The classic estate car is having a torrid time. Across the world, buyers are turning to SUVs as an alternative, meaning the traditional estate—once seen as a basic necessity—is now under threat, like a species in decline.

Volvo wagons are on their way out in the U.S. The V90 is already history, and the V60 Cross Country will disappear after January 2026, leaving just a few stragglers on dealer lots. Americans have spoken: they want SUVs—tall, chunky, and ever-so-profitable.

This isn’t some spur-of-the-moment decision. Volvo points out that Americans have been SUV-crazy for years. The XC90 arrived back in 2003 and quietly changed everything. Since then, crossovers have done what wagons once did—only far more profitably.

Volvo argues SUVs are just more useful: higher seats, easier access, a sense of safety—and, crucially, Americans keep buying them. From a business point of view, ditching wagons makes sense, especially with U.S.-built XC60s and the electric EX90 taking centre stage.

But here’s the thing: wagons still do the same job—better manners, sleeker stance, often more efficient. They cover long distances quietly and brilliantly. So, do Americans really hate wagons… or have they just stopped seeing enough good ones?