I need a reliable wagon for daily commuting as well as long road trips.

I have a VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI and could not be happier with it as a commuter/road trip car. The torque of the TDI is great for loading it with cargo, my fuel consumption is really cheap and maintenance is both simple and economical.

The trunk space is large in a horizontal direction, versus an SUV where the trunk is taller but narrower. That means its more useful for my needs than an SUV. The lower roofline means its easier to load the roof racks as well. We usually choose the TDI versus our much larger Highlander for just about anything. I can load the entire family, have luggage for a 3 day trip and have room in the trunk for our dog to sleep in, at 50mpg on the highway.