► Remembering the new V90’s ancestors
► From the original Volvo PV445 Duett in 1953…
► …to the antiques dealer Volvo 850 in 1991
Estate of the nation: Volvo V90 (2016-)
It promises cutting-edge tech – including semi-autonomous driving – world-leading safety, modern Swedish luxury and a 407bhp plug-in hybrid. But the heavily canted rear window looks like bad news if you were hoping to get that Queen Anne wardrobe in the back.
Here comes the hotstepper: Volvo 850 (1991-1997)
The antiques dealer image of Volvo estates was changed forever by the 850 – first by the decision to enter the wagon into the BTCC and then with the introduction of the 850 T-5R in 1995. Developed with assistance from Porsche, this hit 155mph and 0-62 in 7.0sec on its way to the garden centre.
The original brick: Volvo 145 (1966-1974)
Ask any small child to draw an estate car and you’ll end up with something like this – basically a rectangle with a bonnet. Far less sexy but far more functional than the Amazon it replaced, it has set our go-to template for Volvo estates ever since.
The original. Full stop: Volvo PV445 Duett (1953-1969)
Volvo’s first recognisable station wagon, the Duett name acknowledged a multipurpose design intended to function as a commercial vehicle during the week and a comfy family car at the weekend. Low-tech ladderframe chassis part of the charm.
Read more from the April 2016 issue of CAR magazine