If family needs find you in the SUV or minivan market, but personal preference points to more spirited forms of transport, take heart! The S4 Avant might be the solution. A beautifully styled automobile with graceful flowing lines and an Audi-quality interior, the subtle front and aft S4 badging hints that beauty does not reside only in its surface shine.

Sequestered in the S4's heated leather Recaro seats, with all controls within perfect ergonomic reach, a twist of the ignition key will begin the aural love affair that reviewers blame for the car's lower-than-Audi-claims mileage figures. This performance wagon boasts Audi's wonderfully refined 4.2-liter, all-aluminum V8, which makes 340 horsepower with steady acceleration to its 7,000-rpm redline. The 0-60 jump takes 5.4 seconds with the 6-speed manual and 5.7 seconds with the Tiptronic six-speed paddle-shifted automatic. The thought of a 4,000-pound wagon that can haul the kids and all their equipment and leave many "sporty" cars contemplating its exhaust pipe quartet should bring a smile to your lips.

The S4 Avant's handling impresses most reviewers. While some delight in full four-wheel drifts through wide sweepers, others grouse over the lack of composure in sharp, tight turns - remember that V8 slung out over the front axle? The highway ride remains tight and firm - as the badging hints, "sport." Reviewers conclude that handling is good, but not great. They tested this wagon as a high-performance automobile, something they wouldn't even contemplate with "ordinary" wagons.

The downside awaits at the gas pump. Purchased new, the S4 Avant's MSRP includes a $1,700 gas-guzzler tax. While the EPA rates it 15 city/21 highway mpg, observed mileage averaged 15.3 mpg: 13 mpg around town and 18 mpg on the highway. As a luxury performance wagon, the Audi S4 Avant offers a great family ride with a luxury price tag.