2009 Volvo V70 Review

Volvo's flagship wagon was completely redesigned for 2008 to be smoother, quieter, and better than ever. Updates for 2009 are relatively minor. A Bluetooth hands-free phone interface is now standard. So are front fog lights. There are some new colors and some revisions to options and option packages.

With this latest V70, Volvo's emphasis on safety is stronger than ever. The V70 comes standard with an array of features designed to protect its occupants. Among them: advanced-technology airbags, whiplash-reducing seats, new-generation electronic stability control and the latest anti-lock brake system (ABS). Safety options include a blind spot warning system, a collision mitigation system that preps the safety gear in advance of a pending crash, and two-stage child booster seats with adaptive seatbelts.

The most refreshing news, however, is that Volvo has finally injected its big wagon with a healthy dose of Scandinavian style.

It starts inside, with what might be Volvo's best interior yet. It's quite sophisticated and we think it's fantastic. The layout of the various controls is smart and immediately accessible, and the ease with which the driver interacts with the car trumps most of the European competition. There's seating for five, with a 40/20/40 split rear seat and flat-folding front passenger seat that allows for a very flexible cargo space. With the rear seats folded flat, the 72.1 cubic feet of available cargo volume surpasses what you'll find in many SUVs.

On the outside, the V70 is not a radical design departure; Volvo loyalists wouldn't have it. Instead, it maintains its familiar box silhouette, ensuring the car remains identifiable from 200 paces. But the details have been tweaked. The face is more defined than in the previous model, marked by a larger grille and bigger headlights. In back, the rear glass slopes forward slightly, with giant brake and taillights that no one will miss.

Power comes from an inline six-cylinder engine, a change for the wagon, which has for a long time relied on five-cylinder engines. The 3.2-liter straight six turns out 235 horsepower, with 236 pound-feet of peak torque available at 3200 rpm. The automatic transmission has six forward gears, upgraded from Volvo's usual five. (But the turbocharged, all-wheel-drive models offered in previous years have gone away, at least for now.)

The six-cylinder is considerably more powerful than the previous five-cylinder. It's also much smoother and more refined. It delivers power more evenly. The automatic transmission works well, responding to orders from the gas pedal in short order, and the package delivers solid acceleration. The newest V70 is the smoothest, quietest Volvo wagon ever.

Those looking for a bit of off-road capability might opt for the rugged XC70, virtually identical to the V70 in design but featuring standard full-time all-wheel drive, increased ground clearance and brush-friendly lower body cladding and protective skid plates underneath. In the daily grind through the suburban jungle, however, the V70 is the better ride.

All told, the 2009 V70 features everything Volvo wagon fans have always loved, and more of it: more safety, more utility, more civility. It focuses more attention on delivering a luxurious and stylish package, without sacrificing its familiar, beloved character. And compared to other comparably sized European luxury wagons, the V70 is a relative bargain.