-
The Ford Mondeo Zetec wagon carries a huge amount of gear with the best ride comfort of its rivals. Photo Gallery
I've never found a dog that doesn't like a station wagon but have seen tall-order dummy-spits when a mutt is shown the back of a ute.
So, from a dog's perspective, clearly there's more to life than having your fur whisked by the wind and your eyes powdered with dust and bugs. That's because a wagon is family and even dog-friendly. It doesn't shout ‘tradesman’ and is one step away from the conservatism of a sedan -- yet it also hints at the owner's outdoorish attitude.
This year has seen a whole new crop of wagons hit the Aussie showrooms, all with a new sense of style, loaded with features and competitively priced. They now offer a viable alternative for people needing space and load capacity who don't want to drive an SUV around town.
Wagon owners with young families say they are far more practical than SUVs for getting young kids and groceries in and out of the car. So, with the holiday season just around the corner here's our guide to the best value family wagons on the market.
FORD MONDEO ZETEC
Ford's Mondeo gets the excellent diesel engine with auto option - except the wagon. Crazy because it's a great combo. That aside, the petrol engine is a bit weak but the $37,990 Mondeo carries a huge amount of gear with the best ride comfort of its rivals. Looks good too.
Price: $37,990 (auto)
Engine: 2.3-litre, 4cyl 118kW/208Nm
Transmission: 6-speed auto; front-drive
Fuel: Petrol unleaded
Economy: 9.5 L/100km
Safety: 5-star, ESC, ABS, 6 airbags
Warranty: 3yr/100,000km
Rating: 80/100
MAZDA6 DIESEL
The Mazda6 wagon is a very pretty, very functional machine offering a lot of style at an affordable price ($37,940). But while Mazda increases the ownership appeal of the wagon with a delightful diesel engine option it reduces its market impact by delivering it only with a manual transmission. However, it is economic, you can squeeze 1255km out of the tank on a country run and according to my test 889km around town.
Price: $37,940
Engine: 2.2L/4-cylinder turbo diesel,
136kW/400Nm
Transmission: 6-speed manual, front drive
Economy: 6L/100km (diesel version)
Safety: 5-star, ESC, ABS, 6 airbags
Warranty: 3yr/unlimited km
Rating: 84/100
SKODA OCTAVIA 2.0TDI
Skoda is supposed to be a price leader, starting from $35,990 but is pipped by Subaru - until you add up the features. Excellent VW turbo-diesel, loads of room (not Mondeo standard, though) and excellent build quality has to make it rate for shoppers. DSG auto is the best bet for all but the stick-shift faithful.
Price: $35,990 (manual); $38,290 (auto)
Engine: 2-litre, 4cyl 103kW/320Nm
Transmission: 6-speed manual/DSG; front-drive
Fuel: Diesel
Economy: 5.7 l/100km (man)/6.4 l/100km (auto)
Safety: 4-star, ESC, ABS, 6 airbags
Warranty: 3yr/100,000km
Rating: 82/100
SUBARU LIBERTY 2.5i
Bigger, classier and more refined Liberty gets the nod for its load-carrying ability and keen pricing. The auto is the best bet and boasts even better economy than the manual. It is priced from $35,490.
Price: $35,490 (manual); $38,490 (auto)
Engine: 2.5-litre, 4cyl 123kW/229Nm
Transmission: 6-speed manual/CVT; AWD
Fuel: Petrol unleaded
Economy: 8.9 l/100km (man)/8.4 l/100km (auto)
Safety: 5-star, ESC, ABS, 6 airbags
Warranty: 3yr/100,000km
Rating: 85/100
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 103TDI
Price: $44,990 (auto)
Engine: 2-litre, 4cyl 103kW/320Nm
Transmission: DSG automatic; front-drive
Fuel: Diesel
Economy: 6.7 l/100km
Safety: 5-star, ESC, ABS, 8 airbags
Warranty: 3yr/100,000km
Rating: 86/100
VERDICT
The VW claims the title narrowly thanks to its excellent safety features but it is more expensive than the Subaru Liberty which it only just nudges out of top spot. The Mazda is a great option but there's no auto. The Ford and Skoda represent good value if you're looking for Euro styling and plenty of room.
