Forbidden Fruit. Why can't this be sold here?

"mazda616" (mazda616)
08/04/2016 at 11:24 • Filed to: Wagon

Because Americans have bad taste and don’t like wagons. Sigh.

I love my ‘16 Mazda6 but I 100% would've bought the wagon if it was offered here.

DISCUSSION (49)

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > mazda616
08/04/2016 at 11:27

Mazda would only be able to sell like three Mazda 6 wagons.

CalzoneGolem > mazda616
08/04/2016 at 11:30

As car shopper looking at used wagons I can tell you that we like our Subaru wagons.

The Dummy Gummy > mazda616
08/04/2016 at 11:30

It does strike me as odd that luxury wagons do well, but not mid tier. I love wagons so I’m biased, but weird.

64Mali > mazda616
08/04/2016 at 11:32

I saw one in Germany, I wanted it so bad.

Milky > mazda616
08/04/2016 at 11:35

Just becasue:

Kinja'd!!!

duurtlang > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
08/04/2016 at 11:36

Which is confusing to me. Americans like their crossovers a lot, so they like practicality. So why not combine that practicality with the advantages of a car with normal ride hight? (Advantages: lower price, less weight, better driving dynamics, lower fuel consumption, better performance, better handling)

tythegeek > mazda616
08/04/2016 at 11:37

It’s so pretty, why can’t we have nice things?

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > duurtlang
08/04/2016 at 11:41

I think Americans like the image conveyed by a crossover, which tends to draw more from an SUV: sporty, rugged, outdoorsy, etc. I think that there is also some perceived safety and probably some real world comfort from having a higher seating position. Also, they are trendy.

Svend > Milky
08/04/2016 at 11:43

And

Kinja'd!!!

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > duurtlang
08/04/2016 at 11:44

I don’t really get it either but I guess it’s the slightly higher seating position paired with car like handling and fuel consumption. All things that, like you said, wagons would do just fine or better minus the higher seating of course. I bet that wagons with body cladding and a few inches more ground clearance would sell, at least Subaru proofs it.

Svend > CalzoneGolem
08/04/2016 at 11:45

Like the Levorg.

Kinja'd!!!

Very nice.

duurtlang > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
08/04/2016 at 11:46

True, yet lots of people still choose a sedan. The sedan demographic plus a part of crossover demographic would/should be interested in a wagon as well.

CalzoneGolem > Svend
08/04/2016 at 11:46

Exactly ... wait what?

duurtlang > Svend
08/04/2016 at 11:47

And those are just a few of the many options.

jimz > duurtlang
08/04/2016 at 11:48

because the vast majority of car buyers don’t give a crap about performance, driving dynamics, handling, etc. CUVs are easier to get in and out if, easier to get your kids in and out of, easier to get your stuff in and out of, etc... The difference in price and fuel economy is so small as to be not worth discussing.

jimz > duurtlang
08/04/2016 at 11:48

haven’t we been reading articles about how sedan sales are dropping fast?

Svend > mazda616
08/04/2016 at 11:49

It’s not so much that these car companies don’t sell estates in the U.S., it’s that it’s illegal to even import one should you wish to. The dispensations are few and far between so you have to wait 25 YEARS.

The Ghost of Oppo > duurtlang
08/04/2016 at 11:50

Two reasons why crossover buyers don’t consider wagons:

The word wagon , which mostnon-car people immediately associate with the terrible station wagons of the 70's and 80's, has a negative connotation, much like mini-van.

Also, people want the high ride height of an SUV. The belt line of sedans has gotten so high, it gives you the feeling that you are lower and smaller than you actually are.

But let’s face it, if American’s saw the advantages of wagons over SUV’s, hatchbacks would also sell much better here.

Steve in Manhattan > mazda616
08/04/2016 at 11:51

I am an American, and I am all for that wagon.

The Ghost of Oppo > Milky
08/04/2016 at 11:51

Aston Martin makes a wagon?

Svend > duurtlang
08/04/2016 at 11:53

Ye’, you don’t realise how many there are till you stop to look.

I sometimes think I should of got the Superb estate, but the I look at Piglet and I realise I’m very happy with the car I’ve got.

duurtlang > jimz
08/04/2016 at 11:55

The difference in price and fuel economy is so small as to be not worth discussing.

Sometimes I forget my perspective is different. Having just visited the US I see the error of my ways. Difference in price and fuel economy (as in, €/$ per km/mile) is significant in Europe, yet it’s not in the US.

GE90man > mazda616
08/04/2016 at 11:56

Kinja'd!!!

i cry everytime

duurtlang > Svend
08/04/2016 at 11:58

It’s a large hatchback, another thing largely unavailable in the US. Other than the Panamera, Model S and a few other pricey cars that is if I’m not mistaken.

