2009 Volvo XC70

In exchange for all of the Volvo XC70 wagon's extra heft and features, fuel economy suffers, falling to 18 mpg in mixed driving (15 mpg city/23 mpg highway). By comparison, the nearly-as-roomy, all-wheel-drive Subaru Outback (*est. $22,295 to $32,095) achieves 22 mpg. But the Volvo XC70 operates on a higher luxury plane than the Subaru Outback, and reviewers are more likely to compare the Volvo XC70 with more upscale all-wheel-drive wagons.

Experts say the Volvo XC70 wagon isn't as luxurious as the Mercedes E-Class (*est. $57,250 to $88,500), and it certainly isn't a high-performance wagon like the BMW 5 Series (*est. $55,800). Edmunds.com finds acceleration "unimpressive" on the base Volvo XC70 3.2 AWD (*est. $37,250) with its 235-horsepower, 3.2-liter inline-6. The Volvo XC70 T6 AWD (*est. $39,500) upgrades to a 281-horsepower, 3.0-liter inline-6 that offers more power and nearly the same fuel economy (15 mpg city/23 mpg highway/18 mpg overall). More than one expert tester finds the six-speed automatic transmission a poor match for both flavors of the Volvo XC70 wagon.

"The transmission is so determined to hold a higher gear -- to protect the mileage rating, most likely -- that it fights the driver's intentions," says Lawrence Ulrich at The New York Times. "It hunts gears on hills, resists downshifting and finally drops down two or three gears, making the engine roar like a runaway Cuisinart."

However, "Practicality is Volvo's trump card," writes Alex Dykes at The Truth About Cars. It offers 51 percent more behind-the-backseat room than the BMW 5 Series wagon, he says, and "more load carrying options than The Container Store." You can add hooks, dividers, even a molded plastic bed liner or an electric heater/cooler box for food and drinks, not to mention racks for your bikes, kayaks and skis.

Although the Volvo XC70 wagon has not undergone official crash testing, critics are impressed with its list of available safety features.

"The XC70 oozes reassurance with its Volvo-ness," writes Sara Lacey at MotherProof.com. "You don't have to wonder whether you have the latest and greatest safety gadgets in this car." Besides the standard electronic stability control, anti-whiplash system and slew of airbags, you can add features that alert you if the Volvo XC70 suspects you're tailgating, out of control, falling asleep at the wheel or have a car in your blind spot. It will even detect a human heartbeat to warn you by remote if someone's lurking in your car.

Reliability has been a problem for the Volvo XC70. In fact, it is the least reliable station wagon in one major consumer survey. Another survey, at J.D. Power and Associates, finds the XC70's reliability just above average. Volvo backs the XC70 with a four-year/50,000-mile warranty.

We found a large number of excellent reviews for the Volvo XC70 wagon, some of which were conducted right after the 2008 redesign (the wagon is largely unchanged since then). ConsumerReports.org subjects the XC70 to its battery of rigorous tests, comparing it directly with dozens of competitors. The Truth About Cars also thoroughly tests the Volvo XC70, but it compares it with only three competitors. Other reviews are less comparative, but still full of useful details. J.D. Power and Associates provides owner ratings of the Volvo XC70, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides fuel economy and pollution ratings.