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20 Fast Wagons That Somehow Measure Up To Corvette

Cameron Eittreim July 27, 2021

It has been decades since the station wagon was the mainstay of the automotive industry. But nevertheless, the segment has not evaporated. The market for station wagons has continued to evolve into more of a niche segment, with specialty models that appeal to a certain market.

You might not think of station wagons as performance vehicles, but you’d be wrong to make that assumption. Most modern-day station wagons are performance vehicles and can take a fast car like the Corvette head-on. We took a deeper look into 20 fast station wagons that can hang with the Vette below.

20: Mercedes E-Class AMG Wagon

The Mercedes E-Class AMG Wagon is the king of the performance wagon world. The twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 sends a thunderous amount of performance to the all-wheel-drive platform. Transmission-wise, the nine-speed automatic gets the job done better than almost any other seen in a station wagon. Smooth-shifting on the fly still allows the E-Class to handle business discreetly.

With a zero-to-60 time under four seconds, the E-Class AMG is not your mother’s station wagon. With this powerful grocery-getter, you can smoke a Corvette and still make it to your dinner reservations. The cargo space and the interior dimensions make the E-Class AMG Wagon a stellar choice for the enthusiast who values performance.

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19: Dodge Magnum SRT8

The Dodge Magnum is sort of the ugly duckling of the performance car world. Chrysler based the wagon on the same platform as the popular 300C and Dodge Charger. Although you’d never expect it, the SRT8 version of this wagon packed a powerful V8 Hemi. With 425 horsepower to its wheels, this is an impressive way to cart the kids to school and back. The resale value on the Magnum SRT8 isn’t very expensive at all, so snagging one won’t break the bank.

For the most part, enthusiasts rave about the reliability of the 5.7L V8 Hemi engine. You’ll spend less time in the shop and more time beating the pavement in this wagon. The exterior design was changed toward the end of the model’s lifecycle which added to the appeal. In a lot of ways, the Magnum has become an underrated classic of the auto world.

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18: BMW M5 Estate

The BMW M5 is sort of the go-between in the 3-Series and 7-Series lineup. It offers a happy medium of size and performance that you won’t find anywhere else. The exterior looks of the car have aged quite well, and it’s not outdated by any means. The 5.0-liter V10 Engine pushes out a masterful 500 horsepower. Needless to say, the M5 Estate is far from a stately vehicle, and there is an unlimited supply of aftermarket upgrades that you can purchase for it.

The wagon never made its way to U.S. shores, but there are a few that have been imported. The M5 Estate is perhaps one of the most underrated station wagons of all time, serving up a serious amount of performance. Wagons are not generally the first segment that you equate with performance, but the M5 Estate changes that perspective.

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17: Jaguar XF Sportbrake

The Jaguar XF has grown long in the tooth over the past decade, but the XF Sportbrake reinvigorated the brand. You don’t generally see a Jaguar wagon in modern form, much less one that has as much performance as the Sportbrake. The acceleration time is 0-60 in a flat five seconds, which is downright astonishing. The styling of the wagon is very aggressive and it doesn’t try to mimic Subaru or other stalwarts in the segment.

The Sportbrake is not your average station wagon by any stretch of the imagination and Jaguar has made sure of that. The design is perhaps among the best that Jaguar has ever put to the pavement, and it’s too bad that the Sportbrake didn’t receive more positive press coverage. Wagons have fallen out of favor but there still are many excellent performance versions such as the aforementioned Jag.

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16: Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo

The Panamera has a polarizing look all on its own. So to take things to a whole new level Porsche introduced the Panamera Sport Turismo. This blend of traditional Porsche styling and station wagon characteristics makes the best of both worlds. The Panamera Sport Turismo is a far cry from the standard models in every sense of the word. Power is derived from a 550-horsepower twin-turbo V8, the top of the class.

Porsche Design is in every inch of this interesting-looking wagon, and you’ve gotta admit that the Panamera is one of the most unique-looking models on the market. The performance to price ratio is about as high as you can get. It should also be noted that the Panamera Sport Turismo is one of the last wagons on the road.

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15: Audi RS 6 Avant

With Porsche genes running through its bloodlines, the Audi RS 6 Avant is a clear descendant of the Panamera. Taking a cue from the BMW M5 Estate, the RS 6 Avant uses the same type of German charm in a wagon. German engineered station wagons are far from a boring driving experience, even a VW Passat Wagon drives amazingly well. This wagon has a massive V10 engine that pumps out a whopping 570 horsepower.

One notable feature of the RS 6 Avant is the adaptive suspension, which adjusts itself while driving. This technology was also prominent and late model BMW models and it helps the car to conform to certain road conditions. All of these features combined create one of the most powerful station wagons on the road today.

