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2008 Volvo V70 3.2 Road Test

All things equal, if there is one thing that Volvo is best at, it's building big,

The all-new V70 features a modern and progressive look. No boxes here. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

safe station wagons. From the Duett of the ‘50s, to the 240 and 740 of the ‘80s and ‘90s, nothing has changed about Volvo's forte. And through the brand's metamorphosis has taken it from brick to chic in about a decade, starting with the S80, the wagon is still a pillar on which the brand continues to build on. Thank goodness they haven't abandoned it as so many manufacturers have!

I love a good station wagon. They offer much of the practicality of a sport utility, without the fuel bills or the loss of driving dynamics. Sure, they may be just a touch unfashionable, and cast the unquestionable glow that you're a family man (or woman), but they seem to command an air of sensibility rather than one of ostentation. People might turn their noses upwards at the sight of an SUV and there's a great degree of stigma associated with the minivan, but there are no such associations with a wagon. I like BMW's 5-Series Touring, and am also particularly fond of the Audi A6 Avant, but the Volvo V70 just strikes a chord with me because it seeks to be

The profile hasn't changed much, but this is much sleeker and much more handsome. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

little more than an authentic Volvo station wagon, true to its cargo-hauling, passenger-protecting, unpretentious roots.

Some of you may know that my daily driver is a '98 V70 AWD, the source of my love for Volvos. And while it's now ten years and two generations old, not a whole lot has changed in terms of profile. The shadows that both cars cast are remarkably similar - long nose, boxy torso and an upright rear end. It's when they're illuminated that the difference is seen; the emergence and strengthening of the shoulders, the wider, fuller taillights and the lean-looking nose and egg-crate grille. Call me partial to Volvos, but I happen to think that the new V70 is a particularly attractive design, one that actually calls out for you to look at. If only it rode on rims that were slightly more substantial than the basic 16-inch “Naos” wheels, which look like cheap winter specials. Big thumbs up go to Volvo for bringing back the broad spaced vintage Volvo script on the tailgate, mind you.

As a Volvo driver, there is something immediately familiar

Everything falls to hand easily in this cabin. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

about the way the new V70 feels. In just a decade, Volvo has completely modernized its interiors, and yet, almost everything naturally falls to hand, be it the climate control switches, the seat adjusters or the radio interface. Perhaps it's the familiarity of the cosseting seats, or the first-rate ergonomics. Maybe it's ESP. Whatever the case, the V70 feels like home turf for me, a bringer of calmness and serenity. The world out there may be a chaotic whirlwind of meetings, deadlines and life's other troubles, but at the very least, the seat of a V70 is like being in the eye of the storm with the ability to confidently steer, accelerate and brake it.

The V70's interior is essentially the came cabin as in the S80, beautifully styled, contemporary and well built, but this is my first encounter with the darker theme that includes black dash, seats and steering wheel. It's one of a few different ambiances offered, which create a completely different look and feel from the creme and gloss wood, which looks nothing short of stunning, but is prone to getting dirty quickly. The blackness of the interior is interrupted by the

Open-pore wood trim is beautiful. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

metal-look gauges, the trim of the console and door handles, and what might be the most beautiful wood I've seen in an interior over the past, what, thirty or forty years? Volvo calls it “Modern”, matte-finish, open pore wood that curves and flows with the shape of the dash and doors. It makes the console look as if it's a piece of traditional Swedish steamed and bonded bentwood.

Historically, the V70 has been offered with all wheel drive since Volvo's midsize wagon was renamed V70, but not yet with this generation. So far it's only available in one form, with the 235-horsepower, 3.2-liter inline-six, six-speed automatic and front wheel drive. This means that if you want the grip of an all wheel drive vehicle immediately, you'll need to step up to an XC70, an XC90, or down to the V50 T5. If you're willing to put your purchase off till fall, a new, powerful T6 version will become available, packing 281 horsepower's worth of punch and the Haldex all wheel drive system will be standard. Sadly, a manual transmission has vanished from the V70 for good (mine's got one),

No more headlight wipers; these powerful washer jets do the job, spraying one at a time as to not compromise night vision. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

and so has the cherished five-cylinder engine layout, a staple of the big Volvo wagon from the days of the first front-drive Volvos, the 850.

