Now that everyone has become obsessed with lifestyle 4x4s and sleek SUVs it is easy to forget the pivotal role that the humble estate has played in the development of family life over the past thirty years or so. It the unsung hero of practicality, family camping trips to the seaside and taking the whole house with you every time a new baby goes outside.
If you think estates, you think Volvo, and none capture the spirit of carrying wardrobes whole more than the V70. It is a classic Volvo estate like the famed cars of the late '80s - despite the Swedish manufacturer's attempts to sex it up by grafting on an elegant family nose and sleek shoulder line.
Get inside, and the build quality is excellent - Volvos feel built to last forever, and whilst not quite on the same level as premium manufacturers, the quality of materials used on the dashboard is unimpeachable too. Volvo does have premium pretensions, but it isn't quite there just yet.
Strangely, the newest version of the V70 has less room in the boot than the BMW 5 Series estate or Audi A6 Avant. This is probably more to do with those cars getting bigger than the V70 getting appreciably smaller, and the square aperture is useful for loading the Volvo right up.
On the move you can tell that the Volvo is geared more towards comfort than athleticism, but this is largely welcome. That said the handling has been developed beautifully and the car feels much more nimble than a Volvo estate has any right to do. The steering wheel has a dynamic heft to it, and although it can be entertaining it does have an inherent dignity to it that precludes anything wreckless.
The suspension achieves just the right balance between sharp handling and comfort though - without blunting the V70's feel the suspension is soft enough to absorb bumps and holes in the road without ending up with tremulous body roll.
The diesel engines are by far the best ones to go for, offering up a blend of low-down shove and useful economy. They are great at a cruise too, feeling refined and the noise not intruding into the cabin. The V70 really hits its stride on a long-distance cruise like that.
The V70 can get expensive and perhaps lacks the cachet of a BMW, but it is well worth strong consideration.