SUV vs Estate: Is The SUV Killing The Station Wagon? - Carfection

[@ashneel]

Never understood the SUV hype

[@dahorn100011]

me neither. I can understand a proper SUV like a range rover. But the small ones which are front wheel drive I can't. They are higher than hatchbacks, so handle worse, worse fuel economy and have no extra space or features

[@BigTwitchy]

For taller people like myself, or anyone with a bad back, any vehicle with a higher seat height is a godsend because it makes it easier to get in and out. But that’s about the only benefit. Everything else is a detriment - try finding a parking spot for an SUV in a crowded European city.

[@slanahesh]

Well my mum got a Ford EcoSport recently because she has hip and back issues which mean getting in and out of a lower car was getting difficult. So ride height plays a part in the appeal.

[@DrShmuck]

Me neither until I got into a Touareg. Then I immediately understood.

[@zampano0069]

Yeah, they are great for people with bad backs, but: - they use more fuel - they are slower at high speeds - its less fun to drive - they take my sight when driving in front of me - they lead to bad driving because the driver feels safer and has better sight. 80% of the time someone is not keeping a safe distance behind me, its an SUV. They have taken that crown from audi-drivers

[@itsonlymusic1]

Wagons. Always. SUVs suck.

[@JBOsurf]

Watch the video again and concentrate on the ride quality. The Volvo is smooth as silk, the LR is bouncing the guys around all over the place.

[@MrGreatplum]

JBOsurf - good spot! The disco looks really bumpy!

[@wishandwatch]

i noticed that as well :D

[@angrydragonslayer]

that's more 40k+ volvos being 40k+ volvos rather than the difference between wagons and estates go look at the XC90 and you'll see it being just as smooth as the V90, only having a bit more sway due to having a higher CG

[@ssflipallday]

I wouldn’t hate SUV’s so much if there weren’t so god damn many of them. 7/10 times at a red light I’m behind one and can’t see when the light turns green or when cars start moving

[@craigbishop2529]

ssflipallday usually if the person in front of you starts moving, that would suggest you could start moving? 😂😂

[@radu2015]

ssflipallday buy a truck, then u see the lights

[@quietenglishman4179]

Try looking through one at a roundabout .

[@lg2691283]

The estate car in America was practically dead in the mid 1980’s. It was replaced first by the minivan then by the suv. Americans hate any car your mom drives you to school in.

[@houssamalucad753]

Mongrel Life those moms drop their kids to school in an SUV these days... Can't wait for people to hate those!

[@jgt8684]

The SUV is still considered masculine. I doubt there would be any hate for traditional SUVs, worst case, people start to dislike crossovers

[@obsidian....]

Yeah my parents (who are in their 60s) didn't want to drive a station wagon because their parents did. When they needed one it was right when the mini Van was first being made and so that is what their generation drove. Which makes sense why the SUV is a very easy transition to (the equally large size). Also gas is cheap in the US. So we haven't had to worry about MPG until the mid 2000s but then it dropped again.

[@Pandamasque]

Moms have been driving 4x4s for what, 15 years now?

[@jmartini2387]

Yes, this is so true!

[@Grenyas]

Crossovers are booming, but long live the wagon.

[@subninja8069]

If you think about it Crossover Utility Vehicles Suck and Plain Turck based SUVs also Suck. Wagons just with a 2-inch lift Win. Wagons are the Ninjas you never see...Long live wagons (from an American)

[@ChrisSs993]

SUV's in my opinion are redundant. Nobody uses the offroad capabilities anyways. Estates are more efficient, handles better and got equal space to load your stuff in.

[@HawkMillFarm]

Chris S I have 2 and they are used off-road almost daily.

[@thomaschristopherwhite9043]

You must live in a place with great roads. Unfortunately I and a lot of people don't. Hence SUV.

[@Paul_Zernick]

Suvs can't go off road. 4wds can. Do not confuse the 2. Suvs do not have centre diff locks, front or rear diff locks, low range transfer cases. 4wds do not have 20+" wheels. They have tyre bag. A Hyundai kona is not a adventurous vehicle. A Toyota land cruiser is. Huge difference.

[@thomaschristopherwhite9043]

@vvvVFANGSVvvv I live in the Philippines, Kid. I don't think you've ever driven over 3rd world potholes. They're more like fish ponds in the monsoon seasons. You still wanna bet on that?

[@aimxdy8680]

@Adam Hussain SUVs are Bloated Hatchbacks that are fat, I’d rather take an E-class Wagon or an Audi A6 Allroad wagon which looks better than ANY suv.

[@FlorinNitulescu_1]

I’ll say it again and again: that V90 is absolutely gorgeous! The Cross-Country version is even more beautiful (and practical for that matter). There’s no SUV on that market that stands a chance to a V90 in terms of style and stability. I really hope station wagons make a comeback.

[@Swarmah]

they never disappeared and we dont call them anything close to a station or a wagon :D Cos if you want a car, not a parquet polisher which is SUV ( while it has nothing to do with sports ), those cars can better get out of anything, typical parquet polishers will just drown in thinnest snow or mud or any puddle, and will eat more petrol, gas, diesel or whatever, and be far less powerful.

