Vt. - Seems as if it has taken forever to execute the obvious. The Subaru Outback has become famous. But other automakers have been strangely slow on the uptake, despite Outback's obvious appeal. Volvo says even it was surprised by the model's quick acceptance. It accounts for half of all Volvo wagon sales, and Volvo, in turn, sells more luxury-price wagons in the USA than anybody, making XC hard to ignore.
Success breeds imitation.
Toyota's Highlander, coming next year, arguably is a Camry station wagon with SUV pretensions. Contrasted with the previous XC, the '01 is a millimeter shorter from bumper to bumper, but its body is a significant 2 inches longer between those bumpers. Fenders are flared for an SUV appearance and to gird the wider tires stuck at the ends of a wider track for more stability. Gray plastic panels in front and along the sides don't show bramble wounds the way V70's painted, plated metal would. The automatic transmission now offers five speeds instead of four.