Toyota Gets Back on the Wagon

Station wagons used to be the queens of the American road, but have been pushed to the brink of extinction over the past few decades by the rising popularity of minivans and then SUVs. Only a handful remain on sale today, mostly from high-end European brands, and none made by American automakers.The Subaru Outback has been the most popular model that resembles a wagon in recent years, but even it has evolved into something closer to a high-riding utility vehicle in its latest generations.Now Toyota has reentered the fray with not one, but two wagon-esque models. The Crown Signia hybrid and all-electric bZ Woodland both stand slightly taller than cars like the Toyota Camry, but are longer and lower than similarly sized SUVs like the Toyota Rav4. Wagon purists will have to accept them as better than nothing, even without any wood paneling or rear-facing seats for the kids. The Crown Signia and bZ Woodland are both designed more like station wagons than SUVs. ToyotaToyota has long sold a lineup of Crown models in Japan as premium offerings, and the Crown Signia carries the theme to America. The $46,285 model istrimmed with leather upholstery and seems to have as much sound insulation as a recording studio. Passenger space is abundant and, while the cargo area behind the second row isn’t as big as a Rav4’s, folding the seat backs flat creates a long load floor in wagon style.The Crown Signia’s powertrain has 240 horsepower, which is more than adequate for something without any sporting intentions. It also delivers 38 mpg and is rated to tow up to 2,700 pounds, if you want to hook up a camper for an old-fashioned family road trip.With or without one, the Crown Signia eats up miles with refinement that rivals a Lexus, and it can be equipped with a full array of electronic driver aids, including a 360-degree camera system and a hands-off, lane-centering cruise control for stop-and-go traffic up to 25 mph.The Crown Signia features a traditional interior design and leather upholstery. ToyotaThe $46,975 bZ Woodland is roughly the same size as the Crown Signia but has a more outdoorsy persona, as its name implies. It’s a lot like the Outback in that regard. This isn’t surprising, as Subaru sells a version of the same vehicle called the Trailseeker.While its roof is still low enough to load a rack without needing a step ladder, the bZ Woodland has an ample 8.4 inches of ground clearance and a 375-horsepower all-wheel-drive system. Step hard on the accelerator and it will sprint to 60 mph in a brisk 4.4 seconds, slamming your head into the seat as it takes off. It will also happily pull a 3,500-pound trailer into the woods.The bZ Woodland has rugged styling, all-wheel drive and can be ordered from the factory with all-terrain tires. ToyotaBut not too deep. The bZ Woodland can go 281 miles between charges, but that drops to 260 miles if you pick the no-cost all-terrain tire option, which adds resistance on pavement. Charging the battery to 80% takes about half an hour at a public station, and the Crown Signia comes from the factory with a Tesla-style charge port that allows it to use Tesla’s Superchargers without an adapter.The interior features an unusual layout with a digital instrument cluster on top of the dashboard, which requires you to tilt the steering wheel lower than you might in another vehicle to see it. It feels odd at first, but isn’t too hard to get used to after a few days. I nevertheless prefer the Crown Signia’s traditional design, which places the instruments behind the steering wheel so they can be seen through it.Even with this quirk, the bZ Woodland is one of the best electric cars I’ve driven recently. An overall favorite, in fact. It’s exceptionally quiet, handles flat dirt and gravel with ease, and its off-road stance soaks up the worst that poorly paved roads can throw at it.The bZ Woodland has an unusual layout with the instrument cluster above the steering wheel. ToyotaWhile I was smitten with both models, it’s easy to see why someone would still choose an SUV. A Toyota Highlander packs a third row of seats onto the same footprint, while a Rav4 is a foot shorter in length, but essentially as roomy as either.Car buyers raised on a diet of SUVs may also find it hard to give up their raised seating positions, but the Crown Signia and bZ Woodland are just the ticket for anyone looking to get back on the wagon train.

Toyota Gets Back on the Wagon

Toyota Gets Back on the Wagon

More from the New York Sun

Terence Fisher’s Monsters Rise Again

Apple Rushes its First Folding iPhone Launch — But Most Buyers Must Wait To Get One

Ohio Governor’s Race Tilts Toward Democrats After Ramaswamy’s Controversial Attack Ad

Kim Jong Un Pays Surprise Visit to Communist China, Reviving Talk of a Possible Summit With Trump

Cézanne, Modigliani, and Soutine: Parisian Rebels Who Made Art Modern Reunite at Brooklyn Museum

Escalating Protests, Security Concerns Overshadow NFL’s Paris Debut

Ukraine Reports Restored Access to Starlink Amid Contradictory Accounts of Who Ordered the Slowdown

Two Ex-FBI Officials Face Charges of Lying to Congress Over Hunter Biden Probe

More from the New York Sun

Terence Fisher’s Monsters Rise Again

Apple Rushes its First Folding iPhone Launch — But Most Buyers Must Wait To Get One

Ohio Governor’s Race Tilts Toward Democrats After Ramaswamy’s Controversial Attack Ad

Kim Jong Un Pays Surprise Visit to Communist China, Reviving Talk of a Possible Summit With Trump

Cézanne, Modigliani, and Soutine: Parisian Rebels Who Made Art Modern Reunite at Brooklyn Museum

Escalating Protests, Security Concerns Overshadow NFL’s Paris Debut

Ukraine Reports Restored Access to Starlink Amid Contradictory Accounts of Who Ordered the Slowdown

Two Ex-FBI Officials Face Charges of Lying to Congress Over Hunter Biden Probe