The word “station wagon” conjures up scary visions of wood-paneled land yachts with unrestrained children piled into the “way back.” But, wagons of old (and new) were popular for good reason: they provide lots of cargo space for families on the go, with the advantage of driving like a sedan, not a sport utility. With impeccable road manners and excellent handling, and third row seats that fold flat, leaving room for kids and their gear, Pacifica fits the bill perfectly.

And minivan? The mere word makes many car buyers cringe. The Pacifica’s innovative, attractive exterior styling masks the interior’s minivan-like practicality. Three rows of seats can accommodate six passengers, more comfortably if they’re children.

And while you’d never take the Pacific off road, available all-wheel drive with traction control, and a 210-horsepower V-6 give it the capability of a small SUV. With all three seating rows in use, cargo space is limited, but fold the third rows flat and, voila! You get about 45 cubic feet of storage (more with the second row folded flat).

Five-star safety ratings in all categories is icing on the cake. Not sure if you should buy a wagon, SUV or minivan? If you don’t need the off-road capability, the Pacifica is a good compromise.

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