But if they're not seen in a big dodge dually crew cab diesel with a tonneau cover then how will anyone know they went to Starbucks.... and can't park.
Can you name the truck with four wheel drive, smells like a steak and seats thirty-five.. Canyonero! Canyonero! Well, it goes real slow with the hammer down, It's the country-fried truck endorsed by a clown! Canyonero! (Yah!) Canyonero! [Krusty:] Hey Hey The Federal Highway commission has ruled the Canyonero unsafe for highway or city driving. Canyonero! 12 yards long, 2 lanes wide, 65 tons of American Pride! Canyonero! Canyonero! Top of the line in utility sports, Unexplained fires are a matter for the courts! Canyonero! Canyonero! (Yah!) She blinds everybody with her super high beams, She's a squirrel crushing, deer smacking, driving machine! Canyonero!-oh woah, Canyonero! (Yah!) Drive Canyonero! Woah Canyonero! Woah!
I agree. That's why I'm still driving my 2003 Nissan Frontier XE 4 cylinder 5 speed after all these years. I'm not getting rid of it. Over 200k and still going strong.
We still have them in Asia. Not only the 1970s vintage trucks like the Mazda 1300/1800 series, first and second gen Hilux or the Isuzu KB, or the super micro kei cars like Daihatsu Mira, there are still somewhat normal-size Toyota Hilux made for the Asian markets. You can even get a Suzuki Jimny 4x4 in a pickup version - I am really craving one ))
90’s and 2000’s Subarus are my favourites I love my 1998 forester, it’s the perfect station crossover, not too oversized, just a little wider and higher
Wagons are still extremely popular here in Europe. VW Passat and Skoda Octavia combi are probably the most popular cars where I live, and it's for a good reason. An average person with a family never needs more car than that.
Personally, while I love a big wagon with the wood trim, I also miss the large sedans they were based on. Not everyone wants a gigantic truck or a they-all-look-the-same crossover!
My friend had a 2000 Ford Taurus station wagon. It was front wheel drive (it could handle winter weather with ease), had a ton of space (for both passengers and cargo), and got great gas mileage. She would always say with pride that it was the least stolen car in America! 😂
Here in Europe a friend of mine had one in purple and turbo diesel. I have a purple station wagon as well, but it's a C class from 2002. They're rare as rocket fuel in France so getting parts can be troublesome 😂
My wife had a Ford Taurus, sold it when she moved to the UK, and bought a Mercury Sable to replace it when we moved back to the USA. We eventually traded in the Sable for a Honda Odyssey minivan after we had a baby because it was so much easier lifting in and out baby plus bassinet in a taller vehicle.
I have a 2020 Touring XT, and I completely concur. It is NOT, under any circumstances, a "compact SUV" - it's an all wheel drive wagon and I pray to (insert the deity of your choice) that Subaru sticks to the format.
I agree completely! Station wagons or „kombis“ how we call them in germany combine a good fuel economy and a small footprint with a maximum of space. I drive a Seat Leon (basically a VW Golf) station wagon with a TGI motor. 3,6 kg of CNG per 100km is outrageously good in terms if fuel economy. And I did most of my moving with it. I was even able to fit my bed in there. And there are even spacier models on the market. In my opinion 80-90% of us only need compact city cars, station wagons or mini vans. Everything else is a luxury. If owning a car in general is not already one.
My Subaru Liberty wagon was the ultimate practical car. 6 cylinder, manual and AWD. I had to move house 3 times last year and it was able to transport almost all of my non-furniture belongings in a single trip each time. SUVs can't fit the same amount of cargo due to their bulky bodywork constraining the interior space, and they're so high up it can be harder to lift heavy things into them. I like that some manufacturers are still keeping the station wagon alive in the face of SUV dominance and hope that the 'light truck' loophole can be tightened up to exclude these suburban bricks of metal that only serve to increase pedestrian deaths due to their high grilles and heavy weight. As a motorcyclist and Miata owner, it can be pretty scary being around them too, while station wagons are just car-sized and don't really pose an increased threat compared to sedans and hatchbacks.
THANK YOU! Coming from a family of car enthusiasts, no one can say that it's just sour grapes when I say that station wagons are my favorite type of automobile. My family (both immediate and extended) had every type of car, from GMC K2500 Sierra Grande to sport BMWs and Mercedes. Still, the one car I loved more than any other was my mother's Mazda Station Wagon. Such a wonderful vehicle, matched only by my father's Chevy mini pickup. My love for station wagons is comparable only to my dislike for SUVs. I know it won't happen, but I wish I could live in that timeline in which station wagons and compact pickups still exist and thrive.
was never a wagon guy until I bought a 1996 Buick roadmaster estate and I love it! this thing is a great car, and great truck and decent on a dirt road to go camping.
Buick Regal TourX! If you're tall this is an awesome car! You can sleep in the back when you drive across the country. My trip average was 36.9 mpg AWD.
The TourX is a great looking car and that's impressive mileage. I bought a Toyota Avalon Hybrid for cross country trips, nearly 40 mpg, enough cabin room for my wife and two teenagers, but barely enough trunk space for camping gear and luggage for our annual two week vacation. I'm a bit envious!
I love my TourX. It's so incredibly practical and comfortable, while also being (I think) quite stylish. I'm 6' 1" tall and can just barely sleep in the back with the seats down, but mostly it's great for hauling mountain bikes in the back, so that I don't need to worry about locking them up or risk accidentally driving into my garage with them on top. I always find it funny to pull into trailheads and see a bunch of gigantic trucks in the parking lot that can't fit a single bike in the bed, and meanwhile I can fit 2 in my wagon!
I remember when I was a kid my mom and dad had a Rambler station wagon with three on the tree. Sometimes, when it got cold, we would have to push start it. Luckily in that part of Florida we had a few Hills so we had to do was get it rolling.
Agreed. I grew up with one as a family car, and I have one now, a VW Jetta wagon. I had a Jetta sedan before, but the usefulness on the SW is unparalleled. Interesting you don't mention them. The turbo diesel can last well over 500K and get incredible economy. Great video nonetheless.
i love my 940, everyone with an escalade or ram is clogging city streets trying to do a 30 point turn while i can turn around my own footprint and still hold all the stuff they can. plus parts for truck chassis are double the expense
One feature of a wagon that can be an advantage over SUVs, crossovers, and even minivans that you overlooked is that the lower roofline means that the roof itself is useful for hauling stuff. I have hauled 4'x8' sheets of plywood, 8' long tables, bicycles, and furniture that would not fit inside even a large SUV with just the roof rails and some ratchet straps in my Buick Regal TourX. It also AWD standard as most of the remaining wagons seem to be.
Something I don't think you mentioned, but the movie National Lampoon's Vacation turned the station wagon into a joke. While they were never cool, station wagons had simply been unassuming vehicles for families, but after that movie they were the butt of a lot of jokes and people didn't want to be seen in one.
That Murcury is drop-dead gorgeous. I've always loved and owned hatchbacks, wagons, and small trucks. The new world is Hell bent on killing the vehicles that are the most practical ones to own. Great video always!
