[Dilbert San Diego]

Didn’t they get rid of station wagons and replace them with minivans and SUVs?

[Dr. Sivana]

Didn’t they get rid of station wagons and replace them with minivans and SUVs?

There was overlap. I mention station wagons because my wife drives a 1994 Buick Roadmaster that seats eight. But just as minivans and SUVs supplanted full-sized station wagons, small SUVs supplant cars. Minivans are fading away. The only ones I know of now are from Chrysler/Fiat, Honda and Toyota. Chrysler's newest iteration was not well-received, and the segment is withering.

[smokingfrog]

I don’t think they make a minivan anymore, but maybe the Transit can be configured for passengers. The Ford Fusion is a nice car, but you don’t see that many of them.

[roadcat]

Didn’t they get rid of station wagons and replace them with minivans and SUVs?

I think that was due to taxes and tariffs. Station wagons were heavily taxed as luxury items, while minivans and SUVs were considered to be light trucks and had a lower tax rate. That effectively killed the station wagon. It's all about taxes, which President Trump is trying to change in our favor with the tariff wars.

[roadcat]

Didn’t they get rid of station wagons and replace them with minivans and SUVs?

http://www.autos.com/car-buying/understanding-luxury-car-tax-and-why-the-rate-is-different

The luxury auto tax of the 1990s put an extra 10 percent tax on autos over $30,000. Station wagons often cost 20 percent more than sedans and were priced higher, making them luxury items.

"However, the tax was applicable only to cars and was not levied on pickup trucks, vans or SUVs as these were considered to be primarily business vehicles for tax purposes."

Lots of people switched to the cheaper SUVs and trucks. That luxury tax is gone now, but the damage was done to station wagons.