What's the cheapest new wagon available in the US?

"Bryan doesn't drive a 1M" (bryantakespictures)
06/06/2016 at 11:35 • Filed to: None

Crossovers don’t count. The Subaru Outback no longer counts.

Volvo V60: $36,000

BMW 328xi: $42,000

Subaru Outback: $25,000 (Edited to add this)

Ford Flex (Ford calls it a crossover/SUV, but it’s a wagon): $29,000

Bonus points to Ford for offering a color called “Too good to be blue”

Does the Mini Cooper Clubman count? $24,100

Too bad Mazda calls the CX-9 a crossover, because the profile looks so much like a wagon. Change a few design details and you’ve got a V90 competitor.

DISCUSSION (40)

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
06/06/2016 at 11:37

I call this list shenanigans! If the Ford Flex counts as a Wagon, the Outback should.

The Outback is 2 inches shorter than the Flex.

(says your resident Ford guy)

Ash78, voting early and often > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
06/06/2016 at 11:39

Uh, Golf Sportwagen? Starts around $21k or so.

Nibby > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
06/06/2016 at 11:40

Nibby > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
06/06/2016 at 11:41

if hatchbacks count, the Versa Note starts a little more than $14k

Bryan doesn't drive a 1M > Ash78, voting early and often
06/06/2016 at 11:42

I knew I forgot something. Probably the winner, too.

Bryan doesn't drive a 1M > Nibby
06/06/2016 at 11:43

Doesn’t count.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
06/06/2016 at 11:43

Bought my new SportWagen LE for $21,999...base with manual was selling for a hair over $18k.

Bryan doesn't drive a 1M > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
06/06/2016 at 11:45

You’re probably right, and the Outback drives like a wagon too. I’ll consider an edit.

Nibby > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
06/06/2016 at 11:45

It does now. :D

Wacko > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
06/06/2016 at 11:46

The Nissan Pathfinder 2wd starts at $29,830 US$

P.S I personally chose a AWD pathfinder over a AWD Flex,

the interior is way, way better. Even if it has a CVT, mileage also is really good compared to the Flex

Bryan doesn't drive a 1M > Wacko
06/06/2016 at 11:47

Maybe including the Flex was a mistake.

Ash78, voting early and often > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
06/06/2016 at 11:50

I think I'm going to come up with a very anal, rigid (giggity) set of rules for defining wagons vs SUVs vs crossovers vs minivans vs hatchbacks. It will involve ratios of ground clearance to headroom, drive wheels, engine layout, BOF/unibody, and so on. Maybe one day we can have a simple computer to tell us what's what. Because screw marketing.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Wacko
06/06/2016 at 11:50

You really think the interior of a pathfinder is that much better than a Flex?

Have you seen the higher trim Flex interior? It’s a nice place to be man.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
06/06/2016 at 11:51

Thanks for considering my counter point.

And also - I love that Too Good To Be Blue name. It’s awesome.

OPPOsaurus WRX > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
06/06/2016 at 11:52

the flex is 2 inches longer than an Explorer and 2 inches shorter than an Expedition

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > OPPOsaurus WRX
06/06/2016 at 11:54

And shares platform with the Explorer lol it’s kind of a redundant vehicle line, but there’s such a different audience for both of them that Ford may as well just keep selling them.

Bryan doesn't drive a 1M > Ash78, voting early and often
06/06/2016 at 11:55

No matte-gray plastic body cladding would be a good rule of thumb.

RWD, third-row seat, and not too much ground clearance would make this a very short and expensive list.

OPPOsaurus WRX > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
06/06/2016 at 12:00

i’m pretty sure this year is it for the Flew tho.

JRapp: now as good as new again > Wacko
06/06/2016 at 12:01

The Pathfinder is an SUV. Not even a crossover, but flat out SUV.

Though yes, the new Pathfinder looks fine if only it wasn’t for the CVT.

Wacko > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
06/06/2016 at 12:03

Everything seems cheap in the flex once you sat in the pathfinder.

I have a Pathfinder SL Tech (leather GPS and Bose sound system)

Kinja'd!!!

more legroom, easier access to the 3rd row..... seats more comfortable.

vs the Flex

Kinja'd!!!

Takuro Spirit > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
06/06/2016 at 12:03

$21,595

http://www.subaru.com/vehicles/cross…

Kinja'd!!!

JRapp: now as good as new again > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
06/06/2016 at 12:07

The Fiat 500L? Starting at $19,345.

And does Audi really no longer bring any Avant’s into the US other than the Allroad? Not that I think Audi would be a contender for anything “cheapest” other than timing chain tentioner build quality (I may still be bitter).

Wacko > JRapp: now as good as new again
06/06/2016 at 12:11

was a SUV, is now based on the FWD Altima.

