Because this, rather than the annoying knobs(MMI,iDrive) of yor' has buttons. And buttons are useful, but TOTALLY UNSEXY. The design brief was useable not sexy, sorry.

They will be phasing it out but the AWD system and the new "drive-e" engines don't play well on the older platforms so AWD gets you the old engines.

You'll buy it for the Wagon practicality and fix every problem it ever has for those seats and stress free highway motoring. Or at least that's how it ended up for us.

It functions as presets in both FM/AM and SAT radio. Beyond that the Bluetooth works perfectly with the iPhone and the knobs are intuitive when you don't want to fuss with Siri. Also the keypad functions as shortcuts in some settings menus. Like hit "My Car" then "1" for sport-mode in the traction control system.

Still, I found my tester to be curiously devoid of toys for its price. While this is a Volvo, a company whose reputation is built on the principle of safety, there was no backup camera or fancy safety systems like adaptive cruise control or emergency auto braking, besides one system that only works at low speeds. What…

Parking pass holder, comes in handy.

Tesla's claim is that they have increased efficiency/range because of better regen braking and the ability to digitally torque vector from front to back. In practice this means that the car can run mostly on it's smaller more efficient front motor when cruising around.

It's largely projection. The car is mid-way in between the two on size, but the interior quality without the "luxury interior" option checked is more 3-series than S-class. So yeah, there is always the case to be made that it is 10k over priced. But them batteries aren't cheap. And it is quiet, which luxury buyers…

Sounds more like a Lincoln.

This is his, "Whut? You thought I wasn't going to a capitalist? Dance for me pretty taxpayer! Dance!" face.

Have you seen the launch video. I mean, what would Chairman Mao think?

How many bodies can one fit in the trunk? (Asking for a friend in the "recycling" business.)

Low sales volumes. BMW only recently started bring us Diesels, and only then in the Mega-Volume models. Volvo is currently in a BAD sales slump. In 4 years time, if they can return to and surpass 2005 levels of sales then they will be more inclined to blow cash on what we really want. Manual, Diesel, Cloth interior,…

haha, I'd be sure to piss off everyone.

Remember this is Seattle, we are the people made fun of for NOT crossing whenever the hell we feel like it. As far as crossing on the flashing, that's just life in the dense part of the city. One way to deal with the right-turn waiting and left-hooks is to have a pedestrian/cycle all-way green signal, thus separating…

How has it effected your driving style? Any ego changes?

Yes people will find ways, but that doesn't mean that we should just throw up our hands a remove the center barrier from SR167, does it? Vision Zero is a pretty good idea when it basically means, slow down crowded city streets, increase pedestrian safety, and build roadways properly. Coupled with better driver…

Do not like the bloated look here... *cries in waterfall puddle*

Go look at their lineup. You can have AWD on the S60, V60, XC60, XC70, S80, XC90. EVERY CAR THEY MAKE.

Seen here, early design sketch for next C70?