Families seeking a solid, safe, and substantial car without need for such extras  as all-wheel drive or turbo power (and the potential maintenance hassles that come with them) will be more than satisfied with the Volvo V70 2.4. This 4-door wagon is available with the option of a third-row seat, which fills a need for larger families.

Standard features on the 2.4 include many designed to prevent collisions: ABS, daytime running lights, traction and stability control, But should a crash occur, your likelihood of escaping unharmed is greatly helped by a collapsible steering column, padded head restraints, an energy-absorbing interior, and driver and passenger airbags (including side-curtain). The passenger-side air bag is equipped with a weight-triggered sensor that deactivates the air bag if there is no passenger present.

Comfort and convenience features found in this trim are ergonomically-designed seats with lumbar support (seat-heaters and leather are available as options),  power mirrors, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with controls for audio and cruise, dual-zone climate control, and a trip computer. A further note on the front seat design: the seats are anti-submarining, meaning that they are contoured to keep the occupant from sliding out from under their seatbelt in a collision.

Fuel economy comes in at 21 to 22 city and 28 to 29 highway. The default transmission is a 5-speed manual overdrive, with a 5-speed automatic available as an option.


This is an extremely comfortable station wagon that exceeds expectations for handling. User reviews in multiple cases labeled it "fun to drive." They also appreciated the spacious cargo area, which features a useful cover to shield contents from view.