Cars by price -- station wagons

Station wagons under $25,000
There was a time when a station wagon, not a minivan, was the preferred family hauler. In this era when there's a small but vocal backlash against SUVs and even minivans, the station wagon is making a comeback.

European manufacturers have an edge in the station-wagon market, since wagons have remained popular in their home markets even while wagons disappeared from domestic lineups.

Volkswagen's Jetta Wagon
The Jetta Wagon is the bargain leader, offering a healthy dose of utility, surprising performance and a bit of style. Buyers can choose from an adequate 115-horsepower base engine, or the more satisfying 180-turbocharged four-cylinder or the smooth 2.8-liter V6.

Price: $19,005-$23,590
Engines: 2-liter inline four-cylinder; 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder; 2.8-liter V6.
Horsepower: 115 (2-liter); 180 (1.8-liter); 174 (V6)
Transmissions: 5-speed manual; 4-speed automatic
Fuel consumption: 19-26 (1.8-liter); 24-31 (2.8-liter); 34-45 (2-liter)
Warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles

Saturn L 300
The only wagon in the General Motors stable, it's a competent performer that's a solid C-plus vehicle. If your budget can take it, go for the V6 because the four-cylinder engine is not as smooth as it could be.

Price: $20,945-$23,295
Engines: 2.2-liter inline four-cylinder; 3-liter V6
Horsepower: 140 (2.2-liter); 182 (V6)
Transmissions: 4-speed manual; 4-speed automatic
Fuel consumption: 24-33 mpg; 20-29 mpg (V6)
Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles

Chrysler PT Cruiser
Our other buy-American choice, if you still think of DaimlerChrysler as American, is the Chrysler PT Cruiser. About now, many of you are saying that the PT Cruiser isn't a station wagon. We disagree. It has four doors, a large rear door and an adjustable cargo area that can swallow loads of bulky items. On the plus side, it's very cool looking.

Price: $17,985-$29,840
Engines: 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder; 2.4-liter turbocharged inline four- cylinder
Horsepower: 150; 215 (turbocharged)
Transmissions: 5-speed manual; 4-speed automatic
Fuel consumption: 21-29 mpg
Warranty: 3 years/36,000

Station wagons above $25,000
When your station-wagon budget rises above $25,000, the field becomes strictly European, since U.S. manufacturers have only SUV-based offerings that meet the style, seating and cargo demands of a station wagon.

Volkswagen Passat
As in the under $25,000 category, Volkswagen offers the best value with its Passat. Roomy, stylish and available with a wide range of engines: four-, six- and 8-cylinder, as well as a diesel option. The Passat also has sparkling handling characteristics for a vehicle that can bring home bricks from Lowe's. All-wheel-drive is also an option.

Price: $23,355-$41,735
Engines: 1.8-liter turbocharged inline four cylinder; 2-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder diesel; 2.8-liter V6; 4-liter W8
Horsepower: 170 (turbo 4); 134 (turbo diesel); 190 (V6); 270 (W8)
Transmissions: 5-speed manual; 6-speed manual; 5-speed automatic
Fuel consumption: 24-31 mpg (1.8-liter); 22-31 mpg (V6) 17-24 mpg (W8)
Warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles

Volvo V70
Volvo has a deserved reputation for keeping the engineering eye on safety, so its V70 wagon is a great contender. It has the interior feel of a luxury sedan, turbocharged performance from its optional inline five-cylinder engine and a full menu of safety features.

Price: $29,145-$35,495
Engines: 2.4-liter inline five-cylinder; 2.5-liter turbocharged inline 5 cylinder; 2.3-liter turbocharged inline 5-cylinder
Horsepower: 168 (2.4-liter); 208 (2.5-liter); 247 (2.3-liter)
Transmissions: 5-speed manual; 5-speed automatic
Fuel consumption: 21-28 mpg (2.4-liter); 18-25 mpg (2.5-liter)
Warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles

Mercedes E Class
For those shopping at the upper end of the wagon scale, there's the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, which has the most power available, incomparable Benz panache and available all-wheel-drive.

Price: $50,670-$61,970
Engines: 3.2-liter V6; 5-liter V8
Horsepower: 215 (V6); 302 (5-liter)
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
Fuel consumption: 19-27 mpg (V6); 15-21 (V8)
Warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles

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