Produced from 2005 to 2008, the Dodge Magnum was America's muscle wagon from a bygone era where big-engined station wagons could easily keep up with performance cars. Unfortunately, the Magnum came too late for the fun and was quickly replaced by a market that was beginning to cater to SUVs over anything else available.

So why did the Magnum muscle wagon die in 2009? It had all the makings of greatness, serving both roles as either family's daily commuter or hardcore drag racer on weekends at the strip. In regards to modern cars, the Magnum is one that will go down as a future classic, but the shifting market killed off what could have been great.

Let's go into the backstory behind why the Dodge Magnum was discontinued.

History Lesson

SRT-8 Magnum parked on a wet road
Via AutoEvolution

The Magnum had been built for two generations before the wagon variant, once in the late 1970s; some variations were built for Brazil and Mexico through the late 1980s. Based on the Chrysler LX platform, the third generation offered four different powertrain options to remain relevant in the US market. These engines included two V6 engines and two V8 engines and put out between 190 horsepower and 425 horsepower, respectively.

The new Magnum featured two different transmissions as well, using a 4-speed automatic for the entry-level models while the SRT8, RT, and all-wheel-drive SXT used a Mercedes-Benz sourced 5-speed gearbox. While the other engines were adequately powered, the 6.1-liter Hemi in the SRT8 gave the car all the grunt it needed to shine.

At the time, the wagon market was still doing well in the US. Wagons were available from Volkswagen, Audi, Subaru, Mercedes, BMW, Ford, and even Hyundai. Although not massive sellers, wagons were more usable than sedans while being cheaper than SUVs and Dodge wanted in on the market.

Related: 10 Estate Cars That Revived The Station Wagon

Sleeper Status

A modified SRT-8 Magnum parked by a tree
Via Classiccars

The Magnum was a power shift for the US wagon market. With the debut of the 425 horsepower SRT-8, the performance wagon market faced a dynamic change. According to Consumer Reports, "V8s make throaty full-throttle growl–SRT8s sound like race cars–but are quiet enough in gentle cruising."

Most performance wagons had been focused on handling in Europe, and the muscle wagon had been absent from the market since the end of the classic muscle car era. Dodge had a massive power advantage over nearly everything in the market, with the next most powerful at the time being nearly 100 horsepower lower in the Volvo V70R.

In addition to the massive 6.1-liter engine, the SRT-8 model also received handling and suspension upgrades. According to Car And Driver, the SRT-8 can easily handle a drift "knowing all the time that the 14.2-inch-front and 13.8-inch-rear vented Brembo brakes have an amazing capacity to bring you down to grandpa slow in time for the next turn." Along with Brembo's big brake kit, stiffer suspension, and more aerodynamics, an aggressive front fascia was added. Although it was still a heavy car at 4,260 pounds, these improvements made it into a serious performer.

Related: These Station Wagons Will Leave Most Sports Cars In The Dust

What Went Wrong?

Custom SRT-8 Magnum sitting on pavement

In the mid-2000s, the SUV market began its expansion, offering higher seating and better ground clearance, and the market ate it up. The advertising for SUVs as a go-anywhere and do-anything vehicle during an economic upturn gave people the freedom to explore and travel, and the wagon market as a whole suffered. Even the all-wheel-drive variant of the Magnum couldn't compete with SUVs.

Making matters worse, Daimler AG sold off Chrysler in 2007 at a loss of $650 million which caused a massive hit in Chrysler's lineup. The Chrysler LX platform uses many parts from Mercedes-Benz, and with less support, they faced issues as they aged. Chrysler ultimately ended production of the Magnum in 2008, along with the Crossfire, Pacifica, and PT Cruiser in favor of producing the Dodge Journey.

What-Ifs

A rendering of what a Hellcat Magnum could look like in today's market
Via AutoEvolution

With the loss of the Cadillac CTS-V wagon, America no longer makes any wagons in any market, but now is the perfect time to change that. When Mercedes-Benz released the E63 wagon in 2012, it showed that performance wagons could easily still sell. Jump to 2020, and Audi is finally bringing over their RS6 Avant for sale in the US, and even BMW is making an M3 Touring wagon that enthusiasts are clamoring for.

Furthermore, Dodge has shown how wildly successful they can be by cramming their Hellcat motor into nearly any vehicle in their lineup. Building a Charger-based Magnum wagon is nearly a guaranteed seller that could replace the Journey in the lineup.

Is a new Magnum likely? Probably not. But it would make a lot of sense in the Dodge lineup. It could easily replace the Journey which has managed to limp into 2020 nearly unchanged since its debut. Until then, the unfortunate discontinuation of the Magnum will serve as a reminder that timing is everything in the car market.

Sources: Consumer Reports, Car and Driver

Next: 10 Things We Just Learned About The Upcoming Dodge Barracuda