The V50's all-wheel-drive

Big 17-inch rubber on race-inspired rims help with the grip, and the brakes were always there when I needed them. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

system is available only with the turbo engine package (dubbed 'T5'), and when combined makes a formidable winter-driving package. My tester was the top of the line T5 with AWD, and save for a few niggling things -- A-pillar blindspots and a snug back seat for adults 6-feet and taller -- I can't say I've driven a more enjoyable, functional or performance-oriented midsize station wagon.

The turbo produces a big, though refined punch, and the traction and control afforded by the AWD system convey a very stable platform in all driving conditions. Big 17-inch rubber on race-inspired rims help with the grip,

The list of features is too long and technical to list here, but suffice to say Volvo's reputation as a builder of safe cars is still solidly intact. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

and the brakes were always there when I needed them. Those big wheels added to the sporty look of my test V50, a far cry from the proverbial loaf-of-bread design that for years typified the Volvo wagon. Another telling hallmark from Volvo's earlier years remains, however, as the V50 boasts an industry-leading commitment to safety. The list of features is too long and technical to list here, but suffice to say Volvo's reputation as a builder of safe cars is still solidly intact.