Volvo

Volvo Overview:

Volvo has long been a name associated with safety, and the Swedish automaker now boasts an expanded lineup of cars and crossovers for the 2013 model year.

2012 brought several changes to the entire Volvo lineup and they have made more lineup-wide changes for 2013, adding headlight washers and rain-sensing windshield wipers as standard equipment to every model.

The smallest model in Volvo's stable is the uniquely styled C30 coupe. They have announced that 2013 will be the last year for the three-door hatchback. The C30 seats four and features a powerful, 220-hp turbocharged five-cylinder, which still manages to get 30 mpg on the highway; pretty good fuel efficiency for such a powerful engine.

For anyone who enjoys the feeling of the sun on their face while driving, the C70 coupe features a retractable hardtop which folds down in 30 seconds to let rays and fresh air in. Leather upholstery and dual-zone automatic climate control are standard.

The S60 midsize luxury sedan might be the most exciting car Volvo offers when it comes to performance, featuring a trio of turbocharged engines and an adjustable chassis which changes to suit your mood, whether it be for a more composed ride or sporty hijinks.

Topping off Volvo’s lineup of passenger cars is the S80 which is filled with luxurious touches like hand-finished wood trim along the dash and steering wheel, and perforated leather seating surfaces. The five-seat S80 offers HD radio and Volvo’s Sensus system as standard equipment.

Volvo also offers three crossovers and we’ll start with the smallest. The compact XC60 crossover comes standard with Volvo’s City Safety system, which can detect obstacles and brakes the car at low speeds to avoid collisions if the driver fails to do so. It adds 18-inch alloy wheels and a standard leather-wrapped steering wheel for 2013.

The XC70 seats five passengers across two rows, just like the XC60, but is more wagon than crossover. Built with family friendly features in mind like available built-in rear booster seats and a powered tailgate, the XC70 also has plenty of off-road capability making it a very well rounded option for families on the go.

Rounding things out is the seven-seat XC90 midsize crossover, which for 2013 gets refreshed with new exterior styling.