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Bland. Boring. Best for-gotten. That used to be the rap on compact hatchbacks/wagons.
Not anymore. Many of today’s four-door haulers are quite the wicked rides. That’s because sassy engines, swanky features and hot styling — where boxy is now beautiful — make ‘em hip. Comfy yet sporty handling doesn’t hurt, either.
Such cargo carriers can be perfect for the beach, garden centers and cross-country trips to San Francisco.
Just don’t call any of them “station wagons” or “mini-minivans.” That’s so old-school, with many automakers now naming these rides “all-activity” or “sport-activity” vehicles.
Of course, you may simply want to call them fun.
trong>Price: $23,000
trong>Mpg: 19 city/25 highway
trong>Cargo room: 77 cubic feet
Targeting the tuner crowd (or at least tuner wannabes) Honda now has a slick SC version of its quirky fridge-styled Element. This isn’t a “Pimp My Ride” redo, but it’s close. Along with tricked-out bumpers, grille and roof, the SC has a sport-tuned suspension and sits low to the ground. Upping its street cred are tinted windows/taillights and gunmetal grey 18-inch alloys. It’s edgy inside, too, with red-on-black gauges, dark upholstery and black-lacquer trim. All Elements get a bit more oomph this year, thanks to a 166-hp four-cylinder engine. Best feature: the 270-watt, 7-speaker audio with bass-blastin’ subwoofer.
trong>Price: $17,000
trong>Mpg: 21 city/29 highway
trong>Cargo room: 31.7 cubic feet
How do you combine a wagon, minivan and hatchback, then make it kinda-sorta sexy? Kia does it with the Rondo, which sits tall, has a funky bulbous nose and seats seven (even if it is cramped in the optional third row). Luckily there are no sliding side doors, so there’s no soccer-mom cachet (or lack thereof). And the ride is pleasantly sedan-like, not van-like. Back seats fold flat for maximum space, and there are cup holders and storage bins galore. There’s also plenty of standard safety gear: ABS, stability control, front/side/head airbags and tire-pressure monitor. Nifty options include roof rails, chrome door handles, body-side molding, heated seats, sunroof and Infinity audio.
trong>Price: $18,000
trong>Mpg: 26 city/33 highway
trong>Cargo room: 31 cubic feet
Fast and nimble, the Mazda 3 this year sports a reinforced bod and tighter suspension. The result is Porsche-like steering with virtually no nasty understeer. The pert 156-hp V6 sounds robust, not whiny — though 0 to 60 mph in the manumatic takes a pokey 8.6 seconds. So opt for the more spirited five-speed manual, with one of the smoothest clutches/shifts available. The upscale cabin is surprisingly roomy, with plenty of legroom for you and three friends. Various trim levels, with all the must-have options: steering-wheel audio controls, heated seats, automatic climate control, rain-sensing wipers, moonroof and very user-friendly nav system.
trong>Price: $17,000 (est.)
trong>Mpg: Unknown
trong>Cargo room: Unknown
OK, so it doesn’t arrive in U.S. showrooms until late this year. But expect the Cube, a strong seller in Japan, to be a head-turner when it hits these shores. Sure it’s another wacky design — with a fuel-saving four-banger and room for up to seven passengers — but as with both the Honda Element and Scion xB, being square can make you popular.
trong>Price: $17,000
trong>Mpg: 22 city/28 highway
trong>Cargo room: 69.9 cubic feet
First offered in 2003, Scion’s pint-sized xB felt like a toy poodle competing with the big dogs. This new redo — which is longer, lower and wider — feels anything but second-rate. Along with more room, the xB now has a growling, Camry-sized four-cylinder. Add the optional supercharger and the engine hits 200 hp. The new xB is also rounder, smoother and — thanks to all the insulation — quieter. Scion is a Toyota sibling, so reliability is a given. As is value, with gobs of standard fare: cruise control, power windows, traction/stability control, keyless entry and six-speaker audio with iPod and other auxiliary inputs. Best of all, Scion wants car buyers to personalize their cars, so there are a slew of flashy performance upgrades.
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