What’s the deal with Shooting Brakes, and how do they stand apart from station wagons? In a nutshell, a Shooting Brake is a whip crafted from the ground up on a high-performance sports car chassis, packing more power and agility than your average station wagon.
The term “Shooting Brake” hails from the UK, originally tagging a type of horse-drawn carriage used by the aristocracy for hunting trips, capable of hauling both the hunting party and their quarry. “Brake” traces back to the Dutch word “Brik,” meaning a cart or carriage, making a Shooting Brake essentially a “hunting carriage.” To cater to the hunting elite, a Shooting Brake had to offer plenty of seats for the crew, ample space for gear, and enough room to bring back the day’s haul.
Through time’s march, when the automobile dethroned the horse-drawn carriage, “Shooting Brake” morphed into the descriptor for a type of vehicle that’s all about luxury and length, yet with just two doors. It’s a concept that straddles the line between the practicality of station wagons and the flair of sports cars. But, how exactly does a Shooting Brake stand out from your everyday station wagon?
- The vibe they give off: The term “Shooting Brake” has its roots deep in the noble sport of hunting, oozing an air of exclusivity often found in high-end marques like Mercedes, Porsche, and Bentley. In contrast, station wagons are more like your everyday sedan’s practical cousin, designed with the average Joe in mind.
- The hit to your wallet: The crème de la crème of Shooting Brakes, think Ferrari FF, Mercedes CLS, Porsche Panamera, tend to come with sticker prices that’ll make your eyes water, easily breaching the $150,000 mark. But, there’s a silver lining with the advent of electric Shooting Brakes, like the Zekeer 001, which have brought this exclusive category closer to the masses with over 160,000 happy owners in three years, all thanks to a more stomachable starting price of about $33,400.
On the other side of the fence, station wagons like the fresh-off-the-line Baojun Valli, Buick Yuelang, and Volkswagen Weiling won’t break the bank, hovering around the $15000 mark, a figure that’s within reach for most families.
- The look: Shooting Brakes are essentially sports cars in a slightly more spacious disguise, carrying themselves with an edge and sometimes sporting aerodynamic tweaks for that extra oomph. Station wagons? They’re the reliable, roomy type, not really the kind to show off a sporty edge.
- The muscle: Born from the loins of performance beasts, Shooting Brakes pack a punch under the hood and manage to do so without cramping your style or space. Station wagons, though? They’re more about the ride comfort, easy access, and lugging your life from A to B without much fuss.
While they might both stretch the definition of hatchbacks, Shooting Brakes and station wagons cater to entirely different crowds. Knowing what sets them apart can save you from a case of the buyer’s blues, steering you towards a set of wheels that truly fits your bill.