Proof That Station Wagons Are the Newest Status Symbol

For decades, station wagons ruled the American roads. Roomy enough to haul a family, and its physical and emotional baggage, through city, suburb, or torturous summer road trip, massive enough to deflect the occasional fender bender or supermarket shopping cart without much damage to occupants or fake-wood-coated body panels, they acted as the exemplar and incubator for two generations of Americans in the second half of the 20th century. Then they all but disappeared, replaced first by minivans and then by SUVs. But now wagons are making a comeback.

Not exactly in terms of sales—they still represent less than 2 percent of the domestic car market. But in terms of number of offerings, there are more wagon models on sale in the U.S. right now than at any time in the recent past. This is not only because wagons are more efficient, more fun to drive, safer, and better-looking than SUVs, it’s also because they’ve become a status symbol. Why? Because they’re now unique, and wealthy people gravitate toward exclusivity. Also because they’re in good taste: understated, elegant, practical, and adaptable—capable of being dressed up or dressed down—kind of like a Tom Ford suit.

AD drove the best of the new breed of fancy station wagons and have collected them here for you, in ascending price order.