It's a nice idea, but it depends on how you apply it. First off, like the article said, wagons aren't generally considered cool. Which is why you have to make the wagon super-cool to compensate, that is, it has to be cooler as a wagon than as a sedan. If you take a normal car and wagonize it, it's not going to draw in buyers, because it makes them look like a dweeb.

Solution? Don't wagonize, instead create the wagon as a seperate vehicle. A great example would be the Dodge Magnum. It's a wagon, yeah, but with that big grille, pimp sled-low riding look, and shiny 22s it's a pretty fly ride. Too bad it's gone.

(1) It's about time. Enthusiasts with kids will finally have options, as they do in Europe. In my opinion, the best-looking A4 has always been the S4 Avant, along with the RS6. The Genesis wagon is nice looking. VW TDIs may carry a premium, but, at least you have the torque needed to deal with that 67 cu. feet of space when loaded. Cheaper options will appear, and used models will trickle into the market. Consider: a $60K '06 S4 Avant with a killer Certified warranty and 30K miles can be had in the mid-twenties if you shop around.

(2) What nobody seems to be paying attention to is that this has more to do with marketing than conservation. Our Outback XT hauls ass but gets crappy gas mileage, as do most Subarus compared with the competition — yet they SEEM more efficient than a Honda Pilot simply because they are cars. To carmakers, now that frugality and conservation are sexy in the U.S., it's going to be easier/more necessary to market wagons here now than it has been for 30 years. Psychologically, the country is looking to downsize. In reality, the CTS Estate is going to get comparable MPG to a Chevy Traverse or a new Caddy SRX.

Case in point, the VW JEtta TDI sedan and The Jetta TDI 'Sportwagon'. The latter carries a few thousand dollar premium price, and has less features!

A Huyndai wagon is still a great idea, but make it a Sonata

Wagon, that I could afford.