Station wagons today have shed the family-oriented tag that weighed down on its appeal. Elegant, sporty, and chock full of features, these three models demolish the boundary that separates functionality from the pleasure of driving.
How did the name “station wagon” came about? Before 1920s, horse-drawn wagons had steel and wooden panelling on the sides that were designed to take the rich and famous with their luggage from train stations, hence “station wagon”. With the motorcar becoming popular, the station wagon became utility vehicles with passenger seats.
Name wise, “station wagon” is used in the US, “estate” in the UK, and “wagon” in Australia and New Zealand. A modern day station wagon has a two-box configuration with a shared interior for passengers and cargo accessible by a hatch door.
VOLVO V60
Used to be boxy and utilitarian in styling, the Swedish brand best known for its safety has designed and built some of the most beautifully designed station wagons in the market today. The V60 probably fits the bill among Singaporeans, being a mid-size car that is neither too small to carry everything you need (the previous V40), nor too large that parking becomes a problem (the V90).
The latest Volvo V60 has a B4 powertrain that delivers a respectable 197hp of maximum engine power, reaching a top speed of 180km/h. The 48V battery lends itself to the mild hybrid system that recovers energy produced when braking, reducing fuel consumption and tailpipe emissions.
Anyone buying an estate is going to be focused on the payload. True to form, Volvo leaves drivers with little to complain about. While the five seats in the V60 are ergonomically designed and comfortable, their adjustability adds another dimension to the functionality of the car.
With the rear seats up, the 519-litre boot space is large enough to store three suitcases and one cabin bag. If that is not enough for you, the rear seats can fold individually into the load area floor to boost storage up to 1431 litres, with no lip to lift items over so moving large objects in and out is a breeze. The power tailgate further adds to the convenience.
Inside, the V60 boasts European class and comfort. Genuine wood décor inlay with a driftwood accent provides a naturalistic sense when sitting inside the cabin. And the panoramic roof further allows you to enjoy nature outside, letting in sunlight and the breeze for a great airy and spacious feel.
The vertical display on the centre console has become a Volvo trademark and works well, enabling changes with a swipe of the fingers. Built-in Google takes much of the guesswork away when it comes to driving assistance. Google Maps is integrated, giving real-time traffic info and automatic rerouting. Google Assistant lets you get information by speaking to the system so you don’t need to fiddle around with anything while you drive. And of course, Google Play allows you to stay connected with your favourite apps and entertainment.
This being a Volvo, you can expect great safety and driving assistance features. The advanced driver assistance technology helps you maintain a safe distance from cars in front by adapting your speed and keeping you centred in the lane by providing gentle steer assist. At stop-and-go traffic, it will alert if traffic is moving ahead without you after a stop.
Other safety features include cross-traffic alert that applies the brakes automatically when reversing and a vehicle crossing behind is detected. The technology also kicks in when making a turn across oncoming traffic, or when it detects pedestrians, animals, or cyclists by first sending a warning and then applying the brakes automatically.
The blind spot information system prevents inadvertent lane changing and provides active support to help you maintain lane integrity. There are also four cameras offering a 360-degree view to help you park in even the tightest spaces.
The Volvo V60 is a well-crafted car that not only hits all the right notes for a station wagon but also adds that touch of luxury that is so welcomed.
PRICE
$291,000 WITH COE
ENGINE
1969CC INLINE FOUR-CYLINDER, 16-VALVE TURBOCHARGED
TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC SEVEN-SPEED
POWER
197HP @ 4750-5250RPM
TORQUE
300NM @ 1500-4500RPM
0-100KM/H
7.6 SECONDS
DISTRIBUTOR
WEARNES AUTOMOTIVE PTE LTD
T 6473 1488
BMW M3 TOURING
Just because the BMW M3 Touring looks like a station wagon, it doesn’t mean it drives like one. The M moniker hints at this wolf in sheep’s clothing, and you can expect that BMW’s first-ever M3 Touring combine practical qualities with an exhilarating sports sensation.
