2002 Mercedes-Benz C320 Sport Wagon

Mercedes-Benz' clever Touch Shift feature allows manual gear selection so when the road turns twisty you can row this little boat in any gear you choose. When you leave the transmission to its own choosing, the electronics adapt to your driving style as well as to changes in road grade by delaying upshifts for more climbing punch and speeding up downshifts to take advantage of engine braking. For the occasional ski trip, a "winter" mode switch engages Second gear when starting is slippery, and orders the transmission to shift upward at lower engine speeds to enhance traction.

With the Sport Wagon's 25.2 cubic feet of available cargo area, you can take it with you?and arrive quickly and in style.

For $39K and change, you get ABS brakes, a smooth-shifting 5-speed manu-matic transmission, traction control, Brake Assist, TeleAid, Baby Smart front seats and electronic stability control (ESP) all standard. In keeping with Mercedes' reputation for safety leadership, the C320 wagon has eight airbags. Included are two smart frontbags that deploy with a rate that's commensurate with the impact, sidebags front and rear, and a side-curtain bag on each flank that deploys like an air mattress to protect head and shoulders if you're whacked amidships.


On the practical side, a luggage cover keeps things hidden; the storage floor has a net, and there's even a portable collapsing storage basket. The C320 Sport Wagon is just the ticket for on-the-go young (dual-income) couples with or without children or smart retirees who want to cruise the antique shops and bring something home. With offerings like this, no wonder wagons are chic again. (www.mbusa.com)