[@VolkswagenNut1969]

I drive about 40,000 miles a year for my business and haul lots of camera equipment, used to drive only SUVs, now I have two Volvo wagons. No contest, the difference is palpable. The wagons ride much nicer, handle much better, are just as utilitarian, and are more elegant looking (and unusual these days). I’d never go back!

[@Karrera911]

Anything is better than a SUV.

[@skinnypuccini3240]

At least better then a crossover

[@giancarlolugo9586]

@@skinnypuccini3240 Crossovers and SUV's are overrated because of the Millenials , who think they are safer driving those lifted cars even If they have a lot of understeer and a lot body roll I prefer something like a 90s 4Runner or a Dodge ramcharger , because those have a lot of room and comfort inside even with only 2 doors do you want fuel efficiency buy one with stick shift and works fantastic for off-roading , you want something light with good cargo space and fuel efficiency get those little 80s pickups like the Toyota pickup VW rabbit pickup Nissan hardbody Ford Ranger Chevrolet S10 they are pretty good to go to Home Depot , load stuff in the bad like your camping stuff do you want a nice 90's fun FWD hatchback buy something like a Corolla AE92 Civic EG6 Nissan Pulsar D14 , almost anything is better than a crossover even mini vans like the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna are better and do you want something more affordable than minivan just get any Wagon Roadmaster Marquis Legacy Tercel Mercedes benz W300td W123 Volvo V70 coming from a 17 yrs old .

[@johndunne870]

I agree with your choice. One additional, practical, point is (for dog owners) that it is much easier for small and/or ageing large dogs to get into the boot of a station wagon rather than most SUVs.

[@amigodesigns]

Estates 4ever, better safety, better millage, better dynamics, etc, sorry but I don't like the SUVs as a concept.

[@charleshu5752]

CADesigner unless it can actually go off road like a Range Rover or a wrangler

[@jaikarchatha1967]

CADesigner I'll say I agree but Jeep wrangler tops all estates

[@raupenimmersatt6906]

Charles Hu Yeah you go offroad in a 100.000++€ SUV lol. Have fun with fixing it for 15.000€ afterwards

[@angrysocialjusticewarrior]

@@charleshu5752 My 999kg old Corolla has passed terrains where SUV's and pickup-trucks have gotten stuck on. It's very rare where you will REALLY need the extra ground clearance. The only time I've personally seen where ground clearance was important was in two ways: 1. When you have a load so heavy that the car sags down very low. If the car is tall to begin with... then the sagging down means it won't scrape against speed humps and stuff. 2. Floods. If there is flood from excessive rain, then ground clearance can help. But why would you drive through a flood anyway?

[@MainstreetMyrnn]

@@raupenimmersatt6906 People who have 100k+ dont worry about such things. Dont talk about a rolex when you are wearing a G-Shock.

[@geraltofrivian516]

Definitely less focus on estates/wagons. I always preferred wagons, but China and the US prefers SUVs and controls most of the market

[@kickyadick]

Andrew H my observation is that ladies drive SUVs more than guys do, either because they think they are safer, or people especially men around them tell them SUVs are safer. In Texas, you can’t open your eyes and not see a huge pickup truck, well, naturally if you drive a sedan, your view of traffic ahead is severely limited, hence a taller vehicle is needed.

[@sanderbrust]

like the look of estates a lot but i really prefer the upright seating position of a suv for a daily, and also it doesn't makes sense buy an estate in the netherlands because we don't drive fast like the germans than estate makes much more senses

[@Supcharged]

tbf they ARE safer against lighter lower cars

[@CrusoeAI]

As a Chinese, I want to explain why Chinese does not like the wagon. Wagon looks like a car that used for transporting coffin in China 棺材车, so people prefer Sedan and SUVs. (I do own a Saab 9-5 Wagon in the States and planning for a Volvo V90 in the future, but once I am in China i will get a Sedan)

[@Supcharged]

Kurosu Ha that’s true also we don’t like hatchbacks

[@daseteam]

Why didn't you Volvo vs Volvo?

[@Anders_HeymSR30]

daseteam V90 vs XC90 would have been a much better comparison

[@Rentta]

Also why did they use cross country instead of regular v90

[@AndorRadnai]

Rentta I think out of convenience. I think they had a V90 review going at the time and the Rover was the long-termer. But don’t nail me to that..!

[@henryviiifake8244]

Excellent question. Most likely due to the cars available to producers at the time of filming.

[@joemacleod-iredale2888]

Surely driving an SUV is like wearing hiking boots- arguably practical but a bit daft if your in the office...

[@buddyclem7328]

Joe MacLeod-Iredale Most SUVs wouldn't fit in a cubicle. I doubt my crossover would even fit in the elevator!

[@Ag3nt0fCha0s]

Hiking boots aren't always practical. As I only do lil 6 hour hikea on trails I wear off road running shoes. They are lighter.