BMW M GmbH packed a 530hp version of the six-cylinder-inline engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology, the eight-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic and the M xDrive all-wheel-drive system into this ‘estate’, turning an everyday car into a monster on the track. Apart from the basic 4WD setting, 4WD Sport mode can be engaged via the Setup menu, providing a more intense experience of the M xDrive system’s rear-biased tuning.
Ride quality and handling are enhanced by the high torsional stiffness of the body structure and chassis mountings, and is further enhanced by model-specific bracing elements in the underfloor section and load compartment.
Both the double-joint spring strut front axle and the five-link rear axle have M-specific kinematics and combine lightweight design with particularly high rigidity. Adaptive M suspension with electronically controlled shock absorbers and M Servotronic steering with a variable ratio comes as standard on the first-ever BMW M3 Touring.
Distinguished by the appetite for revs for which M engines are renowned, the 3.0-litre straight-six forms the basis for the unit in the new BMW M4 GT3 endurance racing car. Its cooling and oil supply systems are designed to handle extremely high longitudinal and lateral dynamic forces on the track. And the M-specific exhaust system with electrically controlled flaps generates an emotionally arresting soundtrack that brings an extra layer to the performance experience.
Cleanly designed surfaces and athletic forms signal the standout performance potential of the first-ever BMW M3 Touring, as do the M-specific design cues firmly invested in the functional requirements of cooling air routing and aerodynamic balance.
Chief among these are the vertically arranged, frameless BMW kidney grille, large side air intakes, powerfully sculpted wheel arches and prominently extended side skirts which, together with the attachment parts for the front and rear aprons, form a black high-gloss band around the whole of the car.
Interior details give drivers a sense of excitement even when driving to the neighbourhood grocery store for rice. The BMW Curved Display although standard, is made up of a 12.3-inch display and a control display of 14.9 inches. The information display stationed behind the steering wheel presents all relevant driving information with new graphics, in an M-specific style. M-specific widgets with information on the car setup and tyre condition can be shown on the control display’s home screen.
For a car of this category, you can expect that the Merino leather trim M Sport seats are electronically adjustable and come with a memory function. There is an option for M Carbon bucket seats if the exorbitance, and savings of 9.6kg in weight, are what you’re after.
Comfort-enhancing features fitted as standard in the first-ever BMW M3 Touring include three-zone automatic climate control, the BMW Live Cockpit Plus including the BMW Maps navigation system, and Harman Kardon surround sound system. Customers can also benefit from a broad selection of automated driving and parking systems. Front Collision Warning, Speed Limit Display with no-overtaking indicator, Lane Departure Warning and Parking Assistant Plus come as standard.
And, by the way, the BMW M3 Touring has three full-size rear seats, and a boot capacity of 500 litres with all of them engaged up. Folding them down opens up a maximum of 1500 litres – perfect for loading a couple of golf bags as you race to the club to make your tee time. Automatic tailgate operation and the separately opening rear window are both standard. A storage compartment underneath the boot floor provides space for the luggage compartment cover and boot partition net.
PRICE
$605,888 WITH COE
ENGINE
2993CC INLINE SIX-CYLINDER PETROL WITH M TWINPOWER TURBO TECHNOLOGY
TRANSMISSION
EIGHT-SPEED M STEPTRONIC
POWER
510HP @ 6250RPM
TORQUE
650NM @ 2750-5500RPM
0-100KM/H
3.6 SECONDS
DISTRIBUTOR
EUROKARS AUTO PTE LTD
T 6269 8833
PERFORMANCE MOTORS LTD
T 1800 2255 269
MINI COUNTRYMAN
The popularity of the Countryman in the MINI stable is totally understandable within the Singapore context. While it’s not entirely a station wagon as the conventional understanding allows, it is, for all intents and purposes, in the same category when you consider its functionality.
The new MINI Countryman reflects the group’s new design language of “Charismatic Simplicity”, which combines traditional MINI values with progressive innovations in an authentic way, reducing vehicle design to the essentials. Short overhangs, a short bonnet, a long wheelbase, and big wheels – the proportions of the new model generation are typical MINI. The visual three-part division into the vehicle body, the surrounding window area and the contrasting roof also ensures the new Countryman is instantly recognisable.
