How Does ACOTY Define This Class?

Contenders need to be stationwagons aka estates. Easy.

Meet The Contenders

Representing Germany is the BMW i5 Touring eDrive40 (left), flying the Czech flag is the Skoda Octavia Combi Sportline (right), and championing Japan is the Subaru WRX Wagon GT-S.

The BMW i5 Touring eDrive40 is not only spacious on the inside for passengers but more practical for barang-barang as well. Suitably upmarket and executive looking and feeling, the i5 is festooned with tech and premium materials, is quick on its feet and comfortable while cruising.

The Skoda Octavia Combi looks sharp and wouldn’t feel out of place being driven by a junior executive. It has nifty touches on the inside, sufficient tech, serious practicality and an overall sensible and straightforward atmosphere. It’s no wonder that Skoda is often referred to as “the thinking person’s Volkswagen.”

The Subaru WRX Wagon GT-S takes the car enthusiasts’ rally-heritage turbocharged all-wheel drive formula and plonks a useful stationwagon rear-end onto the car. This, along with the refined newer FA-series turbo engine makes this WRX feel much more mature. It can still take turns in anger and rocket out of corners, all the while lugging your family and their luggage with aplomb.

And the winner is…

AutoApp Car Of The Year Best Wagon
BMW i5 Touring eDrive40

The winner with 349 points is the BMW i5 Touring eDrive40. It’s premium. It’s comfortable. It’s got lots of tech. It’s practical. And… there’s no escaping the brand cachet of the BMW roundel.

More on the scoring categories used to derive points here.

Congratulations to the BMW i5 Touring eDrive40 for winning the AutoApp Car of the Year 2025 Best Wagon!

Read more automotive news at AutoApp, or check out our latest videos on Ignition Labs TV and on TikTok!

How Does ACOTY Define This Class?

Stationwagons or estates that qualify for this category need to be sold with Category B COEs. They also need to be hot, performance versions of their tame, mainstream siblings. Pretty straightforward.

Meet The Contenders

Representing Germany, we have the BMW M3 Touring. Hailing from the Czech Republic is the Škoda Octavia Combi RS 2.0 TSi.

The BMW M3 Touring needs no introduction, really. 510hp and 650Nm from a three-litre turbocharged straight six being sent to all four wheels makes this a muscular rocketship that can be easily taken on a shopping run to Giant at the same time.

It’s an exceptional wagon that’s meant for a special few, and its exclusivity plays into its desirability.

On the other hand, the Škoda Octavia Combi RS is much more approachable. 245hp gets sent to the front wheels and it’s comfortable enough to transport your family around while being light and brisk on its feet.

It is the quintessential everyday performance wagon in our books.

Both are excellent choices, but this is a competition after all, and there can only be The Chosen One.

AutoApp Car Of The Year Best Cat B Performance Wagon
BMW M3 Touring

The win by a 15-point margin goes to the BMW M3 Touring with 366 points. This car, to the judging panel, is performance wagon personified. It has all of the practicality of the more mainstream BMW 330i Touring and all of the go of an M3 wrapped up in a steroid-fuelled estate body shape.

More on the scoring categories used to derive points here.

Congratulations to the BMW M3 Touring for winning the AutoApp Car of the Year 2024 Best Performance Wagon!

Read more automotive news at AutoApp, or check out our latest videos on Ignition Labs TV!