NO ONE makes better station wagons than Volvo. Of course, the company had a comfortable head start - way back in 1953 it made a minibus-like model called the Duett.

Dorky as the Duett seemed, it was an unprecedented concept. And over five decades, that concept has evolved from utilitarian to aspirational.

Today, nothing comes close to matching the Volvo V70 in its packaging of space, style and sumptuous driving.

So, is a 285bhp all-wheel-driven wagon necessary then? In other words, when you are head of the pack, do you still need to try so hard?

For Volvo, the answer must have been clear, which is why we have here the V70 T6. Equipped with the same hardware as the S80 T6 sedan, the full-turbo estate flies to 100kmh in 7.2 seconds and onto a top speed of 245kmh.

On paper, it is not as fast as its lighter S80 twin (the V70 T6 tips the scale at 1.9 tonnes). On the road, the V70 T6 feels sufficiently quick but is not exactly sizzling on account of its heft.

What it excels in is comfort. It goes about its business with truly exceptional refinement and remains hushed when high revs are summoned. Take corners urgently and it stays on an even keel while the excellent damping irons out whatever surface imperfections that arise.

At higher speeds, the background acoustic hum often associated with estates is completely absent. The car even comes to a halt with uncharacteristic poise, thanks to its anti-lift and anti-dive function.

These limousine standards are matched by limousine roominess and amenities. Endowed with a generous 2,816mm wheelbase, the V70 is a spacious vehicle indeed.

Its second row offers plenty of hip- and leg-room. Its cargo area has 555 litres of stowage - more than what most sedans can offer. Golfers and dog owners will be delighted with the space here.

The all-wheel-driven car is sure-footed but suffers from a wide turning circle (12.7m) - probably its only real shortcoming. But it is easy to overlook, given its impressive equipment level.

The V70 T6 comes with keyless access and ignition, auto-closing tailgate, electronic parking brake, blind spot alert, lane departure warning and Driver Alert Control (DAC).

DAC gauges the driver's fatigue level via a series of sensors, which measure the distance between lane markings and the car, as well as the overall vehicle movement. If it detects erratic behaviour (a sign of fatigue), it emits an audible signal and a coffee cup symbol will appear in the car's information display - to suggest the driver take a break.

We were not able to test this, but the lane departure warning and blind spot warning do not seem to work well when it is raining. Somehow, the moisture affects the camera-based systems.

The V70's cabin is luxuriously appointed. Leather is used liberally, and the fascia boasts a handsome brushed aluminium inlay.

Every stalk and control is visually and tactilely pleasing. As far as the parts you see and touch go, Volvo does not display any 'Ford-ness'. The American company has owned the Swede since 1999, and has been wise to keep its 'Volvo-ness' intact.

As with many Volvo models today, the V70 T6 offers more value than most cars in its price segment. As for the product segment, it bears repeating that the car is quite peerless.

This article was first published in The Straits Times on Mar 8, 2008.