By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Volvo has endowed a version of its excellent V60 luxury mid-sized wagon with 2.6 inches of additional ground clearance, added front and rear skid plates, included standard equipment roof rails, and made all-wheel drive standard equipment. Presto! Now we have the 2015 V60 T5 AWD Cross Country for those among us who are forced to handle nasty winter weather or who want a more traditional wagon with the capabilities of a crossover to tackle light-duty off-roading.

By David Finkelstein

I think it's fair to suggest that the more sophisticated the vehicle, there is an elevated number of operating control and command switches for the driver to use. This pattern has been consistent for many years. A notable illustration occurred the last time I took the time to calculate the interior switches on an upscale Mercedes S-Class.

By David Finkelstein

To my amazement, while recently test driving the 2015 Volvo XC60 wagon, a number of motorist and pedestrians alike stopped me, asking about the vehicle. In the 43 years that I've been test driving and writing about new automobiles, no one has ever inquired about a wagon, with a twinkle in their eye and a smile on their face.

The alluring draw that this new automobile had on people was obvious by the high accolades they gave to this vehicle. Volvo has really raised the bar when it comes to styling their product mix. Of course, that's the first thing most people notice when they see any new vehicle on the road.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

The all-new Drive-E engine architecture has transformed Volvo's 60 Series vehicles into frugal high-performance driving machines using both a supercharger and a turbocharger on its new 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making an energetic 302 horsepower while providing class-leading fuel economy. Earlier this year we drove the 2015 S60 E-Drive T6 sedan and came away astounded by the performance and gas mileage. Next up was the compact 2015 XC60 crossover and it did not disappoint.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

We've always favored station wagons —especially in luxury guise — because they possess passenger and cargo hauling practicality while rewarding us with the good things a fistful of cash can bring to driving life. They are usually more fuel efficient than a sport utility with better handling and performance, and offering the driving dynamics of a sedan.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

To say we were blindsided by Volvo's S60 Drive-E T6 is an apt description of our positive feelings after the first few miles. To steal a long-ago slogan from another car company, "oh, what a feeling." And to think this initial perception was not based on a horsepower-infused V-8 or a twin-turbocharged V-6, but on new four-cylinder engine technology that is just short of astounding.