You are only talking about America. In Europe the ratio of 'station wagons' or 5door cars to 4-door sedans is like, maybe 20 to 1? If i had to guess. I RARELY EVER SEE ANY SEDAN EVER. I dont know a single person here who owns one. And i did just move back to europe this past year after 20 years in California, so my mentality was like this video. Like wtf are all these station wagons doing here? If i wanted something like this id get an SUV... was my thought. Guess what? I ended up buying an Audi station wagon LOL. It was the only logical choice financially and practically. And i dont regret not paying twice as much for an SUV or just as much for a rarer sedan. Literally anywhere you look in Europe you will see 1 sedan to 2 SUVs to 20 stationwagons and maybe a few hatchbacks. It is that dominant. Maybe you haven't been to Europe so you dont know, but come visit, we would love to have you! :) It is kinda funny how in US it was uncool to have one, while here it is uncool to not have one. Weird stuff, but I love my audi 5-door. So who cares. So much for the "death of the station wagon" though, amirite? I can literally go weeks without seeing a single sedan lol, everywhere 5doors of every brand. I see SUVs far more often than sedans, let alone coupes. Havent seen a coupe in a month despite being through cities regularly. Hatchbacks, yes, but not coupes. A few sedans for the wealthy. Every sensible person still buys a 5-door, what Americans call stationwagons. And they are beastly fast here :) cheers though
Opposite in Australia and north America. Plus European wagons in Australia are too expensive for what you pay for in features because they cost so much to start with.
I've owned a 1988 Buick Electra Estate Wagon, and now a 2003 Chevy Suburban... I miss that wagon so much, but I just wasn't in the position to care for it like it deserved... I will forever miss it.
I love my 2002 VW Golf Variant 1.9 TDI, went on a 10000km road trip to Nordkapp last June. I wouldn't trade it for any newer car in the past 10 years, because they're nowhere near as reliable. I might trade it for an older Subaru Outback or an older Volvo XC70. But my Golf feels like just the right mix of EXTREMELY economical, practical, reliable, and even fast at 150HP weighting less than 1.3 tons, I've had BMW 3's with almost 300HP that I'd keep up with... if for some weird reason I ever need that outside of fun lol. I wish we'd get some american big wagon with late 90's/early 2000's reliability, like a 80's Buick Estate Wagon which is one of the best looking wagons ever, but with actual fuel economy this time and maybe a slighted more lifted ride height for when you feel like going on some rugged tracks, that would be THE perfect car in my opinion, it would have everything anyone would need in daily life.
Prior to 74, wagons were the go anywhere, do anything, haul, carry, tow, travel vehicle that was super capable and practical. After cafe stds however cars got smaller and less capable, with many unable to tow much of anything. Lots of Americans and our lifestyles tow boats, campers, etc. thus people with towing and hauling needs had to buy a pickup, or early suv. As time passed, the obvious utility and practicality of the suv became obvious especially with 4wd. They can travel, tow, haul, carry people, function in snow, be luxurious more than any other type, and still look sportier than the 2nd most practical type, the van. Crossovers take the utility of a van/suv, combined with the unibody efficiency of a car resulting in the best compromise for many people. We’re it not for image, an awd minivan is probably peak efficiency all things considered. Crossovers are the look of an suv without the truck like driving dynamics. Evolution of the wagon, just taller, and add awd, but yet a car.
In Germany the type of "station wagon" is called "Kombi" (for combination of sedan (limousine in german). And they were also rather early the VW "Variant" (for variable) of 1962 was a VW Beetle with a Kombi body on top (the Beetle with his wide sills and almost separate fenders being a champion of wasted space) In the same way the put a van body on the chassis and created the VW Bus.
Hi Bart, this is actually the very first time that I have ever watched one of your videos, and I am very impressed! I do want to say, that I am 65 years old, and a retired ASE Master Certified Automobile Technician. The only reason that Full-Size station wagons and Full-Size cars (for that matter) are not produced anymore is because SUVs do NOT have to pass the Corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards are regulations in the United States as cars do. They only have to meet light truck standards. I personally do NOT think that an SUV is sporty at all! Driving around a four wheel drive pickup truck with a second and most of the time a third row seat is to me NOT sporty at all. How about a Chevrolet El Camino SS, or maybe a Ford F-150 Lightning, NOW we are talking Sport Utility! You see, I grew up with station wagons. Plus, a Chevrolet Nomad or a Volvo 1800ES, both of which are sport wagons and much sportier than ANY SUV could ever be. Please reply. Dave...
Nothing impressed me more than the 1971 Mercury Colony Park. It looked like a wood-covered Lincoln Continental, especially with the Hi-back Twin Comfort Lounge front seats independently adjustable 50/50 split. The 1971 Chrysler Town & Country actually cost more than the Mercury but you'd never know it by looking at a Colony Park. What a Wagon!
I see all of the videos critiquing the current pickup truck. There are a lot of comments about "Who needs a truck?" "Trucks are too big!" "Today's trucks are pavement queens!" "Nobody needs a truck!" "Mini trucks are what anyone would ever need!". I argue that trucks have become the new station wagon. My usage case is that I transport ATVs and kayaks. I do a lot of building projects where I need to haul supplies, dirt, mulch, etc. I'm the guy that gets called when someone needs to move a couch. We live in rural Pennsylvania and our families live on dirt roads with low winter maintenance. We used to live in Erie, and I was the guy pulling our friends out of snow piles. Family sizes are smaller. We don't have 10 kids. We have 2. My truck can comfortabley seat 5. When we visit my wife's family in North Carolina, it's nice to be able to put all the luggage in the bed and have the cab open for us and the kids. My wife has a Mitsubishi Outlander, and it is nice, but in all honesty just doesn't feel great to drive on a long 8+ hour trip. My wife always appreciates the ride quality of the truck. It's also nice to have a vehicle capable of navigating a 4-wheel drive beach in the Outer Banks. In pop culture, the Family Truckster and the Vista Cruiser were meant to be comical, although both were accurate to the period. It is big. It is bulky. It is not fuel efficient. It's not very practical if you just need to commute in the city. I hate driving in Pittsburgh in any vehicle, let alone doing it in my truck. I also believe that any vehicle comes with an heir of responsibility. Unfortunately for trucks, most truck owners didn't get the memo. I would say that these were the criticisms of Station Wagons. They were considered "boats" during a period when a fuel crisis was the death knell.
I've had two stationwagons in my time. Lovely and useful, but they do come with a problem. 'Hey, we're moving house, can we borrow your car?' 'Sure' 'And you with it?' Saying no is an exceptional talent I haven't got :)
my grandpa has a 1978 ford country squire that was bought brand new by my great grandmother. unfortunately its been sitting since she passed. i hope i can get it one day and make it look brand new, heck the interior looks almost brand new still so that's something.
It's true. People don't understand me when I go on about this. My first car was a Dodge Magnum. Big enough for everything I needed to carry and the people I needed to haul. Still small enough for the responsiveness and efficiency of a full-size sedan. It was the perfect solution to my first road trip. My dream car is a Cadillac CTS-V wagon with a manual. No one buys manuals or wagons anymore, so only 514 were ever made. That car is NEVER coming back. It's a real unicorn.
My daily driver is a '96 Corolla Wagon. Lowered 3 inches, dark Blue with White TRD wheels. She turns heads wherever we go. Most often heard comments, beautiful car, you want to sell? My standard reply, not for a million dollars.