[@joemacleod-iredale2888]

Ag3nt0fCha0s sounds like you live somewhere a lot drier than I do!

[@AndorRadnai]

SUVs are more like those make-believe hiking boots. Flat soled and not water resistant, thus useless on mountains. Designed for use on pavement, only that they are worse there than normal shoes.

[@albinalm5194]

Here in Sweden there are waaay more estates than SUVs. When I drive home from Gothenburg, one out of two cars are estates while I don't see SUVs very often.

[@AdamSmith-gs2dv]

In America station wagons are a rare breed, it's SUVs, CUVs, and Pick up trucks as far as you can see.

[@AndorRadnai]

I live in Austria, where people can’t drive very well, so I see a lot of little city SUVs, but whenever I go to Switzerland, that changes drastically. The mountain roads require better driving capabilities and the Estate caters to that requirement really well.

[@ChaosphereIX]

CUVs, not proper SUVs like RRs etc., are ruining the automotive market right now. They are everywhere and people buy them for no reason whatsoever other than perception and marketing fairy dust. I hate the things so much...

[@jamesconlan7097]

Spot on, Completely 100% agree with you

[@fredonia81]

I agree

[@umakegoodcookies]

The number one reason for everyone I've ever asked about it is the feeling of safety. Being up higher, and in a larger vehicle, feels safer for the occupant. Whether it is or not, or whether it's more dangerous for other people seems not to matter one bit.

[@Punisher9419]

Estates are so much better. In every realistic way. Also that Volvo is quite a lot higher then most estates which are just as low as saloons.

[@Paul_Zernick]

It's a crossover, like a Audi allroad.

[@charlesmacgilchrist3648]

The volvo is a very good looking sporting brake and I would go for that also. My boss has a 190hp discovery 4 that does 20mpg. My Estate car is almost as roomy on paper but weighs 1400kg less so with 121hp is 3 seconds quicker to 60 and does 55mpg.

[@rosenfeld8]

The tall driving position justifies about 80% of why people go for the SUV. The other 20% could be the looks, fashion, status or the adventurous lifestyle expression.

[@Pilsnor]

i think that people also forget to think about that there are a lot off "elderly" people and people with mobility issues (mostly back and knee issues) that can drive perfectly fine but get an SUV because it is easier to get in and out off . (my statement is not backed by any data regarding how many it is but it is a thing some SUV owners (and my grand parents) have told me)

[@markdenyer8072]

Ive never understood why someone would want a tall driving position.

[@charlesmacgilchrist3648]

Suvs are also deemed safer by most which isn't strictly true. The hypes been around for a while tbh. 20 years ago on men and motors a guy chose a range rover hse over a rolls-royce for the same £10k. He was looking for a luxury car.

[@scousepagan7186]

I am 5' 7'' for me its the state of the roads pot holes speed bumps my last car evey mot the car needed need suspension work with my suv i don't even feel the bumps

[@Paul_Zernick]

Suv is not adventurous. 4wd is. You buy a land cruiser for adventure, you buy a kona to go to the shops. There is 0 comparison between a 4wd and a suv.

[@d3lan011]

Most hatchbacks and estates are more than enough room for hauling stuff. Most SUVs are so big and they don't have a cargo capacity to contend w/ many estate vehicles. And this is coming from an American.

[@meinejuliLP]

How ironic that you're comparing a SUV to a Cross/SUV'ish Station Wagon.

[@glorious100]

Strange choice indeed. Crossover is a wanna be SUV.

[@gsnedders_legacy]

Yeah, I was kinda surprised to see a V90 Cross Country rather than the standard V90 given the video!

[@FlorinNitulescu_1]

It was to show that an estate with higher ground clearance can play the game without sacrificing stability, fuel consumption, drag coefficient, pollution and many other things SUV are bad at.

[@brumby92]

I thought it was the xc 60. Damn that's a tall station wagon. I kinda liked it

[@Paul_Zernick]

Not picking but correct. You wouldn't compare it to a Audi allroad either. You'd compare it to a a6 wagon. Interesting vehicles though the AWD cross overs. Definately not without merit. And in my mind shit tins better than a suv. I'd rather a nice v8 allroad over a diesel Q7 👍😉

[@richk794]

Earlier this year, I traded in a 2013 XC60 for a 2016 V60 Cross Country. I thought I'd miss the SUV, hasn't happened yet, I made a great choice! Maybe one day "estate" sales will overtake the SUV's!

[@Pandamasque]

It's interesting that Volvo Cross Country IS the original SUV. It was for XC, for Subaru Legacy Outback and Forester and for Audi A6 Allroad that the term SUV was first coined. It was used for slightly elevated wagons that were marketed as a sportier alternative to 4x4s. Now pretty much all off road cars are called "sport utility vehicles".

[@AkaAndyKnuckles]

Nice video. I once drove an A4 Allroad and a Q5 back to back. The A4 was miles better in dynamics and somewhat in comfort.

[@chrisogrady28]

AkaAndyKnuckles Both Audis through so they both handle like a golf cart with a moose nailed to the front

[@AkaAndyKnuckles]

Christopher O'Grady Haha, yes, but I rarely go that fast.

