2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon Leading the Charge for New Luxury Station Wagons
Station wagons may have been the family vehicle of choice before the minivan and SUV came along, but thanks to a handful of luxury automakers, the cargo/passenger friendly are making a resurgent comeback. As consumers look to downsize from larger SUVs to smaller vehicles that don't give up utility, station wagons are a perfect option, and even though European automakers are known more for offering station wagons, American and Japanese automakers are also starting to introduce wagon versions of existing luxury sedans. Autotropolis takes a look at some of the new luxury station wagons that are either currently on sale or will be available for the 2011 model year.
One of the biggest surprises for luxury station wagons is the all-new 2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon. The latest version of the Acura TSX is based on the European and Japanese version of the Honda Accord, so the ability to bring the Acura TSX Sport Wagon to the United States should have been easy. One major difference between the TSX sedan and the new wagon version is that the latter is not likely to offer the optional V-6 engine or Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system. Pricing for the 2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon has yet to be announced.
This Acura will compete directly against Cadillac's first-ever non-hearse station wagon, the Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon, which was introduced as a 2010 model. Complementing the CTS sedan and coupe, the CTS Sport Wagon features some of the same cues such as the angular styling and the tall, LED taillights. Starting next year, Cadillac will also offer the 556-horsepower CTS-V Sport Wagon to round off the full high-performance V-series line-up. The 2011 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon has a starting price of $38,265.
Of course, German automakers are well represented in the station wagon segment with the new Audi A4 Avant being introduced last year and the Mercedes-Benz E350 Wagon earlier this year. This new version of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class features is one of the biggest station wagons currently available in the U.S., and it also features a two-passenger, third-row jump seat in the cargo area similar to classic American station wagons. As for the A4 Avant, the whole A4 line-up was redesigned for 2009 with improved styling, performance and fuel economy. The 2011 Audi A4 Avant has a starting price of $35,940, while the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350 4Matic Wagon starts at $56,200.
Looking ahead, BMW, Saab and Volvo will be looking to spice up the station wagon market with new station wagons as well, but it isn't clear whether any of these models will even be offered in the U.S. Of these three automakers, the BMW 5 Series Wagon is the car most likely to end up in the U.S. based on the recently updated 2011 BMW 5 Series sedan. Volvo still hasn't announced if it plans to offer the all-new Volvo V60 here, but a promising sign is the fact that the V70 wagon has been dropped for the 2011 model year. As for the Saab 9-5 SportCombi, this model could be available by 2012, but few details are known about this new Saab.
While it is highly unlikely that station wagons will ever be as popular as they once were in the U.S., all of these wagons feature plenty of luxury along with the utilitarian features that have made crossovers so popular. The draw to a luxury wagon could be twofold in that it offers more distinctive styling than a conventional SUV or crossover, while it could also fit into more of a niche market with its blend of sport and luxury.