2007 Dodge Magnum in Los Angeles, California

The Dodge Magnum is a full-size American station wagon with spacious cargo capacity. It's engineered for safety. And all-wheel drive is available for all-weather capability. But what makes the Magnum special is its hot rod styling and rumbling engines. There's nothing else quite like it.

The headliner is the SRT8 with a 6.1-liter V8 Hemi that puts out 425 horsepower and 425 pound-feet of torque to propel the Magnum to 60 mph in about five seconds. That's quick. It's especially quick for a big American station wagon. The Magnum SRT8 can reportedly accelerate from 0 to 100 and back to 0 in less than 17 seconds.

However, it's not necessary to go to the SRT8 to enjoy the Magnum experience. The Magnum experience begins with the 3.5-liter V6, about 10 grand cheaper than the SRT8. Or kick up a notch with the R/T and its Hemi, a rumbling 340-hp 5.7-liter V8. The least-expensive Magnum is the SE with a 2.7-liter V6 that gets 21/28 miles per gallon and retails for less than $24,000.