[@shadowgaming6660]

Modern Audis (like the RS6) handle better than Mercs and BMWs

[@chrisogrady28]

The Dudeface no, no they don't. It depends exactly what you're defining as handling here but any BMW can change direction faster, rotate better, and understeer less than any equivelent audi. If you're just defining handling as max G force mid corner then possibly as its mostly just tyre width that helps there, but that's not very relevant if it can't rotate the back end around in the first place.

[@shadowgaming6660]

It may understeer more than BMWs and Mercs, but it will understeer at a greater speed than the speed that makes the BMWs and Mercs oversteeer. Rotating the nack end is not a good measurement of handling, I doubt any F1 teams use it. Tyre width isn't the only factor in cornering G forces, it also relies on suspension and weight.

[@sgirwan]

MULTIPLA > everything

[@notroll1279]

o yes... especially the wildly excentric Mk I from 2000 with the fat rolls under the windscreen... big fan!

[@Ag3nt0fCha0s]

Reliability>multipla. Had it been reliable it would have been great.

[@AndorRadnai]

No Troll The one that looks like they parked a hatchback on top of a rubber boat..? That one‘s automotive perfection!!

[@gbtrac]

Best comment here

[@DonFather]

I think it is exactly how popular the station wagon was in the past that has cursed it. None of us want to be just like our parents because we think they are the opposite of trendy. I'm sure a generation or 2 later, people will be sick of SUVs when they drive.

[@davidmitchell5638]

DaDonFather well my dad used to have 530D E39 wagon, every time I saw sadan version I wished we had that instead but now?......now I just want a wagon E39!!

[@8Hshan]

My mom would love to have and SUV. I like estates :D Though now the rule breaks... My mom never had an SUV. In fact she has her first car now, when I'm 23, and... it's a small estate. My dad also had an estate once. And two liftbacks, and I love liftbacks. I'm just weird :P

[@detcarguymichigan4021]

An SUV is a station wagon!!! The problem is the small and ugly car based wagons aren't selling, duh! Since they don't make full size American cars and station wagons, everyone by the bigger "SUV". Just a full size, tall, station wagon!!!

[@CammieGee]

Great video but I'm disappointed you didn't mention Subaru. It's Forester and Outback models are basically high riding estates with some SUV off road capability. The success of these models shows that the estate is still a sellable concept once it's well executed and well marketed.

[@shwndh]

My personal experience: I was looking for a used E350 wagon, under 100k miles, under $20K. I loved the driving dynamics, practicality, and styling and I was willing to do the maintenance. But I could not find a suitable vehicle within my radius. So I test drove an ML350 that was in excellent condition inside and out since it had the same drivetrain that I had done research on. I liked the higher riding position and the additional headroom and the handling was pretty good for a SUV. It was a great deal, so I ended up with a SUV. I still long for the driving dynamic of the wagon, but the used market had more SUVs available than wagons. Next time around, I really want that V90.

[@Atombender]

When I hear the term station wagon, I immediately think of the VW Passat.

[@rabit818]

Vintage Volvo wagons are the "go to" cars in movies if the character is an academic

[@AndorRadnai]

Yup. That’s true! The image has shifted from the geography teacher to the intellectual. And that’s making me very happy!

[@albinalm5194]

I can't help to notice how calm the ride looked in the estate and how bumpy the ride looked in the SUV

[@Ryukachoo]

There's this perception that ride height is everything -can see over other cars on the road -easier to get in and out of -less risk of not being able to go over things. Only the second point is actually true, most suvs have the same ground clearance as estates and most sub seating positions are marginally higher than an estate. Also if everyone is in suvs you can't see over them anyway

[@craigbishop2529]

Ryukachoo and the third point isn’t true? Yeah you can quite easily see the difference in ride height between an suv and an estate car 😂😂

[@Ryukachoo]

Craig Bishop Look at the thumbnail of this very video. What height objects would the estate scrape on while the SUV would not?

[@aimxdy8680]

@@Ryukachoo Thé V90 cross country is a lifted version of V90, which nobody drives lifted estates over here, most estates are Skoda Octavia’s, Golf Variant, Bmw 3 series touring, 5 series touring, C class and E class estate, which all have 5 inches of ground clearance

[@Marmocet]

My Toyota Carolla hybrid station wagon can haul as much stuff as a typical SUV, but unlike an SUV, it can get up to 70+ mpg.

[@MatrixDiscovery]

god I hate SUV's. They are slow in traffic and in corners thus slowing down all of traffic. Never had a issue with Station wagons, they are just fast as cars and corners the same.

[@Strike86]

If you have the choice and you buy an SUV instead of an estate then you have failed as a human being. Fashion is not an excuse.

