Wagon demand has gone quiet across many markets around the world, and Hyundai has decided its last estate isn’t worth the investment Hyundai is ready to close the book on estates, with the aging i30 Wagon heading for the chopping block. Spy shots from last year hinted that the most practical version of the compact model might survive the looming facelift, but a fresh report says that the long-roof body style won’t be granted a stay of execution. The news doesn’t come from someone who declined to be named. It comes straight from a high-ranking executive. Xavier Martinet, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Europe, made it clear that wagons are not a priority for the brand, spelling the end of their last remaining representative. More: Hyundai’s New i20 Morphs Into A Baby Crossover Speaking to Auto Express, Martinet said: “There’s a reason we don’t talk about estates much – in this segment demand is not growing. The i30 is a vehicle that’s historically mostly been a fleet vehicle, where the price is often low and profits not so high.” The Numbers Stopped Adding Up The European boss went on to call global appetite for wagons “minimal,” with shoppers in China and the US walking away from the long-roof shape and toward crossovers and SUVs instead. The math no longer works in the wagon’s favor, and Hyundai has noticed. SUVs, Martinet explained, tend to put more money in the bank than wagons do, which makes the case for keeping the body style alive harder to argue: “You allocate your investment and R&D resources to projects that make the most sense. Right now there’s some demand, but not a lot, so it doesn’t justify it.” More: Hyundai’s Kona Leans Into Wacky, The Next One Plays It Straight The i30 Wagon, also sold under the CW, SW, and Kombi badges, is still on the order books in European markets including Italy, France, Germany, and Spain. Martinet’s comments point to a quiet exit with no successor waiting in the wings. The nameplate has been part of the lineup since 2007, with the second and third generations arriving in 2011 and 2017. Under the skin, the i30 Wagon shares its bones with the Kia Ceed SportsWagon, which has already been pulled from sale, so the writing was on the wall for a while. Where Hyundai Is Pointing Its Money Instead While no wagons are currently in development by Hyundai, there is much going on behind the scenes. The Korean brand will soon unveil the European version of the new i20 subcompact hatchback that debuted in Brazil. More: Hyundai’s Best-Selling Sedan Is Finally Losing Its Origami Bodywork The aging third-gen i30 is expected to undergo a third facelift, but we don’t know whether this will be applied to both the hatchback and the fastback. The Elantra sedan is also due for a mid-cycle refresh and could even find its way back to the Old Continent after its earlier departure. Either way, the real attention is going to SUVs scrapping for sales in Europe’s busiest segments. The Bayon, the Kona, and the Tucson are all set for updates before long, each picking up sharper styling and the newest infotainment hardware. 
by Thanos Pappas
Hyundai i30 Wagon N Line
Hyundai i30 Wagon
Spy shots of an i30 Wagon from August 2025. Credit: Baldauf
Another Automaker Is Killing Its Wagons To Chase SUV Money | Carscoops
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