MOTORNET: Solid citizens
Volvo V70/XC70 car review
SCOOP MOTORNET with Karl Ferguson
Images by Neil Mackenzie - onlinefotos.com/neil
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There are times when technology, rather than aiding us, seems frankly more inhibiting than anything else. It was this
thought than ran through my mind after a few days with Volvo’s latest offerings. Despite a week respectively with both
the V70 and its brethren the XC70, the electronic park brake continued to provide me grief. Was it pull on, push off, or
the other way around? More importantly, whatever happened to the good old fashioned handbrake? And why can’t technology
be both intuitive and a step forward?
The good news is that when it comes to Volvo’s newest set of twins, the park brake represents just about the only niggle
of any note – surely not a bad thing. I have long been a fan of Volvo’s handsome wagons and sedans, and while the latest
design iteration could be labeled just evolutionary, for such large cars, they cut a dynamic and attractive profile.
Both share design cues with the recently released S80 sedan – such as the larger corporate grille – but it is the XC70,
or cross over, all-wheel drive wagon that has made the largest leap. While it still retains the moulded bumpers of the
previous model, these are better incorporated into the design and the overall look is more cohesive. And while it
achieves reasonable ground clearance and is still quite a tall car, it doesn’t appear quite as elevated as the old
model.
Apart from the ride height, style detailing and the XC70’s AWD ability, the two vehicles are virtually identical. It
would be easy to dismiss these Volvos as simply load carriers – in this respect, both have a strong card to play – and
it’s one of the obvious traits that will ensure their market appeal to those with large families and those with equally
sporty pursuits. The interior is cavernous and the backseats will happily accommodate three adults, even across long
distances. The depth of the boot is impressive, while the width of the vehicles is such that large items are easily
managed. As expected, the backseats can be manipulated every which way and will lie flat to ensure even the largest and
bulkiest items are able to be transported.
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The interior is typically Volvo – large and comfortable leather clad seats, clear and easy to use controls and dials,
and first rate fit and finish. The quality of the materials is what we have come to expect over recent years, and
nothing disappoints. The brushed aluminium style inserts help ensure the interior feels both modern and user friendly.
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Punters can option either a 3.2 litre petrol powered six cylinder, or a 2.5 litre, five cylinder turbo diesel (or the
top of the range turbocharged T6). My guess is that diesels will be the model most rolling off showroom floors, which is
a shame in some respects, as the petrol six is a real honey. Both test cars were very new and had limited miles on the
clock, but even as tight as it was, the petrol engine impressed. Power delivery was silky smooth, the automatic kicking
down responsively when acceleration was required. Keep in mind that these wagons don’t come light – both weigh in at
between 1800 and 1900kg respectively. The petrol’s 175kW and 320Nm of torque did a good job of hustling the barely
disguised mass.
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The 125kW diesel meantime is solid, offering good levels of performance and sophistication. There’s no disguising it’s a
diesel on start up, but it remains relatively quiet compared to some competitors. Torque is an impressive 400Nm ensuring
it will serve as a good tow car, while acceleration from standstill to 100km/h is achieved in a respectable 9.5 seconds
(the petrol manages the same sprint in 8.4 seconds).
On the road, both cars display good grip, and pretty predictable styling traits for large front drive or all-wheel drive
vehicles. Personally, I found the steering on both models a little on the light side, and lacking in the ‘feel’
department. Not surprisingly, the V70 is the choice when it comes to hustling through corners. The XC70 tries hard, but
its higher centre of gravity and soft suspension ensures that while it continues to provide confidence, it suffers from
body-roll when really pushed through corners, somewhat diminishing any enthusiasm for hustling through the twisty stuff.
The soft suspension certainly ensures a plush ride though, and despite a bit of tyre noise in the XC70, both impress in
this department – luxurious and comfortable are adjectives that spring to mind. Equipment wise, both come with plenty of
kit as you might expect. Even so, I was a little surprised by the absence of a CD stacker as standard, and for such a
large vehicle, parking sonars standard only on the rear and not the front. Having said that, pricing is fairly
competitive when you compare it to similarly priced German offerings and the aging Saab 9-5. The V70 3.2 retails for
$69,990 while the XC70 is another $10k. The diesel adds a further $5k premium again – no doubt ensuring prospective
owners won’t dismiss the petrol versions lightly.
It would be easy to dismiss these Volvos as just the latest iteration of the tried and true in Volvo’s range of large
wagons. And while it’s true that neither achieves anything dramatically new, both are supremely comfortable, well
equipped, and competitively priced. More importantly, both make compelling arguments as to why a well sorted wagon will
run rings around a more expensive and heavier SUV. Solid citizens they may be, but style and grace comes standard. If
only they could fit a conventional handbrake for the New Zealand models…sigh.
***ENDS***