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Volvo V70

Thinking about a 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class wagon? Drive these wagons before you buy!

Most people are familiar with the small hatchbacks and compact wagons that are popular in Europe, but not everyone is aware that large, almost full-size wagons enjoy an almost equal fan-base amongst Continental car buyers. The cream of this large wagon crop have made their way across the Atlantic and into the North American market, and leading the charge for most of the past decade has been the Mercedes-Benz E-Class wagon.

The 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class wagon is sold in three different trim levels. Starting at $55,250, all versions of the wagon feature the same great interior volume for both passengers and cargo that have made it such a well respected option amongst import wagon buyers. The E-Class wagon can handle almost 69 cubic feet of luggage and other assorted gear with the rear seats folded down, which puts it on level footing with compact SUVs and crossovers alike. Power door locks and windows, wood trim and dual zone climate control are standard equipment, along with a power liftgate and a sunroof. Options include heated and ventilated front seats, HID headlights and DVD navigation.

The E350 is powered by a 3.5 liter V6 engine that is capable of producing 268 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, while the E550 ups the ante to 382 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque thanks to the inclusion of a 5.5 liter V8. The fuel mileage of each engine is remarkably similar, with the V6 barely edging out the larger engine thanks to turning in numbers of 16 miles per gallon in city driving and 22 miles per gallon on the highway. A 7-speed automatic is standard for rear-wheel drive editions of the wagon, while selecting all-wheel drive as an option for either the E350 or E550 substitutes a 5-speed automatic. A rear-wheel drive only, 507 horsepower AMG edition of the wagon call the E63 is also available, and it features a 6.2 liter V8 and 7-speed automatic gearbox.

The 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class wagon might lead the market in European comfort, style and performance, but that doesn’t mean that other automakers have ceded it the title of champion. This article takes a look at 4 other wagons you must drive before deciding to purchase the E-Class.

2009 BMW 535xi Sports Wagon – MSRP $45,800

For many car shoppers, the logical competitor to Mercedes-Benz in many categories of the market is BMW. In particular, BMW is known for accenting sport over luxury and drawing a significant number of customers who are interested in a spirited driving experience. The 2009 BMW 535xi Sports Wagon is no exception. The family version of the ubiquitous 5-Series sedan, the 535xi Sports Wagon’s enclosed cargo increases the vehicle’s maximum carrying capacity to 58 cubic feet. This is a bit more than 10 short of the

Mercedes-Benz, but still quite respectable. The BMW’s spacious interior is highlighted by leatherette seats (real leather is an option), dual climate controls, and luxury options such as a lane departure warning system and active cruise control that can actually bring the car to a complete stop and then start it moving forward again, if necessary.

The 2009 BMW 535xi Sports Wagon employs an all-wheel drive configuration that takes a little bit of the edge off of BMW’s traditional rear-wheel drive platform. It also makes the vehicle quite useful when fording through snowdrifts or merging across an icy highway. In addition to being found exclusively with all-wheel drive, the 535xi features a single engine choice, a 3.0 liter inline 6-cylinder unit that generates 300 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque thanks to the presence of twin-turbochargers. A 6-speed manual transmission makes for a more thrilling run through the gears than typically found in the E-Class, but the vehicle is noticeably down on power compared to the extra thrust available from the two different Mercedes-Benz V8’s. A 6-speed automatic transmission is also available, and fuel economy for the heavy wagon is rated at 16 miles per gallon in the city and 23 miles per gallon on the highway.

The manual transmission and tunability of the turbocharged engine make the 2009 BMW 535xi Sports Wagon more of an enthusiast’s car than the E-Class. However, the extra space and power of the Mercedes-Benz are hard to ignore when searching for the pinnacle of German wagon engineering.

2009 Audi A6 Avant – MSRP $45,100

The 2009 Audi A6 Avant completes the trio of similarly-priced Teutonic people movers. In some ways, the Audi is quite similar to the BMW offering. The Audi also features a 3.0 liter, 6-cylinder motor that produces 300 horsepower, and thanks to a supercharger it puts out 310 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels through the Quattro all-wheel drive system. However, whereas the BMW is based on a rear-wheel drive platform, the Quattro system has been grafted onto the A6’s traditional front-wheel drive layout, and as such it features more understeer and less refined handling than its competitor. The vehicle is also exclusively available with a 6-speed automatic – no manual in sight. On the plus side, the A6 Avant’s fuel consumption is far and away better than either the BMW or the Mercedes-Benz, coming in at 21 miles per gallon in stop and go traffic and 26 miles per gallon on the highway.

Inside, the 2009 Audi A6 Avant offers one of the most beautifully designed and functional interiors around. Passenger room is great for adults both front and rear, and the wagon comes close to matching the E-Class with almost 64 cubic feet of total cargo space with the second row of seats folded forward. Unlike the other two German cars previously profiled, the Audi comes with standard leather seats, as well as an MP3-capable stereo system, heated front seats, a sunroof and rain sensing windshield wipers.

The 2009 Audi A6 Avant might not be a wannabe-racecar like the 5 Series, or a luxury rocket ship like the E-Class, but it does offer a comfortable balance of luxury and safety thanks to its excellent features list and all-wheel drive.