[@subarnosinha8042]

What do you buy if you have a family of more than 5members? Or live in a city with poor roads? A lot of SUVs seat 6/7 people, none of the estates do. In the end, for a practical buyer(not a blind sheep) it all boils down to his needs. I'm from a small town in India, currently living in a metropolitan. Half the roads in my hometown are beyond crappy and my family has Hyundai hatchback. It's good for city driving but over poor roads in my hometown, it suffers, badly. A frnd in my hometown has a Toyota Fortuner(Hilux based SUV) and trust me, never felt a bump even when driven over the worst roads of my hometown. All I'm saying is, the needless hate for SUV needs to stop. You don't like it, don't buy it. In this day and age, people should buy what they want and can afford without getting judged for it.

[@AndorRadnai]

Subarno Sinha I would consider a people carrier (aka. Minivan). They can be built with soft suspension and can hold more people while having somewhat better dynamics and really great fuel economy. And more luggage space.

[@lsdesign]

I own a ranger rover, Volvo wagon and Porsche 911, each has its own purpose and I enjoy them all

[@bballplayaa1]

That was a great discussion guys, keep them coming. Actually I would also prefer a station wagon instead of a SUV. It seems that fast wagons have more of a sleeper look than the fast SUV's. And who doesn't like a fast sleeper everyday car. That's why I think there would always be a desire for sporty and slick ( ie. Volvo and Audi) estates from the car enthusiasts that would appreciate some more practicality in everyday life.

[@henryviiifake8244]

6yrs later and it turns out that SUVs have really eaten into sales of _saloon_ cars the most. Estate/Wagon sales definitely took a hit, but you still have many options for new estate cars from all sorts of manufacurers. A great example is the post 2016 Toyota Corolla. Hatchbacks and Estates are abundantly available and both highly praised, but the Saloon version is arguably more rare than certain classic cars on UK roads

[@Andrew.Branch]

I love that the wagon you picked is almost as tall as the SUV, not really a proper opposite comparison. Give me a proper sport wagon over an SUV all day every day.

[@Tolmalion]

I'm 30, pretty andventurous, got no kids and I still went for Mondeo Turnier as my car of choice as it can accomodate me and my girlfriend on our andventures almost as a camper when I put the rear seats down and inflate the matt, and in the corners it still manages to put a smile on my face whenever I push it. Now, get a hold of that dear marketing departments!

[@Jorge-Tamacas]

I prefer the station wagon, it has all I need. It has room enough for my wife, kids and me. SUV's are bigger, taller and heavier, they're not my kind of car

[@TheAegisClaw]

Pot holes. That's the reason, the benefits of more suspension travel on UK roads is considerable.

[@arsensarkissian8089]

TheAegisClaw exactly! Unfortunately you need an SUV to negotiate our truly awful roads! Other than that RS6 please 😉

[@Pandamasque]

A lot of so-called SUVs ride very hard. Sometimes they are stiffer than lower cars to compensate for high centre of gravity.

[@fabers92]

I always chuckle when I see big SUVs on our terrible roads with 22" wheels and 'sport' suspension- must be teeth shattering.

[@daswerck91]

+Niandra What is the solution then? For good handling (low to no body roll) while still crushing all these plotholes and annoying bump speed under your wheels? estate+comfort air suspension+18" wheels? Or SUV + 17" wheels and multi link suspension? What do you do?

[@subarnosinha8042]

This is especially applicable in India. Even in the metropolitan cities, roads in some areas can be truly awful. Mumbai gets flooded every year, roads aren't that great. Where I live(Pune, near Mumbai) the road from my home to the nearby highway is good enough for off-roading. 2 wheelers suffer on these roads, and so do cars with low ground clearance and suspension travel(hatch, saloons).

[@ottoschnell]

Notice how much more spongy movement the SUV transfers to the inside compared to the Estate!

[@brucec43]

We have one of each and there is something to be said of the higher view, especially in suburban traffic. You're never dynamically testing the vehicle anyway, and a sporty luxury compact crossover is fairly nimble.

[@3ogdy]

The SUV seemed quieter so: I downloaded your video. Converted into MP3. Imported into Audacity. Selected representative area before and after the 6:00 mark. The wagon was about twice as loud in terms of road noise - I could amplify the sound half as much without distortion kicking in.

[@aimxdy8680]

range rover which is a luxury brand vs volvo which is a regular swedish brand, they should have compared it to a mercedes’ E class estate

[@QuantumS1ngularity]

Estate cars aren't only for big families. I'm a single guy and ever since i set my foot in an estate (was strictly a 4-door sedan person before that) i wonder how i ever lived without one. Yes, it's a bit heavier than the sedan of the same model, but adds waaaaay more practicality w/o losing any of the driving fun. Before i got my first estate i always was sleeping in the passenger seat of the car on fishing trips - tents just don't do it for me. Now i take all the stuff out, fold the rear seats, lay my mattress on top and sleep like a baby. Yes, you can do this in some sedans, but it's far more difficult and not all of them have folding rear seats. The other great thing is when shopping, you never think "would it fit in the car or should i have them deliver it to my place" about something big (like a TV, an oven, tumble dryer and so on ). Visiting relatives and traveling around the holidays is also another experience made better. And you might think "well SUVs even better for that lifestyle" - maybe in America with their huge highways they are, but here in Europe, with anything bigger than a Q5/X5 you're basically a truck (in the sense of semi-truck) driver. A couple of times friends tried to convince me to switch to Q7, but it just isn't for me. Everything about driving a SUV in Europe is worse than estate and that is even before bringing the service and maintenance into the equation, which are also waaay higher. But the thing that literally left me dumbfounded is the fact that when i asked around, most of the people who buy SUVs do so because they don't know that estates are also offered in AWD. They think that AWD is just an SUV thing while at the same time some estates are better than most of the base, bottom-end SUVs even off the road, thx to the lower center of gravity and less weight.

