Most significant is a more powerful engine lineup; the C70 now sports a 2.4-liter engine producing 197 hp. A 2.3-liter engine generating 242 hp drives the pricier C70 2.3. The 2.4 comes with just 5-speed automatic transmission, but buyers get their choice of automatic or a 5-speed manual in the 2.3.

The traditional collection of safety features are nestled about the vehicle; traction control, antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, front airbags, leather upholstery, and heated front seats are standard in any trim. This safety entourage is accompanied by an excellent 240-watt sound system, leather-upholstered seats and dual-zone climate control to make any journey safe and pleasurable.

The C70 looks fantastic too. It might be personal preference, but I can’t stop looking at the C70. It’s certainly a classical design, but there’s an edge and newness to it that makes it a real head turner when driving down a street.

There is very little wrong with the C70. Volvo has quietly produced one of the finest convertibles on the market, which is why it’s tough to imagine the 2009 Volvo C70 being beaten for performance, features, looks and price any time soon.

Let’s get the givens out the way to begin with: The C30 is decently built, has a well configured interior and looks great. The basic models also lack all but the most common entertainment and luxury features. Volvo won’t mind me pointing out; the C30 is all about the drive.

So how does it drive? Pretty good, as it turns out. From the broad choice of engines available, one of the best (in terms of price and performance) is the 2.0D, which produces around 134hp with 236lb of torque. It takes around 9 seconds to hit 60. Decent performance, then, and the handling is equally tight. The wide berth of the wheels combined with the low set body provides a very clingy ride, it’s difficult to fault the handling.

Overall, the 2009 Volvo C30 is a great entry into the market, and shows some promise to fulfil Volvo’s desires for the brand. Though initial price is lower than competing products, adding extras can quickly increase the price. We advise buyers to price their configuration of C30 and then check the competition, they may find the C30 is less competitive than it initially seems.

Safety and space are the two primary concerns of the XC90, and it excel’s at providing these with ease. The large cabin has seating for everyone and the kitchen sink, while the tough bodywork and high ground clearance make it a veritable tank of the road.

This comes at a cost though: The basic model uses a 3.2-liter, 235-hp 6-cylinder engine which can be ramped up to 311-hp by a 4.4-liter V8 engine. Neither of these engines have enough oomph to create a particularly edgy or sporty ride, but they do haul the XC90’s considerable weight with relative ease, and the mileage is surprisingly good, weighing in at a very respectable 34.0mpg.

The 2009 Volvo XC90 is in hot competition with the likes of Audi’s Q7 and the new BMW X5, and it holds up fairly well. Luxury fixtures and fittings, kid friendly fabrics and entertainment systems and an overall high build quality make it a welcome addition to the large SUV market. Not doomed to extinction quite yet, then.

Like its predecessors the XC70 is an extravagant fusion of luxury, power and space. Typical of Volvos literal naming scheme the ‘XC’ part stands for cross-country, and sure enough 4-wheel drive comes as standard on all trims. There’s also an impressive 9.1 inches of ground clearance to help the XC traverse some very tricky surfaces indeed.

Far more civilized and high quality fixtures and fittings inside the cabin encase the typical collection of utility and entertainment systems; integrated DVD player, wireless headphones and remote, satellite radio and so on.

The XC70 T6 version is a notch above the basic and features a 3.0-liter turbocharged engine, which produces 281 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. It’s more responsive than the basic setup, and we wouldn’t recommend anything else.

You can do a lot worse than the 2009 Volvo XC70. It’s crafted for safety, style, power and handling in equal measure –although admittedly the handling is nothing to write home about, it is decent for an estate SUV. If you are going to spend big bucks on a luxury estate SUV then the Volvo is one of the best looking, and most comfortable.

Much of the V70’s interior remains the same also, the few tweaks to dashboard and fabrics make little difference to the original styling. The most notable new feature is the inclusion of new safety systems including: ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain side airbags, and front side airbags.

The V70’s only available engine is a 235-hp 3.2-liter 6-cylinder engine mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. It’s an unrefined beast, which features bad acoustics and frankly terrible fuel efficiency. The V70 is rated for just 16 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, that’s an atrocious 20 mpg combined; a figure which puts it squarely in the efficiency range of the Chevrolet Traverse SUV.

All importantly the 2009 Volvo V70 offers excellent storage capacity with 71 cubic feet of cargo room. Unfortunately it only seats 5, which is lacking compared to competing vehicles. There are better wagons and SUV’s to spend your money on. Although the Swedish design is excellent and the chairs are a comfort marvel, the V70 falls short in too many areas to make it a recommended purchase.

