re "...Compounding the weak A/C problem, the fact that there is so much freaking glass in a wagon...."

While it isn't a help to the A/C on a hot summer day, have you had the opportunity to drive any new car, including Volvos, lately.

All of them have lost visibility. Try to look out the back window, or even the rear side windows to park, or even change lanes -- you can't see a thing. You'd better have your side view mirrors perfectly aimed for lane changes. And no wonder rear-view cameras are so popular, but they aren't worth a damn.

Even looking at the forward quarter -- modern cars have so thick A-pillars that you might miss a pedestrian walking across a cross-walk (Subaru at least has quarter windows (like the old-time "butterfly" windows, but they don't open, to help visibility in that direction).

In contrast, Volvo 240 wagons have unsurpassed visibility in all directions.