Ford Taurus X

The Ford Taurus X crossover wagon SUV did not begin life as a bull with Malcolm's last name. It actually first arrived in 2005 as the Freestyle, changing monikers a few years later when Ford revived the Taurus nameplate. The "X" differentiates this large wagon from the Taurus sedan, and it's probably also meant to signify an active outdoorsy lifestyle or some such marketing theme. Whatever the case, the Taurus X continues to fly under the radar while its flashy Flex platform-mate gets all the press, but it's actually a wholly competent crossover that boasts three rows of seating, good cargo capacity, plenty of options, excellent safety ratings and a zesty if slightly raucous power plant. If your family doesn't need a hulking SUV with boat-towing V8 capabilities, and you can't imagine driving a minivan, then the Ford Taurus X is an excellent, though little known, candidate.