Not too long ago I drove the V70's slightly more off-road capable sibling, the XC70. I happened to like it, especially its rugged yet refined look and detailed touches. But, if there was one item that bothered me particularly, it was its ride quality. Between the XC70 and this, there's no question which I prefer from a driving standpoint. Even though both testers featured the adaptive Four-C active chassis, it's the tuning of the Ohlins dampers and setup of the springs that really make the difference. Because the V70 doesn't have to deal with any sort of rough terrain, it sits lower to the ground, which in turn lowers its center of gravity. By bringing its belly closer to the earth, the suspension system has an easier job of keeping body motions tied down, meaning there's less pitch and dive when accelerating and braking, and less body roll in the bends - that's good!

The next thing is that the V70's

Dual-stage booster seat is not only a world's first, but is actually quite comfortable (so we're told). (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

suspension feels more sorted out. This is the first time we've seen Volvo's Four-C active chassis at work on a regular, non-performance V70. And the result? The V70 feels much more confident on the road; it doesn't float over crests in the way that the XC70 does, giving it a more secure feeling. Having less body roll to deal with, the V70 also has a better ride. Compared to the previous V70, the new model feels like it's been honed and polished, showing improvements in steering feel and accuracy without sacrificing the comfort and relaxed factor that is a true Volvo strength. It doesn't feel like an Audi or a BMW to drive, it conveys a far more laid back character - the right atmosphere for a daily commute or a long-distance trip to visit relatives.

With a low loading height, built-in partitions, a 40/20/40 split folding rear seat and an electric-powered tailgate, loading up luggage couldn't be easier. And, with a front-folding seat, there's actually enough room to carry that ten foot pole that you, the Volvo station wagon driver, has promised not to touch things with (such as SUVs). Strangely, according to the North American cargo measuring standards, the V70's cargo area, with the back seats up, has shrunk to 33.3 cubic feet, down from 37.4. However, when you look at the European standards, they show an overall increase. I can't help but wonder why. For those who tow, or intend on hauling heavier items, the V70 can also be ordered with a self-leveling rear suspension.

No review on a Volvo would be complete without talking about safety, and with the V70 it's as strong a point as any. Besides the ultra-stiff frame, stability control, airbags, the blind spot cameras, plus the option of radar-based collision mitigation,

Power-operated tailgate provides access to a plush, carpeted cargo bay. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

this test car featured the world's first two-phase booster seats with different heights for different sized toddlers and children. We've had Volvos with booster seats before, but seeing as I'm not ready to start a family of my own yet, I borrowed a friend of a friend's seven year old son to see how he liked the seats. Not only did he find the seats comfortable (more so than his own booster seat), but he liked the autonomy of being able to buckle himself in. Mommies and daddies will also like the fact that because the seat itself is built in; there's no bulky seat to carry around and there's no risk of damaging the soft leather upholstery. For those who have children that are still in the full, proper car-seat age, the V70 offers LATCH attachments.

One last improvement that Volvo has made to the new V70 involves its price. It now starts at $32,465, which is $965 less than the old 2.5T, not to mention it has more

V70 - a good value with many good values. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

power and more standard equipment. Also, because of the V70's unique positioning in the wagon marketplace, it offers much greater space than its premium-branded rivals, and much more interior room at a far more reasonable price. At $32k, it's cheaper than the equally powerful, but much smaller 328xi wagon. If space is what you need, you aren't going to find any better wagon for the money than this. Its closest premium rival is the Saab 9-5 SportCombi, which retails at $38,470 with an automatic transmission.

The V70 is the traditional Volvo wagon, but completely modernized. As such, the stereotypes of the archetypal Volvo wagon also deserve to be brought up to date. In years past, the V70 has been shadowed by the XC70 in sales, and while the new XC70 has been flying off dealer lots, I have a feeling that the V70 will do well in the months and years to come. It's a great station wagon, leaving no stone unturned, and keeps Volvo's foundations true to its heart.

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