ArcaMax

Have you noticed? Acura has quietly dropped the TSX sportwagon. The Caddy CTS wagon is gone, too. Audi no longer sells wagon versions of the A4 or the A6, either. The Benz C-Class wagon disappeared years ago. Look around - the room's pretty empty. Well, except for this Volvo V60. It's not only a wagon, it's the only luxury-brand sportwagon you can currently buy for less than $40k. It also offers exceptionally good fuel-efficiency with its new (and standard) turbocharged "Drive-E" four cylinder engine.

Unfortunately, its optional engines are semi-sluggish - as well as fairly thirsty. And that jem of a standard engine isn't available with AWD. Still, it's nice that there's now an alternative to BMW's 3 Series wagon - the only other wagon that's still available in this class.

WHAT IT IS

The V60 is a mid-sized luxury-sport wagon - a species of ride that's becoming very rare (almost nonexistent) in the U.S. American buyers have embraced crossover wagons - which are basically jacked-up wagons with taller rooflines.

Crossovers have their plusses - including an "up high" driving position (so you can see around all the other crossovers out there) and - generally - more cargo room because of the taller roofline. But they also have their minuses - including (usually) beefy curb weight and clumsier handling (see that point about being high up off the ground).

If you want something that looks - and behaves - more like a car (but with that extra bit of room in back) then you might want to consider a wagon.

The V60 starts at $35,750 for the base (and front-wheel-drive) T5 trim with the new "Drive-E" 2.0 liter turbo four and eight-speed automatic. You can upgrade the T5 to a larger 2.5 liter engine - paired with a six-speed automatic and sold with either front-wheel-drive or (optionally) all-wheel-drive. This version of the T5 starts at $37,250.

A high-performance T6 trim is also available. This model comes with a 325 hp turbocharged in-line six, the six-speed automatic and standard AWD. Base price is $45,150 - $45,400 for the top-of-the-line T6 R-Design.

The V60's chief and only directly comparable rival is the BMW 3 Series wagon, but the BMW is different enough in terms of function (it's based on a RWD layout and is available with a diesel engine) as well as price (it starts at $41,950 for the gas-engined 328i xDrive and $43,450 for the diesel-powered 328d xDrive) that the Volvo gives you a meaningful alternative.

There is also a Cross Country version of the V60 - which is basically the same wagon as the V60, just a few inches higher off the pavement - and higher-priced. Base price is $41,100; $44,650 for the Platinum trim.

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