Recently I purchased a low mileage 2004 mazda 6 wagon as my daily driver. I love it so much and want to do everything I can to keep in on the road. Wagons are hatchbacks cooler older brother.
I love station wagons, honestly one of the best all-rounder cars could look classy or workin' if you needed it. Amazing and beautiful cars! 3 cars are needed in life: Station wagon, sedan, and good ol' pickup, and if u want to be extra a novelty car for your enjoyment
Our 2007 Ford Focus wagon was the most trouble free car I've owned, but Man that interior was a penalty box to exist in. The space was perfect but as soon as we didn't need to carry two strollers on board we sold it.
I love station wagons hate all the SUV's nowadays dad had an old ford falcon station wagon when I was a kid bulletproof thing it was so comfortable heaps of room I just bought the same model now restoring it by the way love your videos 👍
Owner of 4 hatchbacks and 4 wagons. Sedans and SUVs: Nope. One point that needed more discussion is a wagon's superior handling over most SUVs (Porsche excepted.) The best make wonderful GT cars that just eat up the miles with 4 people and their luggage and don't feel like a boat when deviating from straight line motion.
Yes they do. Unless you lower and put stiffer springs into an SUV, I am facing this with a cx9, the fact the springs offered are 35% stiffer and 75mm lower says a lot. And I think 35% won't be enough having driven a few so far. I had to put sports suspension on my Holden Calais v wagon too so I just like no body roll. And I need to carry 5 people, three in kid seats and my Holden is the most Stolen car in Australia and it was also stolen. Don't want the high insurance for a daily driver as nice as they are.
I took my driver's test in a 240 wagon and daily drove some 740 and 940 wagons for years before finally being pushed by family to get into the modern era.
My parents purchased a Toyota corolla station wagon in 1982 and that thing lasted from 1981-2017 before it died..... and then last year I purchased a CX 30 and find out that my insurance considers it a station wagon... I did not think that term still existed!
I miss the wagon. I had a VW Fox wagon and transported my boxers in it. Then I moved to the SUV owning 3. Now that I’m 52, I just want a wagon again for my dogs. I hate lifting them into the back. The closest thing we have to a traditional wagon is our Integra. Not really close at all but no lifting 50 lbs dogs.
I drive a 2017 Mini Cooper Clubman S All4 in manual, which is the station wagon variety. Super fun to drive, handles like a dream in all weather, and really practical. It also has tons of character with its Mini design language and rear barn doors. Definitely my favorite car I've ever owned. I plan to drive it till it blows up and them bring it back to life and drive it some more. If I get my way the damn thing will be a family heirloom 😂
The first car I remember my family having was a Mercury Comet. We never had one again. The minivan is interesting. The first Ford and GM versions were made on a truck chassis. The Chrysler products were based on a car platform. I remember one of the Chrysler executives reportedly saying, when he saw the competitors' offerings that he knew that they had "won", and they did. For a long time, they had over 50% of a massive market.
Cafe standards and the chicken tax caused the change. Trucks were allowed a pass on emissions, fuel economy and safety standards that cars including wagons were forced to meet or the manufacturers would get hefty government fines. Without having to do the same with trucks, which SUVs are based, it cost them less on development and to produce. Just put a fully enclosed cabin on an already existing truck platform add some car like options and walah the new version of the wagon with much more profit built right in. All the money savings profit and greed killed the wagon not the people. Consumers can only buy what is being produced and SUVs were forced on the market. It's the government and greedy manufacturers that killed the wagon and the car for that matter, not the people. People just do what sheep do and follow right into it.
But in a way, isn’t a crossover just a wagon on stilts? Looking at it that way, wagons have had the last laugh and basically conquered the car market. Or is a crossover just a tall hatchback? I’m not really sure what to call them.
One big reason why SUV's and trucks are family vehicles now is because they're classified as trucks and don't have to meet stricter standards so that's what mostly gets produced for the American market.
Exactly right: the Big Three ditched unprofitable safety regs by moving passengers into exempted minivans, truck-like SUVs, then pick-up trucks. Estate/station wagons might come back if we forced our govt to apply safety regs across all styles.
As a 740 turbo wagon owner, yes wagons are awesome. As a holden vf Calais v wagon owner, which is the most stolen car in Australia currently, including mine, i am not a fan of that. So I've looked at alternatives for a wide wagon within my budget to replace it. Has to be reliable for owning for ten years and not hard to get parts. So pretty much another VF, or skoda, as the Mazda 6 is narrower, and the sunroof models mean my head is touching the roof and i have to fit three kid seats and the dog. As a result I've settled on a cx9. Lowering springs and intake, exhaust and tune will make it go well, they are more like the 1930s wagon given they are high riding and high roof. The seats move around a lot easier than a wagon. The cx9 at least with the back seats down has more boot space than my wagon. So yes the wagon is dead and very few SUVs match them for boot space.
I'm a massive estate car fan and will defend my 2006 Honda Accord EX 2.2 i-CDTi Tourer with my last breath. The largest I've owned was a Volvo 940 Classic, then a V70, although the Citroen CX Safari and DS Safari are a couple I wouldn't mind owning. My favourite US one is the 1980 Chevrolet Caprice and the other versions of it - that was the first car I rode in when moving to Canada in late '81 and it had features not seen on average European cars until much later like the the adjustable steering wheel and air con. The day I have to get an SUV or 4x4 is the day I hand in my driving licence.
GM and Ford actually had a Car, Wagon and Truck platform all in one up to 2015 (Ford) and 2017 (GMH). Both GMH and Ford also had Crossover version of these cars for a period of time. I own a 2004 Crewcab Crossover Pickup based on GM's V platform, fitted with an LS1. I also own the Sedan version of the car but a 2002 model and a 1987 Wagon (Still based on the V platform). All fantastic cars to drive. We recently sold our 2013 Wagon (Also on the V platform).
Funny enough, my old Land Rover Discovery is considered a "station wagon" by the EPA. It's not a truck even though it is built on a fully boxed chassis and is a 4X4.
A van (mini or not so mini) is the most space efficient vehicle design: a box on wheels, good for carrying people and-or cargo. Chrysler Corp Stow-N-Go is one of the greatest ideas ever. The same vehicle can haul 8 people, or stacks of 4' x 8' sheets of construction material. I've owned over a dozen full-size and compact station wagons, and two Caravans and they are so much more practical than a sedan. As you mention, SUVs and crossovers are really station wagons, just more stylized, taller and usually higher off the ground. There are many great wagons (estates) sold in Europe but not exported to the US. I have a Golf Sportwagon that is great but I sure would like a PHEV Passat wagon that is available in Europe. I suspect some auto companies will make a vehicle similar to the VW Buzz, either EV or ICE but I doubt we will see car-based station wagons made in the US especially since Ford and GM don't make any sedans for the US market. Nice video. 👍
I'm one of the few Americans who loves wagons. I run a MK6 VW Sportwagon that is essentially a GTI after a lot of mods. Covent the early Audi Avant or the Caddy CTS-V manual.
My current dream car is a Toyota Fielder. Look up the Brazilian one, it has a different design from the rest of the world. They're not expensive but it's very hard to find one in good shape and that has less than 200000km. Also, we have a small community here called Save The Wagons. It has a very fun acronym: "STW" (STation Wagons).