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14: BMW 3-Series Wagon

Although BMW has refused to build an M3 Wagon, there is a 3-Series wagon that still has an acceptable amount of performance. Off the straight line, the turbocharged four-cylinder propels the 3-Series from 0-60 in under six seconds. You could theoretically give a C5 Corvette a run for its money in one of these wagons and do it in comfort. The BMW 3-Series offers one of the purest driving experiences you can get for the money.

The 3-Series stands out from the crowd for a design that has lasted the test of time. BMW is always careful with the redesigns when it comes to the 3-Series and with good reason. While the 3-Series Wagon might not beat a Corvette in a straightaway, it will give the Vette a run for its money.

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13: Buick Roadmaster Estate

A dream for many automotive enthusiasts is to have a 1995 Chevy Impala SS wagon, unfortunately, there was never an official model. The Buick Roadmaster Estate was that vehicle that enthusiasts yearned for, all under a slightly different disguise. The Roadmaster is perhaps one of the most underrated vehicles of all time. The Corvette-derived LT1 engine, while detuned, is still a full factory Corvette powerplant.

Propelling this heavy beast from 0-60 in under seven seconds is a notable feat. There are plenty of aftermarket upgrades that you can do to the Roadmaster that will increase the horsepower tremendously. A popular upgrade is to swap out the Buick body pieces with those from an Impala, making a rather unique-looking car.

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12: Ferrari GTC4Lusso

You might not know it but Ferrari also sells a wagon model, albeit far less popular than the other wagons we’ve showcased. The GTC4Lusso is similar to the Panamera in a lot of ways and others, it’s the most practical Ferrari that you can get. The 4+4 seating means that you get Ferrari performance with the practical aspects of a family sedan. The AWD capability means that you can take this car in the snow for the weekend and still be comfortable.

The GTC4Lusso is quite expensive but the price for a used example has come down in the past couple of years. The interesting thing about the car is that it offers a subtle range of performance and luxury features that all blend quite well. Few wagons can take a Corvette on and beat it but the GTC4Lusso is one of them.

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11: Holden Commodore Sportwagon

You might think that the Commodore looks familiar and that’s because it’s the same company that brought us the Pontiac G8 and the Chevy SS. The Sportwagon version of this car has the same power that you’d find under the hood of a Corvette. V8-powered wagons are hard to come by nowadays and the Commodore Sportwagon offers a serious blend of power and performance.

The looks of the car are also nothing to sneeze at, with stylish curves and a nice set of wheels to set things off. Holden has seemingly existed in the performance market in previous years but the Commodore has remained a placeholder for the brand. If you want Corvette power wrapped up in a stylish wagon, you can’t go wrong with the Commodore Sportwagon.

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10: Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon

The original Cadillac CTS-V blew doors off the auto industry when it was originally released. The car was at the apex of the performance and luxury world. The CTS-V Sport Wagon takes things to another level with a serious blend of performance and quality. Its luxurious interior and cargo space are only matched by the Cadillac features that you’d come to expect. The CTS-V will take a Corvette on thanks to the Corvette power plant under the hood.

On top of all that performance, the CTS-V is designed to be a driver’s car. The suspension has been upgraded as well as the wheels and brakes. In every sense of the word, the CTS-V is just about the best performance bargain that you can get. The supercar handling and the off-the-line performance are the best aspects of this car.

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9: Chevrolet Caprice Corvette Chaser

The “box” Chevy is one of the most popular body styles the brand ever had. The Caprice Corvette Chaser was a special prototype that was designed by GM. Legend has it that there are quite a few of these prototypes that have made it onto the roadways. Its distinct white paint and subtle performance are two of the things that make this car stand out.

On top of that, the Corvette chaser utilizes an actual Corvette engine, while keeping in line with its subtle look and feel. The Corvette Chaser is probably one of the most unique and well-kept models on the road today. The Caprice Corvette Chaser is a well-rounded car with a lot of performance.

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8: Dodge Hemi Coronet Wagon

The Dodge Coronet isn’t the first car that comes to mind when you think of performance. But that didn’t stop Dodge from building a performance version of the car. By cramming a Hemi engine into the Coronet Wagon, the company created quite the muscle car. You could even say that the Coronet Wagon was the precursor to the Dodge Magnum drivers got decades later.

These wagons are quite rare but their performance is quite legendary. You can’t go wrong with the original Hemi V8 power crammed into a Coronet wagon. The look and feel of this wagon are something that you just don’t get very often, and the sound of the Hemi is noteworthy.

