With gas costs rising and SUV purchases dwindling, Dodge went back to an old standard and reinvented the station wagon with its 2005 Dodge Magnum. Not your father's station wagon, this "sports tourer" features the style and engines of muscle cars, with the practical interior and trunk space of a family car. It is an SUV masquerading as a classy sedan.

The 2005 Magnum stands out first and foremost for its unique look. A bullying grille adopted from Dodge's pickups, a sloped rear roof, and wheel cutouts make you think sports car. The engines perpetuate this image. The base SE features a 2.7-liter, 190-hp V6. The SXT offers the 3.5-liter, 250-hp V6, but the star of the road is the R/T's 5.7-liter, 340-hp V6 Hemi. Yes it's speedy and powerful, but this unique Hemi shuts down four of its eight cylinders when the car is cruising, to also deliver better fuel economy (up to 30 mpg highway). A departure from previous front-wheel drive sedans, the Magnum operates on rear-wheel drive. AWD is available in SXT and R/T trims.

Inside is minimalistic and gray, but roomy, fitting four very comfortably. The deceptive rear sloping window actually does not skimp on headroom, though it does limit the cargo area height somewhat. Seats fold to deliver 72 cubic feet of cargo room. The liftgate is hinged farther up on the roof, making loading easier and allowing you to open the trunk in tight spaces. The 2005 Magnum handles smoothly on the road, particularly when paired with AWD, traction control, and ABS. The rear-wheel drive gives the car a more balanced, stable feel, and the interior seats and amenities make it a comfortable ride. It handles turns tightly, and has surpisingly good visibility.

Above all, owners love the look and style of the Dodge Magnum, emphasizing how many stares and comments they recieve. They love the Magnum's solidity, space, cargo area, and the power of the V8 engine. It is a fun car to drive. Complaints range from a cheap-looking interior, to squealing tires on turns, the ugliness of the pickup-style grille, a poorly laid out and confusing cruise control function, and that the liftgate, because it opens so high, is hard to shut.