Safety and luxury

The station wagon is back. It’s more environmentally friendly than gas-guzzling monster SUVs and it has almost as much hauling capacity. Even luxury automakers, like Jaguar, are getting in on the action. Volvo’s newest and smallest wagon is the all-wheel drive turbocharged V50 wagon. It’s powerful, comfortable and excels in handling and performance. Anti-lock brakes along with traction and stability control keep the compact wagon on its intended path – no matter what the weather brings. And despite its compact appearance, the V50 scores high marks in hauling capacity. The tailgate raises and lowers easily to access the back. And the fairly tall roof means there’s plenty of leg and headroom for rear passengers to make any ride comfy. Plus, the rear seats fold down for extra hauling capacity. An edgier, less boxy design also updates the Volvo’s look. The base model starts at $32,000. Jaguar’s first wagon, the X-Type Sportwagon, sells for $47,995. The best feature on the wagon is Jaguar’s Traction-4 permanent all-wheel-drive system. There’s no better place to test the AWD than along the sharp, winding mountain roads of Southern California. Add some unusual weather to the mix — sheets of rain, sleet, dense fog, and even some snow — and it’s a white-knuckle ride. At least, if I spin out, there are loads of safety features: dual front airbags, side curtain airbags for both front and rear passengers, inflatable driver’s side knee bolster airbag, a collapsible brake pedal and adjustable front head restraints for whiplash protection. The Sportwagon handles well at each and every bend. It has excellent traction along the slippery, wet roads. It feels sturdy and safe. It’s fun to drive and impressively agile. It never felt cumbersome; even the wind noise was surprisingly minimal for a wagon. There are also dozens of tiny storage compartments inside the wagon, including a concealed storage area hidden under the cargo floor with a 12-volt power outlet. It’s ideal for recharging a laptop or digital camera, out of sight from passers-by. And then there’s the rear-wheel-drive 2005 Dodge Magnum - it’s exclusively built in Brampton. It handles extremely well on the road and women would love the safety features. Loaded with technology, like the electronic stability program, traction control system, and anti-lock brakes, the Magnum proves dependable on any road condition — rain, snow, or ice. Believe me, I tried to take it off the path several times during a recent Chrysler winter driving course in Toronto. But the sharp turns, icy corners, and slippery inclines proved no problem for the Magnum. It had traction in every kind of condition and it was all done automatically. Plus, the ride was smooth and quiet with very little noise. Inside, the cabin is spacious and comfortable. The seats are firm and supportive. The high four-spoke steering wheel is wrapped in leather with easy-to-access audio controls. The white-faced gauges with metallic trim are large and easy to read. But the most impressive thing about the Magnum is the price — it’s reasonable, starting at $27,995 for the base RWD SXT model. So now, driving a wagon is affordable, safe, comfortable, and cool. **************** Petrina Gentile Zucco can be reached at pzucco@womenspost.ca

Photo Credit: volvocars.com