Wagons are pretty much an endangered species in this SUV-focused world, but they’re not dead yet. And Volvo is one of the main reasons for this.

With decades of wagon experience, the Swedish luxury brand continues to make options available to wagon lovers, including its V60 and V90 offerings.

Both of those vehicles also come in Cross Country options, and I recently spent some time behind the wheel of a 2023 Volvo V60 Cross Country, which lives up to the brand’s lofty wagon reputation.

The Cross Country is a version of the V60 featuring a higher ride height, improved suspension and protective body materials.

Volvo has few true competitors in the luxury wagon segment — mainly just the Audi A4 and A6 Allroad, and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class wagon. Read on for a full breakdown of how the V60 Cross Country holds up in this limited but important segment for buyers seeking alternatives to the barrage of SUVs we see in the market today that offer similar versatility, but a better driving experience.

The wagon is a staple of American car culture.

And even if we don’t use the term much anymore in a world focused on SUVs and crossovers, the fact is they do still exist and are available from a small number of automakers in 2022.

The most obvious example of a wagon that people still take out on the roadways every day is the Subaru Outback, which has for years been the dominant vehicle in the segment — accounting for the vast majority of wagon sales in the U.S. each year..

This long, spacious ride might not look exactly like the wood-paneled vehicles of your childhood, but it serves the same purpose — hauling the family and a bunch of cargo with ease.

With its rugged looks and design, and the introduction of a more off-road friendly Wilderness model for 2022, the Outback continues to work on expanding its foothold in this segment. Combine all that with a truly versatile interior, and the Outback is a vehicle that probably should be even more popular than it is.

I recently spent some time in a 2022 Outback Wilderness, and I’m back with a full report.

The numbers don’t lie.

While wagons represent just 1.4 percent of vehicle sales in the U.S., the Subaru Outback owns the segment, representing nearly 80 percent of those sales.

But it’s not resting on its laurels, and the Outback — one of the few truly affordable options in the wagon category — is back with a brand new design for 2020. 
 
I recently spent some time in a 2020 Outback, and I’m back with a report on how well it measures up against the myriad SUV and wagon options available.

LOOKS 

Built on Subaru’s Global Platform, the 2020 Subaru Outback offers a very spacious cabin that is very comfortable for all passengers.

The vehicle is 191.3 inches long, and features excellent cargo space: specifically 32.5 cubic feet with rear seats up, and 75.7 cubic feet with the seats down.
For 2020, the passenger volume and maximum cargo value both see slight increases. There is also a 60/40 split in the rear seat to boost versatility.

The station wagon, once the vehicle most associated with family excursions, is arguably the most overlooked class of vehicles available today.

It doesn’t help that so few wagons are being produced (they make up only 1.4 percent of U.S. auto sales), and the biggest factor in this trend is the 500 SUVs and crossovers that dominate family vehicle buying these days.

But for folks who have SUV fatigue and want some alternative options, a few brands are still in the wagon business. In the luxury realm, the most notable player is Volvo, who offers a couple wagon options in the V90 and V60.

I recently tested a Volvo V60, which was redesigned for the 2019 model year, and I’m back with a full report on what it offers.