So if he includes the Flex, the FWD pathfinder is a wagon.....

Wacko > JRapp: now as good as new again
06/06/2016 at 12:13

p.s,

I call mine the Pathfounder.

JRapp: now as good as new again > Wacko
06/06/2016 at 12:14

I see your point, but I also don’t think the Flex fits. The Pathfinder may now be a Crossover then if it’s based on the Altima..

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > OPPOsaurus WRX
06/06/2016 at 12:17

I haven’t heard anything, but with a new SUV coming alongside the bronco, I can understand dropping one.

They sell a decent amount of them, it’s becoming the new Mini Van around here filling up daycares (Metro Detroit) and I know it’s in production through 2017 MY.

Wacko > JRapp: now as good as new again
06/06/2016 at 12:19

Crossovers are new the American Wagon / minivan.

the Flex is based on the Taurus.

The Highlander is Based on the Camry.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Wacko
06/06/2016 at 12:22

If you say so. BTW that’s an outdated picture of a 2014 and older, new steering wheel and center stack redesign:

Kinja'd!!!

You can also get it with a rear center console instead of seats all the way across.

JRapp: now as good as new again > Ash78, voting early and often
06/06/2016 at 12:22

So for me for a car to be a wagon, there has to be a sedan version available. Looking at cars no longer made, the CTS Wagon had a CTS Sedan. The Legacy Wagon had a Legacy sedan. The Audi Avants have the sedan versions. And I would also include the Audi Allroad in this as it’s essentially an A4 (formerly A6) with some fancy bits bolted on. But the Pathfinder, even though it’s based on the Altima is not a Wagon since it doesn’t share the same roofline (and front doors?) as the sedan which it’s based on.

Are there any obvious wagons that don’t fit tha criteria of there being a Sedan version? I think sevaral of the ones in the post are actually Crossovers and not Wagons...

Ash78, voting early and often > JRapp: now as good as new again
06/06/2016 at 12:28

This is excellent input, but I’m going to take the position that the world has changed so much (against sedans), that this is no longer a requirement. I’m thinking more along the lines of finding models that were traditionally wagons, hatches, and SUVs, finding out what’s common about them, then apply that general logic to all crossovers to see where they shake out. I’m actually tooling around with this now, but having to juggle it with real work for now. Damn bills!

JRapp: now as good as new again > Wacko
06/06/2016 at 12:28

Sure, but they’re not really wagons. They’re still Crossovers. A Wagon should mean that there’s also a Sedan version of the same car available (within reason - Allroad, old XC70, old Outback until the 2014 model). A Legacy Wagon has a Legacy sedan. An Audi Avant has an Audi sedan. A CTS Wagon has a CTS sedan..

Alfalfa > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
06/06/2016 at 12:30

Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen, starting at $21,625.

Kinja'd!!!

Alfalfa > Ash78, voting early and often
06/06/2016 at 12:33

Torch had an article some time ago outlining his specific criteria for wagons vs hatchbacks. It made a lot of sense.

Wacko > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
06/06/2016 at 12:38

when I was cross shopping 2014s, I wanted a Flex, not a pathfinder, but my wife insisted we try the pathfinder. I said sure, expecting to hate it because of the CVT. But the Interior and CVT won it for me.

The Pathfinder was a nicer place to be seated in. and Access to the 3rd row in the Nissan is so much better.

JRapp: now as good as new again > Ash78, voting early and often
06/06/2016 at 12:40

No I do see that there may be some magic ratio of maybe like roof length to roofs height from ground, or something like that, that will more or less indicate whether something is an SUV, Crossover, or a Wagon. I’m just afraid that the Flex will be classified as a Wagon and I really don’t think it is.. it’s just too big.. maybe if you add the vehicle width to that equation somehow. Wagons should really be regular car sized, just longer..

Ash78, voting early and often > JRapp: now as good as new again
06/06/2016 at 13:02

I feel that viscerally, the Flex is a wagon. I'm going to put it into my "bogey" sample of cars that are on the fringe of several groups. Right now, I'm working on my benchmarks — cars that everyone agrees belong in certain categories. It won't be statistically sound, but it's something...

Ash78, voting early and often > Alfalfa
06/06/2016 at 13:03

Yep — I'm going to cite that and build on it. The hardest part it arriving at accurate stats for things like "cargo area length" which is not a common measure. His system made perfect visual sense, I'm just trying to translate it into a calculator (or even a database!) so that it works for everything.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Wacko
06/06/2016 at 13:10

I’m not sure about the 3rd row access but I’ll say it sucks you were in the market in 14 because you were just shy of the interior update.

CaptainObvious89 > Ash78, voting early and often
06/20/2016 at 14:19

This is exactly what I came here to post.

Azule > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M
06/27/2016 at 11:32

Here for the subbie. Love my 2016 Outback.