For those that want to drive something practical and still have lots of space to carry cargo, crossovers are the obvious choice. They fit the bill perfectly, after all. With that, wagons are no longer as popular as they used to be. It's true for most countries, including the Philippines.

But over in Europe, the wagon continues to be a popular model. It's so popular that Volkswagen recently introduced one fast wagon, the new Golf R Wagon.

The Golf R Wagon effectively takes everything you want from the Golf R but fits it onto a more practical body. With that, there's a lot more cargo space at the back, perfect for most things you think of. Volkswagen says owners can store up to 611 liters of luggage with the second-row seats in place. Fold the seats down, and it increases to 1,642 liters in total.

To make the Golf R Wagon even more practical, Volkswagen has fitted bag hooks, hook latches, a luggage net, and a pair of 12V and 230V sockets. If you happen to be carrying the groceries, the tailgate opens automatically via a hands-free system.

While it does have a large boot, everything else from the hatchback is carried over into the Golf R Wagon. Powering it is the same 2.0-liter turbocharged mill rated at 315 horsepower and 420 Nm torque. Power is then delivered to the wheels via Volkswagen's 4Motion all-wheel-drive system through a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

The wagon body is slightly heavier compared to a 5-door hatchback. As a result, the Golf R Wagon sprints from 0 to 100 km/h  at 4.9 seconds, 0.2 seconds slower than the hatchback. Fortunately, the top speed remains unchanged at 250 km/h for the standard version and 270 km/h with the R Performance package.

With the kit, the wheels are replaced with large 19-inch units. At the same time, the iconic “Drift” mode is added. Yes, you can technically go sideways with this wagon too, just like the hatchback.

Volkswagen's new Golf R Wagon seems like a perfect comprise for those that want something fun and can still carry stuff around. Besides, you'd look cooler and feel younger driving around a 315 horsepower wagon than a crossover.