VOLVO

ABILITY REFINED If you want genuine all-weather ability from the definitive estate car, the XC70 answers the call. Andy Enright reports...

Volvo is once again back tilting at what has come to be called the crossover market with its latest XC70, a model that fuses estate car practicality with a modicum of SUV ‘go-anywhere’ lifestyle desirability. It’s a car that plays to a small but cash-rich audience.

Over the past five years, I’ve had a pat response to the question car journalists get asked more than any other, namely "If you could have one car and one car only, what would it be?". As quick as a flash the answer would come back. First generation Audi allroad 2.5TDI. I’ll justify that by saying I’m a keen skier and nothing combined soaking up motorway miles with speed and economy while being surefooted in the snow and capable of hauling a big load quite as competently as the Audi. Now I’m not so sure. The latest Volvo XC70 has my undivided attention. Prices start from £31,035. The genes of the XC70 can be traced back through the V70 Cross Country right back to the V70 XC, originally launched in April 1999. Although many credit Audi with introducing the concept of the premium 4x4 lifestyle estate, history shows that Volvo beat its German rival to the punch by a year. Now the Swedes are making that experience count. The latest XC70 isn’t just a facelifted version of the old car. The chassis has been comprehensively redesigned, ironing out the old car’s vagueness and introducing an element of fun to proceedings. That said, the XC70 is never going to be a poster child of the evo generation, instead campaigning on the basis of all-weather ability and unimpeachable safety. There are two engines offered to UK customers. Petrol buyers get a Welsh-built 3.2-litre straight-six that punches a healthy 235bhp with a maximum torque of 320Nm. Diesel customers get a 183bhp 2.4-litre D5 turbo diesel with 400Nm of torque. The D5 drives through either a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed Geartronic auto with a sequential ‘manual’ mode, while the 3.2-litre car is offered solely with Geartronic.

"The Volvo XC70 is a car whose time has come"

Extensive use of high tensile steels has improved chassis rigidity by 15 per cent, allowing the suspension to do its job better. Volvo’s DSTC stability and traction control system is fitted as standard as are the Four-C electronically-controlled dampers. Hill Descent Control and an electronically-controlled hydraulic clutch, which distributes drive to whichever wheels can best handle it, will help you out of a tight spot. Ground clearance, approach, departure and breakover angles have all been improved and the wading depth of 300mm should see you through the worst of the winter’s storms. There’s even an intelligent power parking brake that automatically disengages when the accelerator is pressed. The styling is probably the ace in the XC70’s hole. Where the Audi has become more restrained, the XC70 opts for a beefier, more macho look and it suits it very well. As well as the scratchproof protective cladding along the car’s flanks and arches, there are chunkier front bumpers, blacked out side pillars and C30-inspired tail lights. The windscreen and tailgate are raked a little more than before but the emphasis remains on serious carrying capacity. It’s still extremely space-efficient with a class-competitive 485-litres of fresh air back there and a massive 1,641-litres can be liberated if you fold the rear seats down and stack your cargo to the roofline. You’ll also find luggage nets and hooks to help secure any items with wayward tendencies. The car’s designer cleverly decreased the amount the side glass curves from front to rear, for maximum style at the driving end and maximum carrying ability at the business end. XC-embossed roof rails are a standard fit and the contrasting colour of the front foglight surrounds give the XC70 a mean squint. Front and rear crash plates leave onlookers in no doubt as to this car’s dual purpose role. Volvo took a rather smart tack when developing the latest V70 and XC70 ranges. In short, it culled the dead wood from the engine line up and axed the complicated trim levels, making the whole shebang far easier for customers to understand. A couple of trim levels, a couple of engines and then a big options list. In that regard, it’s almost Germanic. The XC70’s cause is also helped by the deletion of the V70 AWD four-wheel drive models. Volvo offers a truly vast array of options and accessories on the V70. It would be all to easy to succumb to the temptations of the options list and end up paying far in excess of the list price for a fully-loaded model. There are also a number of handy packages of extra equipment that serve to simplify the selection process. This being Volvo, every V70 comes with a comprehensive array of safety equipment including the excellent WHIPS whiplash protection system and traction control. There’s obviously ABS along with numerous airbags as well. The Volvo XC70 is a car whose time has come. Rather than parade around in an SUV that draws all the wrong sort of attention, the XC70 is at the same time lower profile but harder hitting than its rather meek predecessor. In other words, it strikes a decent balance. Both engines are strong powerplants that complement the driveline well without overpowering it for the sake of headline stats. Of the two, the diesel will rack up bigger sales and is marginally the preferable unit. The interior has been given the once over too, with most of the clunkier design themes replaced by a slicker look and feel. Otherwise there are enduring Volvo qualities such as supreme practicality and a whole slew of safety features. This model at last proves that a sensible choice can have a big element of desirability fitted as standard.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Volvo XC70 range PRICES: £31,035 - £36,200 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 14-17[est] CO2 EMISSIONS: 193-272g/km PERFORMANCE: [3.2] 0-60mph 8.1s /Max Speed 134mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [D5] (combined) 38.7mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Driver's airbag, side airbags, ABS, whiplash protection, Isofix child seat mounts WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: (length/width/height) 4838/1861/1604mm

