New Wagons Shed Segment's Dowdy Image

Are wagons making a comeback? They've been popular in Europe, favored for their practical virtues, but wagons began to fade out of the picture in the United States during the 1990s.

Premium sport wagons from the likes of Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz continued to attract a modest audience, and a handful of compact wagons remained on sale; but overall, wagons suffered sharp declines in sales, victimized by a dull image linking them to traditional wagons of the distant past. Most car shoppers shunned these body styles, which reminded baby boomers of the mammoth wagons that dotted suburbia when they were growing up.

But lately, wagons are showing signs of a moderate revival. New models are looking sportier than ever and are promoted as much for their good looks as for their cargo-hauling capabilities.

New and Redesigned Wagons for 2005

Dodge Magnum: Few wagons in recent years have captured the attention that Dodge's Magnum has garnered — from the media, the industry or the car-buying public. In fact, few passenger cars of any sort have drawn such enthusiastic response. If any vehicle could be triggering a revival of midsize wagons, it'd have to be the shapely Magnum with its tapered profile and bold front end.

The Dodge Magnum's short greenhouse gives it a chopped, custom-car look, but it reduces the airiness of the cabin.

The Magnum is also a trendsetter for its drivetrain configuration. Rather than employing front-wheel drive like all recent Dodge models, the Magnum comes with rear- or all-wheel drive. And like its Chrysler 300 sedan cousin, the Magnum may be equipped with a choice of two V-6 engines or a Hemi V-8, which features cylinder deactivation that promises a fuel-economy boost of 10 to 20 percent, according to DaimlerChrysler.

Ford Freestyle: Though it's not as dramatic as the Magnum, Ford's new entrant into the wagon marketplace ranks as a notable "crossover" model that eludes classification. In fact, some observers call it a sport utility vehicle rather than a wagon, but it also contains elements of a minivan.

Technically related to the new Ford Five Hundred sedan, the Freestyle differs from most wagons in that it can carry up to seven occupants in three rows of seats — not unlike the big, traditional wagons of yore. Manageable in size, the Freestyle holds a 3.0-liter V-6 that drives Ford's gearless, silky-smooth continuously variable transmission.

The Jaguar X-Type 3.0 Sportwagon is the luxury manufacturer's first-ever wagon.

Jaguar X-Type Sportwagon: On sale in Europe during 2004, Jaguar's premium compact wagon began to reach American dealerships late in the year, joining the X-Type sedan. Like the sedan, the new 3.0 Sportwagon features standard all-wheel drive. A 227-horsepower, 3.0-liter V-6 drives a five-speed-automatic transmission.

Saab 9-2X: Rather than develop a wagon or crossover model on its own, Saab turned to Subaru to supply the foundation of its new 9-2X. Designed with a European touch, the 9-2X yields an enjoyable and confident driving experience in either Linear or higher-powered Aero form. Acceleration is mild in the 165-hp model, but the 227-hp Aero edition adds some satisfying vigor. Both engines have a horizontally opposed, "boxer" configuration and are supplied by Subaru.

Subaru Legacy and Outback: Slightly larger than their predecessors, the fourth-generation Legacy and quasi-SUV Outback look a little more refined for 2005, but their basic appearance hasn't changed sharply. Most of the improvements lie beneath the surface. An increased use of aluminum translates to a substantial weight reduction, and a 250-hp turbocharged engine is available for the first time. Several all-wheel-drive systems are available but are associated with specific powertrains.

Suzuki Forenza wagon: After introducing a new compact Forenza sedan for 2004, Suzuki added a wagon for the 2005 model year. Both body styles use a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that develops 126 hp. The Forenza wagon is reasonably spirited in performance and enjoyable to drive.

Volvo V50: Sportier in profile than its V40 predecessor, the latest wagon from this Swedish manufacturer went on sale in the United States as an early 2005 model. V50 buyers have a choice of two five-cylinder engines: a 168-hp, 2.4-liter inline-five-cylinder or a 218-hp, turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-five-cylinder. Available features include Keyless Drive, which is Volvo's version of keyless start.

Today's Wagons Can Perform, Too

It's not surprising that the Dodge Magnum RT has captured so much attention. With a 340-hp, 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 under the hood, it has a performance powertrain to back up its bold look.

Volvo's V70 R features a 300-hp, turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-five-cylinder that teams with a six-speed-manual transmission or a five-speed automatic.

Performance is nothing new in the wagon group. For years, European automakers have been selling performance-packed sport wagons. Audi, for instance, has an S4 Avant wagon with a 340-hp, 4.2-liter V-8 and either a six-speed-manual or six-speed-automatic transmission. Some enthusiasts like the idea of an inconspicuous wagon that has a potent V-8 lurking beneath its hood. On a practical level, performance wagons provide much more seating capacity than sports cars.

Some crossover SUVs, notably the stylish Infiniti FX35 and FX45, also are hot performers. During the 2005 model year, a new lane-departure warning system became available in the FX series. Nissan's Murano, another sleek crossover, is most notable for its continuously variable transmission.

Wagons Retain Their Practical Side

Practical merits tend to outweigh performance in the wagon category. Only a handful of wagons can carry more than five people, so in that sense they're no better than sedans. When an automaker offers both a sedan and a wagon, ride and handling attributes ordinarily don't differ much between the two body styles.

While the open rear cargo space makes for easy loading of bulky items that wouldn't fit in the trunk of a sedan, it's also exposed to curious passersby unless a cover is installed. And a covered luggage area can be enticing to thieves.

Wagons used to consume considerably more fuel than their sedan counterparts, but that's not necessarily the case anymore as automakers pay closer attention to vehicle weight.

Wagons for 2006 and Beyond

After sitting out the 2005 model year, Audi's A6 Avant wagon returns for 2006.

An Audi A6 Avant wagon is scheduled to join the recently redesigned A6 sedan in fall 2005. Audi's compact A4 lineup, which gets a redesign during the 2005 calendar year, also is likely to include a wagon.

Following the lead of the Chrysler PT Cruiser, more retro wagons might trickle into the marketplace. For 2006, Chevrolet has a new HHR crossover sport wagon, which takes its retro styling theme from the 1949 Suburban.

In terms of sheer numbers, though, there's little evidence thus far of a major wagon resurgence in the making. But what we're almost sure to see is growth in crossover vehicles that blend elements from a variety of vehicle categories.