I think the 2005 Volvo XC70 D5 AWD is the ultimate SUV killer (and by extention, the ultimate station wagon). It's roomy, it's safe, it's got good fuel efficiency and with a 5-speed manual transmission, 185hp and 400 nm @ 2000 rpm torque it's more than capable at hauling big caravans and boat trailers with ease
I grew up in a 1998 Volvo V70. My dad convinced my mom to buy a stationwagon based on having grown up taking road trips in a banana-pudding-and-wood-panelled-colored Oldsmobile stationwagon. It makes me deeply sad that when I have kids, I probably won't be able to give them that stationwagon road trip childhood experience, unless I can somehow find one of the last holdouts from the 90's and early 2000s in good condition.
A Van to consider if you want to show how good a minivan can be in your upcoming video - the Toyota Alphard Executive Lounge. These aren't your typical minivan, designed for lugging kids around. The Executive Lounge is more the equivalent of a private jet for the road, with fully reclining rear & passenger seats (with footrests), individual DVD screens, full leather, and so on. JDM only, but interesting to see as a development of the 'Van idea...
The pick-up truck was actually invented a couple of thousand years ago. Long before the invention of the automobile. The modern "self propelled" pick-up is just an adaptation of the wagon. They got rid of the team (horses) and replaced it with an engine. Why do you think they call the Union that covers truck driver, "Teamsters"? The Union has a history that predates the automobile, when freight was hauled by horse drawn wagons. As the freight was too heavy for one horse to pull, they used between 2 and 20 horses or mules. I saw a 20-mule team once in a historical reenactment. it's impressive.
The one thing about station wagons that make it worse than a minivan for me at this time is having to duck down under the lower roof to buckle up car seat straps. Once the kids are a little older and buckle themselves in, bring on the station wagon!
Wagon buyers are often a marques’ highest net worth customers. The E-Class wagon and the now-gone Buick Regal TourX are cases in point (details in the makers’ contemporary marketing materials). MB’s SUVs, by comparison, allegedly are delivered to their lowest credit score customers.
I always thought it was interesting when i had my 5th gen 4runner, the vehicle registration stated it was a "Wagon" lol. although it's really a body on frame truck-based SUV 😅
When they ceased making new Volvo 245 estate cars ... I moved to mid sized vans ... A move which has been fantastic as they're even better than the Volvo as a 'life companion'. Whilst we own other cars and my Dr wife likes her sports cars, my new van is my vehicle of choice for most every task. From going to the shops to moving whatever, I use the van. I cannot imagine being tied to some tiny car
i am also sad that subaru is planning on turning the outback into something indistinguishable from a forester, so even that is going away for the 2026 model year
The point about the SUV being an evolution of the wagon. The last model Ford Falcon sold in Australia had no wagon version but there was an SUV (similar in looks and size to the Ford Freestyle)
I like the stationwagons and have had quite a few, my current is a Opel Astra K Sports Tourer 2018, bought it new and have to keep it since this size of stationwagons are in decline also in Europe now. The SUW:s are taking over also in Europe.
@ technically a Ute is based on a passenger car, we stopped making passenger cars in Australia in 2017, and as a result the true coupe utility, in this country, was finished the same day.
Australia brought them back in various stages between 1980 and the 2000's At it's peak, the sports wagon. In theory an idea made by Holden, it was invented by toyota at the end of the 1970s with their coronas, 4 cyl 2 litre truck/bus engines mounted in a light body family wagon. Economic unloaded, and barely even reduced accelleration with heavy cargo with a little drop in economy. Holdens dual exhaust sleeper that any dad would buy in a heartbeat came in a few formats, in an SUV class, the adventura, in the family class the SS and similar sports wagons. A driftable family wagon car. Most amusing part of some of the Corona wagons was better long trip fuel economy than a prius, 20 years before the prius was even invented. Mine could even TOW a 4wd without breaking a sweat.
I miss the sub-compact hatchbacks more than anything else. Something like the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit. Number 2 on my list of what I miss are small pickup trucks. Thanks to CAFE standards they killed both the small pickup and the small hatchback.
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
Now everyone drives a huge pickup just to get their morning latte.
But if they're not seen in a big dodge dually crew cab diesel with a tonneau cover then how will anyone know they went to Starbucks.... and can't park.
Mexicans for some reason
Can you name the truck with four wheel drive,
smells like a steak and seats thirty-five..
Canyonero! Canyonero!
Well, it goes real slow with the hammer down,
It's the country-fried truck endorsed by a clown!
Canyonero! (Yah!) Canyonero!
[Krusty:] Hey Hey
The Federal Highway commission has ruled the
Canyonero unsafe for highway or city driving.
Canyonero!
12 yards long, 2 lanes wide,
65 tons of American Pride!
Canyonero! Canyonero!
Top of the line in utility sports,
Unexplained fires are a matter for the courts!
Canyonero! Canyonero! (Yah!)
She blinds everybody with her super high beams,
She's a squirrel crushing, deer smacking, driving machine!
Canyonero!-oh woah, Canyonero! (Yah!)
Drive Canyonero!
Woah Canyonero!
Woah!
I think losing mini-pickups is the greatest tragedy.
I agree. That's why I'm still driving my 2003 Nissan Frontier XE 4 cylinder 5 speed after all these years. I'm not getting rid of it. Over 200k and still going strong.
Hilux and el Camino
The S10 was perfect for 95% of my vehicle needs
I’m still driving my 2004 Ford Ranger. Over 250,000 miles and it still runs like a Swiss watch.
We still have them in Asia. Not only the 1970s vintage trucks like the Mazda 1300/1800 series, first and second gen Hilux or the Isuzu KB, or the super micro kei cars like Daihatsu Mira, there are still somewhat normal-size Toyota Hilux made for the Asian markets. You can even get a Suzuki Jimny 4x4 in a pickup version - I am really craving one ))
station wagons are elite. the Volvo 1800ES looks so good even today
You have great taste!
I've owned several P1800ES wagons (5)
My dream car, although I believe it is technically a shooting brake
@ so jelly! anything to keep in mind when shopping for & owning them?
@@absolutegooba technically but it’s not usually a hair most people split
The 1st-3rd gen Outbacks really are perfect station wagons too
The early 2000s subaru outback is honestly one of my favorites
2012 Gen without a CVT is IMO the best. Early 2000s had tons of problems.
90’s and 2000’s Subarus are my favourites
I love my 1998 forester, it’s the perfect station crossover, not too oversized, just a little wider and higher
Wagons are still extremely popular here in Europe. VW Passat and Skoda Octavia combi are probably the most popular cars where I live, and it's for a good reason. An average person with a family never needs more car than that.
@@michaelmechex They are pretty much the same car.
I got a Passat just in time to still have it with a manual, ordered it as soon as the first leaks of the current generation"s interior came out :D
Personally, while I love a big wagon with the wood trim, I also miss the large sedans they were based on. Not everyone wants a gigantic truck or a they-all-look-the-same crossover!
