Our test Sportswagon, at first look, struck us as a slight variation on the venerated Volvo theme. (Keep in mind that buying a Volvo is like purchasing a Brooks Brothers suit: You're more interested in understated elegance and product integrity than in making a fashion statement.) Upon closer inspection, however, the front end's cleaner, more aerodynamic lines revealed themselves. The windshield was gracefully swept back, framed by matte plastic trim, while the corners were smooth and nicely rounded. The sturdy, integrated front fascia wrapped around to the wheel wells, and a bodyside molding ran the length of the vehicle and transformed into the rear fascia.The rear wheel wells boasted a flared ridge to intercept and deflect the impact of shopping carts and other car doors. But we took off a few points for the inconvenient passenger-side gas tank filler. And, oddly enough for a wagon, there wasn't a roof rack or clasps for fastening skis or luggage. But it was the rear end of our 850 Sportswagon that was most distinctive-in fact, we'd never seen a design quite like it. Keeping with Volvo's reputation for safety-mindedness, the highly visible taillights ascended from the bumper all the way to the roof - so there was no chance of a rear-ender offender feebly protesting, "But I didn't see you."
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