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 By
Joe Yogerst
Special Advertising Sections Writer
There was a time when the height of station-wagon extravagance
was a rear-facing third seat that the kids constantly fought over
and an electronic tailgate window that went up and down at the
flick of a switch.
The latest generation of upscale wagons is a whole new species — vehicles
that bridge the gap between the finest luxury sedans and the best-equipped
sport-utility vehicles. GPS navigation, leather seats, DVD entertainment
systems, turbocharged engines and side-impact curtain air bags
are just a few of the features on today’s top wagons.
Some critics claim the new luxury wagons as sports cars masquerading
as grocery getters rather than true family workhorses. But Michael
Dawson, an auto industry analyst at consumer trend forecasting
firm JD Power & Associates, disputes that claim.
“These vehicles are usually based on sedans, not sports cars,” Dawson
said. “And just because it’s a luxury car, that doesn’t
mean it can’t have a little bit of cargo room. These are
legitimate
vehicles.”
Station wagons were born in the Roaring Twenties as elongated taxicabs
used to transport passengers and their luggage to and from train
stations (hence the name). The 1950s and early 1960s — when
finned beauties like the Chrysler Town & Country and Plymouth
Suburban ruled America’s roads — may have been the
golden age of the station wagon. But a second renaissance is currently
underway.
While the station wagon was dying a slow but certain death in the
country of its origin, the concept was being kept alive on the
other side of the Atlantic, as European automakers like Volkswagen
and Opel rolled out a steady stream of smaller, more fuel-efficient
wagons. By the late 1990s, such luxury marques as Mercedes-Benz,
BMW and Audi were making their own wagons, taking the genre to
a whole
different level.
“There never used to be luxurious wagons,” said veteran
auto reviewer Joe Wiesenfelder of Cars.Com. “Because wagons
come overwhelmingly from the European makes that typically are
luxe brands in the U.S., we have many premium and luxury models.
Nowadays, if there’s any wood trim, it’s on the inside.”
The Mercedes-Benz E500 4MATIC – with an MSRP of $62,000,
the world’s most expensive production station wagon – is
a sterling example of how far the genre has come in recent years.
The powerful V-8 engine churns out 300 horsepower and propels the
vehicle from 0 to 60 in a mere 5.9 seconds – numbers comparable
to the new Ford Mustang GT.
Rack-and-pinion steering, 4MATIC all-wheel-drive and the Electronic
Stability Program (ESP) give the Benz wagon traction under just
about any road condition. A maxed-out version of the C240 might
include premium leather upholstery, Harmon Karon digital surround-sound
and a Motorola hands-free communication system that allows the
driver to use his mobile phone from hand-controls on the steering
wheel.
BMW’s slick 530xi Sports Wagon – with its powerful
engine, sports-car handling and lavish interior – is also
breaking the mold. Recently tabbed one of “10 Great News
Road Trip Cars” by the editors of the Kelly Bluebook website,
the Beemer gets a lot of oomph from its V-6 engine, reaching a
maximum speed of 150 miles per hour.
“Fewer things are more satisfying,” write the Kelly
Bluebook
editors, “than outrunning and out-handling others while at
the wheel of a station wagon.”
But what propels the BMW wagon into the upscale ranks is what you
find inside the passenger cabin. Ergonomically designed leather
seats and handcrafted poplar or maple trim complement such high-tech
features as Bluetooth wireless technology; a surround-sound entertainment
system; park distance control with electronic sensors; and a climate-control
system that detects and takes evasive action against certain pollutants,
including carbon monoxide and ethanols.
Audi offers more wagon options than any other automaker, ranging
from the moderately priced A3 Avant ($25,460) to the lavish S4
Avant ($47,820)with its brilliant functionality and outstanding
performance.
“Nothing less than a wickedly quick sports car,” is how European
Car magazine described the stylish S4 wagon. Pumped-up torque, sophisticated
Servotronic steering and nimble brakes make this Audi a pure joy to drive even
when you’re hauling kids, dog and camping equipment.
The Swedes have kept pace with the Germans thanks to an outstanding series of
station wagons from Volvo, including the superb V70, which gives drivers many
of the same engineering and luxury touches at less cost ($29, 445). In keeping
with Volvo’s traditional trump card, safety features are extensive: antilock
brakes, whiplash protection and assorted air bags and curtains.
But one of the V70’s most appealing features is an optional third-row seat,
which ups capacity to seven occupants – or roughly half a youth soccer
team.
“With only one exception – the Volvo V70 wagon – the rearward-facing
third-row seat is extinct,” Wiesenfelder said. “Automakers have less
pressure to shoehorn this extra seat in a wagon because many of them sell larger
vehicles with higher seating capacities.”
Spurning the term “station wagon” as passé, U.S. automakers
have produced a steady stream of “crossover” and “sports touring” vehicles
in recent years that appeal to that segment of the market that can’t decide
between a standard SUV and an upscale sedan.
“We’re seeing a lot of vehicles now that, while they may fall into
the SUV segment, are basically what you might consider a station wagon,” Dawson
said. He described this crossover vehicle as “a station wagon that drives
and handles like a car, but has the cargo space and passenger room of an SUV.”
One of the more stylish examples is the Chrysler Pacifica, which features a bold
streamlined design wrapped around a roomy interior with three rows of seats.
Drawing on the expertise of parent company DaimlerChrysler, the vehicle flaunts
a blend of innovative engineering and outstanding safety, including a rare “good” rating
from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). And with a sticker price
of $36,000 for the most expensive (Limited) version, the Pacifica offers panache
at a considerably lower price than most luxury imports. Another heralded crossover
is the Cadillac SRX. Cadillac markets the vehicle as a mid-size luxury sport-utility
vehicle, but its low center of gravity and elongated body give it more the look
and feel of a bona fide wagon. The base price hovers around $38,000.
But Cadillac’s extras – a Northstar V-8 engine, magnetic ride control,
OnStar communication, a seat-back DVD entertainment system and an XM satellite
radio — can push the final price past $50,000.
Joe Yogerst is a freelance writer based in San Diego. |
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