The death of the flagship sedan is so heartbreaking honestly
My friend had a 2000 Ford Taurus station wagon. It was front wheel drive (it could handle winter weather with ease), had a ton of space (for both passengers and cargo), and got great gas mileage. She would always say with pride that it was the least stolen car in America! 😂
My mom has the Mercury Sable version of the same car
Here in Europe a friend of mine had one in purple and turbo diesel.
I have a purple station wagon as well, but it's a C class from 2002. They're rare as rocket fuel in France so getting parts can be troublesome 😂
My wife had a Ford Taurus, sold it when she moved to the UK, and bought a Mercury Sable to replace it when we moved back to the USA.
We eventually traded in the Sable for a Honda Odyssey minivan after we had a baby because it was so much easier lifting in and out baby plus bassinet in a taller vehicle.
As someone who lives in Colorado, the wagon never really went away, it just became the Subaru Outback.
I have a 2020 Touring XT, and I completely concur. It is NOT, under any circumstances, a "compact SUV" - it's an all wheel drive wagon and I pray to (insert the deity of your choice) that Subaru sticks to the format.
Here here.
Amen.
Station wagon
A wagon from the station
Of course, how could I have missed it ? !
My current ride is a 2017 Holden Commodore/Chevrolet SS Sportswagon, and it is eminently practical and a blast to drive too.
I hope you've done everything to protect it from meth heads stealing it.
@ Yeap she’s locked undercover. Crazy state of affairs
I'd change your obd port location and keep the old one going to nothing and relocate your horn alarm wiring away from the inner guard.
I agree completely! Station wagons or „kombis“ how we call them in germany combine a good fuel economy and a small footprint with a maximum of space. I drive a Seat Leon (basically a VW Golf) station wagon with a TGI motor. 3,6 kg of CNG per 100km is outrageously good in terms if fuel economy. And I did most of my moving with it. I was even able to fit my bed in there. And there are even spacier models on the market. In my opinion 80-90% of us only need compact city cars, station wagons or mini vans. Everything else is a luxury. If owning a car in general is not already one.
45 seconds in and I sound like I'm in a church in the deep south. PREACH IT BROTHER!! Aww lawd.
My Subaru Liberty wagon was the ultimate practical car. 6 cylinder, manual and AWD. I had to move house 3 times last year and it was able to transport almost all of my non-furniture belongings in a single trip each time. SUVs can't fit the same amount of cargo due to their bulky bodywork constraining the interior space, and they're so high up it can be harder to lift heavy things into them.
I like that some manufacturers are still keeping the station wagon alive in the face of SUV dominance and hope that the 'light truck' loophole can be tightened up to exclude these suburban bricks of metal that only serve to increase pedestrian deaths due to their high grilles and heavy weight. As a motorcyclist and Miata owner, it can be pretty scary being around them too, while station wagons are just car-sized and don't really pose an increased threat compared to sedans and hatchbacks.
THANK YOU! Coming from a family of car enthusiasts, no one can say that it's just sour grapes when I say that station wagons are my favorite type of automobile. My family (both immediate and extended) had every type of car, from GMC K2500 Sierra Grande to sport BMWs and Mercedes. Still, the one car I loved more than any other was my mother's Mazda Station Wagon. Such a wonderful vehicle, matched only by my father's Chevy mini pickup. My love for station wagons is comparable only to my dislike for SUVs. I know it won't happen, but I wish I could live in that timeline in which station wagons and compact pickups still exist and thrive.
was never a wagon guy until I bought a 1996 Buick roadmaster estate and I love it! this thing is a great car, and great truck and decent on a dirt road to go camping.
Buick Regal TourX!
If you're tall this is an awesome car!
You can sleep in the back when you drive across the country.
My trip average was 36.9 mpg
AWD.
The TourX is a great looking car and that's impressive mileage. I bought a Toyota Avalon Hybrid for cross country trips, nearly 40 mpg, enough cabin room for my wife and two teenagers, but barely enough trunk space for camping gear and luggage for our annual two week vacation. I'm a bit envious!
@jfu5222 there's only 14k of em.
Good ones are under 20k.
I love my TourX. It's so incredibly practical and comfortable, while also being (I think) quite stylish. I'm 6' 1" tall and can just barely sleep in the back with the seats down, but mostly it's great for hauling mountain bikes in the back, so that I don't need to worry about locking them up or risk accidentally driving into my garage with them on top. I always find it funny to pull into trailheads and see a bunch of gigantic trucks in the parking lot that can't fit a single bike in the bed, and meanwhile I can fit 2 in my wagon!
@@BrainySmurf77 yeah I haul my bike around too! it's A folding fat tire.
I remember when I was a kid my mom and dad had a Rambler station wagon with three on the tree. Sometimes, when it got cold, we would have to push start it. Luckily in that part of Florida we had a few Hills so we had to do was get it rolling.
Agreed. I grew up with one as a family car, and I have one now, a VW Jetta wagon. I had a Jetta sedan before, but the usefulness on the SW is unparalleled.
Interesting you don't mention them. The turbo diesel can last well over 500K and get incredible economy.
Great video nonetheless.
mini pick ups, station wagons... we lost them :(
Probably my favorite car is the borderline indestructible Volvo 245
i love my 940, everyone with an escalade or ram is clogging city streets trying to do a 30 point turn while i can turn around my own footprint and still hold all the stuff they can. plus parts for truck chassis are double the expense
One feature of a wagon that can be an advantage over SUVs, crossovers, and even minivans that you overlooked is that the lower roofline means that the roof itself is useful for hauling stuff. I have hauled 4'x8' sheets of plywood, 8' long tables, bicycles, and furniture that would not fit inside even a large SUV with just the roof rails and some ratchet straps in my Buick Regal TourX. It also AWD standard as most of the remaining wagons seem to be.
I've always loved wagons. The only SUV I'd take over a station wagon is an old diesel Excursion.
Something I don't think you mentioned, but the movie National Lampoon's Vacation turned the station wagon into a joke. While they were never cool, station wagons had simply been unassuming vehicles for families, but after that movie they were the butt of a lot of jokes and people didn't want to be seen in one.
That Murcury is drop-dead gorgeous. I've always loved and owned hatchbacks, wagons, and small trucks. The new world is Hell bent on killing the vehicles that are the most practical ones to own. Great video always!
You are only talking about America. In Europe the ratio of 'station wagons' or 5door cars to 4-door sedans is like, maybe 20 to 1? If i had to guess. I RARELY EVER SEE ANY SEDAN EVER. I dont know a single person here who owns one. And i did just move back to europe this past year after 20 years in California, so my mentality was like this video. Like wtf are all these station wagons doing here? If i wanted something like this id get an SUV... was my thought. Guess what? I ended up buying an Audi station wagon LOL. It was the only logical choice financially and practically. And i dont regret not paying twice as much for an SUV or just as much for a rarer sedan.
Literally anywhere you look in Europe you will see 1 sedan to 2 SUVs to 20 stationwagons and maybe a few hatchbacks. It is that dominant.
Maybe you haven't been to Europe so you dont know, but come visit, we would love to have you! :)
It is kinda funny how in US it was uncool to have one, while here it is uncool to not have one. Weird stuff, but I love my audi 5-door. So who cares.
So much for the "death of the station wagon" though, amirite?
