How about a wagon?

The family wagon has become something of an also-ran in the new car world, but DAVE MOORE reckons there's still a place for them.

In the mid-sized family car market, all manner of crossover offerings and soft- roaders have entered the segment normally associated with the station wagon. This has rather pushed the medium-sized family and fleet load-carrier into the market's background.

But, despite what many makers would have you believe, the amount of time you spend taking advantage of a crossover's or SUV's rugged, well-hyped features and abilities will be minimal. Most, if not all, of your ownership experience will be spent driving on ordinary roads, with extra load space the only regularly employed benefit.

If that sounds like you, maybe you should return to the station wagon fold, where your driving won't be compromised by extra weight, taller architecture and higher pricing.

These Mazda, Toyota and Subaru wagons have recently been redesigned and offer some of the best motoring in their price ranges.

REPS' CHOICE

While the first Mazda6 was a svelte but simple design, the latest model, launched two years ago and recently facelifted, is a larger, more muscular beast in styling and performance. As is often the way, the best-looking version is the wagon, and Mazda has designed the load carrier without compromising its hatch opening too much.

With standard bluetooth connectivity, a quick, simple rear seat folding mechanism, and the biggest load area of the three with the seats down, it's easy to see why it's at the top of many a sales rep's list.

There's a two-model Mazda6 wagon lineup: an entry-point 2.0-litre, and a 2.5-litre, each with a five-speed automatic transmission, but no manual option.

Even the entry-point model has a classy interior treatment, which Mazda executes neatly, with everything where it should be in the driving area, and a large, well- organised seating area for a family of five. Having said that, the information window at the top of the centre console is cluttered at night when a row of red light bars and numbers become illuminated. It's all a bit busy for instant recognition.

But with all the usual electronic chassis aids such as ESP and ABS and, like the others, a five-star crash safety rating, it's hard not to like the Mazda6 wagon, even the 2.0-litre.

But it's the 2.5-litre car that's really compelling. It's a flexible, long- legged car, which cruises with little fuss and uses not much more gas than the 2.0-litre model.

While it might not offer as much traction as the Legacy, the Mazda is a fine-handling car with a comfortable and responsive chassis for a load carrier. It rides well and even on quite low-profile alloys it doesn't make much road noise.

The Mazda6's styling is so crisp and effective that the wagon does not look as big as the Legacy or Avensis, but it is, being longer overall than either of them.

FREE 4WD

With our road and weather conditions, an all-wheel-drive station wagon is useful automotive currency, and with such extra traction available for much the same as other makers charge for front-wheel-drive, Subaru has a useful point of difference.

For 2010, the Legacy wagon and Outback has lost the model's signature frameless windows. It has and gained a larger, wider body, giving the vehicle more space and legroom front and back.

The staple 2.5-litre petrol fours, with manual or CVT transmissions may have more power and a larger vehicle to haul about, but the Legacy and Outback are cheaper to run than before, with 8L/100km as easy to achieve as it is in a two-wheel-drive vehicle of similar size.

With extra drive going to the rear, the load floor has to be a touch higher to make space for it, which means the Legacy wagon and Outback don't quite have the ultimate load volume of the Mazda6, and the new, rather fussily designed body has none of the style of the other two competitors.

Standard equipment includes ESP and ABS and smart alloy wheels and plenty of airbags, but you don't get bluetooth unless you go for the turbocharged or six-cylinder models.

As the only wagon here available with a diesel option - both Legacy and Outback can be had with it - the Subaru has another point of difference over its 2WD opposition and the extra fuel economy and mid- range urge is brilliant. It's perhaps churlish to complain about the lack of an automatic with the diesel, but I'm told the option will eventually be made available.

It will be a good addition, for the manual diesel requires the driver to take time with gear shifting and first and second ratios feel a little high for smooth around-town work.

My pick is the 2.5 petrol Outback. The closest thing to a crossover without actually being one.

SECRET SMOOTHIE

You don't see many of these about, and with its sticker at more than $50k, that's not surprising. However, the Avensis is a delightfully competent drive, and the Toyota doesn't disgrace itself as a load carrier, with a usefully long, flat, rear floor.

