I just made such a run in a Volvo XC70 wagon, taking a circuitous route from Los Angeles to Gateway, Colo., via Las Vegas. It was a media program by Volvo Cars North America to showcase its XC — CrossCountry — line of vehicles, which includes the XC60 and XC90 crossovers. The program included 36 auto writers and 18 cars, and my partner was local radio and KUSI-TV auto expert Dave Stall.

The XC70 wagon has a personality distinct from the other Volvos, which are more sport-themed. The XC70 is robust, built for comfort and ready for moderate off-road exploring. The tires and suspension provide a thick-sock ride that is rich in comfort mile after mile. We tested a top-line, all-wheel-drive model, but front-wheel drive is also available.

Pricing starts at $33,025 for the XC70 3.2, with a 240-hp, 3.2-liter in-line, six-cylinder engine (or 230 hp as PZEV, Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle in California and other states with similar air standards), which replaces the V70 wagon. The 300-hp, XC70 T6 AWD test car started at $39,075 and approached $46,000 with extras.

The first positive trait we recognized was the seating, an upgrade in the premium package. The seats are thickly padded and wrapped and stitched in tender, textured, aromatic leather with enough side bolstering to hold secure but not restrain. The seat bottoms have good length for thigh support, and manual lumbar adjustment allows for precise comfort. Even after on-road overtime, we could step out of the car and not wince with back pain or bottom-side numbness; some European brands have hard seat bottoms that seem to turn into wooden pews over a couple of hours.

Enhancing seat comfort is the compliant suspension that controls the car with secure footwork while leaving harshness at the curb.

The driver faces a full-bodied and leather-wrapped steering wheel that conveys a firm sense of command. Steering weight is light but consistent, braking force is absolute and sightlines are unhindered.

Near Zion National Park in Utah, we took a wrong turn and ended up on a seldom-maintained mining road. We didn't know we'd made a wrong turn, we just thought Volvo was (stupidly) trying to show how capable its XC70 was off-road. With 8.3 inches of ground clearance, we minced through ruts and rocks that would have scared off most SUVs, and without too much of a scrape to the underside.

The 18-inch Pirelli Scorpion 235/50R tires have plenty of sidewall to absorb bumps both on- and off-road and to protect the attractive alloy wheels.

The cabin is generously soundproofed and, remarkably, as a passenger, I was able to read the road atlas, send texts, check e-mail and upload photos to Facebook — all part of the Volvo challenge — without the slightest twinge of motion sickness.

The second row also has full and comfortable seating, good legroom (34.6 inches) and footroom under the front seats. The seating is raised with a fold-down center armrest. Volvo also has a slick $500 option for two rear integrated child booster seats.

Cargo space is gargantuan at 33.3 cubic feet, square and wide enough for a family's worth of luggage.

The 3.0-liter T6 engine has a twin-scroll turbocharger that scoops up 325 foot-pounds of torque from 2,100 to 4,200 rpm. There is no turbo hesitation — significant for a 4,147-pound car — and the six-speed Geartronic was swift to click off downshifts.

EPA fuel economy sounds short at 17 mpg city/22 highway, but we easily reached 30 mpg on the highway at 63 to 65 mph on cruise control. At 80 mph, we got a solid 26.1 to 26.3 over 200 miles. And that's using the recommended 87-octane fuel, not premium. (The standard XC70 is rated 18/24 AWD, 18/25 FWD.)

Traits not so appealing were limited to the operation of the navigation system, which is painstakingly complex, and the pop-up toaster-style navigation screen. That all changes for the 2012 model; it'll be fitted with the more ergonomic instrument panel of the XC60.

Experienced and conscientious drivers may not need the technology package, which, at $1,850, adds lane-departure warning and collision warning with auto brake, adaptive cruise control with driver alert and distance alert controls. The lane-departure alerts can become tedious and the collision warning alert can be heart-stopping the first time it goes off at night, with red lights flashing. Adaptive cruise is a smart evolution of the system. For young drivers, this package should be mandatory.

Mark Maynard is driving in cyberspace at Mark.Maynard@UnionTrib.com. Find photo galleries and more news at www.Facebook.com/MaynardsGarage.

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