Shopping for the right family wagon can be a trial, especially when you’re trying to stretch your dollar as far as it will go – while also saving the environment. To help the cause, we test four frugal family haulers back-to-back to see which one best suits your bottom line...
The humble family wagon may have lost favour to the urban-chic SUV in recent times, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t without a place. Suffice to say the wagon has made a comeback of sorts. Indeed, a growing number of manufacturers are now offering these versatile sedan-based vehicles which boast much the same cargo capacity as high-riding counterparts – though with few of the downsides.
SUVs by their nature are relatively awkward creatures. They’re also heavier on the juice, in many cases run constant all-wheel drive and are by-the-by dearer to maintain, run and tyre.
It’s hardly surprising, then, that many families are rediscovering the good old station wagon. And, as wagon designs become more attractive -- and increasingly more fuel efficient -- we thought it was high time we stacked a few frugal family favourites against one another to see who comes up trumps.
Ford Mondeo LX CRDi Wagon
For drivers
It may be a little bland to look at, and is often discounted as being somewhat of an ‘in-betweener’ by those shopping the segment, but the Ford Mondeo’s tenacious dynamics, practical interior and value-for-money prospects saw it fare well when thrown in the mix against dearer, yet similarly sized rivals.
Fitted with a modern 2.0-litre Duratorque four-cylinder turbodiesel and, in this instance, mated to a six-speed dual-clutch Powershift automatic transmission, the Mondeo presented a balanced blend of performance and fuel economy ideally suited to a family wagon.
While it wasn’t as quick to accelerate as the other diesels on test, Mondeo offered excellent in-gear (or roll-on) acceleration.
The dual-clutch automated transmission is a standout in this company. Where some cars on test, especially the petrol-powered Commodore, wanted to ‘hunt’ for the right gear when laden, Mondeo made one decision – the correct one – and held it as required.
In the ride and handling department, Mondeo offers a terrific compromise, even if the suspension was slightly biased towards the handling end of the spectrum. To that end, the car is easily the best ‘driver’s car’ of all four vehicles on test. Despite its front-drive orientation, the Mondeo was also the most neutral in terms of balance and its steering feel and feedback is another highlight. Both traits give the car a feeling of being at one with the driver.
Inside, it’s obvious where corners are cut in getting Mondeo to market at this price. The LX sees rear seat passengers manually wind their windows, for example, though these can be optioned to electric units at a cost and are offered as standard in mid and high spec grades (Zetec and Platinum). The up-spec Mondeos still come in cheaper than similarly spec’ed Sportwagon or Passat variants.
Unfortunately the same could not be said for Mondeo’s road noise which is prevalent on even good surfaces. The test car also presented a number of trim and plastic rattles which weren’t evident on Mazda6 or Berlina.
Notably, the Mondeo was also the car which strayed furthest from its claimed consumption figure. Our drive returned 7.4L/100km against the sticker figure of 5.9.
What did impress us, however, was the clever packaging of Mondeo’s interior. The car’s front seat accommodation was more generous in every dimension against the larger Commodore and the Ford also offered the most cargo space of all four candidates.
More photos of all four wagons at motoring.com.au
Holden Berlina Sportwagon
For Traditionalists
Holden Sportwagon’s more European styling has been a hit among Commodore buyers since its arrival in January 2008, the model now accounting for one-third of all Commodore sales.
Forming part of Holden’s environmentally-angled Ecoline model range, the Berlina Sportwagon features a 3.0-litre SIDI (direct-injection petrol) V6 engine. Though tuned to deliver better fuel efficiency for those favouring economy over outright performance, the results don’t necessarily translate to the real world.
A wagon by nature is generally laden with people and possessions, carting the family and their gear from place to place which, in the case of this smaller capacity V6, can see Berlina work harder to achieve comparable performance results. No surprise there, but it is something to consider should you be hunting a fuel efficient option.
The engine itself is a free-revving unit developing a lot of its power higher in the rev range. To this end it is not well matched to the slower shifting six-speed conventional automatic transmission. In order to save fuel, it seems Holden has calibrated the gearbox to shifting up as early as possible. At low RPMs the engine often struggles resulting in unnecessary downchanges, followed by more upchanges – and so the cycle continues...
This obvious disconnect highlights what’s already a bad case scenario: the heavier Commodore would be better suited to a small, punchy turbodiesel were it to really make an impression on the sticker figure (fuel economy average).
