North Point Volvo

Introduction

It's not a popular sentiment in this country, but we'll say it: We love wagons. They offer the maneuverability and fuel economy of a car along with the cargo capacity of an SUV -- and in the case of stylish wagons like the 2009 Volvo XC70, they even look pretty good. Based on the front-wheel-drive V70 wagon, the XC70 adds standard all-wheel drive, a raised suspension, skid plates and rough-and-tumble SUV styling cues. It may not be ready for the Rubicon Trail, but the XC70 does add all-weather versatility for those who need it, and it offers all the virtues of the standard V70 wagon to boot.

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 dizzying array 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 brakes 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 XC70 is one of a very few vehicles to offer integrated height-adjustable child booster seats, and its exterior and interior styling bear the unmistakable stamp of Swedish sophistication -- with a dash of off-road toughness thrown in.

For 2009, the Volvo XC70 actually does its V70 sibling one better with the addition of the exclusive T6 trim level. Sporting a new turbocharged inline-6, the T6 loses a bit of displacement, from 3.2 liters to 3.0, but gains a formidable 46 horsepower and 59 pound-feet of torque over the base engine. Other T6 AWD features include standard 17-inch alloy wheels, dual exhaust outlets and a unique instrument cluster.

We like the 2009 Volvo XC70'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 XC70 crossover wagon comes in either base 3.2 or uplevel T6 trim. Standard equipment on the 3.2 includes 16-inch alloy wheels, skid plates, roof rails, a power front seat with lumbar adjustment and driver memory settings, dual-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped tilt/telescoping steering wheel with audio controls, faux wood trim, Bluetooth connectivity and an eight-speaker audio system with a CD/MP3 player and an auxiliary audio jack. The T6 adds 17-inch alloy wheels, dual exhaust outlets, a "watch dial" instrument cluster and aluminum interior trim.

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 remote and wood trim. The Climate Package adds heated front seats, heated rear seats (not available with child boosters), heated headlamp washers and rain-sensing wipers. Opt for the Convenience Package and you'll get front and rear park assist, a power tailgate, tinted glass and an interior air quality system. The Technology Package tacks on active bi-xenon headlights with washers, satellite radio, a premium Dynaudio stereo and rear-seat headphone jacks and audio controls.

Stand-alone options include 17-inch (3.2 models only) or 18-inch (T6 models only) alloy wheels, 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), a navigation system, wood trim, a 650-watt Dynaudio audio system with an in-dash CD changer, and a rear DVD entertainment system with dual headrest-mounted screens. The height-adjustable booster seats are also optional on all XC70s, unlike the V70, which makes them standard.