I can literally go weeks without seeing a single sedan lol, everywhere 5doors of every brand. I see SUVs far more often than sedans, let alone coupes. Havent seen a coupe in a month despite being through cities regularly. Hatchbacks, yes, but not coupes. A few sedans for the wealthy. Every sensible person still buys a 5-door, what Americans call stationwagons. And they are beastly fast here :) cheers though
Opposite in Australia and north America.
Plus European wagons in Australia are too expensive for what you pay for in features because they cost so much to start with.
Where do you live? Here the CUVs are flooding the roads. The only survivours being subcompacts, and the occasional wagons.
Where in Europe exactly do you see a 20:1 wagon:sedan ratio?
I've owned a 1988 Buick Electra Estate Wagon, and now a 2003 Chevy Suburban... I miss that wagon so much, but I just wasn't in the position to care for it like it deserved... I will forever miss it.
I love my 2002 VW Golf Variant 1.9 TDI, went on a 10000km road trip to Nordkapp last June. I wouldn't trade it for any newer car in the past 10 years, because they're nowhere near as reliable.
I might trade it for an older Subaru Outback or an older Volvo XC70.
But my Golf feels like just the right mix of EXTREMELY economical, practical, reliable, and even fast at 150HP weighting less than 1.3 tons, I've had BMW 3's with almost 300HP that I'd keep up with... if for some weird reason I ever need that outside of fun lol.
I wish we'd get some american big wagon with late 90's/early 2000's reliability, like a 80's Buick Estate Wagon which is one of the best looking wagons ever, but with actual fuel economy this time and maybe a slighted more lifted ride height for when you feel like going on some rugged tracks, that would be THE perfect car in my opinion, it would have everything anyone would need in daily life.
Prior to 74, wagons were the go anywhere, do anything, haul, carry, tow, travel vehicle that was super capable and practical. After cafe stds however cars got smaller and less capable, with many unable to tow much of anything. Lots of Americans and our lifestyles tow boats, campers, etc. thus people with towing and hauling needs had to buy a pickup, or early suv. As time passed, the obvious utility and practicality of the suv became obvious especially with 4wd. They can travel, tow, haul, carry people, function in snow, be luxurious more than any other type, and still look sportier than the 2nd most practical type, the van. Crossovers take the utility of a van/suv, combined with the unibody efficiency of a car resulting in the best compromise for many people.
We’re it not for image, an awd minivan is probably peak efficiency all things considered. Crossovers are the look of an suv without the truck like driving dynamics. Evolution of the wagon, just taller, and add awd, but yet a car.
In Germany the type of "station wagon" is called "Kombi" (for combination of sedan (limousine in german).
And they were also rather early the VW "Variant" (for variable) of 1962 was a VW Beetle with a Kombi body on top (the Beetle with his wide sills and almost separate fenders being a champion of wasted space) In the same way the put a van body on the chassis and created the VW Bus.
Hi Bart, this is actually the very first time that I have ever watched one of your videos, and I am very impressed! I do want to say, that I am 65 years old, and a retired ASE Master Certified Automobile Technician. The only reason that Full-Size station wagons and Full-Size cars (for that matter) are not produced anymore is because SUVs do NOT have to pass the Corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards are regulations in the United States as cars do. They only have to meet light truck standards. I personally do NOT think that an SUV is sporty at all! Driving around a four wheel drive pickup truck with a second and most of the time a third row seat is to me NOT sporty at all. How about a Chevrolet El Camino SS, or maybe a Ford F-150 Lightning, NOW we are talking Sport Utility! You see, I grew up with station wagons. Plus, a Chevrolet Nomad or a Volvo 1800ES, both of which are sport wagons and much sportier than ANY SUV could ever be. Please reply. Dave...
My station Wagon journey over 35 years: Volvo 240, 740 Turbo, 940 Turbo, V70 T5, and now a V60 T5. I like 'em.
"Never underestimate the bandwidth of a station wagon full of tapes hurtling down the highway."
I love station wagons. My dad had both the peugeot 206 and 207 sw while i was growing up, still love those cars!
Nothing impressed me more than the 1971 Mercury Colony Park. It looked like a wood-covered Lincoln Continental, especially with the Hi-back Twin Comfort Lounge front seats independently adjustable 50/50 split. The 1971 Chrysler Town & Country actually cost more than the Mercury but you'd never know it by looking at a Colony Park. What a Wagon!
It really tickled me that my 2022 Rav4 was actually listed as a "wagon" on the paperwork. Neat vid!
I see all of the videos critiquing the current pickup truck. There are a lot of comments about "Who needs a truck?" "Trucks are too big!" "Today's trucks are pavement queens!" "Nobody needs a truck!" "Mini trucks are what anyone would ever need!". I argue that trucks have become the new station wagon. My usage case is that I transport ATVs and kayaks. I do a lot of building projects where I need to haul supplies, dirt, mulch, etc. I'm the guy that gets called when someone needs to move a couch. We live in rural Pennsylvania and our families live on dirt roads with low winter maintenance. We used to live in Erie, and I was the guy pulling our friends out of snow piles. Family sizes are smaller. We don't have 10 kids. We have 2. My truck can comfortabley seat 5. When we visit my wife's family in North Carolina, it's nice to be able to put all the luggage in the bed and have the cab open for us and the kids. My wife has a Mitsubishi Outlander, and it is nice, but in all honesty just doesn't feel great to drive on a long 8+ hour trip. My wife always appreciates the ride quality of the truck. It's also nice to have a vehicle capable of navigating a 4-wheel drive beach in the Outer Banks. In pop culture, the Family Truckster and the Vista Cruiser were meant to be comical, although both were accurate to the period. It is big. It is bulky. It is not fuel efficient. It's not very practical if you just need to commute in the city. I hate driving in Pittsburgh in any vehicle, let alone doing it in my truck. I also believe that any vehicle comes with an heir of responsibility. Unfortunately for trucks, most truck owners didn't get the memo. I would say that these were the criticisms of Station Wagons. They were considered "boats" during a period when a fuel crisis was the death knell.
I've had two stationwagons in my time. Lovely and useful, but they do come with a problem. 'Hey, we're moving house, can we borrow your car?' 'Sure' 'And you with it?'
Saying no is an exceptional talent I haven't got :)
my grandpa has a 1978 ford country squire that was bought brand new by my great grandmother. unfortunately its been sitting since she passed. i hope i can get it one day and make it look brand new, heck the interior looks almost brand new still so that's something.
I absolutely love my 2005 Dodge Magnum. People are telling me to never get rid of it.
I wish they had better interiors and weren't made by Chrysler.
It's true. People don't understand me when I go on about this. My first car was a Dodge Magnum. Big enough for everything I needed to carry and the people I needed to haul. Still small enough for the responsiveness and efficiency of a full-size sedan. It was the perfect solution to my first road trip.
My dream car is a Cadillac CTS-V wagon with a manual. No one buys manuals or wagons anymore, so only 514 were ever made. That car is NEVER coming back. It's a real unicorn.
Same as the commodore v8 wagon.
My daily driver is a '96 Corolla Wagon. Lowered 3 inches, dark Blue with White TRD wheels. She turns heads wherever we go. Most often heard comments, beautiful car, you want to sell? My standard reply, not for a million dollars.
As a millennial, I grew up with a 1989 Mercury Sable LS. Its suicide rear seats were an interesting vantage point to ride in.
