series lineup. After its U.S. debut in 1992 with the E34, the M5 wagon disappeared in 2009—returning in 2025 as the first high-performance M5 wagon sold in America since then.
The bigger 2026 BMW X5 M Competition still can’t keep up with the M5 Touring
The 2026 BMW X5 M Competition is no slouch, and it nearly doubles the M5 Touring’s cargo space with all seats up—though the gap shrinks with the rear seats folded. The M5 Touring starts at $125,300, a touch cheaper than the $131,000 X5 M Competition, and you’re basically trading a bit of space for outright, jaw-dropping performance.
The BMW X5 M has a bit more cargo space and taller seats for better visibility and headroom. But the lower, AWD M5 Touring drives more sharply than even the track-tuned X5 M Competition—and handles most city errands without guzzling fuel.
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2026 Mercedes-AMG E 53 Hybrid
How it stacks up against the 2026 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 4Matic
The 2026 Mercedes-AMG E 53 Hybrid might be the most compelling performance-luxury wagon around, pairing serious power with everyday usability. Its plug-in hybrid 3.0-liter inline-six makes 577 horsepower (604 with Race Start) and hits 0–60 in four seconds—about a second quicker than the 429-horsepower GLE 53.
Germans practically invented the performance wagon, and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon is both a relative newcomer (1995) and a veteran, tracing its roots back to 1984. The 2026 AMG E 53 mixes adaptive suspension and AWD to deliver sports-sedan handling with SUV-ready traction.
The 2026 AMG E 53 Hybrid and GLE 53 are nearly identical in size
Though different in shape, the 2026 AMG GLE 53 is the same size class as the E 53 Hybrid and shares its engine—just without the plug-in hybrid. Both start with about 33 cubic feet of cargo space, but fold the rear seats and the GLE gains an extra 10 cubic feet thanks to its taller SUV stance.
The Mercedes-Benz GLE is shorter overall but rides on a longer wheelbase, giving it a slightly tighter turning circle and making it a bit more maneuverable off-road. Both use AMG Ride Control with adaptive damping, tuned for different jobs—smooth grand-touring rides for the E 53 Wagon, off-road-ready handling for the GLE 53.
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2026 Audi RS6 Avant
How it stacks up against the 2026 Audi RS Q8
The Audi A6 Avant has been around as long as its BMW 5 and Mercedes E-Class rivals, but it helped define the German sports wagon back in the early ’90s with AWD. Today’s 2026 RS6 Avant pairs supercar-level acceleration with everyday usability, hitting 0–60 in 3.3 seconds thanks to its 621-horsepower twin-turbo V8—all while carrying five passengers in four doors.
The 2026 Audi RS6 Avant pairs adaptive suspension with Quattro AWD for sharp handling and a smooth ride, whether around town or on the highway. It even manages a touch of off-road use, though its low body panels aren’t ideal, and while it’s slightly more efficient than the RS Q8, neither is exactly a gas-sipper—17 mpg combined for the RS6 versus 16 for the RS Q8.
The 2026 Audi RS 6 Avant matches the Q8 in cargo and passenger space
The 2026 Audi Q8 starts at a more approachable $75,600, while the RS Q8 Performance at $138,300 is closer to the RS6’s $130,700. Neither matches the RS6 for handling or performance—the Q8s ride taller with a softer feel, which some families might actually prefer over the RS6’s track-tuned aggression.
The RS6 and Q8 are almost identical in interior space and cargo versatility, with the wagon making up for SUV height with extra headroom front and rear. The Q8’s wider body gives more shoulder room and slightly better rear legroom, and overall volume is similar—around 100 cubic feet—with the Q8 edging out the RS6 in cargo capacity (33.7–60.7 vs. 30–59.3 cubic feet).
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2026 Porsche Taycan GTS Sport Turismo
How it stacks up against the 2026 Porsche Cayenne GTS
If you want a sports wagon that’s electric, the 2026 Porsche Taycan GTS Sport Turismo is one of the most engaging and practical high-performance EVs out there. It blends everyday usability, strong performance, and impressive efficiency—offering a real alternative to the Cayenne, with similar interior space but far better speed and efficiency.
The 2026 Porsche Cayenne also comes in two electric versions, but for this comparison we’re using the slightly less expensive ICE Cayenne GTS, which is about the same size as the Taycan Sport Turismo. With 690 horsepower and instant torque, the Taycan rockets to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds—blowing past the Cayenne GTS’s 4.2-second time with Sport Chrono.
The 2026 Porsche Taycan GTS Sport Turismo is the most usable high-performance EV wagon
The 2026 Porsche Taycan GTS Sport Turismo keeps all the Porsche fun while leaning into wagon practicality. Its adaptive chassis and air suspension handle rough roads and twisty curves with ease, the cabin holds up to 17.2 cubic feet of cargo (41 with rear seats folded), but it only seats four.
The 2026 Porsche Cayenne GTS tips the balance toward SUV practicality without losing Porsche’s driving DNA. Its V8 delivers classic SUV power and a thrilling engine note, plus it has more cargo room than the Taycan—27.3 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 60.3 with them folded.
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