On the performance side of the coin it’s evident the Commodore is again left wanting, with no discernible difference in performance when selecting ‘Sport’ mode from the transmission selector. Ultimately, the Berlina was the slowest of the cars on test. This downside is especially highlighted when driving four-up, the engine working harder to maintain speed uphill, requiring more throttle input in order to maintain momentum.
The Holden’s steering, still assisted by a hydraulic pump, is honest in terms of feel but could do with a little more weight at highway speeds, and a whisker more feedback. Braking is best described as adequate.
Suspension wise, Berlina is definitely the most softly sprung of our four competitors. While this did translate to a smoother ride, it did see the wagon’s handling overshadowed by the others. Loaded with four adult passengers the Berlina wallowed noticeably through corners and, when pushed, demonstrated its rear-grip bias, translating quickly to less grip from the front wheels (understeer) where the lack of steering feel and some front tyre squeal perpetuated irresolute road feel.
On the plus side, the generously-proportioned cabin and its well-cushioned seats made highway touring a comfortable affair. The absence of cabin rattles, matching the Mazda for quality in this comparison, was also a tick in the locally-built car’s favour.
On the downside the cabin was more ‘drummy’ than the others on the road and its road noise was the loudest of the four vehicles on test.
Rear seat egress was also noted as difficult by at least one taller passenger, commenting that his feet caught on the scalloped B-pillar/sill trim panel when turning to exit.
Driven in isolation the Berlina isn’t a bad car, but given the chance to compare it to others in the category proved it does have some shortcomings. Pricing it against the likes of the Mazda6 and Mondeo also saw it fare poorly, the more expensive entry-level Omega ($41,990) not nearly as competitive when compared spec for spec, or when measured at the pump.
Mazda Mazda6 Diesel Wagon
For Manually-minded
The current generation Mazda6 has been with us since January 2008. The turbodiesel-powered model tested joined the lineup in December the same year and, bar a few minor trim tweaks and equipment upgrades, has gone largely unchanged since.
That’s not a bad thing. But before we get too excited there is a major flaw in the 6 Diesel Wagon that needs to be addressed: its lack of an automatic transmission.
This may not necessarily deter those who don’t mind the three-pedal shuffle, and will no doubt change when Mazda’s new SKYACTIV technologies come online, but the majority of family buyers have enough on their plate without adding the inconvenience of changing gears into the equation. If this sounds like you, then stop reading here.
The Mazda6’s MZR-CD 2.2-litre engine is impressively strong, and also the quietest running of the four vehicles on test. Similarly, Mazda’s six-speed gearbox was positive of feel and the clutch action fluid and well assisted.
Keep the torquey four-cylinder in its peak operating zone (1800-3500rpm) and you’ll find a lot of pulling power, provided you remember to shift gears. The engine sounds gutsy and it will continue to rev, but won’t deliver any more power beyond 4000 revs.
Stay in the zone, however, and momentum is brisk, the 6 accelerating from 0-100km/h in 8.5 seconds – the quickest of all our test candidates.
Like all diesels, you also can’t gear down as early as you’d like, leading to more reliance on brakes. Fortunately they’re more than up to the task.
Steering is on the light side of ideal, but not so much so that you lose accuracy, or get that nasty washy feeling on-centre. The 6 also offered the tightest turning circle of the cars tested.
The ride is stiffer than our other competitors, but to that end the handling is, conversely, sharper. On the road the 6 is planted in character and isn’t easily upset by mid-corner moguls. The ride may be on the firmer side of the equation for some family buyers, but those wanting more ‘driver focus’ are bound to enjoy every journey. That said we felt this aspect of the drive was still trumped, if only slightly, by the Ford Mondeo.
Mechanical stuff aside the Mazda6 is a well equipped family hauler with generous passenger accommodation. Its feature list is generous for the price, even if its cargo capacity fell behind the other candidates. While we’re back here, the Mazda’s cargo cover, which is integrated into the tailgate is worth a quick note. The nifty setup allows you to load the boot with groceries and shut the gate with one hand, very convenient when you have your other arm full (kid under one arm, shopping in the other anyone?).
On the downside, the 6’s roof-mounted rear centre belt does impede on the cargo space, slightly. The belt also rubs on the outboard passenger headrest. You also need to detach the belt from its buckle before folding down the split-fold seats, which can be a bit of a pain.