The car combines emission-free electric mobility with the “highest possible level of environmental compatibility in production”, dispensing with all chrome elements in the exterior and interior, as well as manufacturing the light alloy cast wheels with up to 70 per cent secondary aluminium.
The surfaces, the inside of the doors and the vehicle floor and floor mats are made of recycled polyester. This high-quality, colourful and comfortable alternative to traditional materials significantly reduces CO2 emissions along the value chain and uses less water in production than cotton.
The MINI Countryman is larger – six centimetres taller and 13cm longer – than its predecessor. Wider wheel arches and a clear, modern design enhance the crossover aesthetic appeal of the rugged MINI adventurer. Together with the tautly curved bonnet, the slightly wider track and the raised body, the car has a minimalist appearance with a powerful presence. The distinctive design of the C-pillar supports the roofline at the rear of the vehicle while at the same time making it appear shorter and more upright.
The latest MINI Countryman comes in two fully electric models – Countryman E, with increased output and the all-wheel drive Countryman SE ALL4. The range determined according to the WLTP test cycle is up to 462 kilometres for the Countryman E and up to 433 kilometres for the Countryman SE ALL4. The Countryman E comes with a 150kW/198hp electric motor while the Countryman SE ALL4 has a 230kW/304hp motor. The battery of the all-new MINI Countryman can be charged via alternating current with 11 kW. Fast charging with direct current is possible in both all-electric models with 130 kW. This means that just less than 30 minutes of charging at a fast-charging station is enough to charge the battery from 10 per cent to 80 per cent.
The dashboard in the all-new MINI Countryman works entirely without an additional display behind the steering wheel: all relevant content is projected onto the head-up display. This reduction to the essentials opens up the view to the front, shaping the spacious interior with cleverly designed, high-quality components. The entire interior is divided into an upper and lower section along a horizontal line below the new round instrument. Above this, all design elements such as the air vents and door handles are vertically aligned, emphasising the character of the vehicle, also in the interior.
The all-new MINI Countryman is the largest and most spacious MINI model available. The increased body size provides additional interior height of 6.3cm and length of over 13cm, giving more headroom and legroom, and expanding the space options in the compact premium crossover.
Between the front seats, the wide, adjustable central armrest enhances the seating comfort. With the rear seat folded down, bulky items can be easily transported in the 460-litre to 1,450-litre luggage compartment. An additional floor compartment provides convenient space for the charging accessories of the all-electric MINI Countryman.
Drivers looking at the Countryman must surely be enticed by its driving dynamics. The all-new Countryman still conveys the trademark go-kart feeling with its precisely tuned damping system combined with highly preloaded stabilisers. The entire set of components from axles, steering and dampers through to ride and stability control systems go together to create an exceptional experience in all situations in terms of comfortable and sporty driving. The all-new MINI Countryman transmits a very direct steering wheel feel with a rack ratio of 55 mm of rack travel per turn of the steering wheel.
The integrated braking system increases the dynamics and precision of the vehicle due to reliable stabilisation. In conjunction with the Driving Assistant package, shorter braking distances increase safety. The customer can choose between a balanced and comfortable chassis configuration or a particularly sporty one, depending on the preferred individual driving experience.
In addition to the 360-degree Parking View, the all-new MINI Countryman can identify possible parking spaces more clearly thanks to 12 ultrasonic sensors and four Surround View cameras.
PRICE
$235,888 MINI COUNTRYMAN E ALL4; $249,888 MINI COUNTRYMAN SE ALL4, BOTH WITH COE
ENGINE
150kW ELECTRIC MOTOR
BATTERY CAPACITY
66.5KW
POWER
198HP
TORQUE
250NM
0-100KM/H
8.6 SECONDS
DISTRIBUTOR
EUROKARS HABITAT PTE LTD
T 6473 3777
