Station wagons were once a common part of the automotive landscape because they were the most practical way to comfortably carry a full family and their gear. There was no unwritten law about what could or couldn’t be morphed into a wagon and a look back over the past few decades reveals there were some fairly creative wagons sold across the world.
In the United states, station wagons’ popularity stated to wane in the 1990s as the SUV trend picked up momentum but they remained strong sellers across Europe because vehicles like the Ford Explorer and the Chevrolet Tahoe were ill-suited to navigating Europe’s crowded cities.
Car-based crossovers have gradually replaced traditional, truck-based body-on-frame SUVs over the past few years but this time the boom has spread to Europe. As station wagon buyers increasingly gravitate towards small, city-friendly soft-roaders, the crossover is arguably moving into the spot held by the station wagon in the 1960s.
What is your favorite station wagon? Do you think wagons will again become a must-have for families once crossovers fall out of vogue?
Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta
AMC Eagle
Audi 75 Variant
BMW 5-Series Touring (E34)
Checker Aerobus
Citroën Ami 6 Break
Citroën CX Evasion
Fiat 500 Giardiniera
Fiat Regata Weekend
Ford Granada
Honda Civic Country
Lada Riva Estate
Lancia Thema
IMA-built Mercedes-Benz 190 Dc Universal (w110)
Binz-built Mercedes-Benz 230 (w115)
Mercedes-Benz 250TD (w124)
Opel Kadett Caravan
Peugeot 304 Break
Peugeot 504 Break
Renault 12 Break
Renault 18 4×4 Break
Rover SD1 Estate (concept)
Saab 95
Škoda Octavia Combi
Subaru Leone
Trabant 601 Universal
Volkswagen 1500 Variant
Volkswagen 411 L Variant
Volvo 245 Transfer Taxi
Wartburg 353 Tourist