The first thing noticeable about the V50 is its uncompromising build quality. Volvo has seemingly made a decision early in development to build the car they want and then price it accordingly. This results in an absolutely uncompromised performance, handling, fixture and fitting quality, but it does thrust the car into the high price range for the market.

Though the V50 may impress with its uncompromising quality, it is smaller than most competing wagons, and the expense for all the extra features and design might put people off when BMW and Audi offer perfectly suitable cars at less of a premium.

The V50’s basic five-cylinder engine is standard for the 2.4i trim level and provides 168 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque. It’s decent performance, but doesn’t warm the blood like the turbocharged 2.5-liter which comes with the V50 T5 models. This beast of an engine cranks out a substantial 227 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque.

Overall, the V50 is a tricky bundle to rate. The 2009 Volvo V50’s uncompromising engineering and design results in a generally excellent machine which sports great handling and performance even at basic trim levels. The usual luxury internals and entertainment systems suffice, but shoppers should ask themselves if they are willing to pay the premium for a machine like this. In the end, it might just come down to how much space you need.

The trim options include the front-wheel-drive 3.2, an all-wheel-drive T6 and the AWD V8. The 3.2 slopes in with a reasonable 235-hp 3.2-liter 6-cylinder engine, while the T6’s feature a turbocharged 281 hp 3-liter 6-cylinder engine. The V8 rounds out the collection with a high end 311 hp 4.4-liter engine.

All models come with a reasonable compliment of safety features which include ABS, traction control, front side airbags, curtain side airbags and an antiskid system. Volvo also includes its own ‘BLIS’ (Blind Spot Detection System) which warns of nearby objects that are likely to be unseen by the driver. GPS navigation, DVD entertainment and a raft of other higher end options are available in all models. All of the above is included as standard in the V8.

The 2009 Volvo S80 retains its trophy as one of the finest midsize luxury sedans on the market. A good price point and high end fixtures and fittings will certainly help shift units and that’s before you even consider the generous engine performance.

Volvo’s latest midsize sedan comes with two trim levels; 2.5T and the sportier T5. Both have turbocharged 5-cylinder engines and come with front or four -wheel drive options. 2.5T models have 208 hp while the T5 produces 257 hp. unfortunately the only transmission available is a 5 speed automatic.

The S60’s standard safety features are well realised and compete well with cars in its class. Included are front side airbags, curtain side airbags, and antilock disc brakes. Traction control is also standard on all S60s, though you won’t need it on the lower end models. The T5 features an anti skid system which is optional for other models. The S60 scored four stars for driver and front passenger crash tests, while side-impact scores come in at five stars for front-seat occupants and rear-seat riders.

All the models of the 2009 Volvo S60 come with dual zone climate control, power-fold rear headrests, tilt and telescoping steering wheels and many other luxury affectations. Overall the Volvo sits comfortably toward the top of its midsize sedan class, and it’s inclusion of entry level luxury features make it a good value purchase.

The S40 features a 5-speed automatic transmission which runs from a turbo 4-cylinder engine creating 170 hp. Disappointingly, the 2009 S40 drops the manual transmission option in favour of the 5-speed automatic, this clashes a little with the sportier stylingís of the car but if it means a cheaper drive then that has to be Volvoís main objective.

Inside each S40 is some reasonable quality furnishing with good fabrics and well fixed plastics used throughout. The built in entertainment and communication utilities are slim, but decent. Still, donít expect heated seats or Bluetooth under any configuration.

The 2009 Volvo S40ís suspension and handling have been tightened up, resulting in a more sports like ride and putting the S40 into competition with Audi’s A5 and similar sporty hatchbacks, unfortunately this sportiness isnít reflected in the base engine which lets the overall drive down. Previous owners shouldnít be put off though, as the S40 is a more than worthy update to the model line.

All basic non-hybrid versions of the Camry come with a 158-hp 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, while the more expensive LE, SE, and XLE also offer 268-hp 3.5-liter V6 version. The Hybrid model is powered by a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder gas engine with a battery-powered electric motor, generating 187 hp in total. Reasonable power, but nothing extraordinary, the real magic is in the Camrys mileage, which Toyota conservatively sets around the 30/20 mpg mark in highway and city respectively.

Perhaps most notable in the Camry is it’s exceptional finish and high value entertainment and utility collection, if it’s not included as standard, it’s probably available for a reasonable extra fee.

