Want a fast wagon that no one else has? Right this way
Mitsubishi Evo IX wagon
0-60: Under five seconds
Top speed: Around 150mph
Best bit: It’s an EVO… with a tailgate!
Worst bit: Used to be about $17,000 a few years back
Sometimes brilliance hides in rare corners of the car world, and the Evo IX wagon is one of those treasures. Only about 2,500 ever rolled out of Mitsubishi’s factory, and many would argue it was the brand’s final true masterpiece. It carried everything that made the Evo IX sedan legendary, then added usable cargo space and just enough extra weight to balance things beautifully. Deep down, you already know you’d love to own one.
Audi Allroad 4.2 V8
0-60: Seven seconds
Top speed: 130mph
Best bit: Smirking at SUV drivers who chose poorly
Worst bit: Reliability… what reliability?
There’s an odd charm to Audi’s raised wagons. Logic says the extra height and weight should make them worse than their standard Avant counterparts—but somehow, they just feel right. The cushier suspension smooths out battered roads, and the added clearance makes speed bumps and potholes almost irrelevant. Best of all, they’re still cars, not lumbering SUVs, so handling stays sharp and composed. Combine that with the buttery growl of Audi’s 4.2-liter V8—an engine found in everything from the R8 to the S8—and you’re dangerously close to perfection. Just keep a rainy-day fund ready when the inevitable repair bill arrives.
BMW 550i Touring
0-60: About five seconds
Top speed: 155mph
Best bit: Effortless, ever-present power
Worst bit: Think Gremlins—but with wiring
The E60 generation of BMWs had a mixed reliability record, especially the M5, whose gearbox seemed allergic to functioning properly. The smart money lands on the 550i Touring instead. With 360 horsepower and an equal measure of torque from its 4.8-liter V8, it’s more than brisk enough for real-world fun. And if you ever need to impress a petrolhead, drop this fact: the same engine powered the Morgan Plus 8 and Aero SuperSports.
Mercedes C43 Estate (1998)
0-60: Roughly six seconds
Top speed: Fast enough
Best bit: Driving one of AMG’s early chapters
Worst bit: Remembering there are better AMG engines out there
Everyone praises the C63, but it all started with the C43. While it wasn’t the first AMG collaboration, it marked a turning point—the first time AMG built a car entirely inside Mercedes’ own factory. It also introduced the C-Class to the thunder of a V8. The 4.3-liter engine made around 300bhp and equal torque, setting the tone for every small AMG that followed.
Volvo 850 T5-R / 850R
0-60: About seven seconds
Top speed: Around 150mph
Best bit: Living your BTCC dreams
Worst bit: Realizing the ‘90s were peak touring car glory
Say “estate,” and somewhere in your subconscious a voice immediately whispers “Volvo.” The 850 Estate earned that reputation—and a cult following—when it joined the British Touring Car Championship under Tom Walkinshaw Racing. The road-going T5-R and 850R carried that same rebellious spirit, packing 225bhp and 240lb ft through the front wheels. Expect wheelspin, laughter, and a turbo whistle that’ll make you grin every time.
Mercedes E55 Estate
0-60: 4.1 seconds
Top speed: 155mph
Best bit: Seven seats and a supercharged V8
Worst bit: The repair costs—brace yourself
Before the C63 became a household name, AMG’s biggest hit was the E55. While most opted for the sedan, the estate version was the true connoisseur’s choice. Imagine hauling seven passengers with 470-plus horsepower at your command. Its supercharged 5.4-liter V8 produced a mighty 516lb ft, easily outpacing newer naturally aspirated rivals. Few wagons ever mixed family practicality and raw power so perfectly.
Mitsubishi Galant (Legnum) VR-4
0-60: 5.4 seconds
Top speed: Over 150mph
Best bit: Nobody else knows how good it is
Worst bit: Finding parts when something breaks
The Legnum VR-4 may not have conquered the world, but its anonymity works in your favor. It’s a twin-turbo, all-wheel-drive V6 wagon engineered by Mitsubishi’s rally division—how can that not be tempting? Sure, it’s not much to look at, but you’re getting nearly 300 horsepower and serious performance for pocket change. A forgotten gem from Japan’s golden age of car-making.
