2008 Volvo V70 Review

Volvo's flagship wagon, the V70 has endured the tides of automotive taste, which for years have ebbed away from minivans and station wagons as those seeking family-friendly transportation turned to bigger, heavier SUVs and crossover vehicles. Yet if Volvo can boast a following, it's with brand loyalists who have held steadfast to its wagons for more than 50 years. They're as faithful a bunch as any, with good reason: The V70 is a comfortable, practical, nicely finished car, with a lot of utility, and it's pleasant to drive.

The V70's staying power is due in large part to the emphasis Volvo has always placed on safety. This is a costly strategy that has come at the expense of style, pricing and interior materials.

For 2008, Volvo's emphasis on safety is stronger than ever. The third-generation V70 comes standard with an array of features designed to protect its occupants. Among them: advanced-technology airbags, whiplash-reducing seats, new-generation electronic stability control and the latest anti-lock brake system (ABS). New safety options include a blind spot warning system, a collision mitigation system that preps the safety gear in advance of a pending crash, and two-stage child booster seats with adaptive seatbelts.

The most refreshing news for 2008, however, is that Volvo has injected its big wagon with a healthy dose of Scandinavian style.

It starts inside, with what might be Volvo's best interior yet. It's quite sophisticated and we think it's fantastic. The layout of the various controls is smart and immediately accessible, and the ease with which the driver interacts with the car trumps most of its European competition. There's seating for five, with a 40/20/40 split rear seat and flat-folding front passenger seat that allows for a very flexible cargo space. With the rear seats folded flat, the 72.1 cubic feet of available cargo volume surpasses what you'll find in many SUVs.

On the outside, the V70 is not a radical design departure; Volvo loyalists wouldn't have it. Instead, it maintains its familiar box silhouette, ensuring the car remains identifiable from 200 paces. But the details have been tweaked. The face is more defined than in the previous model, marked by a larger grille and bigger headlights. In back, the rear glass slopes forward slightly, with giant brake and taillights that no one will miss.

Power comes from a new inline six-cylinder engine: a first for the wagon, which has traditionally relied on five-cylinder engines. The 3.2-liter straight six turns out 235 horsepower, with 236 pound-feet of peak torque available at 3200 rpm. The automatic transmission gets upgraded to six speeds, from five. (The turbocharged, all-wheel-drive models offered in previous years have gone away, at least for now.)

The new six-cylinder is considerably more powerful than the previous V70's standard engine. It's much smoother and more refined than the five-cylinders of the past. It delivers power more evenly. The automatic transmission works well, responding to orders from the gas pedal in short order, and the package delivers solid acceleration. The new V70 is the smoothest, quietest Volvo wagon ever.

Those looking for a bit of off-road capability might opt for the rugged new XC70, virtually identical to the V70 in design but featuring standard full-time all-wheel drive, increased ground clearance and brush-friendly lower body cladding and protective skid plates underneath. In the daily grind through the suburban jungle, however, the V70 is the better ride.

All told, the 2008 V70 features everything Volvo wagon fans have always loved, and more of it: more safety, more utility, more civility. It focuses more attention on delivering a luxurious and stylish package, without sacrificing its familiar, beloved character. And