The Camry is decent to drive, with good steering responsiveness and solid engine performance. Some may find the experience a little too removed from the road, but the luxury format is hard to fault.

Overall the 2009 Toyota Camry is a very worthy contestant for crown of the sedans this year, futuristic features which actually make a difference are always good talking points, and the car has an extremely solid and reliable build.

The new 2009 Matrix has been improved considerably from its parent generation, most notably it has now inherited a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine from the Toyota Camry, which provides a far smoother and rewarding drive. There is still a 1.8-liter engine available, but we’d plump for the bigger block.

The Matrix styling has improved somewhat also, with sleeker lines and an altogether more aggressive look. This is complimented by a sporty interior, with decent quality metal and wood finishes enclosing some decent entertainment and navigation equipment. Most notably is a large built in GPS system, MP3/WMA playback software and satellite radio.

The 2009 Toyota Matrix is a nice alternative to the Corolla on which it’s based. Sportier, more luxurious and better looking, but a little more expense makes the Matrix well worth a look if you are searching for a car with Corolla pedigree but not so many Corolla looks!

The Corollas success is thanks to its decent looks, reliable parts and excellent fuel economy. These key features can only become more important to drivers in the modern economic and environmental climate, so it looks like Toyota chose the right time to re-model the car.

When you put your foot on the gas, the basic Corolla’s 132-hp 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine will kick in and gently accelerate the car. There’s no amateur dramatics, no sparks or dynamite, just solid, reliable acceleration. It’s the same with the power steering which provides clean and effortless control over the vehicle. Nothing remarkable, but perhaps that alone is the Corollas greatest achievement?

If fuel economy, reliability and general longevity are your idea of the perfect car, then you can’t go far wrong with the 2009 Toyota Corolla. Enthusiasts will blanch at the over-powered steering and response times, but 30 million people probably know better.

The Touareg 2 comes in two fairly self explanatory trims; the VR6 and V8FSI. The two models sport 280 hp 6,200 rpm and 350 hp 6,700 rpm engines respectively. Unlike most VW’s these engines are explosively powerful, perhaps overly so, but they are also beautifully tuned.

The Touareg 2 fits into the “light truck” EPA classification, but would be more commonly recognized as a crossover SUV. That means there’s plenty of space inside, with a dash of luxury furnishing and entertainment fixtures and fittings. The Touareg 2 isn’t as well suited to being a family car as VW’s Tiguan or Routan, though.

What the Touareg 2 excels at is off-roading. Though Volkswagen has dropped the massive V10 engine this year, the Touareg 2 still generates massively more power than it could conceivably need. In standard trim, VW’s suspension provides 8.3 inches of ground clearance. This is the standard position, but their air suspension system allows variations between 7.3 and 11.8 inches.

In all, it’s an extraordinary off road vehicle, easily giving Dodge’s and the British Land Rover a run for their money, but it lacks the family friendliness of the previous two, making it a bit of an outside runner.

The Tiguan is built from a mixture of VW’s Golf, Jetta and Passat cars, hopefully taking the most suitable bits from all of them. It also has the GTI’s engine: A 2.0 liter, turbocharged, intercooled and direct injected wunderbar which produces 200 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque. This might seem low powered if you compare pure numbers with American compact SUV’s but it fulfils the Tiguans requirements with ease. And it really does purr.

As should be expected with a VW, the suspension and steering were exceptional. The Tiguan takes corners with ease, and handles bumpy uneven surfaces with aplomb. Inside, the car feels comfortable and well built. Surfaces are leather clad or finished in high quality metals and plastics. The included media center will help long drives fly by.

Overall, the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan is a very competent entry into the compact SUV market. VW has learned a lot from their rivals and haven’t skimped or saved on the finer features of the build. All this comes at a slight premium, but it’s worth it if you’ve got the cash spare.

In all fairness, VW went to Chrysler for help building the Routan. VW has been out of the minivan business for a few years, and they need the Routan to be a great start to their new line. The questions is, then, does the Routan do justice to VW engineering and minivan requirements?

While the Routan took a lot of its basic design from Chrysler’s drawing boards, it’s got the VW touch. Significant reworking of suspension and steering and transmission results in a more ëEuropean’ drive, with tighter steering and less body roll.

Unfortunately The Routans V-6 engine options; with either a 197-horsepower 3.8 liter or 251 horsepower 4.0 liter engine felt a little underpowered for the American market. That said, the 251 hp drive is perfectly capable of everything you should ask from it.