Volvo was even racing the 850 Estate! I love station wagons!
Thanks for the explanation on why they're called station wagons. In Britain we call them estates & i have no idea why🤷
The last American station wagon was the Dodge Magnum
Recently I purchased a low mileage 2004 mazda 6 wagon as my daily driver. I love it so much and want to do everything I can to keep in on the road. Wagons are hatchbacks cooler older brother.
I love station wagons, honestly one of the best all-rounder cars could look classy or workin' if you needed it. Amazing and beautiful cars! 3 cars are needed in life: Station wagon, sedan, and good ol' pickup, and if u want to be extra a novelty car for your enjoyment
Our 2007 Ford Focus wagon was the most trouble free car I've owned, but Man that interior was a penalty box to exist in. The space was perfect but as soon as we didn't need to carry two strollers on board we sold it.
RIP the Wagon Queen Family Truckster 🙏
You didn't order the metallic pea?
I love station wagons hate all the SUV's nowadays dad had an old ford falcon station wagon when I was a kid bulletproof thing it was so comfortable heaps of room I just bought the same model now restoring it by the way love your videos 👍
Owner of 4 hatchbacks and 4 wagons. Sedans and SUVs: Nope. One point that needed more discussion is a wagon's superior handling over most SUVs (Porsche excepted.) The best make wonderful GT cars that just eat up the miles with 4 people and their luggage and don't feel like a boat when deviating from straight line motion.
Yes they do. Unless you lower and put stiffer springs into an SUV, I am facing this with a cx9, the fact the springs offered are 35% stiffer and 75mm lower says a lot. And I think 35% won't be enough having driven a few so far. I had to put sports suspension on my Holden Calais v wagon too so I just like no body roll.
And I need to carry 5 people, three in kid seats and my Holden is the most Stolen car in Australia and it was also stolen. Don't want the high insurance for a daily driver as nice as they are.
I took my driver's test in a 240 wagon and daily drove some 740 and 940 wagons for years before finally being pushed by family to get into the modern era.
My parents purchased a Toyota corolla station wagon in 1982 and that thing lasted from 1981-2017 before it died..... and then last year I purchased a CX 30 and find out that my insurance considers it a station wagon... I did not think that term still existed!
I miss the wagon. I had a VW Fox wagon and transported my boxers in it. Then I moved to the SUV owning 3. Now that I’m 52, I just want a wagon again for my dogs. I hate lifting them into the back. The closest thing we have to a traditional wagon is our Integra. Not really close at all but no lifting 50 lbs dogs.
I drive a 2017 Mini Cooper Clubman S All4 in manual, which is the station wagon variety. Super fun to drive, handles like a dream in all weather, and really practical. It also has tons of character with its Mini design language and rear barn doors.
Definitely my favorite car I've ever owned. I plan to drive it till it blows up and them bring it back to life and drive it some more. If I get my way the damn thing will be a family heirloom 😂
I’ve had both full size station wagon and SUV. If you live in an area that gets a lot of snow the 4WD capability of the SUV is a must.
The first car I remember my family having was a Mercury Comet. We never had one again.
The minivan is interesting. The first Ford and GM versions were made on a truck chassis. The Chrysler products were based on a car platform. I remember one of the Chrysler executives reportedly saying, when he saw the competitors' offerings that he knew that they had "won", and they did. For a long time, they had over 50% of a massive market.
I have an 84 AMC Eagle 4x4 Wagon named Smeagle. It's MY PRECIOUS!😉
Have an Outback Wilderness. Best car I’ve ever owned.
Still enjoying my 2006 Hemi Magnum RT AWD
I'd die to have a station wagon today. They are the coolest daily ever.
Thanks for sharing! I've always been a fan of station wagons. Too bad there aren't many on the roads.
Cafe standards and the chicken tax caused the change. Trucks were allowed a pass on emissions, fuel economy and safety standards that cars including wagons were forced to meet or the manufacturers would get hefty government fines. Without having to do the same with trucks, which SUVs are based, it cost them less on development and to produce. Just put a fully enclosed cabin on an already existing truck platform add some car like options and walah the new version of the wagon with much more profit built right in. All the money savings profit and greed killed the wagon not the people. Consumers can only buy what is being produced and SUVs were forced on the market. It's the government and greedy manufacturers that killed the wagon and the car for that matter, not the people. People just do what sheep do and follow right into it.
allowed, not aloud.
One of my favorite cars was my 1981 Pontiac Grand LeMans. Very comfortable and utilitarian, along with looking good. I miss it.
But in a way, isn’t a crossover just a wagon on stilts? Looking at it that way, wagons have had the last laugh and basically conquered the car market.
Or is a crossover just a tall hatchback? I’m not really sure what to call them.
Crossovers are hatchbacks on stilts, the Vauxhall/Opel Mokka for example has less interior space than a mk7 Golf, it's just taller.
Bigger SUVs are taller body wagons which means headroom which is nice for tall people.
I think you need a 3rd row to count as a station wagon, most crossovers are still 2 row, so more of a giant hatchback.
Early crossovers like the Subaru forester from 1997 are stations that are a little wider and higher, but even those turn into SUV’s later on
This is the ideal car body. You may not like it, but this is what peak car looks like.
One big reason why SUV's and trucks are family vehicles now is because they're classified as trucks and don't have to meet stricter standards so that's what mostly gets produced for the American market.
Exactly right: the Big Three ditched unprofitable safety regs by moving passengers into exempted minivans, truck-like SUVs, then pick-up trucks. Estate/station wagons might come back if we forced our govt to apply safety regs across all styles.
As a 740 turbo wagon owner, yes wagons are awesome. As a holden vf Calais v wagon owner, which is the most stolen car in Australia currently, including mine, i am not a fan of that.
So I've looked at alternatives for a wide wagon within my budget to replace it. Has to be reliable for owning for ten years and not hard to get parts. So pretty much another VF, or skoda, as the Mazda 6 is narrower, and the sunroof models mean my head is touching the roof and i have to fit three kid seats and the dog.
As a result I've settled on a cx9. Lowering springs and intake, exhaust and tune will make it go well, they are more like the 1930s wagon given they are high riding and high roof. The seats move around a lot easier than a wagon. The cx9 at least with the back seats down has more boot space than my wagon.
So yes the wagon is dead and very few SUVs match them for boot space.
Always had a wagon , still got a a commodore wagon…. It’s a bit sad but still does the job.
I had a Subaru Legacy Outback. amazing small wagon. and could go up a road with 4 inches of snow with no worries.
my dad bought our family a 59 chevy station wagon that we just loved
I'm a massive estate car fan and will defend my 2006 Honda Accord EX 2.2 i-CDTi Tourer with my last breath. The largest I've owned was a Volvo 940 Classic, then a V70, although the Citroen CX Safari and DS Safari are a couple I wouldn't mind owning.
My favourite US one is the 1980 Chevrolet Caprice and the other versions of it - that was the first car I rode in when moving to Canada in late '81 and it had features not seen on average European cars until much later like the the adjustable steering wheel and air con.
The day I have to get an SUV or 4x4 is the day I hand in my driving licence.
The all steel Plymouth station wagon came out in 1949, not 1950. The Nash Rambled all-steel wagon came out in 1950.
