Yahoo Autos Here Are Some Wagons You Probably Forgot About
The introduction of the SUV into the American Zietgeist surely went a long way towards killing the beloved wagon. Vehicles like the Ford Explorer convinced people that they need something that looked tough, rode high and drove big. People forgot that they really just needed something that had room to carry people and their stuff without all the extras.
With the market saturated with crossovers and SUVs for the last 20+ years, lets take a moment to look back and how good we used to have it, when you could get a wagon at almost every price point and they weren’t just something enthusiasts wanted.
Acura TSX Sport Wagon
Debuting for the 2010 model year, the TSX Sport Wagon was based on the European market Honda Accord Tourer. It was mechanically identical to the TSX sedan save for two things; despite the “sport” in its name, Acura only offered the Sport Wagon with the 201 horsepower 2.4-liter I4; the V6 and the six manual from the sedan weren’t offered. Because of this, performance suffered a bit. With 200 extra pounds of weight over the sedan, it needed over eight seconds to hit 60 mph, though it was still great to drive. It’s said that just 10,000 were ever sold in the U.S.
Buick Skyhawk Wagon
Part of GM’s J-Body compact lineup, the Skyhawk wagon was one of a few wagon models that Buick sold in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It was Buick’s first front-wheel drive station wagon. It was boring though with power coming from a 2.0-liter I4 with just 86 hp. There were T-Type and turbocharged engine options but it’s unclear if those were available in the Wagon. The Skyhawk and it’s variants lasted until 1989 when the model was discontinued.
Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon
While many (still) lust after and remember the CTS-V Sport Wagon, some forget that the regular CTS could be had as a wagon as well. Debuting in 2008 for the 2010 model year at Pebble Beach, the CTS Sport Wagon had love it or hate it stying and was mechanically identical to the CTS sedan. This meant that buyers could choose between rear or all-wheel drive with either a 3.0-liter 270 hp V6 or the 304 hp 3.6-liter V6. The CTS Sport Wagon is probably one of the rarest Cadillacs ever made. Despite being on sale until 2014, it’s said that only 7,000 were ever made. Of those 7,000, just 1,200 were the V8 powered V.
Chrysler LeBaron Town & Country
Before the Chrysler Town & Country became a luxury minivan, the nameplate started life in the 1940s as a wood paneled sedan and convertible. By the 1960s and until the late 1970s, it had morphed into a wood sided wagon. By the 1980s, it had turned into a trim level of the K-Car based Chrysler LeBaron. It was discontinued in 1988 around the the time the Town & Country minivan was introduced. It would be the last wagon under the Chrysler brand until the Europe-only Chrysler 300 Touring in the mid 2000s.
Daewoo Nubria
Some of you proabably don’t remember the Daewood brand at all. Only around for five years in the U.S. the brand sold small, relatively affordable cars. One of them was the Nubria which could be had in sedan or the wagon you see here. The brand eventually went bankrupt resulting in the Nurbia being on sale for just two years before it — just like the Daewoo brand itself eventually — ceased to exist.
Ford Focus Wagon
The first generation Ford Focus lineup was brilliant. There was something for everyone. You could have the Focus sedan, the three or five door hatch or the Focus wagon. Mechanically identical to all the other Focuses (Focui?) you could have it with either the 2.0 or 2.3-liter I4 engines with a four-speed auto or five-speed manual transmission. Unfortunately the Focus wagon was dropped in 2007 when the Focus received it’s unfortunate redesign for the second gen.
Hyundai Elantra Touring
The Elantra Touring was one of a few times Hyundai experimented with Elantra variants. Based on the European market i30, the Touring came across as a blend of a wagon and MPV. Power came from the same 2.0-liter 141 hp engine. And it was well equipped for it’s low starting price, with standard features like six airbags, satellite radio and a USB port. The Touring lasted until 2011, when Hyundai replaced it with the Elantra GT hatchback.
Jaguar XF Sportbrake
Jaguar‘s second wagon attempt in the U.S. (after the X-Type Sport Wagon in the 2000s), the XF Sportbrake debuted for the 2018 model year. Only available in one S trim, power came from a supercharged 3.0-liter 380 hp V6 with all-wheel drive. It was dropped from the U.S. lineup for 2021 and apparently just 250 were ever sold in the U.S. making it one of the rarest Jaguars ever sold here.
Kia Rio Cinco
Kia’s small wagon with a cute name debuted for the 2000 model year. It was cheap with MSRP of just under $11,000. Unfortunately it was also slow as hell. Power came from a 1.5-liter I4 with just 96 hp. Merging had to be terrifying in this thing. It was dropped in 2006 when the Rio was redesigned and the Cinco was replaced with the Rio5 hatchback.
Lexus IS 300 SportCross
Like many automakers, Lexus was determined to beat BMW at their own 3 Series game, so much so that the brand shocked us with the introduction of the IS300 SportCross wagon. Introduced for the 2002 model year, it was a bit of a downgrade from the standard IS sedan. Buyers couldn’t get the manual or sport tuned suspension that came with the sedan, but it made for it with handsome wagon styling. Power came from a 215 hp I6 paired with a five-speed automatic. It was dropped in 2005 and it’s estimated only 3,000 were ever sold in the U.S.
Mazda6 Wagon
One of three variants of the first gen Mazda6 offered in the U.S. (the others being a liftback and the standard sedan), the 6 Wagon might have been an enthusiast’s hidden gem. power came from a 220 hp 3.0-liter V6 that you could actually pair with a five-speed manual transmission. The 6 Wagon lasted just four years before it was dropped in 2008. I’m pretty sure Mazda entering the crossover game with the CX-7 and CX-9 helped kill it.
Mercury Tracer Wagon
The Tracer (and Escort) were jointly developed with Mazda and shared a platform and components with the 323 and Protégé. It was boring. Aside from it being cheap, there’s not one redeeming thing about it. The only thing of note I remember about it was that when my mom rented one around the turn of the century, I distinctly remember it not having a radio which made me hate it even more.
Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback
Some may remember the Lancer Sportback as the Evolution-lite that could take on the Subaru WRX at the time. However the first Lancer Sportback was actually just a Lancer Wagon in the mid 2000s. Despite a Ralliart trim, there wasn’t much sporty about this wagon. Power came from the same 162 hp I4 as the regular Lancer paired with a four-speed automatic. The Lancer Sportback lasted just one year before it was dropped from the U.S. lineup.
Saab 9-5 SportCombi
One of the last Saabs before the brand went under was the second generation 9-5. A handsome sedan, it was offered in a SportCombi wagon variant that’s probably one of the rarest cars ever made. Just 12,000 9-5s were made between 2010 and 2012 with just and estimated 250 of those being the SportCombi.