Svend > duurtlang
08/04/2016 at 12:00

Oops, I really shouldn’t of brought it up then. Sorry.

To U.S. Readers, you probably would hate my car anyway.

jimz > duurtlang
08/04/2016 at 12:02

they’re steadily growing in Europe too/

http://www.jato.com/usa/suv-takes-…

The Ghost of Oppo > The Dummy Gummy
08/04/2016 at 12:12

In what sales metric do luxury wagons do better in than non-luxury wagons?

Milky > The Ghost of Oppo
08/04/2016 at 12:21

Crazy right?

Kinja'd!!!

duurtlang > jimz
08/04/2016 at 12:25

This is obviously true, but their market share isn’t nearly as large as in the US. As your link shows, the total SUVs/crossovers market share of all sizes combined is roughly equal to the subcompact non-crossover market share.

Mid Engine > duurtlang
08/04/2016 at 12:30

cuz you can’t see shit out of a normal height car; all the crossovers, SUV’s, pick up trucks.

The Dummy Gummy > The Ghost of Oppo
08/04/2016 at 12:42

I meant in terms of options. I can only name 2 wagons mid-tier and one isn’t truly a wagon, while I can name 5 luxury wagons state-side. I’m not saying hatch. I’m saying wagon.

In terms of sales figures, I have no idea how much each sold. Obviously, mid-tier is a bit more mass produced, but I didn’t think they outsold the combined luxury.

The Ghost of Oppo > The Dummy Gummy
08/04/2016 at 13:05

The luxury brands only sell about 5,000 each, per model, per year.

The Dummy Gummy > The Ghost of Oppo
08/04/2016 at 13:38

Can you share your data? I wasn’t able to find anything online. How much do the two non-luxury sell?

The Ghost of Oppo > The Dummy Gummy
08/04/2016 at 14:08

You won’t find the data for the 3er or E-class since they get wrapped up with the sedans in sales terms, but you can see Audi and Volvo wagon numbers. The sales splits for the 3er and E-wagon have been around 5-8% over the past few years. While the VW Sportwagen was selling almost 25k units and dealers were begging for more before Dieselgate killed half of its volume and the Outback sold over 150k last year.

I was also going to include the Crosstrek as a wagon, but I looked it up and they are practically the same size as the Impreza hatch, yet it has half a cubic foot less cargo space.

The Dummy Gummy > The Ghost of Oppo
08/04/2016 at 14:14

Yea I figured Outback crushed the wagon numbers. It is a wagon masquerading as an SUV which is probably why it gets so many purchases.

Kind of incredible on the buying patterns. Thanks for the info. Wish there were more wagons. Volvo is probably my favorite wagon, but price... yikes not sure I’ll ever be able to afford.

The Ghost of Oppo > The Dummy Gummy
08/04/2016 at 14:20

Agreed, I had the opportunity to buy a low mile, manual 328xi a few years ago and passed. I definitely regret that decision.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Svend
08/08/2016 at 21:28

how dare you wave the Levorg in front of me.

Svend > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/08/2016 at 22:19

Sorry fella, my bad.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Svend
08/08/2016 at 22:27

I’ll let it slide, just this once. Next time though beware.

Svend > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/09/2016 at 00:49

I’m not a big fan of Scoobys, but I do like the Levorg.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Svend
08/09/2016 at 01:14

I’m a pretty big fan of them and I’m mad jelly of the Levorg. I’ve gotta settle for my normal old Impreza I guess. America is a struggle.

Svend > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/09/2016 at 01:51

Ye’, it’s pretty crazy. I was reading on Jalopnik I think yesterday that an Indian guy was refused sale of a new car at a Mercedes dealership as they thought he’d sell it to the taliban but also that certain cars can’t be exported either. So you can’t import a car or export certain cars. That is absolutely mental. If they tried to do that in the U.K. Or E.U. People would be in uproar even though the number of cars ‘grey imported’ isn’t massive but still enough to upset people.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Svend
08/09/2016 at 12:54

Land of the free, eh?

Svend > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/09/2016 at 15:04

Just to be clear, I never said that, I guess strongly implied it though. Lol.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Svend
08/09/2016 at 15:43

Mostly just taking a jab at my own country haha

Svend > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/09/2016 at 15:55

To be honest I do often feel the same about the U.S. When I come across some of your laws.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Svend
08/09/2016 at 17:00

Yeah, we are an interesting place.

Svend > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/09/2016 at 18:13

Mostly interesting with the large portion of ‘scary as f**k’ with certain things.

Just be safe fella.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Svend
08/09/2016 at 19:05

Certainly.

I try my best to stay outta dangerous situations and it’s worked so far lol