Stationwagons and Hatchbacks Deserve More Respect, (And So Do Their Owners)

“My name is Atul, and I drive a stationwagon.” At least that’s what a lot of people would want me to say in some kind of stationwagon owner’s anonymous support group. This mostly occurs because I don’t have a wife and kids. To them I say, my Saab 9-3 SportCombi wagon (and most wagons) are faster, more efficient, lighter, better-handling, safer, and definitely sportier than many so-called Sport Utility Vehicles.  SUVs may have more power but the power to weight ratio is better with a wagon than most SUVs.  My 9-3 even holds about the same amount of stuff as some small to mid-sized SUVs.

Even though I catch flack for owning and driving a wagon (and a hatchback), it’s hard to argue with the fact that they are more practical than sedans. For instance, I can put my bicycle back there without taking the front wheel off and I can even put two with one of the front wheels removed. I’ve had my 1997 Saab 900 for almost ten years. My hatchback has saved me hundreds of dollars in U-Haul rental expenses when I was starting off. Hand-me-down furniture fit well in the back whereas a sedan would not have been able to hold any of the dressers, chairs, and tables that I brought from Cleveland to Detroit.   I fit a 32” tube TV which I purchased and my car saved the day when my friend bought a similar TV and could not get it home in her car.

On the efficiency front, my 1997 Saab has averaged 26.5 mpg with about 40% city driving and the 2006 has averaged 28 mpg with about 70% highway miles. This real world fuel economy is competitive with hybrid SUV’s like the Ford Escape hybrid and the Toyota Highlander hybrid. I think I deserve a tax credit too.

In terms of safety, a lighter, lower, better handling vehicle is better at avoiding accidents. I would rather avoid and accident and get to my destination without delay than get into one and suffer less damage, possibly hurting others in smaller vehicles. In an SUV, rollovers are more likely and those really snarl traffic, let alone putting vehicle occupants in a dizzying dangerous situation, (especially if seatbelts aren’t being used in the rear seats).

I feel I’m not alone though. The trend towards hatchbacks is catching on. In Europe, hatchbacks have been considered to be more upscale than sedans. Hatchbacks and wagons are becoming more popular in North America too. The Mazda 3, Audi A3, Honda Fit, and MINI are all considered cool and I believe my Saab 9-3 SportCombi looks sharp as well. (Notice how the Saab marketing folks had to disguise the fact that it’s a wagon by calling it something other than a stationwagon.) We are such a sensitive society.

I declare the dawn of a new era, a time when hatchbacks and wagons are not only practical, but respectable and cool. They’re not just for families with kids anymore.

+ Atul

Comments

[chancelucky]

We have a Subura Legacy wagon. The other day the guy at the feed store was surprised that we got two hay bales and some firewood in the back.

I'm always surprised that SUV's have as little room as they do inside, particularly when you leave the backseat intact.

[Atul]

It's good to see that other people such as yourself have seen the light. SUV's tend to be more vertical and are not as long as cars of similar interior volume so they have little space behind the rear seat and some have little leg room for rear seat occupants as well.

Saab fanatics such as myself share stories of what we have fit in the backs of our cars and how we had surprised so many others. It's fun challenging people's assumptions about vehicle cargo carrying capability.

As for towing or true off-road driving, you can't beat a body on frame SUV.

[Suzanne]

I had an 88 Honda Accord hatchback that I LOVED and would probably still be driving today if my house-sitting friend hadn't nearly totalled it in 1999 while I was traveling.

I kept it for another year after that, but it became clear I was driving on borrowed time. Unfortunately, it was just before Honda rolled out the hybrid Civic, so I got a non-hybrid model which has about the same wheelbase length as my old Accord.

Without the hatchback, I can't fit as much cargo, although I do like having a separate back window for the dog. My old dog used to poke his head out my window from the backseat, pressing against my seatbelt shoulder harness in a most uncomfortable (for me) way.

I think SUV driving people who never even drive off-road are a tad ridiculous and wasteful. Same goes for driving one of those huge behemoths, like a Ford Expedition, when you're not towing anything.

People should focus more on fuel-efficiency and safety, rather than media-influenced ideas of coolness or image.

[Atul]

Suzanne,

So you've been through the missing of the hatchback. I have a motto (which actually doesn't apply to you)...
"Once you go hatchback, you never go back."

Funny how your old Accord is the same size as your Civic. Cars are growing larger as we grow larger.

I couldn't agree more about people making wasteful decisions with their vehicle choices. I wish people would stop with all the conspicuous consumption.

[ASWOA]

wagon club. www.aswoa.com. great for wagon enthusiasts.

[Account Deleted]

Thanks for sharing your experience and thoughts to the people. Some points are helpful.
http://themotoring.com