BMW 325I Touring/325xi Touring

$40,950 - $45,900 Cdn.

Just like the last 5 Series wagon spanked the X5 for driving fun and practicality, so does the 3 Series to its sister X3 act. The available stick mated to the only engine option, the ever-silky 2.5-litre, 184-hp straight-six, gives you sports sedan thrills with a tad more space in the back. Take our advice: Buy the optional cargo net…

New for 2004: With the popularity of the X3 mutant, the Touring’s days may be numbered
S-S.com choice: Stick plus the M Sports package
Cudda hadda: 2000 540iTouring, sports package and stick
Why Buy?: If you’ve actually driven a BMW X3, you’ll know why

Audi A4 Avant 1.8T/1.8T quattro/3.0 quattro

$35,735 - $46,940 Cdn.

Audi has always followed the form-over-function philosophy with their Avants, so this is more of a backpack than a steamer trunk. Bauhuas styling, tactile steering and the availability of manual trannys with quattro are only some of the reasons to pick the pricier A4 over its Passat stablemate

New for 2004: New in ’03, so, er, nuthin’
S-S.com choice: The six, the stick, and the sport suspension
Cudda hadda: 2002 Allroad
Why Buy?: Bigger than a Jetta, smaller than a Passat: just right!

Volkswagen Passat GLS/GLX/W8

$31,020 - $55,820 Cdn.

With the VW Group's platform sharing, it's always a bit of a game trying to ignore the brands and find the best value. In the past you couldn't get a Passat with a stick and AWD, which made an A4 or A6 an obvious choice. Well, now the choice is harder with the available 271-hp, dubya-8 and the available six-speed manual AND sport package.

New for 2004: Telematics system; new wheels
S-S.com choice: The dubya-8 with the six-speed manual AND sport package, duh
Cudda hadda: 2001 Allroad
Why Buy?: One less Touareg on the roads

Dodge Magnum SE/ SXT/RT

$27,995 - $36,995 Cdn.

Sister to the new Chrysler 300, this rear-drive, five-passenger Dodge boss wagon is seriously worth considering over pricier Euro estates. Seriously. Did we mention the 340-hp/390 lb.-ft. of torque, HEMI?

New for 2004: Wagons are cool again
S-S.com choice: Give me a HEMI!
Cudda hadda: 1999 BMW 540iTouring with 6-speed stick
Why Buy?: One less Durango on the roads

Cadillac SRX

$52,250 - $60,930 Cdn.

Forget the acronyms: this is an CTS wagon. The rigid, rear-drive Sigma chassis provides balanced returns from the steering, with a half-decent ride. Forget the new 3.6-liter vee-six and get the 320-hp, 315 lb-ft of torque, 4.6-liter DOHC 32-valve aluminum vee-eight with variable valve timing—you’ll get to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds and thank us in the morning

New for 2004: A luxury wagon that hauls ***
S-S.com choice: Can I get the Northstar sans AWD? Nope
Cudda hadda: Two used CTSs with ski boxes
Why Buy?: A vote for the SRX is a vote against the Escalade

Subaru Forester 2.5 XT

$35,995 Cdn.

Yes. A Forester. But this turbocharged flat-four with variable valve timing grunts out 235 lb-ft of torque and 210-hp that delivers 0- 60 runs in 5.3 seconds. Heh, heh... If you need a bigger WRX, this AWD wagon fills the bill. 0- 60 in 5.3 seconds. Heh, heh…

New for 2004: Blow the Birkenstocks off your neighbour’s CR-V
S-S.com choice: Silver with a stick and the optional "I stop for canoe crossings" bumper sticker
Cudda hadda: Uh, how about a WRX wagon
Why Buy?: A cute-ute that scoots