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The vehicle that first appeared in the rearview mirror a couple miles back as a tiny set of headlights shot past on an otherwise deserted country road.

The bottle blond riding shotgun spit the words out with disgust.

“Want me to drive?” she said, smirking while tightening the straps on her racing gloves.

The reason for her dismay is that the car that just passed was a full-size station wagon. Worse, it was a Buick, last offered in the 1996 model year, which meant being beaten by a relic piloting a relic.

The only thing that kept us from having to turn in the Polish Racing Club membership card was that we were loafing along that country road in a redesigned 2008 Volvo V70. Isn’t such low-profile loafing what what folks are supposed to do in a wagon?

When lining up vehicles to test it’s easy to overlook a station wagon, a vehicle that has taken a backseat to minivans, which have been pushed aside by four-wheel-drive sport-utilities, which are going the way of the wagon thanks to stylish crossovers.

For 2008 Volvo redesigned its premium midsize wagon, which is derived from its midsize S60 sedan. A 3.2-liter, 235-horsepower inline 6-cylinder with a smooth 6-speed automatic takes the place of the 2.4-liter, 168-h.p. and 2.5-liter, 208-h.p. 5-cylinder engines.

The inline 6 has more kick than the 5, but at a cost of fuel economy: 16 m.p.g. city/24 m.p.g. highway to 21/29.

The V70 is low-slung for almost sports-car like handling in tight corners and turns — no lean or sway. Stability control with traction control is standard. Very secure on dry roads and no wandering on snow.

The V70 tested was what you’d call the economy version. It had power windows/mirrors/locks, climate control and AM/FM stereo radio and single-disc CD player. But it lacked the goodies that would have sent the $32,465 base price soaring over the $41,000 mark.

Absent were navigation system ($2,120); DVD entertainment system ($1,800) with viewing screens built into the backs of the front headrests; premium package ($2,995) with leather seats, power sunroof, power passenger seat and humidity sensor; convenience package ($1,495) with front and rear obstacle detection system, power liftgate and grocery-bag holders; and Blind Spot Detection system ($695) that lets out a beep when a vehicle on either side enters your blind spot. But unless you never get passed (like the chap in the Buick wagon), the beeps can be more irritating than helpful.

The V-70 also offers a special safety package that includes lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control and collision warning with automatic braking for $1,695. But, it too, was not on the test car.

Adaptive cruise reduces engine speed and applies brakes to maintain a safe distance between you and the vehicle ahead when cruise control is engaged; lane-departure warning sounds a beep if you nod off and cross the lane dividers; and collision warning lets out a beep when it senses the vehicle ahead has slowed suddenly or you are going too fast and could hit it. If an impact is imminent, the system applies the brakes and slows the engine.

The one big option on the test car was the $725 climate package with heated seats, power passenger seat and rain-sensing wipers with heated washer nozzles.

The V70 holds four adults in comfort. You can squeeze one kid in back.

Seats are easy-chair soft. Second-row seat backs fold flat for added cargo room. The middle seat back folds on its own to make room for skis.

The cargo hold is massive. Lift the floor, and a series of small compartments hide things.

Volvo says if the wagon is struck in the rear at only 35 m.p.h., a 60-pound suitcase flying forward has the force of 2,700 pounds. For an extra $306.50 you can get a Cargo Guard tubular metal divider wall that fastens into the ceiling behind the front or rear seats to keep items in back from coming up front in a collision.

For an added $307, you can get Dog Gate, a metal partition that divides the cargo hold in half to hold luggage on one side and Spot on the other. In a collision the dog won’t be tossed around the cabin, and he’s secure if rescuers need to enter the car to aid passengers.

Neat touches include a cell phone/iPod holder in the center console, auxiliary power plug under the center armrest, a power plug in the back of the center console for rear-seat occupants and fold-down rear-seat armrest with cup and sandwich holders.

Not so neat: You can’t use the front window defroster to direct air against the windshield and the heater to direct warm air against your body at the same time.

So you have to choose between keeping fog off the windshield or ice crystals off your toes. Why?

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2008 VOLVO V70

$33,665 Price as tested.

Add $745 for freight.

M.P.G.: 16 City 24 Highway

LENGTH: 185.4 inches

WHEELBASE: 108.5 inches

ENGINE: 3.2-liter, 235-h.p. inline 6

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic

THE STICKER

* $32,465 Base

* $725 Climate package with heated front seats, headlamp washers with heated nozzles and rain-sensing wipers

* $475 Metallic silver paint

PLUSES

* Good acceleration.

* Excellent braking.

* Low-slung for very good cornering.

* Lots of space for people and possessions as well as pets.

MINUSES

* It’s a freakin’ wagon.

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Read Jim Mateja Sunday in Transportation. Contact him at transportation@tribune.com.