Middle class, upper middle class

When people today talk about Mercedes-Benz station wagons, many think of the T-model of the 123 series. Since its introduction in 1977, this body style has been firmly part of Mercedes-Benz DNA. What is less well known, however, is that the history of Stuttgart's station wagons began much earlier — and not in Sindelfingen, but in the Belgian city of Liège.

The Japanese hybrid station wagon has overtaken the diesel taxi in the rankings. Yet the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports offers more talents than just the pursuit of efficiency. It's no accident that the practical wagon is used worldwide by taxi and other ride services.

The Chinese manufacturer BYD continues to expand its presence in Europe – and is increasingly aligning itself with vehicle concepts that have been in demand here for years. An example of this is the new plug-in hybrid wagon BYD Seal 6 DM-i Touring. The model was presented at the IAA Mobility and is now available to order in several European markets. For the taxi and rental car business, the hybrid wagon is an interesting alternative.

Although Mercedes has officially withdrawn from the taxi market – it is said to be 'not premium enough', according to Mercedes CEO Ole Källenius – many taxi drivers do not want to give up their E-Class. Good that Intax from Oldenburg can supply there. Now the T-model with a glass roof can also be converted into a taxi.

BYD continues its mission to "conquer Germany." The BYD Seal 6 DM-i Touring is intended to deliver the breakthrough. The plug-in hybrid estate performs well but shows a few minor weaknesses. Intax, the conversion specialist from Oldenburg, plans to be able to supply the estate as a taxi from November 2025. Our colleague Wolfgang Gomoll from press-inform has extensively tested the BYD Seal 6 DM-i Touring.

With the Insignia, Opel was also active in the taxi market. The mid-range model from Rüsselsheim occasionally proved to be less durable than hoped. The TÜV primarily criticizes oil leaks in the engine and transmission.

Electric station wagons are still a niche. However, with the new Toyota bZ4X Touring, the Japanese manufacturer is now launching a variant that could be particularly interesting for the taxi market: ample space, practical range, and a versatile drive concept. In Brussels, Toyota provided an initial preview of the model, which could also electrify everyday work starting in 2026.

The Volvo V60 will soon hit the road as a taxi: The Swedish premium car brand is expanding its product portfolio and now offers a turnkey taxi conversion for the spacious station wagon.