XC70 is all Volvo and more
If there were one thing I would have wished to change with the Volvo S80 sedan I drove a couple weeks back, it would be that it be a wagon.
Those who have read this space over the years know I have a special affinity for the five-door bodystyle because it has all the features of a four-door sedan, with the extra versatility provided by the long high roof and rear door.
Well, quicker than you can wish upon a start or blow out all your candles, I was into the latest XC70, which is for all intents and purposes the S80 wagon. Technically, the V70 would be the S80 wagon, though both XC70 and V70 are mildly changed from the sedan and each other.
And although it is by no means a sport-utility like its stablemate XC90, the XC70 has the added benefits of a longer wheelbase and resultant overall length, as well as three extra inches of ground clearance.
That it also costs about $8,500 less than the sedan on which it is loosely based is a bonus ... a great bonus for those, like me, who prefer the five-door over the four-door and are prepared to shell out a few extra bucks for it.
As tested, the XC70 came in at just over $59,000 (an increase of $12,600 above the base price) but that included a power hatch that was part of a convenience package, parking assist and the active chassis system that were part of a luxury package, and leather seating as part of the premium package.
All are things you could likely do without, but are nice to have. The power hatch makes loading up easy when your hands are full and the package also includes a grocery bag holder. Both of which make easy work of loading and unloading, since you don’t have to chase groceries around the cargo area.
The cargo area is pretty large with the rear seats in use, and comes with a cargo cover to keep your stuff ... well ... under cover. Flip down part, or all, of the 40/20/40split folding rear seat and you have enough longitudinal room to transport skis, a bike or both (for those sun and ski getaways). The front seat also folds flat forward should you be carrying even lengthier cargo.
The cargo area also has a set of rails with cleats to aid in securing cargo, and the roof includes a rail system that can be fitted with various cargo-specific-carriers for bikes, skis, kayak, etc.
And with the XC70’s ability to take you just about anywhere you’d like to go, don’t be surprised if you end up taking your bikes and skis and kayaks on plenty of weekend getaways.
Inside, the XC70 seats provide typical Volvo comfort and support for up to five, though the centre rear occupant had best be of smaller stature and have a strong back. The luxury package includes integrated child booster seats that allow children out of child seats to use the vehicle’s belt system.
And on the comfort level, the heating/ventilation system is by far the easiest to control of anybody in the business. Use the driver or passenger dials for temperature to set a comfortable temp ... if a part of your body gets cold or hot, direct the flow of air to that part of your body by pushing one of three sections on a silhouette of a body in the centre of the dash -- just press any of three body parts of the little person and air gets directed through the respective vents; press it again, and it stops the flow through those vents -- no need for dials with five or more settings or myriad buttons for every conceivable combination of airflow.
And befitting a Volvo, everything is protected through a web of steel supports, retractable belts and inflatable bags. There are also a series of sensors to allow the vehicle to keep a distance from the car in front when the vehicle is on cruise control, warn of obstacles in the driver’s blindspots, and alert him to a possible collision due to differences in speed between the vehicle and something in front of it.
On the security front, the transponder remote features a personal car communicator that can check on the status of the vehicle no matter how far away the owner may be. Pressing an “i” on the remote checks on the status of the vehicle and returns a green light beside the lock button to show the vehicle is locked or a yellow light beside the unlock button to show it is unlocked.
Those features add $3,200 to the vehicle price tag, and bring up the one big concern we had with the vehicle ... it does get pricy once you load it up. Do you need to know that your car is unlocked, when you perhaps can’t do anything about it? Probably not.
So if you’re not prone to crashing and tend to pay attention when driving or parking, the base XC70 will do a pretty good job for you and you can save some $13,000.
Fact File
2008 Volvo XC70
Price as tested (before tax): $59,145
Options: Luxury package ($2,850) includes active chassis, active bi-xenon headlights, parking assist, rain sensor wipers and integrated child booster seats; Premium package ($2,500) includes leather upholstery, retractable side mirrors, power child locking rear doors, power front passenger seat; Convenience package ($1,950) includes privace glass, homelink, speed sensitive steering, grocery bag holder, humidity sensor, power hatchgate, private locking trunk, sunglass holder, mass movement sensor and level sensor; Adaptive cruise control with collision warning and brake support ($1,500); Premium sound system with 12 speakers, amplifier, surround sound and in-dash 6-CD player; personal car communicator with keyless drive ($950); blindspot information system ($750); metallic paint ($650)
Freight: $1,615
Configuration: front engine/all-wheel drive
Engine/Transmission: 3.2L I6/6-speed automatic with sequential shift
Horsepower: 235 @ 6,200 rpm
Torque: 236 lb.-ft. @ 3,200 rpm
Fuel required: 70 litres, regular
EnerGuide fuel ratings (L/100 km): 14.4 city; 9.2 hwy.
Observed fuel economy: 12.2 L/100 km combined over 976 km
Warranty: 4 years/80,000 km
Competition: Cadillac SRX; Dodge Magnum; Hyundai Veracruz; Saab 9-5 SportCombi; Subaru Outback; Volkswagen Passat Wagon
Strengths: Go-anywhere drivetrain; comfortable seating, cargo versatility
Weaknesses: Pricy, when loaded up; large turning circle
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