This muscular looking family sedan is a station wagon masquerading as a sports car, and a nice alternative to an SUV. It's speedier, better-looking, and packs higher fuel economy than traditional SUVs.

The 2006 Dodge Magnum made few changes to its highly stylized four-door cruiser, besides a few interior tweaks in the SXT and R/T trims in the form of silver accents. A tire pressure monitor is available in R/T, and a rear DVD system is an option in SXT and R/T trims. The biggest addition was the SRT-8, a race-car style Magnum that featured a 6.1-liter, 425-hp V8 Hemi which reached 0-60 in five seconds.

Clearly this is not your typical station wagon, and is designed to appeal to parents who harbor an inner Vin Diesel rather than an inner Ward Cleaver. Aside from its immense power and jaw-dropping acceleration, the 2006 Magnum handles smoothly, taking curves particularly well and is surprisingly quiet. An electronic stability program, and optional AWD, ABS, and traction control mean a more confident ride on poor roads and in poor weather. The longer wheelbase means an interior that is spacious with plenty of legroom front and back.

The power and handling are top scorers in the Magnum, although some drivers complain the 2.7 V6 is too sluggish and should be discontinued. The Magnum carries nearly as much as an SUV when the seats are down and the unique liftgate that is hinged far forward makes it easy to load and unload. The rear-wheel drive gives the handling a more balanced feel. Drivers dislike the plain interior, hard to shut liftgate, and wish for more supportive seats and a noisier exhaust on the Hemi models.