Wagon definition

This isn't in a dig on anyone in particular, just a trend I've noticed lately (and yes, this is petty, stupid, and a bit hipsterish).

A WRX is not a station wagon. Neither is your Protege5, your 5-door GTI, your Mazda3, or your A3. Those are all hatchbacks.

Focus wagon (not the new one, that's a hatchback). Jetta wagon. A4 Avant. Volvo Vx0. All acceptable wagon variants.

I propose the following definition for a station wagon: A station wagon will hold 4 adults for a long trip with an 80lb german shepherd relaxing in the way back.

That is all.

I'm not clear on why a WRX wagon isn't a wagon.

To me everything from a Type 3 squareback to a '65 Ford Country Squire is a wagon.

steronz wrote: This isn't in a dig on anyone in particular, just a trend I've noticed lately (and yes, this is petty, stupid, and a bit hipsterish). A WRX is not a station wagon. Neither is your Protege5, your 5-door GTI, your Mazda3, or your A3. Those are all hatchbacks. Focus wagon (not the new one, that's a hatchback). Jetta wagon. A4 Avant. Volvo Vx0. All acceptable wagon variants. I propose the following definition for a station wagon: A station wagon will hold 4 adults for a long trip with an 80lb german shepherd relaxing in the way back. That is all.

Not sure if you're trolling...

The Protege5 has been called a hatchback by some, but I would be comfortable with it passing according to your definition.

Of course, by your definition, other wagons would include the Pontiac Aztek and Jeep Wrangler Unlimited.

My wife wouldn't be caught dead driving a minivan, so we bought a 2012 Chevy Equinox. Now she drives a station wagon.

It seems to be in the eye of the beholder or better yet in the mind of the sales department. Instead of "eye" maybe I should say "perception". Now we have more words to undescribe a wagon. SUV, Hatch back, Crossover , mini van etc. When the ancestor of the Cherokee was made, it was simply called a 2wd or 4wd station wagon.

This threatens to get as weird as the muscle car thread.

The title for my '89 2-door 4Runner says it's a station wagon.

Wagons:

WRX (2007 and older)

Protege5

Focus ZXW

Hatchbacks:

Focus ZX3/5

WRX (2007.5 and newer)

Mazda 3

GTI.

I define a hatchback as truncated rear section (less overhang past the rear wheels) A wagon as the same overhang as a sedan or longer.

Pretty simple definition that has always worked for me, (not to mention it is based in data of overall length.)

I go based on length. The longer a car is, the easier it is to classify as a wagon. In fact, that's mainly what influences what I call a wagon, the length of the vehicle. An A4 is definitely a wagon, for instance, but a 4 door GTi is definitely a hatch. Oh here's another part to it, hatches (whether they typically are OR not) APPEAR to be taller via the roofline, whereas wagons have a lower roofline. Again, Audi A4 vs GTi.

Again, I view hatchbacks as being small and designed as a bubble/square (so to speak) with the motor hanging off the front of it.

I Am Keyser Söze wrote: I define a hatchback as truncated rear section (less overhang past the rear wheels) A wagon as the same overhang as a sedan or longer. Pretty simple definition that has always worked for me, (not to mention it is based in data of overall length.)

Well that's certainly an interesting definition, and one I hadn't considered.

Well, the Protege5 is shorter than the sedan by 5 inches, so that's getting chucked back into the hatchback category. The Focus sedan is 7 inches longer than both hatchbacks, but 3 inches shorter than the wagon, so everything works out there. Both WRX variants are indeed the same length, but I'm still reluctant to give it a pass to wagonville based on that alone.

To me, its kind of a matter of how much glass along the side there is behind the C-Pillar (or B-pillar if its a Chevy Nomad). More glass = wagon, less glass (or no glass) = hatchback. Can't give an exact number or anything, but as once was said in the Supreme Court, I know it when I see it.

My insurance company has my 02 WRX listed as a station wagon. That's what counts to me. (It saves me a ton of money over the sedan)

This is subjective, due to the stigma of the name "wagon".

