2008 Volvo V70 Review Minneapolis MN

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Introduction

What's New: For 2008, Volvo treats the V70 to a 235-horsepower six-cylinder engine, revised exterior styling, integrated rear child booster seats, updated safety systems, improved side-impact protection, and a host of options including a Personal Car Communicator, adaptive cruise control, the brand's Blind Spot Information System, and a power tailgate.

Competes With: Audi A4 Avant, BMW 3 Series Wagon, Volkswagen Passat Wagon

What We Think: They may not be sexy, but wagons make sense. The 2008 V70 offers ample power, a spacious cargo area and cool features like integrated child seats for a reasonable starting price of $33,210.It's so good, in fact, that we wonder why pre-owned gas-guzzling, underutilized utility vehicles aren't filling Volvo dealers' lots.

Volvo V70 - 2008 Review: It's almost as though Volvo knew we'd be back for something like the V70.

The situation mirrors those of everyday life. As young children, we hang on every word our parents say, eager to mimic and please them, a period that is eventually followed by the teenage years. Suddenly, the givers-of-life who were once cherished are now disallowed from sharing our presence in public and offer absolutely nothing of value. During this same strange phase, it's not unheard of for a best friend to be harshly dismissed for not having the right Hollister clothes. Fast forward to the day when senses return, a time when we again appreciate the value of those who were once casually disregarded because of what they looked like, what they wore, or the simple fact that they were labeled "Mom and Dad."

Though much less dramatic, the public's relationship with the family station wagon has been quite similar. Serving the needs of people for decades, this popular jack-of-all-trades fell out of favor because of "cool" new SUVs and a general distaste for anything not big and intimidating. Now things are gradually shifting back (thanks in large part to rising gas prices) to the point where people are once again seeing the benefits of smaller, more efficient yet still immensely useful vehicles such as the V70 station wagon.

As sensible as it may be, Volvo understands that its V70 still needs a few enticements to get shoppers in the seats. To that end, the updated V70 offers a more powerful six-cylinder engine, a six-speed automatic transmission with a manual-shift mode, integrated child seats, options such as Sirius satellite radio and a Blind Spot Information System, boatloads of cargo space, and a 3,300-pound towing capacity to accommodate anything that doesn't fit inside. Is it perfect? No, but it's closer than what currently fills many garages in Suburbia, U.S.A.

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