Volkswagen Passat Wagon

Winner of: Fifth Best All-Purpose Family Wagon under $30k

Why it's a best pick:
Volkswagen's Passat Wagon, barely comes under the price ceiling of $30,000. Starting at $29,690, this buys you a roomy midsize station wagon with enough space behind the rear seats for whatever you might throw into it. The seats fold down to expand the cargo area, turning it from spacious to downright cavernous. The Passat Wagon comes standard with safety features such as front and side airbags, along with side curtain airbags. The passenger area is surrounded by a strengthened cell to help keep passengers safe during a crash. To help prevent a crash from happening, the Passat Wagon also comes standard with ABS and other safety nets such as ASR and ESP - all of which help you keep things under control. The Passat Wagon fits all the German car stereotypes - well-built, composed at speeds, and feels solid. With an engine straight out of the hot-hatch GTI, the Passat Wagon performs extremely well. The turbocharged 4-cylinder engine always has power to spare - great for overtaking and accelerating quickly. The high fuel economy of 28 MPG is amazing, especially when you consider that the engine provides 6-cylinder-like power. However, do note that premium fuel is recommended for this engine.

The biggest knock against the Passat Wagon is its price. As mentioned before, it just barely squeezes in under the $30,000 price limit for this list. If it were cheaper, the Passat Wagon would have ranked higher. But with the way things are, the Passat Wagon ends up in 5th place. Still, if you are willing to spend the money, the Passat Wagon should be at or near the top of your shopping list.