tradition. The front buckets, in particular, are well conceived for all-day comfort as

well as good lateral support when the driver is generating lots of side loading,

something that 850 R pilots are sure to do.

Our test car's seats were clad in leather with spiffy suede inserts, part of the 850 R

package.

Something else that goes with these seats is airbags, which pop out of the sides of

the seats. Volvo was first with this safety innovation, and it's extended across the

entire Volvo model range for 1996.

Other standard safety features include dual front airbags, of course, side impact

protection, daytime running lamps, a rear fog lamp, and outstanding antilock brakes.

Station wagons include an integrated child safety seat in the rear. Traction control

is an option on most models, standard on Platinum and 850 R versions.

Standard equipment ranges from compehensive to hedonistic. The standard 850 includes

air conditioning, AM/FM/cassette audio, tilt/telescope steering, power windows, power

locks and heated power side mirrors.

Standard equipment for our 850 R included a CD player, power moonroof, heated seats,

trip computer and special wood trim. A word on the wood trim. Volvo uses walnut trim

in other uplevel 850 models. The 850 R, however, comes with either light-colored

Scandinavian birch or black walnut. Our test car had the birch. We think the black

walnut looks much more in step with a luxury interior.

In addition to its inventory of standard comfort/convenience features, the 850 R

includes Volvo's 850 stiffer sport suspension package, which reduces body roll in

enthusiastic cornering and increases the driver's sense of control. It also includes

low-profile Z-rated low-profile Pirelli P-Zero performance tires on handsome 7-spoke

aluminum alloy wheels.

While these tires enhance handling, their ride quality is distinctly harder than the

16-in. 205/50ZR Michelin MXM tires that come with the regular 850 Turbo. Some drivers

prefer the extra compliance that goes with the 16-in. wheel/tire combination, and

Volvo will make the substitution on the 850 R at no extra cost.

Although the 850's exterior dimensions are tidy by midsize standards--over a foot

shorter than a Ford Taurus, for example--the interior design affords enough room for five adult passengers. Legroom is plentiful up front, adequate in the rear, and the station wagon affords the additional benefit of extra cargo volume. It's surprising how much stuff a Volvo Wagon can ingest.