Eight Station Wagons to Buy in the US Instead of a Crossover

Following a discussion started in our newsroom on wagons, we decided to compile a list of available models for sale as new in 2016. We began this list using each manufacturer’s website, going to each brand that’s still alive and kicking on the US market.

The result of our search surprised us, as there aren’t even ten wagons currently on sale in the United States of America. Furthermore, Detroit’s Big Three discontinued all of their wagons, leaving the segment to foreign carmakers.

What happened to the wagon? Is the body style set for extinction?

Well, consumer preference shifted towards crossovers and SUVs, while demand for wagons plummeted. Carmakers kept some of their wagon models in their ranges as sales dwindled, but they decided to keep selling the cars that make volumes, so wagons quickly disappeared from most brand offerings.

In a way, we cannot blame them. Carmakers must make money, and one of the ways they do that is by selling cars. If they invest in building models that don’t do very well in sales, carmakers risk losing serious amounts of money and market share.

So they discontinue station wagons and any other body style that is not popular anymore. Who knows, maybe wagons are in for a comeback in ten years or so, unless something else comes along and everyone goes for that.

What was a wagon good for, anyway? Well, a wagon handles like a car, has the fuel economy of the car it is based on (roughly), lots of interior space, a flat and roomy trunk, and there you have it.

This body style became out of fashion because of the popularity of SUVs and crossovers, along with the accompanied marketing idea that you can buy a big car with plenty of ground clearance that can take you anywhere.

Since most customers only drive on roads, SUVs and crossovers are useless for them and replace a perfectly good wagon.

Europeans still love their wagons, and a quick visit to Western Europe reveals this idea. Sure, crossovers and SUVs are popular on the Old Continent and selling like hot cakes, but wagons are still popular for European customers. This is proved by the extended wagon offering on this market, especially when compared to the US market.

So, let’s get to that list, shall we?

2016 Audi Allroad

The Audi Allroad starts at $42,700 in the US, and it is the only wagon offered by the German brand in the country. It comes with a quattro all-wheel-drive system, a higher ground clearance than the wagon it is based on, along with plastic body cladding for a more rugged look.

A single engine option is available, in the form of a 2.0-liter four-cylinder TFSI gasoline engine, mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Audi Allroad is built on the platform of the A4 sedan (previous generation) and offers a package that will make you think twice before getting a crossover.

2016 BMW 3 Series SportWagon

BMW’s only wagon sold in the United States of America is the 3 Series SportWagon. Back in Europe, it is called the 3 Series Touring. It starts at an MSRP of $42,650 and only comes with two engine options: a 240HP 2.0-liter inline-four turbocharged engine, or a 2.0-liter, inline-four, turbocharged diesel with 180 HP. Both versions have xDrive all-wheel-drive as standard.

Just like the Audi Allroad, the BMW 3 Series SportWagon is based on the midsize sedan in the range, namely the 3 Series Sedan.

The story behind the 3 Series Wagon started in the late 1980s in Europe, when a BMW employee developed a prototype for personal use. The project was spotted by BMW top brass and eventually made it to production.

BMW’s Wagon offering is a unique mix of performance, space, and European style in a package that’s going to make you wonder what will that crossover bring into your life.

2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon

Mercedes-Benz has the most expensive wagon on the US market in its offering, the E-Class Wagon, that starts at an MSRP of $59,000. It is also the largest premium wagon available, so they might have a point on that pricing.

If you look at the other two German manufacturers with station wagons in their ranges, you will notice that Mercedes-Benz offers a wagon based on an upper-class model. While this makes the car more expensive, it does imply more space for rear occupants, a bigger trunk, and more tech features.

You can even buy the performance version of the E-Class in Wagon body style in the US, making it a unicorn in the segment. The E-Class Wagon has 4Matic all-wheel-drive as standard (E63 AMG S model included) and can be ordered with a 3.5-liter V6 engine for customers who do not want the performance version.

2016 Mini Clubman

The most eccentric wagon you can buy in the US today is not the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Wagon, but the MINI Clubman, because it is the smallest automobile in the segment and the most charismatic. You are not necessarily buying this car for interior space, but to make a statement. MINI offers two engine options for its Clubman, a 134 HP 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine and a Cooper S variant with an 189 HP 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder unit. The first starts at an MSRP of $24,100, while the latter starts at $27,7650.

2016 Subaru Outback

The 2016 Subaru Outback comes with an MSRP that starts at $24,995. This is one of the closest wagons that come close to an SUV or a crossover, as it has body cladding, a rather high ground clearance, and a massive body.

However, the Outback is still a wagon, and it is a pretty good one. The model features Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive system and is available with two engine options: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and a 3.6-liter six-cylinder. Both are boxer engines and come with a CVT transmission.

2016 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen

Volkswagen’s Wagon offering is one of the smallest cars available in the US in this body style, the Golf. The Golf SportWagen starts at an MSRP of $21,625, making it one of the cheapest options available for buyers of this category of cars. This model only arrives with a 1.8-liter turbocharged gasoline engine that delivers 170 HP. The car offers either a six-speed manual transmission or an automatic gearbox, depending on the version selected by the customer. All-wheel-drive is not available in this range for the US market.

2016 Volvo V60 and V60 Cross Country

The Volvo brand has the most extended wagon offering on the current US market. First, let’s explore the V60 range. Customers can go for a front-wheel-drive wagon with a standard ground clearance and no body cladding, called the V60. This one starts at an MSRP of $36,160.

However, customers can also buy a V60 Cross Country. This model has an MSRP of $41,200 and comes with four-wheel drive as standard. While both versions of the V60 are branded as a T5, the V60 has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, while the V60 Cross Country has a 2.5-liter five-cylinder unit. Both come with an automatic gearbox, but the V60 has eight forward gears and 240 HP, while the V60 Cross Country has a six-speed unit and a 250 HP engine.

If you need an explanation for this, the Cross Country version of the V60 was developed on the pre-facelift of the V60, that used to have an inline-five-cylinder engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. We put the two models together since they are built on the same platform, and one of them is the all-wheel drive version of the other, not a separate car.

2016 Volvo XC70

Meanwhile, the XC70 is an older model from Volvo’s range, but it is still going strong with its boxy design. This wagon starts at an MSRP of $37,100 and is available with two engine options, both badged as T5s. The first of them is a front-wheel-drive version with a 2.0-liter four cylinder 240 HP unit, while the all-wheel-drive variant delivers 250 HP from a 2.5-liter inline-five-cylinder engine. Yes, you are not mistaken, these units are the same as those used on the V60, but on a different car.

The XC70 is the most expensive wagon in Volvo’s portfolio, and one of the defining cars of the segment. You cannot think of wagons without mentioning Volvo, a brand with a strong presence in this market.