The Volvo XC70 is all new for 2008, meaning that everything from its engine to the interior to the basic architecture if its chassis has changed. The exterior design has changed, too, and while its basic character is familiar Volvo, the XC70 looks smarter than before. And it is smarter.

Its exterior dimensions have changed with everything else. The XC70 is now built on what Volvo calls its large car platform, which was introduced under the 2007 S80 sedan, while the previous XC70 shared its underpinnings with the intermediate S60 sedan. The important point is that the XC70 now has more in common with the line-topping S80 than the mid-size S60.

Given that it shares a larger car's platform, it might seem odd that the 2008 XC70 is nearly a foot shorter than the 2007 model. Its wheelbase, however, increases about two inches to 110.8, which creates more room inside. A longer wheelbase combined with a shorter overall length means shorter overhangs, and that's a good thing. Overall, the 2008 XC70 is a bit shorter and narrower than a BMW 5 Series or Mercedes E-Class wagon. Yet it's slightly heavier than either, and weighs 400 pounds more than the 2007 model. No lightweight, the 2008 XC70 tips the scales at 4,092 pounds.

The XC70 body is nearly identical to that of the new Volvo V70, which fills the role of a more conventional road-going wagon in the Volvo lineup. Both were developed with Volvo's attention to impact-dissipating crumple zones, and both have fully laminated glass. The only unique XC70 structural feature is an extra lower front crossbeam, added to account for its higher ride height in an impact.

The new styling is Volvo evolution, but it's also smoother, less gangly and visually tighter than the 2007 XC70. In profile, the character line at the bottom of the windows rises a bit more dramatically, creating a more forward leaning, dynamic stance. The window pillars are blocked out, which makes all the windows look like a single element. The rear glass now angles forward toward the front of the car, rather than dropping cliff-like from the back edge of the roof, yet there's still there's a bit more cargo volume inside.

The headlights and grille are larger, a bit more angular and more prominently defined. The XC70 now has a soft plastic nose painted to match the body, rather than the full, dark-vinyl mask worn on the 2007 version. The lower bumper is still dark vinyl, with intake-like cutouts for the foglights; below it, the silver-colored skid has been widened and shaped more aerodynamically. There's still a lot of dark, impact-resistant cladding around the bumpers and along the rockers, but we'll take the new look over the old.

From the rear, the XC70's hexagonal shape reminds us of Volvo's new, small C30 coupe. The tail lights are large enough and bright enough to do Las Vegas proud, and the rear glass window extends down lower than the side windows to improve rearward visibility. The optional, hydraulically operated power tailgate is handy if you approach the back of this car with arms loaded, and it keeps hands cleaner if the tailgate is coated with grime.