Alfa Romeo 159 3.2 V6
0-60: About seven seconds
Top speed: 150mph
Best bit: It’s gorgeous
Worst bit: It’s heavy—over 1,700kg
Every Alfa earns its place by turning heads first and frustrating owners second. The 159 is no exception. Its 256bhp 3.2-liter V6 may not be the legendary Busso, but it still has soul—and enough pace to keep up with Bond himself, as proven in Quantum of Solace. True, the engine’s Australian roots (borrowed from a Holden) might raise eyebrows, but one look at the car’s curves, and all is forgiven. At least until the next mechanical tantrum.
Chrysler 300C Hemi wagon
0-60: Seven seconds
Top speed: 155mph
Best bit: That big Hemi heart
Worst bit: Pretty much everything else
If subtlety were a crime, the 300C wagon would be serving life without parole. It’s loud, brash, and about as refined as a fast-food burger. Still, its 5.7-liter V8 pumps out real muscle, and rear-wheel drive ensures plenty of sideways fun—up to the moment the stability control steps in. It’s not elegant, it’s not clever, but it is unapologetically American.
Audi S6 Avant (2006)
0-60: 5.3 seconds
Top speed: 155mph
Best bit: It shares an engine with a Lamborghini
Worst bit: Upkeep fit for royalty
Let’s be honest—the S6 Avant’s biggest selling point is that glorious 5.2-liter V10 from the Lamborghini Gallardo. How many estates can make that claim? Sure, it’s not the most agile or reliable, but the novelty alone earns it a spot here. Think of it as the wallet’s sword of Damocles: it will strike eventually, but the soundtrack along the way might just make it worthwhile.
Mercedes C63 Estate (6.2-litre)
0-60: 4.6 seconds
Top speed: 155mph
Best bit: That roaring V8 symphony
Worst bit: The bills—fuel, tires, tickets
Car journalists often say “if it were my money,” but when it comes to the C63 estate, we mean it. Despite the obviousness of its choice, it remains a pure joy—a mix of power, poise, and noise few can match. Among this list of flawed heroes, it’s the one we’d proudly buy ourselves. It’s brash, beautiful, and absolutely addictive.
HSV R8 Tourer
0-60: Around five seconds
Top speed: Blistering
Best bit: A 6.2-liter V8 thunderstorm
Worst bit: Skyrocketing prices and bad faux-Aussie accents
Australia may have stopped building cars, but it left us with legends like the HSV R8 Tourer. Think of it as a cult favorite from a band that never topped the charts but earned die-hard fans anyway. With a Corvette-sourced V8, Camaro-based chassis, and space for a drum kit, it was the perfect mix of muscle and practicality. A true Down Under deep cut.
Nissan Stagea Autech
0-60: Under six seconds
Top speed: 155mph
Best bit: Secretly a Skyline GT-R in disguise
Worst bit: Constantly explaining what it is
Here’s the thing—the Stagea Autech shares its bones, drivetrain, and engine with the R33 Skyline GT-R. Yes, it looks like a refrigerator, but beneath the bland exterior lies a genuine performance icon. Later models ditched the legendary RB straight-six for a Nissan V6, but that just makes early versions even more desirable. A stealth superwagon for those in the know.
Toyota Crown Athlete
0-60: Just under eight seconds
Top speed: 110mph (limited)
Best bit: Learning Japanese
Worst bit: The controls are all in Japanese
You probably didn’t expect to see a Toyota Crown on this list—but maybe you should have. Beneath its businesslike exterior hides a twin-turbo 1JZ, the smaller sibling of the Supra’s iconic 2JZ. With minor tweaks (and a few overnight parts from Japan), it can easily produce 600+ horsepower. Quiet, classy, and capable of embarrassing sports cars—it’s the perfect sleeper.
Hear us out: Volvo 1800ES
0-60: Eventually
Top speed: Faster than you’d think
Best bit: Gorgeous styling and real shooting-brake charm
Worst bit: Technically stretching the “fast” definition
Sure, a 2.0-liter ‘70s Volvo isn’t competing with modern RS models, but not every joyride has to be about speed. The 1800ES invites you to slow down and savor the drive, a reminder that elegance and grace can outshine sheer velocity. Sometimes, the best pace is your own. And if you crave more punch, there’s always the option of a heart transplant under the hood.
Together, these estates prove speed and practicality can live in perfect harmony—often in the most unexpected packages. Whether it’s Japanese engineering, German muscle, or Aussie flair, each one carries its own story, waiting for the next driver bold enough to uncover it.
