Cars & Concepts

VW drops last 2 wagon models sold in U.S.

The Volkswagen Golf SportWagen Alltrack at the 2015 New York International Auto Show in April 2015. (REUTERS)
July 17, 2019 05:40 PM
VW's wagon history

1600 Squareback Sedan: 1966-71

  • 1.6-liter air-cooled engine with 65 hp
  • Had cargo space under hood and in rear above the engine, similar to the Beetle
  • The first mass-produced model with computerized fuel injection

Type 412 Wagon: 1971-74

  • 1.6-liter air-cooled engine with 80 hp
  • Unibody chassis and MacPherson strut suspension were firsts for VW
  • First true 4-door wagon body for VW in America

Dasher: 1974-81

  • First water-cooled, front-engine, fwd car for VW of America
  • Also offered as a 2-door or 4-door hatchback with 74 hp
  • Sold as the Passat in Europe

Quantum: 1981-88

  • Midsize successor to the Dasher
  • Sold with 4- or 5-cylinder engines up to 110 hp
  • Introduced Syncro awd in a wagon, offered in 1986-88

Fox: 1989-91

  • Offered as a 2-door subcompact wagon, rare in its era
  • 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine with 80 hp, manual transmission
  • Built in Brazil, along with 2- and 4-door variants

Passat: 1990-2010

  • 3 generations of Passat wagons were sold in America
  • Stylish B4 generation unveiled an upscale VW design language
  • The W8 variant offered 270 hp, 4Motion awd and a manual transmission

Jetta: 2001-05; 2008-14

  • Most popular wagon model Volkswagen has sold in America
  • First generation was unique to North America
  • Independent rear suspension in later models

Golf SportWagen: 2015-19

  • First wagon for U.S. built off MQB platform
  • Offers full suite of modern technology such as App-Connect
  • Spacious interior and cargo area compares well to compact crossovers

Golf Alltrack: 2017-19

  • Higher ground clearance than SportWagen and standard 4Motion offer SUV-like capability
  • Mixes more aggressive design cues with timeless Volkswagen style
  • Manual transmission offered on top-line SEL

Note: Model years are given.

Volkswagen will end production of the Golf SportWagen and Golf Alltrack wagons at the end of 2019, leaving the brand's U.S. dealers wagonless for the first time since 1965.

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