03/06/2008 02:46. 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.

But hold on a minute. One reason for our lack of enthusiasm for the loaded S80 AWD V-8 was its $56,025 as-tested price tag, putting it in a segment with exemplary models from BMW, Audi, and Mercedes. 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. It’s even $6240 cheaper than the six-cylinder S80 and $4310 less that its all-wheel-drive sibling, the XC70 . And despite the price break, the V70 rides on the same platform as... // Car and Driver