The 2009 Volkswagen Routan is finished with high quality interior, with lots of cleverly situated storage space and a decent seating arrangement. There’s also a high end entertainment system available for a few thousand extra, which we highly recommend if you want the journeys to fly by!

The Passat boasts a 1.8 litre 20 valve DOHC, 4-cylinder engine which provides performance that surpasses most wagons in its category. The basic model engine generates a respectable 170 horsepower @ 5900 rpm and torque of 166 ft-lbs. @ 1950 rpm which is enough to give it some reasonable get up and go.

Uniquely, the Passat Wagons drive train and suspension offers a 5-speed manual transmission with front wheel drive, and four-wheel independent suspension. This makes the ride immensely responsive and smooth. Suffice to say, travelling in the Passat Wagon is comfortable and relaxing.

Safety features are not lacking, the usual selection of ABS, traction control and others make a welcome appearance. It’d be nice to have the option of Bluetooth connection, GPS and such built in, though. In all, it’s hard to fault the 2009 Volkswagen Passat Wagon for missing a few luxuries. The overall build quality is exceptional, and it’s a decent drive, particularly for a large family car.

The SportWagen comes with three different engine choices, the lowest; a 170-horsepower 2.5-liter 5-cylinder engine boasts excellent fuel economy with 21-mpg in the city and 29-mpg on the highway. The inclusion of a hybrid drive would improve emissions more considerably, so it’s a shame VW hasn’t taken this route to make their economy a real standout.

Looks wise, the SportWagen is a fairly unassuming, unoriginal design. It fades into the background on any suburban street and is barely visible on a highway, but you don’t buy a SportWagen for its Dodge lines.

The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen is a classically built VW, with good build quality inside and out, luxury fittings are available, but you’ll have to pay a premium for all but the most basic features. Having said that, the SportWagen does include a well realised sound system, comprising 10 decent quality speakers. A classically high quality build, and good fuel economy make the SportWagen ideal for families with environment and budget in mind.

The ‘09 MkV GTI is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine which creates 207bhp and 206lb ft of torque to get the GTI up to 6mph in around 7 seconds, that’s 10 horses more than the last version thanks to the GTI’s induction system, which also reduces carbon emissions. Buyers have the choice of a six-speed manual transmission or Volkswagen’s DSG gearbox.

The new GTI looks great too, though its body is taken wholesale from the Golf, the designers at Volkswagen have made subtle changes to beef up the image of the GTI. Headlights are set wider apart, and the grille has been stretched vertically to create a menacing grin, which looks great on the GTI.

The usual cavalcade of safety features and utilities are available, though VW doesn’t spec their interiors out with quite the bling of other manufactures, they are well built with durability in mind. ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain side airbags, and front and rear side airbags are included as basic safety features with all models of the 2009 Volkswagen MkV GTI.

The GLI blurs the line between sporty compact sedans and more luxury models by combining power, comfort and control into one persuasive package. The GLI comes with only one power option; a turbocharged four-cylinder, 2 litre engine putting out 200 hp and 207 pound-feet of torque, which propels the GLI up to 60mph in under 8 seconds.

The second part of the equation; the handling, is taken care of by firm suspension and extremely responsive steering which relays a huge amount of data to the drivers finger tips.

The trinity is completed by a complete set of luxury fixtures and a wealth of safety features. Antilock disc brakes, front-seat side airbags, stability control, traction control and full-length head curtain airbags are all standard.

The 2009 Volkswagen GLI starts at roughly $25,000 but you’ll want to grab the optional 6 speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters to get the best out of every drive.

The Eos takes its name from the Greek goddess of the sunrise. Which seems like a suitable moniker, considering it’s a convertible with a sunroof, a feature set which is surprisingly rare in combination. It carries 5 people with ease and the retractable hardtop works like a dream, leaving a reasonable quantity of space in the trunk, even when it’s tucked away.

The most notable change in the 2009 Eos is that VW’s 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine is now standard on both trim levels. The expensive V6 option has been dropped as it provided limited advantage over other models.

The 2009 Volkswagen Eos is beautifully fitted with luxury finishes on any surface you care to examine, and includes a wealth of utility, entertainment and safety features. All this luxury and power does not come cheap though, the basic Eos will set you back $30,000 with a collection of upgrades pushing the price up considerably. It is an excellent convertible though, and worth every penny.