Volvo top-line

provides plenty of room for suitcases of all kinds, grocery bags and golf clubs. It also has a hands-free power liftgate, activated by a foot wave under the rear bumper and with the proximity key in your possession.

New standard equipment this year also includes: automatic on/off adaptive LED headlights with automatic high beams and high-pressure washers, slippery road/hazard-light alert, power-operated cargo cover and two USB-C ports for the rear passengers and wireless charging.

The previous standard feature list remains: Pilot assist to blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert and steering assistance to lane-keeping assistance/lane departure warning to road sign recognition.

Volvo doesn’t scrimp with its luxury wagon. A panoramic moonroof, wiper blades with integrated washers, leather upholstery and heated/10-way power-adjustable front seats add to the Swedish nature of making vehicles. They always feel solid and safe.

Technology features include a 12.3inch driver information display, 9-inch infotainment touchscreen, navigation, Apple Carplay/android Auto smartphone integration, satellite radio and two front USB-A ports.

Automatic cruise control is a superior feature, available in most new vehicles. The Volvo V90’s system is located via a push button on the steering wheel.

Unlike other vehicles’ less-than-intuitive approaches, the V90’s works like what might be expected from Scandinavian design. It’s a light, one-touch process, with automatic decreases in speed if the vehicle in front is too close. The re-acceleration is equally smooth.

The top-line Bowers & Wilkins sound system is a $3,200 upgrade and the head-up display option is $1,500. A few lower-priced options push the $58,800 manufacturer’s suggested retail price to $68,435.

A station wagon approaching $70,000 was likely never imagined by early adopters to family travel. But by today’s standards, the new Volvo V90 T6 AWD R-design is as good as it gets.