Does cruise control actually save fuel?
Cruise control can save 7–14% fuel on a flat highway. On a hilly road, it can cost you more. Here's when to use it and when to turn it off.
Has the station wagon become an endangered species?
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.
