Estate (station wagon)

An estate (Dutch: stationwagen) is a body variant of a hatchback or sedan in which the roof extends to the tailgate, creating a larger, box-shaped luggage compartment. The tailgate, as on a hatchback, runs up into the roof. The English term is "estate" (in the United Kingdom) or "station wagon" (in North America); German brands often use "Kombi", "Variant", "Avant" or "Touring" as a type designation.

The segment is popular mainly in Northern and Western Europe as a practical alternative to an SUV: comparable or larger boot volume at a lower build height, lower weight and usually lower consumption. Examples are the Volkswagen Passat Variant, Skoda Octavia Combi, Volvo V60 and BMW 3 Series Touring.

The load length with the rear seat folded and the VDA volume are separate from the exterior dimensions and differ per variant; on spec sheets we show both figures where the manufacturer states them. "Estate" is a factual body-style label, not a qualitative judgement.