It’s also worth mentioning that the model grade tested is not fitted with any form of reversing aid (sonar or camera), which in spite of the car’s good all-round vision is an oversight at this price point.
While cruising, the Mazda is among the quietest in this category, though perhaps not the best insulated. The tyre noise is evident on coarser roads and, when sitting in the back seat, there is a hint of wind noise from the roof rails.
Volkswagen Passat 125TDI Highline Wagon
For the well-heeled
The newly-launched Passat went about our testing with little fuss. Though it failed to excite us, it had the best overall compromise between ride and handling, it was adequately powerful, and made good use of that power through its super-sharp DSG transmission. Sounds like a great family recipe...
While we’re well aware we weren’t exactly comparing apples with apples in terms of model grade, Passat’s price range didn’t go unnoticed. Our test model, too, was priced well above its list figure by virtue of a few options.
Though out of the reach of most family budgets, the car did present well in terms of space, on-road ability and refinement of ride. The DSG transmission stays on top of things but in some instances was too precise, meaning accurate throttle position was required to avoid unnecessary acceleration when maintaining pace on grades.
Handling too was well sorted, the Passat always feeling as though it had a little more to give, even if it didn’t immediately present itself as flat as Mondeo or Mazda6.
Technology in Passat was another area that stood out from the rivals and may indeed have represented most of where that extra coin went on the purchase price – though we question just how many people will actually use it.
One particular area in which Passat excelled, and perhaps as a result of at least one item of technology, was fuel efficiency. The idle stop/start system contributed noticeably to the best fuel average of any of the four vehicles tested at just 5.9L/100km.
On the downside, however, Passat wasn’t without its share of quibbles. There were some very evident rattles from rear doors, trim around the dash and at least one of the front seats.
The rear seats were also noted as being flatter of squab and sat higher in their relation to the window – great for kids, not so much for tall adults. Overall cargo space, too, was smaller by way of comparison, the Volkswagen ranking third on test with seats up and fourth with seats folded flat.
The motoring.com.au verdict
Blue Oval to the fore
Each of these cars offer a lot of individual merit. The Mazda was the strongest performer, the Volkswagen the most efficient and the Holden the most comfortable. But weighing up the best overall compromise – and the one that offered the best value for money – Ford’s Mondeo topped the test parameters by a significant margin.
As tested, the Mondeo sells for $34,990, clearly the cheapest car on test. As we mentioned there were a few obvious exclusions that made this fact so, but not so many you’d consider stepping up to the next dearest car on test here.
Space and versatility were impressive to say the least, Mondeo shaking its small car image to offer the most cargo space, front seat space and rear headroom of any car on test. Its engine and transmission, too, were a pleasant surprise; Ford’s new Getrag dual-clutch was impeccably well mannered for the segment (read: it’s bloody good for the price). Oh, and did we mention it’s fun to drive?
The tech-savvy Passat scored second place. Despite its price, the car managed to do so much so well that it couldn’t be ignored. It’s going to stretch the budget, sure, but if you can restrain yourself from getting tick happy on the options sheet, a Passat wagon could be yours from as low as $40,990.
As budgets go, we could happily have placed the Mazda6 above Passat, but its lack of automatic transmission was, in our eyes at least, a massive handicap in a segment where autos rule the roost.
That said the 6 was still ranked highly by our panel of judges. The car’s ability to perform above the curve and still return impressive fuel economy figures gave us great hope for what lies ahead in Mazda’s new SKYACTIV technology. The current car, despite showing its age in some areas (styling, technology, space utilisation) was still a very credible family package.
Last, but by no means least, the Berlina Sportwagon proved difficult not to like. Its honest feedback, wealth of interior space and supremely comfortable ride made it hard to discount. Unfortunately we felt the value for money proposition was behind the pack when stacked like-for-like, even if, technically speaking, it is a bigger car.
Under the bonnet the Berlina also failed to impress, the 3.0-litre V6 struggled to carry the weight of the car successfully when loaded or driving in hilly terrain; its eco-idealism perhaps taking things too far when cutting back the torque needed for motivating such a heavy car.
In comparisons such as this it’s truly a case of horses for courses, but when you weigh up which of the four delivers the best value for money as a cheap to run family hauler, the Mondeo is an outstanding example that should not be overlooked.
More photos of all four wagons at motoring.com.au