brought to you by....

....stationwagon.com

1999/2000 USA Station Wagon Models
All models of station wagons available new in the USA
(last updated 07/21/99)

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

New Models BMW 528i/540i Daewoo Nubira Saab 9-5 Saturn L-series (2000)

Significantly Revised Models Hyundai Elantra

Dropped Volvo V90

Click on each picture to go directly to the section of the manufacturer's web site for more specific information on each model.

All pictures are manufacturer's stock photos, with all rights reserved by each manufacturer.

Audi A4 Avant	Brand new in the 1998 model year, the A4 Avant capitalized on the success of the A4 sedan, the car that basically saved Audi sales in North America. Its emphasis is more on sport than it is on load-carrying capacity, but it's other strength is styling - arguably the best-looking station wagon on the market today. New for 1999 is the 1.8 liter 20 valve 4-cylinder turbo engine, available only with quattro AWD.   The previously available 30-valve, 2.8 liter 190hp V6 is available with either front-wheel-drive or the quattro drivetrain. The MSRP of the A4 Avants start at $26,440 for the A4 1.8 T Avant quattro and $31,040 for the A4 2.8 Avant quattro.   The A4 is scheduled for a mechanical update and mild exterior changes for model year 2000.
Audi A6 Avant	The A6 Avant arrived in the USA around July 1998, almost a year behind its sedan counterpart.  Very much a bigger brother to the A4 Avant, it boasts more room and more luxury features.  It comes in just one configuration: quattro all-wheel-drive with a Tiptronic® automatic transmission behind the 200hp, 2.8 liter 30 valve V6.  A third seat, fairly rare these days, is standard. As in the A4, styling is high on the list, although the Avant obviously does not have the same love-it-or-hate-it rear end of the sedan.  For more information, read the press release here. MSRP for the A6 quattro starts at $36,600.   The A6 sedan gets a 5-speed for 2000, but not the wagon for some reason.  There will also be an A6 4.2 V8 sedan for model year 2000, but not a wagon (yet?)
BMW 528i/540i Sport Wagons	After becoming available in the fall of 1998 as a 1999 model, the 5-series sport wagon (formerly called the Touring) made a re-appearance in the USA after being absent since the 1995 model year.  This time it shows up without the unique (but complex) double sunroof mechanism of the old car, but with all the virtues of the greatly improved 5-series sedan (it rides on the same wheelbase, but is 1.2 inches longer overall).   Like the Saab, a roll-out cargo floor will be featured, but there is no third seat.   The 528i is available with a manual or automatic trans; the 540i is unfortunately only available with the Steptronic automatic. Now that the 540i sport wagon is here, it is only the second V8-powered BMW wagon to make an appearance in the USA (we had the 530iT only briefly, in 1994-95).  Now if we only got an M5 touring, that would be the only wagon that could pass the 540i! BMW has announced that 2000 model 5-series wagons will go on sale during July; prices stay the same but equipment levels increase.  On the 528, BMW adds standard DSC (dynamic stability control), and the availability of a 5-speed automatic trans like the 540 (unlike the current 4-speed).  The 540 gets standard Xenon headlights, and wipers that vary speed according to how much rain gets on the windshield. Side note: BMW is sending the 3-series Touring to the USA in the summer of 2000.
Daewoo Nubira	OK, so they don't have a dealer network in the USA (they currently are selling them through independent distributors, including college students).  But Daewoo International is a huge company, and they seem to have patience.  So we'll have to see how the Nubira actually works as a car, but keep an eye on Daewoo....they are trying to avoid the mistakes made by Hyundai and Kia early in their lifecycle, and they have the resources to back it up.
Ford Escort	Solid, functional, and affordable, the Escort continues Ford's strong support of wagons - it has the most wagon models (4) of any manufacturer in the US market (shamefully, Chrysler has no wagons for sale). You can't go wrong with the Escort for a small wagon. This will be the last year for the Escort wagon (it went through a re-style for the 1997 model year).  It is scheduled to be replaced by the new Focus wagon for the 2000 model year.
Ford Taurus	OK, so the styling is somewhat wacky, but hasn't it grown on you just a little since its 1996 debut? And wouldn't you rather look at this in your driveway rather than something bland and boring?  The Taurus is scheduled for a restyle for the 2000 model year, however. The big brother to the smaller Escort, the Taurus wagon has been part of the Taurus line since it was introduced, and a staple of the wagon market. Now if they only made an SHO wagon....
Hyundai Elantra	Moving into '99 with revised front and rear styling, the compact Elantra (new in the 1996 model year) has been helping Hyundai's image in the USA market.  Representing value with a low price and stronger-for-1999 Beta engine (now a 2.0 liter 16 valve), the Elantra is sure to continue winning friends for Hyundai in the USA.
Mercedes-Benz E320	New in 1998, the E320 moves into 1999 with only minor changes (side airbags are now standard, and some previous options are now standard).  Still the most expensive wagon sold in the US (at a price ranging up to US$50,000), the Mercedes wagon is available with both RWD and AWD models. Every luxury feature is available, of course, and the AWD system is considerably improved over the earlier 4-Matic system (which was costly, complicated, and heavy). Of course at this price you don't buy it for utility (although the looks have been considerably modified since the last iteration).  If you've got the money, why not?
Mercury Sable	The sister car to the evergreen Ford Taurus, the Sable represents the very middle of the midsize wagon market. Why buy it instead of a Taurus? It all comes down to a minor styling and option availability decision.... Like the Taurus, the Sable is being 'freshened' for the 2000 model year (i.e. less ovals).  The re-design actually debuted on a website first, instead of at an auto show.
