Why station wagons are much cooler than your SUV

Imagine: four people, two weeks of luggage and a loose plan to chase castles, and all possible detours in Germany. I had reserved a mid-size SUV, because that’s what everyone does these days, but the rental counter offered me a Mercedes-Benz E 220 T-Modell instead. Mercedes calls a station wagon a T-Modell in Germany, so I’d swap a boxy SUV for a sleeker option.

Narrow village roads, high-speed motorways and ridiculously small car parks loomed in my future, so I said yes, even though I wasn’t entirely sure I was making the right choice. Cars are an abomination in the US, and when I think of road trips I think of SUVs, but I decided it was a great opportunity to really live with it.

When wagons ruled the road

The station wagon was the car of the 1970s. These long, low cruisers, often decorated with woodgrain accents, had bench seats that could seat an entire Little League team. They were also the holy grail of childhood, with rear-facing third rows where children waved like royalty to the traffic behind them. Yes, completely illegal today, but let’s just forget that little detail.

Those wagons were the original family adventurers. They swallowed hockey bags, lawn chairs and golden retrievers without breaking a sweat. When minivans, and later SUVs, became all the rage, station wagons became the automotive equivalent of bell-bottoms. They weren’t cool, and we all bought into the hype of big, boxy vehicles, even though most of us never leave the sidewalk. No, tackling the parking lot at the state fair does not count.

Driving on the highway

The great thing about the Autobahn are the sections with unlimited speeds. You can drive fast, much faster than you are allowed in the US, unless you are willing to risk a hefty fine. The left lane of the Autobahn is actually only for people with a heavy right foot. I tried it, and it was absolutely brilliant driving this car at high speeds.

An SUV can match the speed on paper, but the feeling is numb in comparison. Higher centers of gravity mean leaner, more secondary movement and a constant reminder that you’re driving a top-heavy box. A station wagon, with its low center of gravity, feels much more comfortable and fun to drive than a big old SUV.

Load all luggage

Four adults plus two weeks of clothes, shoes and souvenirs should have been a Tetris nightmare, but everything disappeared into the luggage compartment with room for spontaneous finds. Cargo capacity is a big deal for SUVs, but they rarely mention the real gymnastics of hoisting bags into that cargo area. The cart ensures that loading feels civilized.

Even at the end of the trip, when our bags exceeded the airline’s weight limits, it was much easier to load our luggage than with a larger SUV. A low loading floor should not be underestimated. And when it came to parking, especially in cities with roads better suited for horses than cars, our trusty vehicle ended up in places where an SUV driver could mutter creative curses.

A space for conversation

The best road trips are about conversation, and the car’s sedan-like interior kept everyone in the same cozy acoustic space. It was easy for all four of us to have a conversation without having to raise our voices to be heard. A wagon has a lot of space, but with the benefits of a sedan to create a more passenger-friendly space.

Too many SUVs feel like mobile conference rooms with the second row stranded in a different time zone. Voices are lost, children feel isolated and the entire group dynamic suffers. The car brings everyone together in an old-fashioned way. Access is also effortless, without having to take a step up. If you are small or have children with you, this makes everyday life easier.

Rare gemstones still shine brightly

Real station wagons still exist in the United States, even if the selection is heartbreakingly small. Audi sells the A6 allroad, Mercedes-Benz offers the E-Class All-Terrain, BMW has the M5 Touring and Porsche has the Taycan Cross Turismo. These are some of the brave few who dare to call themselves wagons.

Then there are the stealth cars, the hatchbacks that do everything cars do, but refuse to say the word because the stigma is so strong. This also applies to the new Kia K4 Hatchback with a low loading floor and surprising space. It’s the same recipe with a different label, proving that the idea is alive and well, even if the name is too scary to use.

Everyone greets the car

Our car spoiled us with comfort that coddled without isolating, handling that put SUVs to shame, and functionality that never required compromise. While an SUV promises that you can conquer anything in sight, it doesn’t deliver the same driving experience as something more agile like a station wagon.

Station wagons prove that you can transport people and stuff without sacrificing performance. America once ran away, seduced by height and clever marketing. The next time you’re shopping, skip the predictable crossover aisle and look for one of the rare wagons that still exist, or the hatchbacks that are wagons in disguise.