Whatever forces caused many people to turn to gigantic trucks to carry their families now seem to have abated. Did they perhaps confuse safety and substance with gargantuan size? The Volvo XC70 can help clear up that confusion.

With an MSRP of $37,950, the 2010 Volvo XC70 3.2 AWD comes ready to go where ordinary wagons might fear to track. Standard all-wheel drive with Instant Traction™ will handle what most inclement weather throws your way. The 72.1 cubic feet of cargo space (with rear seat backs folded down) is enough to carry your camping gear, a couple of weeks worth of groceries or the contents of a college dorm room.

Even when the pavement ends, the XC70 can keep going. The generous 8.3 inches of ground clearance rivals that of most SUVs, but without that feeling that you need a ladder to climb into the driver’s seat. Electronic Hill Descent Control (HDC) – something you find on the most sophisticated SUVs – uses the vehicle's brakes and controls engine torque to crawl in bottom gear on steep downhill slopes.

If you venture into nature, it’s good to know that Volvo builds vehicles that go easy on the environment. For 2010, the XC70 3.2 AWD offers a new Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV) rated version of its 3.2-liter six-cylinder engine. Compared to the Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) version, the PZEV produces slightly less horsepower (225 vs. 235), but with the benefits of reduced emissions and increased fuel economy estimates.

Introduced last year, the turbocharged XC70 T6 AWD (MSRP $42,800) continues a long line of Volvo turbocharged engines. As other brands have “dabbled” with turbocharging (and more seem to be turning to it today), it’s worth noting that Volvo has been consistently offering turbocharged engines for nearly three decades. The 2010 XC70 T6 AWD showcases the latest, a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine that delivers 281 hp and 295 lb/ft of torque.

For you SUV owners who thought you needed a gas-guzzling V8 to get great torque, acceleration and passing power, consider that the XC70 delivers its V8-like 295 lb/ft from just 1,500 rpm and keeps it on tap through the rev range. Both XC70 models are equipped with six-speed Geartronic automatic transmissions; having six gear ratios (rather than four or five) means smoother and more responsive performance. In the XC70, you can shift manually when desired or when it is helpful (such as when driving off-pavement).

For 2010, minor trim and equipment changes for the XC70 include a new grille with a larger Volvo brand mark, chrome trim accents around the side windows and revised options and option packages. SIRIUS Satellite Radio preparation is standard, and the XC70 T6 AWD gains standard leather seating surfaces, a power front passenger's seat, classic wood interior décor inlays and 18-inch "Merac" alloy wheels.

The XC70 is equipped to help you get the most out of its cargo space. The luggage compartment floor is equipped with aluminum rails and movable storage points. Side panels also have built-in load anchorage eyelets to keep luggage securely in place, and these can be supplemented with multi-functional rails for a variety of hooks, load-anchoring nets, cargo space dividers and other cargo related accessories. A power tailgate is available.

It’s one thing to offer room for families; it’s another to protect them. The XC70’s strong side structure uses high-tensile steel of different grades to optimize side-impact protection. Volvo’s height-adjustable integrated booster cushion, standard on the T6 and optional on the 3.2 model, teams with an extended inflatable curtain to provide the industry's best passenger safety system for children in the rear seat.

Volvo safety goes well beyond protecting you and your precious cargo (people) in a collision; the brand that probably has done more to educate the public on auto safety than any other is highly focused on reducing the driver distractions that studies show cause up to 90 percent of all traffic accidents.

Based on this alarming statistic, Volvo developed technologies to help drivers avoid or reduce the severity of accidents caused by distraction and driver fatigue. The available Technology Package includes Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Collision Warning with Auto Brake (CWAB), Distance Alert (DA), Driver Alert Control (DAC) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW).

The 2010 Volvo XC70 is the perfect size for your family – and is equipped to keep them safe.