They used to have plentiful ashtrays, far fewer seatbelts and a confusing array of seats for the kids. Some had faux timber panelling, and pretty much all of them gave off suburban Dad vibes.

The station wagon was once far more common both on the roads and on our screens, but today their popularity has dwindled. So is the station wagon an endangered species? In some ways, yes, and in other ways, it might be just about due for a revival.

OK, so what counts as a station wagon?

Technically, a station wagon is a variant of a sedan car that has a longer roof extended over a shared passenger and cargo area. There’s generally plenty of space behind the back seats, and a door at the back for loading and unloading. Think of something shorter than a hearse, but longer than a hatchback.

Station wagons first started out as a vehicle to transport passengers and their luggage from train stations from the 1910s onwards. Evolving from timber bodies to steel, the faux wood panelling that often comes to mind was a clear homage to those very early days. These days, station wagons are fairly sleek and streamlined rather than boxy and angular.

Here in Australia, we tend to just call them wagons, while in the UK they often have the moniker of estate car. And in Germany, they’ve long been known as a Kombi. You’ll realise why they shorten it to that when you see the full name: Kombinationskraftwagen.

The rise of a family icon

There was a time when station wagons were the ultimate symbol of American family culture, with some really beautiful and desirable designs in the 50s and 60s. Australian designs also rose to the demand, with wagon options in the Holden Commodore, Belmont and Kingswood – as well as the Ford Fairmont and Falcon wagons. For a while, it seemed like every family drove one.

Surf’s up: the cruisy era

Of course, the station wagon’s appeal lies in its ability to transport a lot of people and a lot of cargo. As well as its versatility for families, it also played a massive role in surf culture both in Australia and along America’s surf coast. Station wagons could hold a surfboard, a mattress or both – as well as whoever wanted to come along for the journey.

The fading star

As the years went on and trends changed, station wagons were used in Hollywood movies as a sign of someone being frugal, outdated or even a little bit tragic. If you’re of the right age and have exquisite taste in movies, you might remember the Muppets’ station wagon in The Muppet Movie. That particular model was a 1949 Ford Super De Luxe. You might also have spotted station wagons in Breaking Bad, National Lampoon's Vacation, The Sopranos and Ghostbusters.

Believe it or not, some of the most embarrassing station wagons of the 80s and 90s now have cult followings. On the whole, though…

The station wagon of yore is so yesterday

The numbers pretty much prove that station wagons are not exactly in their heyday anymore, with their popularity fading drastically since the 2010s. People are tending towards bigger vehicles, particularly here in Australia. As such, the more popular choice for families tends to be SUVs, modern utes or even the humble people mover that offer a bit more leg room and visibility.

However… station wagons are not extinct yet

There is still a subset of drivers who love this nimble yet roomy vehicle shape. These days, if you’re looking to buy a station wagon either new or second-hand you’ll probably be looking at the European makers such as Skoda, VW, Peugeot, Audi and Volvo. In fact, European sales make up most of the global demand for station wagons.

Part of the reason for this is that SUVs are deemed too big in many European countries, and station wagons fit a lot of cargo space into a mid-size car. Other factors are the low centre of gravity (hello, Autobahn!) and the modern styling, which makes these options look deceptively sleek for their relative spaciousness. Chinese manufacturers are also venturing into the station wagon market, offering up some pretty cool new electric models.

Personally, we’re all for the pure practicality of the station wagon. What’s not to love about the handling and park-a-bility of a small car with the space of a much larger one?

Whether you’re all about the wagon, the SUV, the coupé or the ute, you’ll find it all at Carma – and you can be sure every second-hand vehicle is modern, checked over and provided with a 3-month warranty.