I figure that, in most cases, if the car doesn't have a trunk...it's a wagon. (common sense applies, a F430 isn't, nor a Gallardo etc).

steronz wrote: This isn't in a dig on anyone in particular, just a trend I've noticed lately (and yes, this is petty, stupid, and a bit hipsterish). A WRX is not a station wagon. Neither is your Protege5, your 5-door GTI, your Mazda3, or your A3. Those are all hatchbacks. Focus wagon (not the new one, that's a hatchback). Jetta wagon. A4 Avant. Volvo Vx0. All acceptable wagon variants. I propose the following definition for a station wagon: A station wagon will hold 4 adults for a long trip with an 80lb german shepherd relaxing in the way back. That is all.

The (old) WRX is a wagon...

See the C and D pillar?

Now look at the new one:

No D pillar, and they rightly call it a hatchback.

Protege5 is trickier... Has a D pillar, but the C pillar is very subtle. Wagon.

The GTI/A3 is 100% a hatchback, nobody calls it a wagon though. Same with the Mazda3. Who calls that a wagon?

In summation, your definition based on size is junk. For a wagon you're looking for that D pillar, windows in the "trunk" area, and the roofline is generally straight, as opposed to the generally sloped hatchback roofline. The line is blurry, though. Worse still is the fastback/hatchback line. The Mazda6 hatchback is a great example of this.

By your logic the Aveo is a wagon, as are the Fit and Fiesta. It also means that the ZX5 is a wagon, even though Ford went out of their way to make a wagon version of the Focus.

As an avid wagon shopper, I need a vehicle to carry my kids and my dog, and counting the pillars ain't gonna cut it. The HHR panel van is a wagon, and it doesn't have windows.

After reading this thread I think I'll just call my Protege5 a Protege5. But I suppose I could call it a Hagon or a Watchback.

ShadowSix wrote: This threatens to get as weird as the muscle car thread. The title for my '89 2-door 4Runner says it's a station wagon.

same for my 90 and 94 suburbans.

which is awesome because station wagon plates are the same as regular car plates, i was ready to pay for pickup truck plates(about 2x car plates)

frenchy wrote: My insurance company has my 02 WRX listed as a station wagon. That's what counts to me. (It saves me a ton of money over the sedan)

Now that is a method I would absolutely get behind!!!

ShadowSix wrote: This threatens to get as weird as the muscle car thread. The title for my '89 2-door 4Runner says it's a station wagon.

My 1990E150 conversion van was titled as a station wagon. Car registration fee FTW!

VW called these Station Wagons.

steronz wrote: This isn't in a dig on anyone in particular, just a trend I've noticed lately (and yes, this is petty, stupid, and a bit hipsterish). A WRX is not a station wagon. Neither is your Protege5, your 5-door GTI, your Mazda3, or your A3. Those are all hatchbacks. Focus wagon (not the new one, that's a hatchback). Jetta wagon. A4 Avant. Volvo Vx0. All acceptable wagon variants. I propose the following definition for a station wagon: A station wagon will hold 4 adults for a long trip with an 80lb german shepherd relaxing in the way back. That is all.

I was just thinking about this last night, for everything you are calling a non-wagon I would say the opposite. I think a better measure of a wagon roughly would be: 1. Smaller than an SUV or mini van 2. 4 doors plus 3. No trunk and rear boot section shares air with passenger cabin 4. Rear of the car does not taper down like a sedan

In my mind the term hatch back should be reserved for coupes. As was said already the term hatch back has been carried over to wagons due to the "stigma of the the name "wagon" ".

Or to simplify my argument with pictures Anything that is like the NX2000 in the back is a hatchback

Anything like a toyota camry wagon in back is a wagon

Besides the length of the cargo hold, I also look at the angle of the tailgate. The closer it is to vertical, the more likely I am to consider it a wagon.

2 doors and hatch is a hatchback. 4 doors and hatch is a wagon. Exceptions would include old American full size 2 door wagons like this:

This conversation is like talking to a music person. I don't care which of the thousand names you call modern euro dance music, its still Disco. I was there.

I think true wagons vs the sedan they are based off of, is the rear overhang. They are usually longer than the sedan version.

I will agree with EvanR, I think it also depends on the angle of the tailgate.

Also, does it have a tailgate or a hatch? The bottom of the tailgate opening should be the same level as the floor.

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: ...The bottom of the tailgate opening should be the same level as the floor.

That's splitting hairs, my Camry wagon has 3rd row seating. The floor drops down below the door for foot room for the rear facing seats.