[@avinashrai11141]

One big point for suv is seating capacity and boot flexibility.

[@MaccaMan08]

Henry is absolutely spot on about the switch over point! My last car was a Z4 E85 and now I'm on an E320 CDI wagon. Although my reasons for changing weren't to do with kids. Mainly dogs and being 6'5, a Z4 is a really small space to be in on a daily basis!

[@antioneberry5278]

I'm a college professor and a professional writer and most men drive the station wagons🚗🚘.

[@b_mb4948]

A peacock has its feathers, the family man has his bonnet...

[@cornishjim13]

Was thinking about this the other day and concluded - From a look perspective the SUV is proportionally closer to a hatch, which most people (UK) drive when younger, many with the aspiration of a hot hatch, therefore something with similar proportions is familiar and a reminder of your youth but is bigger (?) for the family.

[@wickedleeloopy2115]

What i find ironic , is the station wagons have a lower centre of gravity & are actually more sportier and just as practical as a SUV. So why not just Lable them as a lowered SUV.🤣

[@AndorRadnai]

I think VW once did. And I was rather furious at them for doing so..!

[@Monificent]

All one needs is a turbo diesel hybrid estate...or a RS6 Avant.....or a CLS63 Shooting Brake... or a Ferrari FF

[@raupenimmersatt6906]

Mo_nificient The FF is a hatchback not an estate

[@brandonguerrero0614]

Dog Toy shooting brake* its a 2 door wagon

[@raupenimmersatt6906]

Brandon G thought it was a hatchback :p Why does Mercedes call the CLS a shooting brake then? As it has 4 doors lol

[@Monificent]

Dog Toy because the CLS is considered a four door coupe

[@isaks3243]

oh, i'm an estate lover. i have a volvo 940 estate, and one 940 sedan. and the estate just looks soo much better

[@MarkIrmina]

I just Traded my awful Maserati Ghibli SQ4 for a excellent Volvo XC90 T6 Inscription. Originally i was going to order a Volvo V90 T6 R design, but when i got to the show room the two cars were parked next to each other and the XC90 was a better looking to me. Also after driving the Ghibli for a year i gave up on the idea that a family car can be fun. The R design is more of an appearance package so it would probably be more show than go. I enjoy my SUV, its a great SUV I don't need it to be fast and corner well. For fun I will purchase a separate sports car.

[@terribletelevision6980]

I was sitting in the office of my panel beater today waiting to pick up my car and I picked up a copy of EVO. It was the “Car of the year 2012” issue and one of the judges was Henry Catchpole. How media has changed, eh. Quick edit: awesome video boys.

[@kevinterry6444]

Living in Atlanta, GA (United States) there aren’t many choices for estates. I searched. In addition, most are $40k plus since they are most offered from Audi, Mercedes, BMW, Buick, and Volvo. I honestly don’t think a hatchback is comparable even to the smallest SUV. This is coming from someone who had a 2014 Ford Focus ST. When it came to picking up large items from Ikea, Home Depot, and taking the entire family (wife, daughter, & dog). It was never possible. And if it did occur, it was uncomfortable. Which in turn would make us take my wife’s RAV4. This is when I decided to get an SUV. It carries my family, bike, dog etc. Gas mileage is better since I don’t drive as faster and tires went from $1200-$1400 to $700ish. I know if I had to seriously go off-road in my Mazda it would be useless. But minor flooding roads, large pot holes, and dirt/gravel roads when going to the cabin is all I needed it to conquer. Just an observation, seriously, who drives off road really that much anymore. I grew up in a town that still has dirt roads. And seriously, no one in that town has a Range Rover. Small SUV’s are a waste? You’re wasting more money buying a Range Rover that has $30k in electronics and engineering that will never be used to even 5% of its capability. You also, have individuals who have F150’s and with tons of pulling power and will never tow an item their life. At the end of the day, people will purchase what they want.

[@gurkpojken]

I can tell from a swedish point of view. Here in sweden we dont like people who show of in a expensive Ferrari or a Lamborghini, those people we as childish and unserious. Here Most People buy a car as a Volvo estate to show that you are serious and do things with thoughts. Swedish people like when its sober and not fancy. If you have a bigger engine in your new car we take away the emblem to not stand out.

[@Mr_Seppo]

Tala för dig skälv.

[@robinforrest7680]

No SAAB anymore 😭. My dream is a 9-5 Aero estate 😍 A damn site nicer and more practical than an SUV and without a doubt better in snow because Swedish.