Great video.
GM and Ford actually had a Car, Wagon and Truck platform all in one up to 2015 (Ford) and 2017 (GMH). Both GMH and Ford also had Crossover version of these cars for a period of time. I own a 2004 Crewcab Crossover Pickup based on GM's V platform, fitted with an LS1. I also own the Sedan version of the car but a 2002 model and a 1987 Wagon (Still based on the V platform). All fantastic cars to drive. We recently sold our 2013 Wagon (Also on the V platform).
Funny enough, my old Land Rover Discovery is considered a "station wagon" by the EPA. It's not a truck even though it is built on a fully boxed chassis and is a 4X4.
A van (mini or not so mini) is the most space efficient vehicle design: a box on wheels, good for carrying people and-or cargo. Chrysler Corp Stow-N-Go is one of the greatest ideas ever. The same vehicle can haul 8 people, or stacks of 4' x 8' sheets of construction material. I've owned over a dozen full-size and compact station wagons, and two Caravans and they are so much more practical than a sedan. As you mention, SUVs and crossovers are really station wagons, just more stylized, taller and usually higher off the ground. There are many great wagons (estates) sold in Europe but not exported to the US. I have a Golf Sportwagon that is great but I sure would like a PHEV Passat wagon that is available in Europe. I suspect some auto companies will make a vehicle similar to the VW Buzz, either EV or ICE but I doubt we will see car-based station wagons made in the US especially since Ford and GM don't make any sedans for the US market. Nice video. 👍
I'm one of the few Americans who loves wagons. I run a MK6 VW Sportwagon that is essentially a GTI after a lot of mods. Covent the early Audi Avant or the Caddy CTS-V manual.
They sell gti and r wagons in Australia.
If they made a maverick with a wagon rear end and called it the Squire I’d be mighty tempted.
Loved my buick roadmaster wagons. TBI and LT1 powered. Huge, quick, comfortable.
My current dream car is a Toyota Fielder. Look up the Brazilian one, it has a different design from the rest of the world. They're not expensive but it's very hard to find one in good shape and that has less than 200000km.
Also, we have a small community here called Save The Wagons. It has a very fun acronym: "STW" (STation Wagons).
I think the 2005 Volvo XC70 D5 AWD is the ultimate SUV killer (and by extention, the ultimate station wagon). It's roomy, it's safe, it's got good fuel efficiency and with a 5-speed manual transmission, 185hp and 400 nm @ 2000 rpm torque it's more than capable at hauling big caravans and boat trailers with ease
I grew up in a 1998 Volvo V70. My dad convinced my mom to buy a stationwagon based on having grown up taking road trips in a banana-pudding-and-wood-panelled-colored Oldsmobile stationwagon. It makes me deeply sad that when I have kids, I probably won't be able to give them that stationwagon road trip childhood experience, unless I can somehow find one of the last holdouts from the 90's and early 2000s in good condition.
A Van to consider if you want to show how good a minivan can be in your upcoming video - the Toyota Alphard Executive Lounge. These aren't your typical minivan, designed for lugging kids around. The Executive Lounge is more the equivalent of a private jet for the road, with fully reclining rear & passenger seats (with footrests), individual DVD screens, full leather, and so on. JDM only, but interesting to see as a development of the 'Van idea...
The Alphard's more sporty sibling, the Vellfire, should also be part of such a vid!😎
The pick-up truck was actually invented a couple of thousand years ago. Long before the invention of the automobile.
The modern "self propelled" pick-up is just an adaptation of the wagon. They got rid of the team (horses) and replaced it with an engine.
Why do you think they call the Union that covers truck driver, "Teamsters"? The Union has a history that predates the automobile, when freight was hauled by horse drawn wagons. As the freight was too heavy for one horse to pull, they used between 2 and 20 horses or mules.
I saw a 20-mule team once in a historical reenactment. it's impressive.
The one thing about station wagons that make it worse than a minivan for me at this time is having to duck down under the lower roof to buckle up car seat straps.
Once the kids are a little older and buckle themselves in, bring on the station wagon!
Wagon buyers are often a marques’ highest net worth customers. The E-Class wagon and the now-gone Buick Regal TourX are cases in point (details in the makers’ contemporary marketing materials). MB’s SUVs, by comparison, allegedly are delivered to their lowest credit score customers.
I always thought it was interesting when i had my 5th gen 4runner, the vehicle registration stated it was a "Wagon" lol. although it's really a body on frame truck-based SUV 😅
When they ceased making new Volvo 245 estate cars ... I moved to mid sized vans ... A move which has been fantastic as they're even better than the Volvo as a 'life companion'.
Whilst we own other cars and my Dr wife likes her sports cars, my new van is my vehicle of choice for most every task. From going to the shops to moving whatever, I use the van.
I cannot imagine being tied to some tiny car
i am also sad that subaru is planning on turning the outback into something indistinguishable from a forester, so even that is going away for the 2026 model year
The point about the SUV being an evolution of the wagon. The last model Ford Falcon sold in Australia had no wagon version but there was an SUV (similar in looks and size to the Ford Freestyle)
Yep. The fg in a wagon would have been awesome.
A heavier, slower, and more expensive wagon, with worse handling and fuel economy, but lifted. What a glorious evolution indeed.
@ spot on.
I like the stationwagons and have had quite a few, my current is a Opel Astra K Sports Tourer 2018, bought it new and have to keep it since this size of stationwagons are in decline also in Europe now. The SUW:s are taking over also in Europe.
As you say the wagon is still popular in Europe for sure. Over here in Australia we follow the American lead… in a slightly more compact size.
Not with the rise of the cashed up boss with a dodge ram or suburban.
@ true that, but we’ve got a long way to go before full sized pick ups are as ubiquitous as they are in the states
I thought you guys in Australia have utes? Or are they going away now? They're not a thing at all here in Europe.
@ technically a Ute is based on a passenger car, we stopped making passenger cars in Australia in 2017, and as a result the true coupe utility, in this country, was finished the same day.
Here in Au wagons are going up in price while their sedan equivalents go down.
Australia brought them back in various stages between 1980 and the 2000's
At it's peak, the sports wagon. In theory an idea made by Holden, it was invented by toyota at the end of the 1970s with their coronas, 4 cyl 2 litre truck/bus engines mounted in a light body family wagon. Economic unloaded, and barely even reduced accelleration with heavy cargo with a little drop in economy. Holdens dual exhaust sleeper that any dad would buy in a heartbeat came in a few formats, in an SUV class, the adventura, in the family class the SS and similar sports wagons. A driftable family wagon car.
Most amusing part of some of the Corona wagons was better long trip fuel economy than a prius, 20 years before the prius was even invented. Mine could even TOW a 4wd without breaking a sweat.
I really like my e39 wagon its rather big and looks really good. It doesnt have as much space as most other wagons though
I miss the sub-compact hatchbacks more than anything else. Something like the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit. Number 2 on my list of what I miss are small pickup trucks. Thanks to CAFE standards they killed both the small pickup and the small hatchback.
The last true holdout countries for the trusty wagon are Finland, Sweden, and Norway. The Scandie countries definitely still like them!
I inherited a 1973 Caprice Classic Estate wagon and will drive it until I die and I don't care what neighbors think.