Why Luxury Station Wagons Are Lighting up the Market
From seriously uncool to downright lust-worthy, station wagons have recently experienced a glow-up in the eyes of the market. Mostly shorn of the soccer parent and granola stereotypes, wagons, especially performance variants from Mercedes-AMG, BMW M, and Audi RS, are having their moment—and rightfully so. The juxtaposition of quotidian practicality and unassuming performance has stirred the hearts and minds of many, and now many automakers that traditionally only sold hot wagons abroad are bringing them to the States. These more recent additions include the Audi RS6 Avant and the new BMW M5 Touring , and until Audi brought the RS6 Avant here in 2021, Mercedes-Benz mostly had a monopoly on the market with its E63 Wagon .
Outside of the Germans, there hasn't been much activity in the hot wagon market for some time. Between 2009 and 2014 Cadillac produced the venerated CTS-V Wagon, a Corvette-powered people hauler that was offered in a manual— i.e. , a car built for automotive enthusiast dorks—and Volvo had the V60 Polestar for a few years in the mid-2010s that was unexpected from the typically demure Scandinavian automaker. These two models, plus the Audi RS6 Avant and Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Wagon, have recently sold on the popular auction site Bring a Trailer, and we'll be detailing them below. First up: the Germans.
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Mercedes AMG E63 S
Mercedes has arguably had a stranglehold on the US market for hot wagons ever since first bringing AMG badged estates in 2005 with the S211 E series. Nearly 20 years and two generations later, Mercedes is still arguably the default choice for a wagon that literally hauls ass. The current generation Mercedes-AMG E63 S wagon, which arrived stateside in 2018 and was produced for five years, announced its arrival with a new kind of bark coming from a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 that makes over 600 horsepower. Paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission that distributes power to all four wheels—unless drift mode is activated, which decouples power from the front drive shafts—the E63 S has achieved the sprint to 60 mph in as low as three seconds flat in some instrumented testing. That puts it on par with the Ferrari Roma Spider and the Ford GT.
This particular example from 2019 is finished in a pleasant Polar White paint over a Red Nappa leather interior that screams more supercar than soccer mom. Only 20k miles of rapid people hauling are on the clock, and this example came equipped with a handful of desirable options, including a Burmester surround sound system and a carbon fiber exterior accent package that hints at its performance. Much to the lament of American enthusiasts, Mercedes ceased production of the E 63 S wagon last year, which has helped to keep values high. Case in point: even as a three-owner, six-year-old car, this baby hauler brought $128,000 at auction .
Audi RS6 Avant Performance
Wanting to cash in on the market Mercedes had helped grow, Audi jumped on the bandwagon and brought the RS6 Avant to American soil in 2021. The RS6 Avant is similar to the Mercedes-AMG E63 S in many ways, too: both feature a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8, all-wheel drive, and enough cargo space to house a small country. For performance, the RS6 Avant can reach 60 in just over three seconds, thanks to its 591 horsepower engine that sends power through an eight-speed automatic to all four wheels with Audi's patented Quattro system. Top speed is a limited 155 mph on the standard models; with the Dynamic Plus Package optioned, top speed increases to 190 mph. Being an Audi, performance in adverse weather conditions is known to be brilliant, which makes the RS6 a true jack of all trades that's tied up nicely with daily driver qualities.
This is the 2024 RS6 Avant Performance model, which benefits from a revised 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged that generates 621 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque compared to the 591 horsepower the standard model has to make do with. This example sports a tasteful Nardo Gray exterior over a black leather interior whose seats feature red stitching and Audi's signature geometric patterned inserts. A Bang & Olufsen stereo delivers premium sonic quality when the driver and passengers have had enough of the optional RS Sport exhaust. With 3,400 miles on the odometer, this 2024 RS6 Avant Performance went for $127,500 on Bring A Trailer .
Cadillac CTS-V Wagon
Before there were only two choices for new performance wagons, Cadillac offered an option, the CTS-V Wagon. It was essentially a Corvette with four doors: it featured a massive supercharged 6.2-liter V8 making 556 horsepower, the choice of a manual or automatic transmission, rear-wheel drive, limited-slip differential, and magnetorheological dampers (Magnetic Ride Control in Cadillac's nomenclature). Stopping power was provided by Brembo brakes, its steering was hydraulically assisted, and its brawny pushrod V8 emitted a thunderous bellow. Together, this package made enthusiasts and automotive journalists swoon, but the low take rate across its three years of production made GM rethink its product lineup. Today, it has become a highly sought after car for many of the reasons why performance wagons are great, but because of its low production volume, which is below 2,000 units.
This particular 2012 CTS-V wagon features the only respectable transmission option, the six-speed manual, and is painted in Thunder Gray ChromaFlair with an Ebony leather and microsuede interior. For ultimate driver and passenger comfort, the front seats are heated, ventilated, and produced by Recaro, making for the ultimate blend of performance and luxury. With 58,000 miles on the clock, this CTS-V wagon sold for a respectable $62,000 .
Volvo V60 Polestar
Before Polestar became the EV brand it is today, it was the equivalent of BMW M, Mercedes-AMG, and Audi RS—essentially, it was Volvo's in-house performance wing and it was responsible for helping produce a few especially lovable cars in the mid-to-late 2010s. In the most un-Volvo way possible, Polestar did its thing with the V60: in place of the base model's boring engine, Polestar jammed a 345 horsepower turbocharged inline-six into the engine bay, threw on a set of high-performance Öhlins dampers, and gave the V60 Polestar massive brakes. Along with an uncharacteristically loud sport exhaust, these performance upgrades to the pedestrian V60 transformed it into a standout hot wagon. And one that was regrettably imported in very limited quantities to the US—with this powertrain, only 80 units.
This 2015 Volvo V60 Polestar is the quintessential spec for the model. Featuring Rebel Blue paint, Polestar's brand color, and a charcoal grey interior, this 21k-mile example deservedly fetched $50,500 at auction , proving that the market is only getting hotter for high performance people haulers.
