The 2019 model year will mark the end for two of Volkswagen’s more eccentric offerings. The company announced Wednesday that they will terminate production of the Golf Alltrack and Sportswagon by the end of the year

The fun little movers, which were based on the company’s Golf hatchback, were two of the last remaining wagons sold in the US market. The Sportswagen carried the mantle as the company’s entry-level wagon. Starting at around $21,000 for a front-wheel drive model equipped with a manual transmission, it was a throwback to a time before SUVs and crossovers were the prime choice for affordable family vehicles. 

The death of the Alltrack should be a little more depressing for automotive enthusiasts. With a base MSRP of only around $27,000, the all-wheel drive equipped wagon was a pleasant bargain that was as quirky as it was quick. It was powered by a 1.8L turbocharged engine that made 168 horsepower and 199 lb.-ft. of torque. With that power, plus an additional 0.6 inches of ride height, it was essentially the sportier version of the Sportswagen. 

Volkswagen’s decision to cease their production is an unfortunate reflection of the current car market. Shifting consumer preferences have made it infeasible for the company to produce the wagons any longer. Volkswagen revealed in their statement that SUV sales are driving their growth in the US market, as they account for over 50% of their total sales in the first half of 2019. The company’s yearly sales figures through June support the fact. The Tiguan SUV alone sold over 57,000 units in that time span, versus just over 5,000 Golf wagons in the same period.

As consumers become increasingly captivated by SUV and crossover offerings, it should be expected that more cars like the Golf wagons will be discontinued. They may be disappearing from our roads, but these cars will never be erased from the memories of those who loved them. 

See Volkswagen’s full press release here.