2009 Volvo V70 - MSRP $32,900

At first glance, the 2009 Volvo V70’s low starting price might seem to place it in a different class of wagon when compared to its German competitors, particularly the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. However, a fully equipped V70 wagon – that is to say, a vehicle which has been outfitted with the level of features that one would expect to be provided in a luxury car – comes quite close to nipping at the heels of the $50,000 mark. Volvo is also conscious of their place in the market, and in their effort to attract an upscale clientele through safety and quality engineering they have had to offer comfort and convenience features at a reduced cost when compared to other premium car companies.

That being said, the Volvo V70 can be outfitted with a raft of technological improvements such as a parking assist camera, adaptive cruise control, a lane departure warning system and a full leather interior and power liftgate. The vehicle’s maximum cargo capacity of 72 cubic feet also surpasses that of even the roomy E-Class when it comes time to load it to the brim with groceries, camping gear or soccer balls.

The 2009 Volvo V70 features a single drivetrain choice, a 3.2 liter inline-6 cylinder engine that provides 235 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel drive only, (with all-wheel drive being reserved for the XC70 crossover), the Volvo provides fuel economy of 16 miles per gallon in the city and 24 miles per gallon on the highway. A 6-speed automatic transmission is the only gearbox option.

It’s not sporty, nor particularly quick, but the great combination of features and safety equipment combined with the low purchase price make the 2009 Volvo V70 an excellent entry point into the world of large European wagons.

2009 Volkswagen Passat Wagon – MSRP $29,690

The 2009 Volkswagen Passat Wagon is the lowest priced vehicle on this list, coming in at $4,000 less than the Volvo and more than $12,000 less than the E-Class. Is it possible to get the European wagon experience without having to cough up a substantial amount of money up front? The wagon provides nice little details such as a storage and drainage system for umbrellas, as well as options like DVD navigation, dual climate controls and iPod integration. However, in terms of overall luxury, the Passat tends toward the more pedestrian side of the tracks. Passenger capacity is good and the 61 cubic feet of total cargo space is in the same neighborhood as the E-Class. More than 38 cubic feet of that is available with the rear seats in their upright position.

When it comes to power, the 2009 Passat Wagon again finds itself at a bit of a disadvantage. The vehicle is outfitted with a 2.0 liter, turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that provides 200 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque, running through a 6-speed automatic transmission to the front wheels. This level of power won’t blow anyone’s hair back, but the wagon’s handling is pleasant and compliant, and its fuel economy is a very reasonable 19 miles per gallon in the city and 29 miles per gallon on the highway.

The 2009 Passat Wagon is the most affordable, every-day vehicle on this list, a chance to get a foothold in the European wagon world without having to take out a second mortgage. However, in terms of comparison to the E-Class, there is no real comparison – the Passat must be evaluated on its own strengths and recognized as the mid-size, entry-level European wagon of choice instead of as a challenger to the German wagon crown.

Volvo’s future with Ford Motor Company may not be certain, but that hasn’t stopped the Swedish automaker from planning ahead. Although Volvo vehicles are currently recognized as some of the safest on the road, they could soon become some of the cleanest and most fuel efficient thanks to a partnership with the Swedish energy company, Vattenfall. The fruits that partnership are expected to pay off in 2012 with the introduction of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) for Volvo. Since 2007, Volvo has come out with a number of concept vehicles using green technology including PHEVs like the 2007 Volvo ReCharge Concept vehicle. Volvo President and CEO Stephen Odell said that his company “will be one of the first premium car companies to have a plug-in hybrid.”

In this joint venture, Volvo will supply the vehicles and Vattenfall will test the infrastructure and design quick charge technology. Helping to set its fleet of green cars apart from the rest, Volvo will also use its DRIVe diesel engine technology to further reduce the environmental footprint of its vehicles. This summer, Volvo will produce three PHEV models with diesel engines for testing purposes with the hopes of having the technology fine tuned and ready for production by 2012. The hybrid-electric system being developed by Volvo will be a parallel system meaning that at any time the diesel engine or the electric motor can be working independently or cooperatively to propel the vehicle.

The first vehicle expected to be tested is a PHEV version of the Volvo V70 wagon. The Volvo V70 PHEV will house an 11.3 kWh lithium ion battery pack in the rear cargo area which will power the vehicle’s rear wheels solely under electric power for 30 miles; after that, the diesel engine will take over to power the front wheels. The system can accept a charge from a conventional home outlet using a plug located on the left front fender, or it can use a quick charger using a plug located on the left rear quarter panel. An electric drive display will integrate into the instrument panel and will give the driver pertinent information such as energy consumption, estimated charge time, electric power available and whether the diesel engine or the electric motor is driving the car. Using a standard wall outlet, the system can be fully charged in about five hours, but no word yet on how long a quick charger would take. Regenerative braking also will help charge the batteries during braking.

Other than the V70 PHEV, Volvo’s 2007 ReCharge Concept is another promising application of advanced fuel-saving technology. Unlike the parallel hybrid system scheduled to be used in the V70, the C30-based ReCharge is a series hybrid that operates similar to the Chevrolet Volt. In theory, the Volvo ReCharge can travel more than 60 miles on just electric power before requiring the 1.6-liter flex-fuel inline-4 to kick in to charge the battery pack. Power to all four wheels would come directly from the electric motors regardless of whether or not the engine is running.

Volvo hasn’t even speculated on a target price point for such vehicles yet but was quick to point out that although it will cost more than a conventional vehicle, the PHEV technology (whether it be series or parallel) will save drivers substantially at the fuel pump.