Volvo XC70 T6 AWD: A Traditional Luxury Wagon

What’s New: In today’s car market where SUVs and crossovers rule the highways and streets of America, Volvo is one of a handful of automakers to offer a traditional luxury wagon. The XC70 T6 AWD is a new addition to the XC70 line up, with its turbocharged 6-cylinder engine, producing 281 horses underneath the hood. The XC70 T6 AWD costs $2,250 more than the non-turbo wagon.In addition to the new turbo, for 2009, the vehicle is now equipped with a standard Bluetooth phone interface and Volvo’s brand new Technology Package, which includes bi-Xenon headlights, a premium sound system and Sirius satellite radio.

Must Have Goodies: While the vehicle contains a lot of features, if you’re buying the XC70, you have a variety of packages to consider: a Premium Package, a Convenience Package, a Collision Avoidance Package and a Climate Package. Our XC70 was equipped with a Climate Package (Cold Weather Package), which included heated seats, rain sensor windshield wipers and heated windshield washer nozzles. And our vehicle included the Technology Package, too. However, we were disappointed that the Navigational system wasn’t included in the Tech Package, although it is available as a stand alone feature.

Moreover, since Volvo is known for safety, consumers should opt for the Collision Avoidance Package, which consist of an electronic sensor-controlled cruise control system, a lane departure warning system, a driver alert control and a distance alert system – helping to eliminate the chance of an accident. We also recommend adding the Blind Spot Information System, which will alert drivers of cars in their path, before changing lanes. With all of these features, there is no way you should end up in a major fender bender. This car virtually helps the driver eliminate any chance of having an accident.

What We Like: We loved the new peppy turbo charged wagon, the dual exhaust tailpipes and the luxurious ride. The XC70 T6 can also be outfitted with the optional 18-inch alloy sports wheels.

Furthermore, for those still needing to carry around the little tikes, it’s so convenient to have the option of adding on the factory installed built-in integrated child seats. And we can’t forget about Volvo’s orthopedic design front seats, which offer a whiplash protection system. We believe Volvo has one of the best seat designs in the industry.

What We Hated: While the Volvo is packed with safety features, it can become quite expensive, when adding on the different packages. Moreover, when driving this wagon, there is no way to carry your cool card like with Dodge’s Magnum, which was recently discontinued and Caddy’s new CTS wagon. Most consumers are trading in their wagons for crossovers - the latest trend in automobiles.

Any Juice:The turbo charged 6-cylinder produces 54-horsepower more than the non-turbo 3.2-liter 6-cylinder engine for about the same mileage.

The Verdict: If you’re not ready to trade in your traditional-styled European station wagon for one of those station wagon on wheels, also known as a crossover or SUV, the Volvo XC70 could be the perfect vehicle for you. It offers everything you’re looking for in a car, but with the same space and utility of an all-wheel-drive crossover or SUV. Pricing for the non-turbo XC70 starts at $37,250 and can easily climb near $55,000, when fully optioned. Since station wagons represent a shrinking vehicle segment, you shouldn’t have any problems being able to work out a good deal with your local Volvo retailer.