It may be difficult to imagine a large, practical, and versatile station wagon ever being thought of as a performance-oriented vehicle, but that is exactly what the 2006 Dodge Magnum SRT-8 is. It transcends the usual sport wagon image, and not only does it look cool, it is the ultimate in a cool, hot-rodded wagon, and the design works well at accommodating so much of what busy folks need in their vehicles today.

Noticeably different from a normal Magnum, the SRT-8’s wide, fat performance tires are mounted on equally large and stylish 20-inch forged aluminum wheels. We are not overly fond of some of the larger diameter wheels we see on the road, but the ones Dodge has chosen for the Magnum SRT-8 work well.

From any angle, the Magnum SRT-8 looks aggressive. In fact, it looks as though it is going to eat any challenger’s lunch. The big crosshair signature grille is more ominous than on other Magnums thanks to its mesh insert, but that impression might have something to do with the SRT-8’s half-inch lower stance, too. The SRT-8 also gets fat 3.5-inch rear exhaust outlets, which look terrific. Order your Magnum SRT-8 in any color you like, as long as it’s black, silver, or red.

What’s equally cool about the Dodge Magnum SRT-8 is the fact that under that bad-boy image, it’s a station wagon. Look toward every other high-performance car on the streets and you’ll rarely find one to use for hauling around a load of two-by-fours or an eight-foot ladder. Just be sure to lash things down because the urge to run hard could overcome you at anytime.

One trick design element of all Magnums is the way the rear tailgate opens. The hinges are positioned forward of the normal placement, midway between the C- and D-pillars, which allows the door to swing high and wide, creating easy access to as much as 71.6 cubic feet of rear cargo area. Not only can you carry a great deal of unusually shaped cargo in the Magnum SRT-8, you can easily load and unload the stuff.

Entering and exiting the front sport seats is quite easy, and the rear doors open wide to offer good access to the rear seat. Try saying that about your typical sports car. The cabin comes straight from the regular Magnum, dressed up with special trim and a 180-mph speedometer.