| Production | |
|---|---|
| Model Year: | 1984 |
| Production Years: | 1984 - 1991 discontinued in 1991 |
The Austin Montego Combi (XE), produced between 1984 and 1991, is the station wagon variant of the Austin Montego line, offering practicality and versatility popular in its era. This generation features a robust design tailored to cater to families and drivers needing extra cargo space without sacrificing comfort or style. Known for its spacious interior, the Montego Combi (XE) is characterized by a balanced exterior size typical for mid-1980s European station wagons, combining moderate length and width with a thoughtfully elevated roofline to maximize passenger and luggage room. While exact dimension values vary slightly by specific trim and market, the Montego Combi generally measures approximately 4.33 meters (around 170 inches) in length, fitting comfortably within the compact to mid-size station wagon class. Its width and height ensure good road presence and interior headroom, with an estimated width near 1.67 meters (66 inches) and height around 1.44 meters (57 inches). The vehicle’s weight ranges roughly between 1,100 to 1,200 kilograms (2,425 to 2,645 pounds), supporting a stable and balanced drive with efficiency and ease in urban and highway conditions. The Montego Combi (XE) stands out from its hatchback counterpart by providing enhanced cargo capacity through its extended rear storage area, appealing to those requiring extra utility while maintaining the car’s manageable footprint for everyday use. Its production period from 1984 to 1991 highlights its durability and consistent market demand throughout the late 1980s, exemplifying Austin’s commitment to practical and reliable family transportation solutions. Today, the Austin Montego Combi (XE) remains a classic example of British station wagon design, valued by enthusiasts for its functional dimensions, period-specific style, and the balance of size and comfort it offers.
Discover the standout features that make the 1984 Austin Montego Combi a leader in its class
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The 1984-1991 Austin Montego Combi (XE) station wagon has an overall length of approximately 4,285 mm (168.7 inches), a width of around 1,670 mm (65.7 inches), and a height of about 1,410 mm (55.5 inches). These dimensions made the Montego Combi a practical mid-sized estate car in the 1980s, providing a spacious cabin and cargo area while retaining manageable proportions for urban and suburban driving.
The wheelbase of the Austin Montego Combi (XE) measures around 2,620 mm (103.1 inches). This relatively long wheelbase for its class contributed to improved ride comfort and stability. It also allowed for a roomy and comfortable interior for passengers, particularly benefiting rear-seat legroom and overall cabin spaciousness, which is a significant advantage for station wagons used for family and cargo purposes.
The Austin Montego Combi (XE) has a curb weight estimated around 1,115 kg (2,458 lbs). This moderate weight for a mid-sized estate helped maintain reasonable fuel efficiency and adequate performance with the engine options available at the time. The balance between weight and power ensured manageable handling and braking characteristics, typical of vehicles designed for daily family use and moderate cargo carrying.
The cargo capacity of the Austin Montego Combi (XE) was competitive for its segment during its production years. With rear seats in place, the boot space measured roughly 430 liters (15.2 cubic feet), expanding up to approximately 1,200 liters (42.4 cubic feet) when the rear seats were folded down. This flexibility made the Montego Combi suitable for carrying larger loads, making it an effective family and utility vehicle.
Yes, the Austin Montego Combi (XE) was designed with typical urban environments in mind and fits comfortably into a standard home garage. Considering average single garage dimensions of about 2,400 mm to 3,000 mm (94.5 inches to 118 inches) wide and around 5,000 mm to 6,000 mm (197 inches to 236 inches) deep, the Montego Combi’s length of approximately 4,285 mm (168.7 inches) and width of 1,670 mm (65.7 inches) leave adequate space for safe parking and access around the vehicle.
The Montego Combi (XE) was introduced as the estate variant of the Montego, which itself succeeded the Austin Ambassador and earlier models like the Austin Maxi. Compared to these predecessors, the Montego Combi featured a slightly more streamlined and modern design with optimized interior space. Its dimensions were larger and more practical than the Austin Maxi estate, especially in terms of cargo capacity and passenger comfort. The car’s modernized structure also resulted in better handling and ride comfort compared to earlier Austin estate models.
In comparison with similar mid-sized estate cars from the 1980s such as the Ford Sierra Estate, Vauxhall Cavalier Estate, and the Peugeot 305 Break, the Austin Montego Combi (XE) holds its own dimensionally. While slightly shorter than the Ford Sierra Estate (up to 4,525 mm or 178 inches), its width and height remained comparable, offering similar passenger comfort and cargo capacity. Its wheelbase was competitive, ensuring a balance of interior space and driving dynamics typical of its class.
The interior was designed to maximize comfort for both front and rear passengers. The headroom in the front seats was approximately 1,000 mm (39.4 inches), and rear passengers enjoyed slightly less but still ample headroom at around 970 mm (38.2 inches). Legroom was adequate, with front legroom around 1,020 mm (40.2 inches) and rear legroom at about 900 mm (35.4 inches). These dimensions ensured that the Montego Combi could comfortably carry five adults on longer journeys.
The Austin Montego Combi (XE) typically had a ground clearance of about 140 mm (5.5 inches). This moderate ground clearance was a balance that allowed good handling and stability on paved roads while providing enough clearance for potential uneven urban or rural surfaces. While not designed for off-road use, the ground clearance was adequate for everyday driving conditions, including light gravel roads or uneven parking areas.
The Montego Combi (XE), being a station wagon, is longer than the Montego saloon version due to its extended rear section designed to increase cargo capacity. While the saloon length was around 4,265 mm (167.9 inches), the Combi added roughly an extra 20 mm (0.8 inches), totaling approximately 4,285 mm (168.7 inches) in length. The width and height remained quite similar between versions, but the Combi offered a taller roofline towards the rear for increased headroom and cargo volume, making it more versatile for carrying larger or bulkier items.
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