lowwall:Wagons are peffect for most Americans. Most of our driving is on paved roads, with one driver and occasionally a passenger. Yet we quite often need to carry a lot of stuff on the weekends. Wagons gives us the space benefits of an SUV when we need it, without suffering the poor handling and economy.
You a boomer by any chance? Self indulgent baby boomers killed wagons in the U.S. because they didn't want to buy cars like their mommy had. But of course they needed the room of a station wagon, so we now have millions of surbanites driving oversized SUVs even though they go off road approximately never.
Today, the boomers' kids don't want to buy their parents' vehicles, yet they need vehicles that can carry their snowboard gear, so we are finally seeing a rebirth in wagons and hatchbacks.
Alex
No, I am not a "boomer", I am a boomer's kid. Though I do like your choice of words there..."Self indulgent". I don't think that American culture is adverse to wagons because their mommy drove one, I think they died out because they were ugly and didn't answer our desires for horsepower or towing capacity.
I drive what I drive because it pleases me. I like sitting up high and having a better view of the road and other drivers. I like being able to tow 13,000 lbs when I need to. Its preference, not indulgence.