North Point Volvo

Introduction

If you ask our editors how they feel about wagons, you'll get a roomful of skyward-pointing thumbs. After all, what's not to like about vehicles that offer the maneuverability and fuel economy of a car along with the cargo capacity of an SUV? Unfortunately, most Americans don't see eye to eye with us on this one, as "wagon" has become a dirty word in the U.S. automotive market, largely brushed aside with the advent of the minivan, then the large SUV and now the crossover. However, a few stubborn holdouts remain -- and one of them is the 2009 Volvo V70.

Based on Volvo's top-of-the-line S80 sedan, the 2009 V70 enters its second year of production with a number of appealing virtues. First off, there's a cavernous 71 cubic feet of maximum cargo capacity, which is why people buy wagons instead of sedans in the first place. There's also Volvo's typical jaw-dropping assortment of standard and optional safety/alert features, including a blind-spot warning system (which illuminates LED warning lights when another car is along the wagon's side), Vehicle Distance Alert (which activates an alarm when you're too close to the car ahead), Driver Alert Control (which alerts the driver if the car seems to be out of control), a collision warning system (which warns of imminent collisions and applies the brake if necessary) and a lane-departure warning system (which beeps some sense into you when you start to meander into the adjacent lane). Additionally, the V70 is the only vehicle with standard integrated height-adjustable child booster seats, and its exterior and interior styling bear the unmistakable stamp of Swedish sophistication.

We like the 2009 Volvo V70's combination of safety and style, and for some shoppers, these two virtues may be enough to clinch the deal.


Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2009 Volvo V70 midsize wagon comes in one trim level. Standard features include 16-inch alloy wheels, foglights, power heated mirrors, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity, dual-zone automatic climate control, a power front seat with lumbar adjustment and driver memory, a tilt/telescoping wheel, a 40/20/40-split-folding rear seat, two dual-height integrated child booster seats and an eight-speaker stereo with a six-CD changer and an auxiliary audio jack.

The Collision Avoidance Package adds adaptive cruise control, a collision warning system with an auto-braking function, Vehicle Distance Alert, Driver Alert Control and a lane departure warning system. The Premium Package includes leather upholstery, a sunroof, a power passenger seat, a universal garage opener and wood trim. The Climate Package adds heated front seats, heated headlamp washers and rain-sensing wipers. Opt for the Convenience Package and you'll get front and rear park assist, a power tailgate and an interior air-quality system. The Technology Package tacks on active bi-xenon headlights with washers and a 650-watt Dynaudio audio system with an in-dash CD changer, satellite radio and rear-seat headphone jacks and audio controls.

Stand-alone options include 17-inch wheels, a DVD navigation system, a blind-spot warning system, a "Personal Car Communicator" (including keyless ignition/entry and a heartbeat sensor to detect the presence of an intruder in the car) and a dual-screen rear seat entertainment system. A dealer-installed option is iPod connectivity.