The Volvo XC70 is the Ideal Station Wagon.

Amongst the sea of crossovers and SUVs that dominate the roads and balance sheets of automotive manufacturers today, the station wagon seems to be a dying breed. But have I got news for you, the station wagon is alive and well. And in rude health at that.

While long roofs may no longer rule the highways and byways of this country like they may have decades ago, our enthusiasm as an automotive community has led automotive manufacturers such as Jaguar and Porsche to expand into the U.S wagon market with the new XF Sportbrake and Panamera Sport Turismo (respectively). Mercedes Benz has continued to offer berserk AMG tuned versions of their brand-new E-Class wagon, despite it making about as much sense as marketing all inclusive vacation packages to the Chernobyl exclusion zone. Even, Buick has been brave enough to foray into the segment for the first time in over 20 years with the new Regal TourX.

These wagons, along with several others released in recent years have, by and large, been considered to be some of the best wagons ever produced. However, they, whoever they may be, are completely wrong. Because the quintessential station wagon, and the standard unit of measurement for which all wagondom shall ever be judged, is the second-generation Volvo XC70.

Yes. The one with all the brown plastic cladding.

Launched in 2001, the second generation XC70 (called V70 XC for the first two years of production) was by no means a powerhouse and was considered by many “professional” automotive journalists to be the dark horse in Volvo’s V70 lineup. With the least powerful turbo-charged engine Volvo offered and taller, squishier suspension, it was far from being able to provide the more exciting driving dynamics found in the T5, later R models, and even the previous generation V70 XC. Combined with the addition of AWD and a long list of standard equipment, the Cross Country represented a much worse value overall than the lower priced 2.4 and low-pressure turbo models. Basically, the XC70’s sole purpose in life was to bridge the infinitesimally tiny gap between the Subaru Outback and Audi Allroad. With burgeoning SUV sales at the time of its release along with an already crowded “off-roady but not really” wagon market the XC70 should have faded quietly into obscurity. Much like Abba and pickled herring.

Much to everyone’s surprise, the XC70 served to be one of Volvo’s most successful models ever. Comprising of over 60% of V70s sold in the United States, the XC70 was easily Volvos most profitable vehicle all the way through its first generation until the release of the XC90. Even after the introduction of Volvo’s first SUV, the XC70 still produced respectable sales figures all the way up to the end of its production. Families across the north-eastern seaboard flocked to it and everything it represented. The Cross Country’s lavish interior and capable AWD system made traversing muddy fields to those ever-important lacrosse matches a much more genteel experience while its rugged and handsome styling made it look at home parked out in front of the any Brooks Brothers location.

Despite these old money(ish) roots and some early production reliability issues (Who in the world thought it would be a good idea to outsource electronic throttle production to the Italians?), the XC70’s L.L Bean personality has soldiered on seemingly undeterred by the ravages of time. I mean, this shape of Cross-Country was launched more than 17 YEARS ago, and it still looks sleek and modern today. However, I might be somewhat biased as I do own one of these wagons and my experience with it has led me to never intend on selling it. While it may have had its issues from time to time, overall, mine has held up so well over the past 16 years and 200,000 miles that I can’t bear the thought of getting rid of it.

That leads me to what makes the XC70 the quintessential wagon. The XC is a great car not necessarily because of what it is, but rather for everything it stands for. Sure it has a massive load area, vertical tailgate design, and is constructed with quality materials. All of which are practical and commendable attributes, but it’s what the XC70 does with those core qualities that make it so unique. While many of the same things could be said about the Audi Allroad, when was the last time you saw an owner get teary-eyed over parting with their Avant? Exactly. The XC70’s overall quality, design, and driving experience make it the ideal vehicle for almost any situation. Because of all these qualities, these wagons have become incredibly endearing to those who own them. The common theme I keep finding with owners is that the XC70 seems to be more than just a car, it becomes part of your family. And while family members have their flaws, you still love them anyway.