#dan neil

[thotsoncars]

The car-spotters field guide would note the new model’s LED headlights, more-rugged roof rails and heavier cladding at the rocker panels and wraparound bumpers. For 2020, Subaru’s cobblers glued a bit thicker Vibram sole to its beloved hiking boot.

Dan Neil

[thotsoncars]

The Outback scratches a number of such contrarian itches. One is the urge to set oneself apart from the hordes driving look-alike, drive-alike family SUVs and crossovers swarming suburbia. Sitting in a parking lot crowded with fashionably tailored SUVs, the Outback’s anti-styling plays like a droll riposte. J’accuse!

Dan Neil

[thotsoncars]

Let’s look under this sociological rock a bit. There was a time in living memory when Americans dressed to go out, to work, to fly on planes, to go to church. I see people going to church these days dressed like they have tickets in the end zone.

Corresponding with the Era of Great Casualness, our automotive choices have become less formal and more recreational. If a three-box sedan is the equivalent of a blue blazer, a crossover is cargo pants.

Dan Neil

[thotsoncars]

But it won’t be practicality that moves the GLB’s tin. As compared with the urbanely styled GLA with which it shares so much mechanically, the GLB was re-skinned to look rougher and tougher, more lifestyle-adventurous and utilitarian—to read like a tough widdle SUV, a miniature sled dog straining its harness. The windshield angle is more vertical, the hood is more proud, the headlamps assemblies mounted higher, the grill more bluff, and the rear hatch more square—all landmarks moved in the direction of utility.

Note also the rounded shoulder line and large side windows, with a pronounced inward-canting of the canopy, very like ein grösser Mini Countryman. At the GLB’s front and rear, what the company calls “optical underride guards.” I think that means they are for looks only, but my German is a little rusty.

Dan Neil

[thotsoncars]

Volvo V90

As your selfless advocate, dear reader, I admit there was no pressing need to review the estate version, except...

Except that Volvos are never more charismatic than when they have four doors, long roofs and hatches: the P220 Amazon Estate, the 145, the 245, the V70, the 850 GLT. This is the part where you see yourself in slow motion, raising the hatchback of your classic Volvo, Afghan hounds jumping out as you light a cigarette with your driving gloves on. Man, the ’70s were cool.

Dan Neil

[thotsoncars]

2015 Volvo V60 T6 R-Design

Speaking of staying planted, the R-Design package includes these astonishing front bucket seats, luxuriantly soft and dramatically bolstered speed couches that remind me of the seats in the old Saab 9000 Turbo, God rest it.

Dan Neil

[thotsoncars]

With the trailering package the Ascent is rated for up to 5,000 pounds towing so you can bring along your liberal guilt.

Beyond the running gear, the Ascent is among the most cunning efforts to separate parents from their wallets I’ve seen in a long time. It’s like one big rolling focus group. There are cubbies and USB ports and cupholders galore, 19 in all.

Dan Neil

[thotsoncars]

Volvo XC70

Naturally, I'm guilty. I used to wear a rather large and obvious diving watch. Oh, do you scuba dive? Why, yes, I do, and thank you for asking. . . . One fun fact about this watch is that it was guaranteed watertight to 300 meters, or 984 feet, which means that at that depth my lifeless corpse would know exactly what time it was. So now we come 'round the mountain to the Volvo XC70, the Scandinavian company's redesigned-for-2008 all-roading wagon. Essentially a V70 wagon wrapped in a Vibram boot sole, the XC70 is distinguished from its wagon kin by the hip-high composite cladding encompassing the vehicle, a couple-inch higher ride height and all-wheel drive as standard equipment. Think what happens when a Polaris ATV has carnal knowledge of a V70 wagon.

Dan Neil