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Station wagons are a dying breed, no doubt about it, hustled off to an early grave by minivans and sports-utility vehicles.

Still, in the world of small cars, the station-wagon configuration makes plenty of sense in flexibility, economy and the conquest of inner space. It’s clearly a case of having your cake and eating it, too.

With many people favoring little compacts because of initial cost, gas-mileage and maneuverability, the station-wagon bed greatly expands its capabilities for such things as vacation traveling, camping, household chores and the pursuit of various bizarre hobbies, such as golf.

There aren’t many of the little squared-off critters left, with the Ford Escort being one of the remaining standard bearers among subcompacts. Redesigned and substantially improved for ’97, the Escort is a good-looking, roomy, economical car offered at a fairly low price.

As a station wagon, it delivers plenty of substance on the dollar, and doubles as a practical minihauler.

During a quick trip to Payson with two people on board, the little wagon handled mountain grades and wide-open spaces with ease. The comfort level is fairly good and, for a small car, the noise level is low. The engine gets boomy when it’s working hard, but otherwise just ticks quietly under the hood.

Gas mileage was great.

But the Escort is behind the curve compared with domestic competitors Chevrolet Cavalier and Dodge Neon, both offering peppier performance at around the same price. Of course, they don’t come as wagons.

The Escort’s current 2-liter engine is not bad, although saddled with an automatic, it is a trifle sluggish. A 130-horse mill is scheduled for next year as an option.

One of the major improvements in the Escort for ’97 is a stiffer platform, which improves ride and handling, and allows Ford engineers to tune the suspension for a softer ride without sacrificing control.

The interior is basic, even on this upscale LX model, although it does have a swooping dashboard with centralized stereo and climate controls that look like a junior edition of the Taurus’ dash. The bright-red exterior and tan interior seemed nicely finished, free of creaks and rattles.

There are some problems in here, though. The seats are flat and unsupportive, the steering wheel doesn’t adjust for us tall guys and the radio in our test car got lousy reception. Also, we had a nasty whistle from somewhere on the passenger side when the speed rose above 50 mph.

None of those things was a big deal (well, maybe the radio), and the Escort proved itself to be a pretty good hauler, considering its small dimensions and low price.

Of course, the premium part was the wagon back. With the back seat folded down, its expanse could handle a St. Bernard with no sweat. Folded up, it did handle a family of four and a major grocery trip.

The Escort wagon may be a member of a dying breed, but it’s a decent way to transport lots of stuff without going broke. In terms of value, utility and cubic feet, the Escort wagon still offers a lot for a little.

1997 Ford Escort

Vehicle type: Five-passenger, four-door station wagon, front-wheel-drive. Base price: $12,065. Price as tested: $15,135. Engine: 2-liter inline 4, 110 horsepower at 5,000 rpm, 125 pound-feet of torque at 3,750 rpm. Transmission: Four-speed automatic. Curb weight: 2,525 pounds. Length: 172.7 inches. Wheelbase: 98.4 inches. Safety features: Dual air bags. EPA fuel economy: 26 mpg city, 34 mpg highway. Highs: Little car with big cargo space. High level of comfort. Relatively low price. Lows: Engine power not up to competition. Unsupportive seats. Radio trouble.