If there’s one body style that’s inexplicably lacking in the U.S. market, it’s the station wagon. Even though smaller hatchbacks are catching on with the economy-minded crowd, the family man out there doesn’t have much to choose from. It’s usually a toss-up between a sedan and an SUV.
That’s why the guys at Daddy Types are always on the hunt for interesting wagons. Today, they’re pining over the Citroen C5 Tourer. The model shown here, though — the new C-Class Estate — is the one we’d like to see. And, hey, Mercedes are sold in the U.S., unlike Citroens.
The current state of the wagon in the U.S. is pretty dreadful. The upcoming 2009 Mazda6 will bow without a wagon variant. Dodge discontinued the Magnum. GM doesn’t have one in its entire lineup, thinking a new version of the El Camino was a better option for its G8 line. Basically, that leaves the BMW 3 and 5 Series; Volvo’s V50, V70 and XC70; the Audi A4 and A6 Avant; the Subaru Outback; the Saab 9-3 and 9-5; and VW’s Passat and upcoming Jetta SportWagen. Of those, only the Subaru and VWs are what we’d call affordable.
It is indeed a sad time for wagon fans. Heck, Cars.com doesn’t even list wagons as their own category.
Tell us what your favorite wagon is, whether it’s sold in the U.S. or not.
Managing Editor
David Thomas
Former managing editor David Thomas has a thing for wagons and owns a 2010 Subaru Outback and a 2005 Volkswagen Passat wagon.