However, in order to keep things simple, let’s just say that the Subaru Legacy GT is fantastic, in any guise and from any generation. This is one of those cars where you start peeling away the layers, and you find more and more interesting and quirky sub-models that were produced for different markets. Unlike the Mitsubishi Evo Wagon, which was one specific model produced for two years (with a couple of variants) there have been many different “Legacy GTs”, since the earliest first-generation models starting in 1990. Thanks to its boxer engine – and the fact that many of these have been kitted out with big, loud exhausts – this is a car you can often hear coming down the road before you see it. Where Garage Dreams is based (New Zealand) if you ask the average car enthusiast what comes to mind first when thinking of fast Japanese wagons, then the answer will almost certainly be the Subaru Legacy GT. Some were only ever built for the Japanese domestic market, and have found their way into other markets as grey imports. To reiterate, some of these vehicles were also available new in other markets (sometimes under different badges or with varying specifications/trim levels) but they are close enough to the true meaning of JDM. In no particular order, here are what we believe to be some of the best wagons ever produced for the Japanese market. As this article isn’t a comprehensive history, we just focus in on certain generations or specific models. One other thing to note is that many of the JDM wagons in this article were built over multiple generations. Where one of these JDM wagons was only ever built for the Japanese market, we have tried to indicate so. With that in mind, some of the wagons in this article are “true” JDM and others are just Japanese-made wagons, which were available in multiple markets. However, these days many people use JDM more as a term to describe Japanese cars that are harder to come by, whether or not they were necessarily originally sold in Japan. If you’ve read our guide on the meaning of JDM, then you’ll know that term has a specific meaning (Japanese cars built solely for sale in the Japanese Domestic Market). Recapping 12 Of The Best JDM Wagons Of All Time.In this article, we run through some of the best JDM wagons ever produced. ![]() While many people think of Audi or Volvo when asked to think of manufacturers who make good wagons, Japan has produced some superb examples over the years. Not that it matters for much – the writing all but seems on the wall for the humble wagon, at least compared to the seemingly relentless growth of SUVs/crossovers. Most people ‘in the know’ about cars will agree that SUVs aren’t as good to drive as wagons, at least in the majority of cases. While SUVs have improved markedly over the years in terms of driving dynamics, the average wagon is still superior. Not only are wagons typically more practical (in terms of cargo space) than SUVs, but they are also generally better to drive. Sad times for the wagon enthusiast indeed.īut for those of us with sufficient brainpower and taste to know that a wagon remains the best choice for everyday practicality. Subaru still makes the Outback, Mazda offers the Mazda6 wagon, and Audi keeps the performance wagon dream alive with the fantastic (albeit very expensive) RS4 and RS6 … but even once ‘wagon-centric’ manufacturers like Volvo have shifted primarily to crossovers and SUVs. These days, good wagons are getting harder and harder to come by. I can recall a time where wagons were ubiquitous on the road, and every manufacturer seemed to make several decent wagon options. ![]() ![]() With a wagon, you get the benefit of car-like driving dynamics, but also heaps of space to store the dog, kids, and everything else you need to go away for a road trip. In an age where “practical” means boring, bland crossover or SUV, you can be forgiven for forgetting that once upon a time the definition of practicality was a station wagon. Of all the body types of cars on the road, perhaps nothing is as timelessly cool as the humble station wagon.
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