I can see clearly now

You can see it on the road everyday. Witness the Infiniti FX, Dodge Magnum, and Mazda CX-7. It’s the now-fashionable coupe-like styling trend in which a vehicle’s beltline sweeps upwards in the rear, making the rear windows more narrow than the front ones. Yes, it look spiffy, aerodynamic, sexy, etc. But in a SUV or wagon, intended for family use, it can give rear-seat passengers a closed-in, claustrophobic feel. It can also make it harder for smaller children to see out, which increases their tendency to fidget and become a distraction for the driver.

Say what you will about the new trend toward boxy styling, as exemplified in the Ford Flex,  it’s definitely a more rear-passenger-friendly design. In the press frenzy following the Flex’s introducton, I was able to steal a little rear-seat time (at a point when the appointed “guards” were too busy keeping the hordes at bay to notice me checking out the interior). And my initial take is that its low rear beltline contributes to an open, airy feel that kids and adults will find inviting.

The theme resurfaced in Volvo’s press conference for the redesigned XC70, in reference to new two-stage integrated child seats. The seat’s lower cushion can be positioned at two different heights. This not only helps you better position the shoulder belt on a child, but it can let smaller kids get the same panaramic outside view as older ones. And, indirectly, this often leads to a happier parent at the steering wheel.

--Rik Paul