All-wheel drive also helps get you moving from a standstill, since all four wheels are being commanded to march simultaneously, rather than sending all of the engine’s power to the front two while the rears just come along for the ride. Other benefits include mitigating the destabilizing effect of hydroplaning, cross winds, or the occasional icy patches that are quite common in Canada in January.

Speaking of Canada, historic Quebec City proved to be an ideal place to showcase the Volvo’s full-time Haldex all-wheel drive system, as the temperatures hadn’t climbed above freezing for weeks, if not months, by the time we got there (the high while we were there was -19 degrees Celsius). Driving the V50 and the XC70 at normal highway speeds felt, well, normal. Why is this remarkable? Because we could see those dark, dreaded ice patches streaking across the rural roads, yet we never felt either car squirm. In a two-wheel-drive automobile, we would've had to slow down considerably.

A frozen lake provided a fun opportunity to see what, if any, help all-wheel drive and stability control can offer when all four wheels have little or no grip. On an acceleration run and slalom course in the XC70, we found that if you drive responsibly, or at least as responsibly as one can when flogging two-tons of metal and rubber merrily about on a surface that plays host to motorboats and canoes eight months out of the year, you’ll find confident straight-line stability and surprising steering response. Then, on the “road course” Volvo created on the ice (which I assure you looks remarkably different in the summer), we found out that no matter how much technogadgetry Volvo can stick in its cars, momentum does not mix well with low friction surfaces—we slid all over the place. That is, until we slowed down a bit and concentrated on turning in earlier, with less steering angle (which helps the tires stay more closely aligned with the direction of travel). Then we were getting somewhere.

As for the cars themselves, the $35K XC70 is still a splendid car, based on the stellar V70 that just received an interior and exterior freshening this year. We’ve always had little, if anything, to complain about with this vehicle, as it has always had enough power (208 hp), a great view of the road ahead and handling that puts traditional SUVs to shame. And it’s all wrapped up with beefy, yet tidy styling.

The V50 is the newest member of the Volvo family, and is easily one of the sexiest wagons on the road. The V50 and its sedan counterpart, the S40, have been well received on account of their hip looks and fresh interiors. Unlike the XC70, the S40 and V50 do not offer all-wheel as standard equipment, and at that, the option is only available on the more powerful T5 variants of each. At just $1650, however, the benefits of the system are well worth the cost.

With all-wheel drive now available across the Volvo lineup, Volvo has plugged one of the only holes in its safety net while making its vehicles even safer.

For more information on Volvo 4-Wheel Drive Vehicles vist volvo.com                  (...BACK)