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7: Chevrolet Chevelle SS Wagon

Another rarity in the muscle car world is the Chevelle SS Wagon. GM was reluctant to sell one of these until 1973 rolled around. The company needed to bolster sales and thus a Chevelle SS Wagon was indeed released to the public. The car had many of the same features as the original Chevelle SS, which made it quite a unique ride.

The standout feature of the Chevelle SS wagon was of course the performance, which at the time was ahead of the curve. The look and feel of this ride were not only fast but also ahead of its time, as performance wagons were a new concept.

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6: Volvo V60 Polestar

Volvo is a company that has always prided itself on the safety of its vehicles. But the company also has a long history of building fast wagons. The Volvo V60 Polestar is among one of the most popular and performance-minded wagons in recent years. The beautiful blue paint scheme and the interior features of this wagon make it stand out from the crowd.

Similar to other performance renditions of the V60, its performance is ahead of the crowd. In typical Volvo fashion, the styling is subtle but you do know that this is indeed a special-edition car. The Volvo V60 Polestar is certainly one of the most amazing models to come out from Volvo in recent years.

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5: Mercedes CLS AMG Shooting Brake

Mercedes is a company that has made its fair share of wagons recently. The CLS AMG Shooting Brake is among one of the fastest. When you take your first look at this wagon you know that something is different. The feeling is that it was built for performance and that is indeed the case.

The elongated body and the sloping rear give the wagon a feeling of a sports coupe. Its off-the-line performance is exceptional which you’d expect nothing less from a Benz. The interior is flooded with luxury features, gizmos, and gadgets that let you know that you are indeed riding in a luxurious expensive car.

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4: Custom Bentley Arnage Wagon

If you are shocked by seeing an Arnage Wagon you’d be right, as this was a special one-off that was requested by a millionaire. Never one to turn down money, Bentley built this custom wagon with everything that the buyer wanted. The performance of the Arnage was already at the top of its class, which made for a special type of ride.

The unique thing about the Arnage is that the performance is one of the most notable features. Bentley has perfected the Arnage over a long period and the car is one of the most notable Bentley models of all time. The Arnage is one of the most unique exotic cars to hit the road.

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3: VW Passat Wagon W8

Another rarity in the wagon world is the Passat Wagon W8. The W8 was a special type of V8 engine that was designed by Volkswagen. The performance is second to none although the wagon still has a lot of reliability issues. It has been said that this wagon will take on a Corvette no problem, and in proper running condition, the W8 is a stellar engine.

If you can afford to keep this thing on the roadways then you’re in for a treat. The W8 is one of the most well-put-together cars to come out of Germany. The ride quality is up there with Audi and the rest of the high-end luxury vehicles.

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2: Subaru Forester STI

A performance-oriented version of the Subaru Forester is the STI, and it comes in a wagon form. Subaru is often showcasing the Impreza STI but the Forester STI is just as capable when it comes to performance. The all-wheel-drive characteristics of the car make it perform just as well as you’d expect.

Likewise, the driving characteristics of the car make it a pleasure whether you’re going off the beaten path or the highway. The STI version of the Forester has special features such as color matching paint and special-edition wheels. If you want a car that is capable but still fun-to-drive you can’t go wrong with the Subaru Forester STI.

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1: Brabus Mercedes C63 Wagon

The Brabus Mercedes C63 Wagon has a powerful engine and a set of brakes that will stop on a dime. The design of this wagon is downright beautiful and you won’t see it often. Its beautiful styling and the noteworthy performance are only supplemented by the luxury features that are throughout the vehicle.

Brabus puts a special touch on all of the Mercedes vehicles that they work on, and this is true with the C63. The beautiful performance and styling of the C63 make it a standout vehicle for several reasons and a wagon that shouldn’t be overlooked.

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20 Fast Wagons That Somehow Measure Up To Corvette

20: Mercedes E-Class AMG Wagon

19: Dodge Magnum SRT8

18: BMW M5 Estate

17: Jaguar XF Sportbrake

16: Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo

15: Audi RS 6 Avant

14: BMW 3-Series Wagon

13: Buick Roadmaster Estate

12: Ferrari GTC4Lusso

11: Holden Commodore Sportwagon

10: Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon

9: Chevrolet Caprice Corvette Chaser

8: Dodge Hemi Coronet Wagon

7: Chevrolet Chevelle SS Wagon

6: Volvo V60 Polestar

5: Mercedes CLS AMG Shooting Brake

4: Custom Bentley Arnage Wagon

3: VW Passat Wagon W8

2: Subaru Forester STI

1: Brabus Mercedes C63 Wagon

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