- White House suggests wagons could return under new mileage rules.
- Trump proposed cutting 2031 economy target from 50.4 to 34.5 mpg.
- Few station wagons are now sold in US because buyers prefer SUVs.
President Trump has had quite a week of automotive nostalgia. First he fell in love with Japan’s tiny kei cars and announced he wants new versions legalized in America. Now his administration says his rollback of Biden-era MPG targets could resurrect the station wagon, that beloved long-roof icon of family vacations, road-trips and cult movies.
Related: Trump Saw These “Really Cute” Cars In Japan And Now Wants Them On US Roads
The idea came courtesy of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who told CNBC that the administration’s plan to ease fuel economy standards would “allow you to bring back the 1970s station wagon, maybe with a little wood paneling on the side.”
He added that this would be great for consumer choice, because “the minivan is awesome but maybe the station wagon is cool too.”
Why Did Wagons Disappear?
Cool? Absolutely. Likely? Not even a little. The truth is that Washington’s suggestion misunderstands why the station wagon vanished from the American landscape. It was not suffocated by fuel economy rules. It was flattened by the SUV boom.
Buyers switched to SUVs because they let you sit higher, feel tougher, look less like a soccer mom and brag about off-road capability you’ll probably use.
Still, the new proposal would significantly loosen mileage requirements, lowering the 2031 target from 50.4 mpg to 34.5 mpg. Passenger cars must hit tougher numbers than light trucks (which include SUVs and minivans), so the shift could theoretically open the door to more gas-guzzling wagons.
But automakers will only build them if they think they can sell them, which is unlikely.
Political Fantasy Garage
Of course, given Trump’s sudden affection for kei cars, which would also be an impossible sell in the US beyond the enthusiast crowd, the administration clearly doesn’t really understand what kind of vehicles turn American drivers on.
But if the White House can dream of a future where Americans buy 660 cc microcars and fake-wood station wagons, who are we to spoil the fantasy?
Just don’t expect your local dealer to stock a brand-new Country Squire any time soon. SUVs still rule the road, and no amount of policy nostalgia will shrink them back to wagon size.
Photos BaT
