They are both from the Ford/PSA warehouse of euro-friendly power plants that already appear in more than a dozen Ford, Peugeot and Citroen models. Not too exciting then, but at this entry point to the V70 range buyers can’t afford to be too choosy.

Chauffeur companies ordering new Volvo V70 estates or S80 executive saloons in SE specification before 30 September 2008 will automatically qualify for a range of extras worth almost £4,000, including a fully integrated RTI Navigation System.

Some of you will look at its size the roof resembles an aircraft carrier flight deck and scoff at the thought of owning Volvo's V70 station wagon, which underwent a total overhaul for 2008.

There are cars that scream for attention and cars that blend in. The Volvo V70 is the latter. Heck, we all can enjoy a flashy car, but in reality, most of us need one that will haul the kids and our stuff and run us to work or the store.

Volvo has employed a completely new vehicle architecture for the 2008 V70, which now shares major components and systems with the flagship S80 and the equally new XC70. This constitutes a significant change from the previous V70, which was related to the small...

“DAN JEDLICKA Chicago Sun-Times Auto Editor Volvo long has been known for its popular utilitarian station wagons, partly because it heavily promoted”

June 6, 2008 - The V70, available only in front drive with a 3.2-liter inline six-cylinder engine, rings up at a base price of $33,210. At that number, the V70 is an entirely different proposition.

In our last road test of a Volvo sedan [ May 2007 ], we likened a top-of-the-line S80 AWD’s appeal to eating particle board. Given that the V70 wagon is based on the S80, the outlook for Volvo’s new wagon is not good.

Click above for more high-res pics of the Volvo V70 R-Design Once upon a time, there was a subtle wagon called the V70R who's meek outward appearance belied the snortiest turbo 5-cylinder Volvo has ever put in a production car.