2006 Dodge Magnum SXT AWD Road Test

2006 Dodge Magnum SXT AWD (Photo: Justin Pritchard, Auto123.com)

The ride quality is fantastic. The Magnum's long wheelbase tends to feel short and even nimble while filtering out most every imperfection in the road without being floaty. It's a quiet ride too. The only time the suspension shows any rowdiness is when cornering over rough surfaces, as it tends to feel a little nervous and unsure of its line. This is a wagon that is fun to fling around corners, because the all-wheel drive system and reworked front suspension that comes with it provide a sure-footed feeling when accelerating over icy surfaces, as well as quickly navigating freeway off-ramps. I came away impressed with the overall level of grip available with this package--clearly it performs in a way befitting of a smaller vehicle. The 18-inch wheels and 225-series tires certainly help, as does the all-wheel drive, though I can't help but wondering how many late nights went into the development of a suspension that allows this combination of corner carving and ride comfort in a wagon that weighs as much as your local Future Shop. Try off-ramps at these speeds in a minivan or SUV, and you'll have a date with your favorite collision center in a hurry.

2006 Dodge Magnum SXT AWD (Photo: Justin Pritchard, Auto123.com)

The AWD package also sees larger brakes installed and stopping power is more than adequate for a vehicle of this size, though the pedal suffers from a slight lack of precision.

My only complaint in regards to the handling was the steering. The ratio is very quick, meaning big and sudden changes of direction come from even the slightest move to the steering wheel. Installing a sports-car steering ratio on a 4,100 pound station wagon is fine--though ideally such enthusiasm is best used with a reasonable amount of steering effort and feedback. The Magnum has neither--the steering feels almost artificial, like it isn't attached to anything. Most drivers won't mind--though there will certainly be a learning curve to prevent one from changing lanes at speed and winding up on the other side of the yellow line.

My SXT AWD tester carried a few thousand dollars worth of optional equipment and a sticker price of $43,000. At this price point, there are a few competitors, the most noteworthy being Ford's Freestyle Limited AWD. The two cost the same, and though Freestyle has more seats, the Magnum is immensely more fun to drive and offers a more performance-oriented package. If you don't need rear seat DVD entertainment and all of the other bells and whistles, you can get into a

2006 Ford Freestyle Limited AWD and 2006 Dodge Magnum SXT AWD (Photo: Justin Pritchard, Auto123.com)

Magnum SXT AWD for about $35,400. Or you could buy a minivan or a mini-SUV, in which case you would have nowhere near the fun and excitement, versatility and style.

Outdoor activities? Trips with family or friends? A car that is fun and useful, safe and sensible? A car that can keep up with you? What about a 100,000 kilometer warranty on the powertrain?

Generation Y, your wagon is ready. Just don't lend it to your parents, or they'll want one too.