Mercury Tracer	Essentially the same car as the Ford Escort (see comments above), the same arguments apply....like the Taurus, deciding between the two sister cars comes down to styling. The Tracer wagon is scheduled to be dropped for the 2000 model year; Mercury will not be getting a version of the Ford Focus.
Saab 9-5 (available April, 1999)	After its debut at the Paris Motor Show on September 28, 1998, the new 9-5 wagon became available in the USA in April, 1999.  It is the first station wagon Saab has sold in 30 years. Like all Saabs, it will be unique....one feature will be a sliding floor in the back to help in loading and unloading stuff (it can support 440 lbs of cargo).   While it was originally scheduled to have a third, rear facing seat, Saab made a last minute decision  not to offer it (a very unfortunate choice, we must say).  Cargo space is 72.9 cubic feet w/the seats down, 37 with the seats up. Power will be provided by either a 2.3 liter straight four or a 3.0 liter V6, both turbocharged. Thanks to Mikael Rosengren in the PR department of Saab Cars USA, we have additional info about this new wagon....the press release, and additional pictures (including one of the prototype).  Prices range from about $32,000 to $38,000 depending on options.
Saturn SW1 & SW2	The compact Saturn wagon is split into two lines - the SW1 and the SW2. Although they are the same size, they are differentiated by engines (more power in the SW2), and trim (more upscale in the SW2).  Externally the same for 1999, big changes have been made in the powerplants to decrease noise (a complaint against Saturn since the beginning). A Saturn wagon has been available since 1993, and continues to sell well. See some Ford Taurus (or vice versa) in that ovoid side view? Saturn is scheduled to get the mid-sized L-series (LW1 & LW2) wagon for the 2000 model year (summer of '99), based on the Opel Vectra/Saab 9-3 platform.
Saturn LW1 & LW2 (available July, 1999)	The mid-sized L-series (LW1 & LW2) wagon will be available early July as a 2000 model year car.  The first Saturn that is not new from the ground up (it is based on the Opel Vectra), it is available with either a 2.2 liter 4-cylinder (137hp) or a 3.0 liter 6-cylinder (182hp).  A 5-speed manual is standard on the 2.2 (4-speed auto optional), while the auto is standard on the 3.0. Set to go head-to-head with the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, it has a longer wheelbase than either (1.4 more than the Accord, and 1.3 more than the Camry).  The more upscale LW2 gets 4-wheel discs, bigger tires on aluminum wheels, and other options.
Subaru Impreza	Differentiated from the competition by funky styling and all-wheel-drive, the Impreza is also available in Outback Sport trim, as a smaller brother to Subaru's wildly popular Legacy Outback. The Impreza emphasizes sport (unusual for the compact class), and is available with both automatic and manual transmissions (both transmissions have been revised for 1999).  New interior fabrics and exterior colors are the only other changes for this year. If only that hood scoop was really functional, and hiding a WRX engine, you'd never catch it! The Impreza will be around in its present form until around 2001, when an updated version appears.
Subaru Legacy/Outback	Big brother to the Impreza, the Legacy is the top of the Subaru line. Covering a lot of bases, it is available in three models - L, 2.5 GT, and Outback/Outback Sport (all with AWD standard). Surprisingly, it continues to outsell the Ford Taurus wagon by a great margin, so don't underestimate its popularity. Changes for 1999 are limited to new interior fabrics and exterior colors, and a revised 4-speed automatic and 5-speed manual transmission.   However, an all-new Outback is due for the 2000 model year, and will probably arrive in the US in June 1999.  It debuted at the Detroit Auto show in early January, 1999.
Suzuki Esteem	Newly available in 1998, the Esteem, while a compact wagon, is the largest Suzuki sold in the US. It emphasizes value for the money, with a low price combined with a long list of standard features. Available in base GL, GLX, and GLX+, we're proud of Suzuki for even bringing a wagon to market when many Japanese brands (Toyota, Mazda, Honda) have stopped selling any wagons here at all. In March, 1999, the Esteem received some new parts - a 1.8 liter 16v engine replaced the 1.6 liter, and body changes included a new grille, headlights, rear bumper, and front fascia.
VW Passat	Newly available in the USA in May, 1998, the Passat wagon is based on a stretched Audi A4 chassis.  This gives it more cargo space and a different look than the A4 Avant (sizewise it fits between the smaller Audi A4 and the larger Audi A6 wagons).  Originally scheduled for 1999 is the availability of  Syncro all-wheel-drive on the V6 model.   However, VW has continued to only mumble about availability; it may now not be available until the 2000 model year.  One note: Syncro will not be available with the standard 1.8 turbo four cylinder. Surprisingly, the Passat continues to use the Audi 2.8 30 valve V6 rather than the VW VR6.  It is also significantly cheaper than the A4.
Volvo V70	The V70 ('V' for 'versatility') goes into '99 as the only Volvo wagon model (the S80 replaced the S90/V90; there is no V80 yet available in the USA).  A number of different models are available, including the popular XC ('cross country'), a kind of Subaru Outback clone, and the sporty R, which combines AWD with a strong, 2.3 liter 20 valve  turbocharged engine. By the way, that turbo engine now has MORE horsepower in the V70R AWD model (248hp) than the S70 sedan (236hp).....when was the last time you remember a station wagon model having more horsepower than the sedan version? The V70 is scheduled to be updated sometime in 2000, with new styling to match the S80.   The smaller V40 wagon should be available for the 2000 model year. To preview the upcoming V40, visit Volvo's dedicated S40/V40 website and get a peek.

Copyright © 1998-1999 Steve Manning. All Rights Reserved
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or mark holders.

Return to www.stationwagon.com home page.....