[@thehuonpine]

Most manufacturers make SUVs the same length of a normal car. So the boot space is not more than a normal sedan but vertical space is more which is not practical since you won’t stack your things up in the boot anyway since they will fall unless you find some harness to secure the stuff. As for wagon, the trunk part is usually made a bit longer so the space seems more practical.

[@THE_Michael_Westen]

I think you buy cars mostly because of looks (the cars) and ego (yours). I like the remark about the Iphone. A lot of stuff, not only cars, is bought mostly because we're told we need them. It's psychology.

[@bradleycrandon24]

nail on the head :)

[@ianfernandes96]

Attention to detail on point @5:51

[@19chucki74]

Personally, I prefer wagons over SUVs. Wagons have better access, and a lower center of gravity. Reason why I love my 2000 Subaru Outback wagon.

[@mclarenf1V12]

This video is out of balance between historic drool and talking about the actual car they’re driving

[@viniciuslage3302]

SAVE THE WAGONS!!!

[@subninja8069]

Wagon Master Race!!!! Same idea as PC master race

[@kristian6622]

Guys, from my GF’s words - most people feel taller is better. It’s genuinely as simple as that.

[@AndorRadnai]

Yeah, that’s true, but they should watch an elk test of these cars.

[@Basih]

@@AndorRadnai they should watch what high center of gravity means when you hit the guard rail on highways too.. Don't quote me but I think that SUVs have a 3x higher chance of rollover than estate/sedan.

[@AndorRadnai]

@@Basih It was definitely something along those lines.

[@rlorenzoalvarez]

One point you forgot, an important one: as in monospace cars you sit more vertical, which means that you can have more space (different leg position). So basically you have the practicality of a monospace, however without shouting: “I gave up on nice cars and bought a boring monospace”. ..... I’m one of those....

[@chynamese]

I waited 3 years for a used 3.6 CTS4 wagon to come on the market. I now own 1 of 2 that I have ever seen in black premium trim in British Columbia. 1 major advantage that CF does not mention is the ever popular cargo box. People who buy SUVs and wagons for cargo space, often also have a rooftop cargo box to carry things that they don't want in plain view or taking up passenger space. Not only are the cargo boxes easier to access on the roof of a wagon, but it also doesn't prevent your car from getting into/out of underground parking garages. You'd need a small step ladder to access a cargo box on an SUV. And forget about parking underground. The difference in actual usable interior cargo space is negligible. The only advantages I can give to an SUV over a wagon is visibility (a few inches higher) and for the same reason, they are also easier to get in and out of. I would give my left nut for a 2019 CTS4 wagon! Thank goodness there are still sensible automakers like Volvo that cater to the resourceful, pragmatic, logical car enthusiasts.

[@DenisKudlik]

SUVs are awful. If you want any SUV to have as much space and practicality as a wagon, that SUV needs to be a much bigger car than the wagon to accomplish that. Also they're hideous.

[@iwankitty]

Wagon is better of all time.

[@rab6121]

My grandpa got mad at me when i bought an qashqai without 4x4. Because to him its a offroader. And i actually drive alot offroad with it but i dont Need a 4x4. But my grandpa owns a 87’ gelendewagen and ONLY use it on the road. In his 25year of ownership he has more or less never taken it really offroad. And Im dying to see how good it actually is.

[@wiryantirta]

I just hope that all-road-estates/SWs won’t disappear or be unreasonable to find/buy when I do have to move up from my hatchback. I really want an all-road Volvo V60.

[@kahsiongchow8040]

I can see both of you show more body movements in suv than in wagon

[@phabletfortyfour3457]

For me it's estate practicality and to an extent looks. I've contemplated SUVs but honestly I'd feel a bit of a knob in one given the kind of driver it mostly attracts. SUVs are a trend and it will change to another trend once it becomes saturated and another trend 'low saloons' comes back in. It's super hard to tell many SUVs apart these days and as a shape it's hard to innovate. Funny how a straight lined 850 Volvo became iconic and a blobby SUV from any manufacturer emetic!

[@elijahcarter2435]

Bring back the Volvo C30! I would love to see a sort of two-door estate

[@jamiep61]

Great Video. SUVs are hugely popular but you like driving then the Estate Is a great alternative

[@TheGreatLoco]

Same size wagon does not have the same about of space as an SUV, parking is also easier because of the higher sitting position. One more thing is that when the lights of a taller vehicle behind can blind a little bit. Another detail is that's designed from the ground for 4WD and 20 cm ground distance, while an all terrain wagon doesn't look that good and without elevation may be less useful for bad roads and snow. Other than that, can't think of anything else where the station wagon isn't better that a SUV. Handling, acceleration, fuel consumption, etc. It's also much more elegant in standard ground clearance versions. But both types can be replaced by a hatchback too, at least in their smaller versions.

[@tmwall25]

that white sweater is niiiiice

[@AndorRadnai]

Yess!! I love it as well!!!

