Kids.
Dogs.
Beach
treks.
Weekend
antiquing.
All
good
reasons
to
own
a
handy
hauler.
But
scratch
a
minivan
off
your
list.
Today,
hatchbacks
and
crossovers
are
what’s
hot.
Even
station
wagons
are
staging
a
comeback.
With
hot
looks,
high-tech
options
and
comfy
yet
sporty
handling,
all
the
vehicles
below
are
top
picks.
Oh,
and
they’re
loaded
with
cargo
room
—
the
main
reason
to
buy
a
hauler
in
the
first
place.
Price:
$29,000
Mpg:
17
city/24
highway
Cargo
room:
83
cubic
feet
Taking
boxy-is-beautiful
styling
cues
from
the
Scion
xB,
the
fashionistas
at
Ford
finally
created
a
hot
head-turner.
Four
horizontal
grooves
run
along
the
doors,
tinted
glass
is
standard
on
all
rear
windows,
and
an
optional
white
or
silver
roof
can
be
ordered
to
contrast
with
whatever
body
color
you
choose.
Despite
its
squat
stance,
the
seven-seat
Flex
—
part
crossover,
part
wagon
—
is
long
and
tall.
That
means
lots
of
leg-,
head-
and
cargo
room.
It
also
means
a
smooth
ride,
especially
on
freeways.
Around
town,
the
Flex
is
almost
too
flexible
when
taking
sharp
curves.
Luckily,
there’s
traction/stability
control
and
optional
all-wheel
drive.
Three
trim
levels
all
come
with
rear
climate
control,
power
driver
seat,
rear-parking
sensors,
10
cup
holders
and
cubbyholes
galore.
Options
include
heated
power-folding
second-row
seats,
backup
camera
and
the
popular
SYNC
system
that
displays
navigation,
weather,
movies
and
even
gas
prices
on
an
8-inch
touch
screen.
“Coolest”
option:
a
refrigerator
that
holds
six
beverages;
runs
even
when
the
Flex
is
off;
and
shuts
down
before
draining
the
battery.
It
even
makes
its
own
ice,
faster
than
a
regular
fridge.
Price:
$20,000
Mpg:
20
city/26
highway
Cargo
room:
68
cubic
feet
A
gay
and
lesbian
fave
since
its
debut
11
years
ago,
the
Forester
gets
a
major
redo.
It’s
longer,
wider
and
taller
than
before,
with
more
ground
clearance.
And
it’s
less
expensive
—
a
big
plus
in
today’s
economy.
Gone
is
the
1950s
Soviet-bloc
styling,
replaced
by
rounded
edges
and
a
sleek
wraparound
grille.
The
ride
is
quiet
and
steady
and
the
cabin
is
more
upscale.
Well,
sort
of.
Lots
of
hard
plastic
trim
may
be
easy
to
clean,
but
seems
a
tad
cheap.
Still,
the
swooping
dash
—
with
large
screen
for
the
optional
nav
system
—
is
spot-on.
There’s
also
more
backseat
legroom
and
great
visibility
for
the
driver.
You
get
a
choice
of
two
capable,
though
tepid,
four-cylinder
engines.
Of
all
the
haulers
here,
this
crossover
handles
potholes
and
stop-and-go
traffic
best,
thanks
in
part
to
the
all-wheel
drive,
traction/stability
control
and
panic
brake
assist.
Price:
$17,000
Mpg:
26
city/32
highway
Cargo
room:
62
cubic
feet
If
downsizing
is
in,
then
the
Matrix
hatchback
is
top-drawer.
It’s
sporty
yet
unobtrusive,
built
on
the
same
solid
platform
as
the
popular
Corolla.
The
base
model
is
a
real
gas-sipper.
Other
versions
get
the
new
158-hp
four-cylinder:
perky,
but
with
no
obnoxious
exhaust
rumble.
That’s
a
good
thing,
because
this
is
a
practical
hauler,
not
a
tuner
car.
Handling
and
cornering
are
primo,
especially
on
the
top-end
model,
with
its
firmer
springs
and
shocks.
All
versions
come
with
choice
of
front-
or
all-wheel
drive.
Inside,
the
handsome
dash
is
Saab-like,
with
a
cascading
layout
for
the
nav
system,
gauges
and
gear
shifter.
Both
back
seats
and
the
front
passenger
seat
fold
flat
for
max
storage.
And
this
being
Toyota,
build
quality
and
long-term
reliability
rock.
Price:
$20,000
Mpg:
21
city/29
highway
Cargo
room:
66
cubic
feet
Are
wagons
just
too
old-school?
Not
to
VW,
which
is
leading
a
bit
of
a
renaissance
with
its
new
SportWagen
(yes,
with
an
“e”).
This
compact
hits
showrooms
next
month,
with
a
low-slung
nose,
ribbed
grille
and
gently
arching
tailgate.
The
steering,
suspension
and
braking
are
pure
German,
which
means
taut
and
sure.
The
interior
is
Audi-like,
with
form-fitting
seats,
brushed-aluminum
trim
and
lots
of
high-end
options.
The
best
of
these:
a
huge
two-pane
glass
sunroof
that
spans
the
front
seats
back
to
the
cargo
hold.
The
front
panel
tilts
or
opens
completely,
and
there’s
a
full-length,
power-operated
vinyl
shade
to
block
out
the
rays.
The
car
comes
with
a
choice
of
three
engines:
five-cylinder,
turbo
four-cylinder
and
an
upcoming
diesel,
which
likely
will
average
40-plus
mpg.
If
all
wagons
were
this
fine,
they’d
rule
the
road.
