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The Fast Estate Sweet Spot: Why the 2000s Killed the Genre
Photo: Classic Driver
by Mikey Snelgar· via Classic Driver · Jan 9, 2026

The Fast Estate Sweet Spot: Why the 2000s Killed the Genre

"Fast wagons died not because people stopped wanting them, but because SUVs were easier to sell to people who don't actually drive."

— Revvly Take

The 90s and 2000s were the last gasp of practical performance—when manufacturers still believed wagons could be thrilling. An E39 M5 Touring, an RS6 C5, a 540i with a proper engine: these weren't compromises, they were statements. Today's crossovers pretend they've replaced them. They haven't.

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Mikey Snelgar

Classic Driver · Jan 9

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