2018 Ram Promaster City Wagon

One of the weirder characteristics of today's auto marketplace is that among the few choices available to station wagon enthusiasts is the Ram Promaster City, a passenger version of a small commercial van that Ram has been selling here since 2015.

Based on a Fiat model called the Doblo and sold here thanks to the alliance that created Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), the Promaster City Wagon would be a pretty weird choice as a family vehicle despite its tall roof and generous payload, side-effects of this car's workhorse origins.

New for 2018 are a few features shared with the cargo version of this van (covered in its own buyer's guide entry), including the latest version of FCA's Uconnect infotainment system with a five-inch touchscreen, and a backup camera now standard to comply with forthcoming legislation requiring one in every new car sold in Canada.

As before, the Promaster City Wagon is powered by a 2.4L four-cylinder engine that makes 178 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque and comes hitched to a nine-speed automatic transmission.

While this comes across as a quirky way to transport people, Ram actually faces competition here: Ford's Transit Connect can be had in a passenger configuration too. Meanwhile, Chevrolet (City Express) and Nissan (NV200) are probably wiser in limiting their offerings to cargo-conscious buyers.

Two trims are available. The entry-level ST model comes with air conditioning, power door locks and front door windows, tilt-and-telescopic steering column, 16-inch steel wheels, four-speaker stereo with Bluetooth and keyless entry.

The uplevel SLT gains wheel covers, power-adjustable, heated and body-colour side mirrors, body-colour front and rear and fascia, cruise control, driver's height-adjustable seat with lumbar, leather-trimmed steering wheel.

This is a pretty basic vehicle: You can add niceties like heated front seats, power rear windows and navigation, but that's about as fancy as it gets. The emphasis here is on utility, with the ability to carry as much as 860 kg of cargo. If that's not what you're after, a small crossover will offer more comfort and convenience for similar money, albeit with less interior space.

Fuel consumption estimates are 11.2/8.3 L/100 km (city/highway).