May 4, 2009

Can the Station Wagon Make a Comeback?

First it was the minivan. Then the SUV. Those two vehicle types served to virtually replace a vehicle type that had once been a mainstay of the U.S. auto industry: the station wagon. In fact, because of its association with Leave It to Beaver type of families and laughable faux wood paneling, the station wagon has assumed a status of being so uncool that it is actually kind of cool. But a revival of the Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser or Ford Country Squire is of little interest to today’s auto manufacturers. Instead, they look at the continuing popularity of station wagons in Europe, where BMW and Volvo wagons among others are not only popular but also considered “sporting.”

In response to this, Toyota has introduced the Venza, its not-quite-SUV, derived from the Camry. Ford has rolled out its Flex. And General Motors has gone the luxury route by offering a station wagon version of its hot CTS sedan. The revamped versions combine functionality, utility and stylishness. And Cadillac adds performance in its first ever station wagon. The CTS will offer the acceleration, handling and technological conveniences of the CTS sedan while upping the ante with added versatility and a bigger sunroof. Power train options include 304- and 263-horsepower V6 engines, six-speed manual and automatic transmissions, plus rear- and all-wheel drive. The CTS wagon is actually a fraction of an inch shorter than the sedan but delivers almost double the cargo space, and partially hidden roof rails add even more capacity. Plus, it looks great.