[@JonMcG]

Not sure about this comparison . Wouldn't it of been a fairer test to compare the V90 to the XC90 ? Or the A series to the Q series Audi ? 5 Series BMW to the X5 ? See where im going with this ?

[@SPcamert]

In New York state when you register a wagon for the road the type of vehicle is designated as a "suburban".

[@SamoScopom]

Estates many times have more practical boot, people usually haul around longer cargo, not taller. The main appeal of SUVs, I think, is the ride height and also the ease of getting in and out of the car. Personally, I really enjoy the comfort and better rear visibility of estates , but some SUVs seem safer and easier to drive (curbs, holes,...). In my opinion the main thing that is going to stop us from buying SUVs is fuel economy and maybe also availability and marketing of AWD versions of non-SUVs.

[@m7mmadbasam724]

More of these types of conversations pleas ! ... awesome

[@B3burner]

I don't know: Unless I'm missing something, wasn't this a conversation we should have been having back in 1987 and not now? Station wagons (as you so put them) started falling out of favor when Chrysler introduced the first Town & Country minivan back in 1984. Then SUV's quickly fell into favor. Not that Ford Broncos and Toyota Land Cruisers didn't exist back in 1968... but they were never considered as family vehicles, only for purely outdoor, adventurist types. Then, as I said earlier, usher in 1984 and the minivan, people said, "wait we can do even better than that"... and so came the SUV challenge to make them more luxurious and family friendly. It began with the minivan, and then gradually moved over to influencing the SUV. The idea of a station wagon (and when I think "station wagon"... I'm thinking Mrs. Carol Brady's 1972 Plymouth Satellite or Harry and the Henderson's 1970 Ford LTD Country Squire)... anywhere in conversation in 2018 to me is absolutely laughable. Maybe you're thinking of a different definition for the word "station wagon" than I am, because the one's I'm thinking of have been relegated to salvage yards for decades. In fact, you'd be hard pressed to even find them *THERE* anymore.

[@horsepower288]

Drew Stearne is wearing two watches. Why? A habit? A personal trademark?

[@thomasabbott6332]

Analogue and a smart, as analogue on his left is probably what he uses to tell the time, the smart one so he can do phone shit without getting it out of his pocket, is my guess

[@horsepower288]

A bit overkill, too. Anyway, the cars and the reviews matter more.

[@MiniEggs1999]

Because the battery is always flat on one of them

[@une_olive]

nice Braun watch tho

[@kunleodu]

A better comparison would have been with an XC90 instead of the Discovery. I actually drive an estate (Mazda 6) and a crossover (Nissan Rogue) - both AWDs, and the only reason I got the crossover was for a higher ground clearance. Other than that, the driving is smoother & fun with my estate. Plus it's more fuel efficient, drives quicker, less blindspots and easier to wash. I was even surprised the estate gives me a better view when parking, most especially when backing up.

[@cmacd8879]

"I've used my long bonnet... to make a family..." It will be a while before I can put that phrase out of my head....LOL

[@mgmarrison]

Credit to the both of you for this one. Powerslides are great, but this goes to show there are many ways to make a decent car video.

[@TobiasRieperGER]

First the Volvo V90 is a Crossover. So its higher than a regular station wagon. Imo this here is not a fair comparision. Most people want to sit high, but an SUV is not the only cartype that has this feature. I drive a MPV. Maybe you yould prefer Minivan. My Toyota CV R1 has 177hp, so its fast as the station wagon. I have more space than a station wagon, and more length than a SUV. The only downside is the missing AWD.

[@MSportsEngineering]

The history of the station wagon and carryover to today was great.

[@originalceo]

No comparison. Estates better if you enjoy performance driving. But I get the allure of SUV on bumpy pot hole filled urban roads when you care more about comfort. Then there's the security of knowing your 4500-5000 lbs tank will mostly insure you against your & other drivers mistakes in a crash. But Estates beat sedans any day

[@Unconventional03]

I really want Estates to make a comeback in the US. the only US domestic "Estate" is a Buick.

[@subninja8069]

that really a Opel Grman car

[@niux919]

love estate cars. I've had volvo s80 and as much as i loved it I always wanted v70. It's just that extra space you know you have if you need it and modern estates looks very nice.

[@niwouackermann8517]

SUV's are heavier and more expensive too. But in most countries you'll get better resale on an SUV compared to a Estate

[@aboys3608]

Wagons by design have more useable boot space simply because it's more horizontal than an equivalent SUV and thus a larger floor space which is what you want for the weeky groceries run

[@someonehonest5804]

everybody in the comments says that suv sucks and estates are much better looking.. i sincerely think it's the opposite, estates are ugly, i would never buy one, i'd instead get a saloon but if i need practicality i'd definetely go for the suv, not a too big one but something like the stelvio or macan

[@slanahesh]

One thing I'd like to see is a comparison between the V90 the v90 Cross Country and the XC90. I think it would be interesting to see where they diverge as cars.

[@V1RT8]

They are both so far from the driving pleasure of my 981S that I would take the Discovery just for the idea of having something that may go anywhere with any weather