Walkaround

The Volvo 70-series wagons are attractive vehicles featuring long, sleek lines that form a wedge that's cocked high at the boxy tail but slammed low in front for a tapered nose, capped by Volvo's signature diagonal-slash grille.

Hard creases in the peaked hood thrust the grille forward at the leading edge of the vehicle. The grille and headlight clusters were updated for 2005, unified behind curving polycarbon lenses (bi-Xenon lamps are optional) notched into recesses flanking the grille. Body-colored bumpers trimmed with black molding wrap around the V70's face to meet the front wheel wells.

Roof pillars and side glass curve inward to meet the roof panel, softening hard corners and diminishing the visual massiveness of the wagon's rear bay. The rear liftgate also bows slightly in a curvy profile, but maintains an essentially vertical plane to maximize interior cargo space. Composed of steel-reinforced polyresin fiberglass, the back door tucks between two thin vertical taillights, redesigned in 2005, that boldly extend from bumper to roof.

The V70R gets a distinctive nose that is smoother, with a smaller, lower grille crosshatched in anthracite gray. An integrated front spoiler with a large air inlet for the twin intercoolers hints at its performance. The spoiler is designed to reduce lift for increased stability at high speeds. There's an optional spoiler over the rear glass that, along with the Pirelli P Zero P235/45ZR17 tires, make this a conspicuously mean-looking wagon, especially in black.

The Cross Country features special styling cues that emphasize its off-pavement capabilities. Protective cladding rings the base of the body, matching deep front and rear bumpers, wheelwell flares and door sills. The plastic compound is tinted a dark shade so scrapes and scratches from driving on gravel and dirt roads will not be obvious. The molded cladding contrasts with the painted metal upper surfaces to create the illusion of an even higher stance. A pair of roof rails linked by two sliding cross braces form a flexible car-top carrier for extra cargo or sports equipment such as bicycles and kayaks

The character of the Volvo 70-series wagons varies by model, but all are enjoyable vehicles in their own way.

The V70 2.4 is soft and smooth, a sensible vehicle that offers a strong value equation. The 2.5T is more powerful. The XC70 Cross Country is firm and actually pretty sporty, considering its off-road capabilities. And the V70R is definitely a sleeper hot rod.

The Cross Country is are Volvo's best-selling wagon, so we'll start with it. Volvo insiders tell us that active outdoors enthusiasts tend to buy the XC70 Cross Country wagon, while Volvo's XC90 SUV is more popular among urban moms hauling groceries and kids around town. (We like the Cross Country more than the XC90, but we like the XC90 better than the headline-grabbing BMW X5.)

We drove a Cross Country down the Baja Peninsula in Mexico over some of the same rocky roads used in the Baja 1000 off-road race and were impressed how well the Volvo stood up to more than 2,000 grueling miles over the course of seven weeks. Likewise, we were impressed by how well it handled the icy haul road that runs along the Trans-Alaska Pipeline to Deadhorse, the farthest north you can drive on Alaska's road system, a trip we took in February.

The all-wheel drive works wonderfully, automatically switching power to the wheels with the best grip. Most of the time the system sends power to the front wheels. Our car was fitted with the optional Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC) system, which further enhanced stability.

The Four-C active suspension system is a plus as it continuously adjusts the damping rates in the shocks so that the wheels stay in better contact with the ground for improved handling while also delivering a nicer ride.

Though not designed for true off-road travel, the Volvo Cross Country can comfortably go just about anywhere that's accessible via primitive roads. Yet on dry pavement, it behaves like a sporty European sedan.

We found the least expensive Volvo V70 2.4 offers a nice smooth ride. Its soft suspension dampens bumps well. The tradeoff is that it leans in corners and the nose dives under hard braking. The base 2.4-liter engine works great on the highway, but with just 168 horsepower it lacks the responsive performance of the more powerful models. Drivers who aren't inclined to dally may find the 2.4 sluggish and slow to respond. The base model offers the regular five-speed automatic as an option, but if you're willing to shift gears, go for the manual transmission as it improves response.

The other V70 models use turbocharged engines in various states of tune and are far more responsive. They also benefit from Volvo's more sophisticated Geartronic automatic transmission. We recommend the 2.5T over the 2.4 model. For $2,320 more than a 2.4 automatic, the 2.5T gets a more sophisticated transmission, wider tires on 16-inch wheels, power seats and automatic climate control. We think this is money well spent and it may be a more desirable package when selling it.