Introduced to fill the gap when the Camry wagon left Toyota's manifest, the English-built Avensis has a small but steady following through to its second generation here. Exchange rates and shipping distances add to the Avensis' asking price, which when compared with the others makes one's eyes water.

However, the Toyota, one of the Burnaston plant's best, offers brilliant build quality and superb choices of materials and textures as compensation, while its quiet 2.0-litre CVT drivetrain is one of the silkiest and most flexible around, cruising with ease at 100kmh and sipping its gas very frugally.

The Avensis is so well thought of it is normally compared in European publications with Volvos and Mercedes-Benz offerings, though that's only when its excellent option D4-D 2.2-litre diesels are allowed into the equation - but you can't get them here, sadly.

But despite that, the Avensis is a supremely competent drive, and if you step down from an Aussie six or an SUV, its price is easier to justify, especially as it has nine airbags, ESP, ABS and bluetooth connectivity as standard.

The Toyota is also a good-looker, with a very swoopy side profile and a big smiley front end. However, the Avensis' sporting silhouette, won't allow bulky items or furniture through the rear hatch very easily. The tapered rear superstructure and its hatch opening is a little too tight.

While the car can be a good family holiday car and a useful car- boot-sale vehicle, it might not be the best for sales reps with big sample trunks.

However, for a family with a need for smooth, dependable transportation, and one rare enough to ensure that you don't see one on every street corner, the Toyota Avensis is a good choice, if not an obvious one.

MAZDA6 WAGON

* Drivetrain: 2.0L 108kW/184Nm or 2.5L 125kW/226Nm DOHC 16V fours, each with five speed automatic.

* Performance: 2.0L Max 131kmh, 0-100kmh 10.4sec, 6.9L/100km, 161g/km CO2. 2.5L Max 135kmh, 0-100kmh 8.4sec, 8.1L/100km, 188g/km CO2.

* Dimensions: L 4785mm, W 1795mm, H 1490mm, W/base 2725mm. Load volume 519 litres seats up, 1751 litres seats down. Fuel 64L.

* Pricing: $42,845 to $44,695.

* HOT: Style; easy seat folding; relaxed 2.5; good passenger and load capacity.

* NOT: No diesel, nor manual; base CX7 is cheaper unless you're a fleet buyer.

* VERDICT: Easy to see why the Mazda6 is the rep's and the family's choice.

SUBARU LEGACY, OUTBACK

* Drivetrain: 2.5L 127kW/226Nm 16v petrol four, with CVT transmission, 2.0L 110kW/350Nm turbodiesel four, manual only. Sixes and turbo fours also available.

* Performance: 2.0L diesel Max 205kmh, 0-100kmh 9.6sec, 6.4L/100km 165g/km CO2. 2.5L petrol Max 205kmh, 0-100kmh 10.4sec, 8.4L/100km, 196g/km CO2.

* Dimensions: L 4775mm, W 1780mm, H 1535-1635mm, W/base 2750mm. Load volume 526 litres seats up, 1677 litres seats down. Fuel 64L.

* Pricing: $42,990 to $52,990.

* HOT: Four-wheel-drive comes free; fuel consumption improved despite size; CVT.

* NOT: No automatic with diesel; busy detailing makes it an overstyled car.

* VERDICT: Still has New Zealand written all over it. Outback worth extra outlay.

TOYOTA AVENSIS

* Drivetrain: 2.0L 112kW/196Nm 16v petrol four, with CVT transmission.

* Performance: 2.0L petrol Max 210kmh, 0-100kmh 9.2sec, 7.06L/100km, 165g/km CO2.

* Dimensions: L 4655mm, W 1810mm, H 1480mm, W/base 2700mm. Load volume 543 litres seats up, 1609 litres seats down. Fuel 60L.

* Pricing: $50,990.

* HOT: Crisp design; long load area; superb quality; refined engine and CVT set-up.

* NOT: Tapered rear precludes some loads; no manual nor diesel option; pricey.

* VERDICT: A delightful drive; with excellent ride and handling, but a high price.

- © Fairfax NZ News