Sunday, December 30, 2007

Complaints: None at this writing. This is one of the best wagons available in a market that has few wagons.

Ride, acceleration and handling: Excellent in all three categories for Point A-to-Point B drivers, people who want pleasurable motoring rather than racetrack fantasies.

Head-turning quotient: Luxurious without being over the top, and sexy without being trashy.

Body style/layout: The XC70 is a luxury, front-engine, mid-size, all-wheel-drive station wagon with four side doors and a rear liftgate.

Engine/transmission: The wagon comes with a standard 3.2-liter, 24-valve, in-line six-cylinder engine that develops 235 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 236 foot-pounds of torque at 3,200 rpm. The engine is mated to a six-speed transmission that can be operated automatically or manually.

Capacities: There is seating for five. Luggage capacity is 33 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 71 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The fuel tank holds 18.5 gallons of required premium unleaded gasoline. That's "required" as in "premium only." If you want to use a lower grade of gasoline, you are hereby advised to buy something else.

Mileage: Not impressive. We averaged 14 mpg in congested urban driving in the District of Columbia and its Northern Virginia suburbs. We averaged 23 mpg in Virginia highway driving.

Safety: Standard equipment includes electronic stability and traction control, rigid body construction, side and head air bags and four-wheel antilock brakes. Adjustable rear child-safety seats are optional. We advise you to buy them if you are transporting small children.

Price: The base price on the 2008 Volvo XC70 wagon is $36,775. Dealer's invoice price on that model is $34,604. Price as tested is $41,710, including $4,190 in options and a $745 destination charge. Dealer's price as tested is $38,951. Prices are sourced from Volvo Cars and http://www.edmunds.com.

Pure-strings note: This is one of the best station wagons available. Compare with Audi A6 Avant 3.2 Quattro, BMW 530xi Sport Wagon and Mercedes-Benz E-350 4Matic wagon.