2008 Volvo V70

Vast cargo space is the Volvo V70 station wagon's main asset in reviews. The new, bigger Volvo V70 provides more behind-the-backseat luggage space than other full-size premium station wagons including the Audi A4 Avant (*est. $32,000 to $39,400) and BMW 3-Series wagon (*est. $34,200 to $36,100), and more legroom in the back seat than the sporty Subaru Outback (*est. $21,995 to $32,195), reviewers say. However, all-wheel-drive is not standard on the Volvo V70, as it is on the Subaru Outback and the Volvo V70's close relative, the Volvo XC70 (*est. $36,420). The already-safe Volvo V70 wagon has added a stronger body structure for more crash safety, two built-in booster seats that can be adjusted as children grow, and longer side-curtain airbags to better protect backseat passengers, all of which earn praise in more than one review. But if you're attracted to the Volvo V70's powerful engine, one critic points out that the Dodge Magnum (*est. $23,420 to $37,905) and Volkswagen Passat wagon (*est. $25,115 to $39,140) both pack power at a lower price, although the reviewer notes that the Volvo V70 appeals to buyers who would never consider the more macho-looking Dodge Magnum.

The newly redesigned 2008 Volvo V70 station wagon doesn't yet feature in many comparative reviews, although KBB.com and Business Week do pit the Volvo V70 against other wagons. Although not comparative, a useful review at NewCarTestDrive.com exhaustively details the Volvo V70 wagon's new features, while CarCritic.com and Automobile Magazine provide more concise overviews of the redesigned Volvo V70.