SUVs kill off Mercedes wagon
Sad news, wagon-lovers. Mercedes-Benz is reportedly looking to end the production of its traditional wagons to focus on SUVs by the end of the decade.
That’s the word from Automobilwoche, which said there simply ‘‘isn’t enough demand for the station wagon ... in the mega-markets of the USA and China.’’
It’s unclear whetherMercedes will axe the wagons only in those markets or whether it will kill them altogether. Europe is still big on wagons, with the more powerful versions consistently selling well.
Mercedes chief operating officer Markus Schafer even said back in 2020 that low demand for wagons was triggering a pivot to electric vehicles and high riders.
As it stands, there aren’t any brand-new Mercedes wagons for sale in New Zealand at all. The inbound C-Classwill launch as a sedan, at least at first, but there aren’t any indications awagon will follow.
Same goes for the nextgeneration E-Class, due to debut in a year or two. We don’t even get the E 63 S Estate here, which is a bit of a shame, considering it will be the last time the model will be built.
Compare that to the SUV range of the GLA, GLB, GLC,
GLE, GLS, G-Class, EQA and EQC. Plus any SUV-coupe variants. It’s pretty clear where Mercedes thinks themoney is.
Which is interesting, because rival Audi has consistently pulled saleswith its wagon offerings, particularly the RSmodels.
The local arm shifted 71 RS 4s and 77 RS 6s over 2021, which is well in the mix of the SQ5 (52 units) and SQ7 (67 units) SUVs, as well as the RSQ3 (59 units) and RSQ3 Sportback (69 units).
The lesser A4 Avant also deserves amention, with 48 sales (standard and S Line versions combined) putting it in themix with the cheaper Q3 35.
BMWis also in the mix with the M340i Touring (22 units) and the upcomingM3 Touring.
But Kiwis do like a less expensivewagon too, as Subaru has demonstrated over the past three or four decades.
The Outback continues to sell in huge numbers, with the latest generation shifting a combined 1137 units over 2021. Despite
Subaru insisting it’s actually a large SUV.
Other ‘‘real’’ wagons in New Zealand include the Skoda Octavia (111 units over 2021), the Skoda Superb (386 units, including police units) and the Seat Leon Sportstourer/Cupra Leon Sportstourer (15 and 30 units respectively).