DO YOU THINK I’M XC? Models Covered: (5dr estate, 2.5T petrol, 2.4 D5 diesel [S, SE, SE Sport, SE Lux])

BY ANDY ENRIGHT

Volvo were one of the first manufacturers to get with the concept of the lifestyle 4x4 estate, their Cross Country mopping up a good percentage of customers who had grown out of a Subaru and who couldn’t afford or didn’t want an Audi Allroad. The Cross Country evolved and in line with their branding philosophy was rebadged the XC70. It’s everything you expect of an all-wheel drive Volvo estate; rugged, practical, beautifully engineered and supremely reliable. If excising the risk out of buying used were possible, the Volvo XC70 would be a prime candidate for most bulletproof used car buy.

The genes of the XC70 can be traced back through the V70 Cross Country right back to the V70 XC, originally launched in April 1999. Although many credit Audi with introducing the concept of the premium 4x4 lifestyle estate, history shows that Volvo beat their German rivals to the punch by a year. The XC70 itself made first landfall here in the UK in September 2002 with a range consisting of S and SE variants of the 200bhp 2.5-litre turbocharged five-cylinder petrol unit or the 163bhp 2.4-litre diesel which also boasted five pots and a turbocharger. March 2003 saw a revision to the range when the S trim level was ditched, Volvo realigning the XC70 alongside its big brother the XC90. The revised trim structure opened with the SE version and was topped out by an equipment laden SE Lux model. At the same time Volvo made a number of minor interior trim modifications. The 2.5T engine also received a power upgrade to 210bhp. A limited edition Ocean Race model was also offered to celebrate Volvo’s exposure in yachting circles. In 2004, the XC70 received a far-reaching facelift. The key difference most will notice is a bigger ‘large mesh’ grille similar to the XC90 but the interior was spruced up too. Then, in the Spring of 2005 the D5 diesel engine was given a power boost from 163bhp to 185bhp as well as various modifications to make it Euro IV compliant. The 163bhp version of the engine continued to be available for a while but was renamed the 2.4D. The SE Sport trim level arrived in mid 2006 at the same time that all models got door mirrors with integrated indicators.

The XC70 and XC90 models are the Volvos you turn to if a basic V70 with all-wheel drive isn’t quite enough to cut it for the kind of muddy excursion you have in mind. The XC70 isn’t quite in the same league as the most purpose-built XC90: instead picture a V70 estate with extra ground clearance and durable body protection and you’ve just about summed it up. Still, the XC70 makes a good showing for itself in the showroom, with an electric driver’s seat with memory controls, leather upholstery, electronic climate control, an electronic information centre and a pumped-up stereo featuring Dolby surround sound, plus Dynamic Stability Control on the petrol version. Pay a little more for SE Lux trim and you get the remainder of the options list thrown in as well. As well as a satellite navigation system with integrated television, there are electrically adjustable heated driver and passenger seats, rain sensing windscreen wipers and a headlamp wash wipe system for when the going gets majorly muddy. The dashboard looks smart, with aluminium inlays and a three spoke steering wheel. Though there are no extra passenger spaces in the estate compartment, the rear seat has been cleverly designed with a backrest that can be locked into either of two positions for maximum comfort or vital extra luggage space. Uniquely, it also splits 40/20/40 so that you can drop just the centre section, comfortably accommodate four people and still take skis or other long items. When flat, this section becomes an instant children’s play table or optionally, can convert into a cooler box. Another nice touch is the heavy grille that comes down from the interior roof to partition the loading area from the passenger compartment, guarding against flying luggage or over-friendly dogs. Whichever version you choose, there’s the peace of mind of Volvo’s WHIPS anti-whiplash protection system and a complete complement of front and side airbags.

Although the XC70 has done good business for Volvo and there are a number in the used car system, they don’t tend to stay for very long as demand for used examples is high. Despite this, the XC70 suffers from the same sort of depreciation any big non-German estate car is afflicted by and as such is a good deal more affordable than you may imagine. The popular D5 diesel engined cars open on a 52 plate at £17,700 for an S trim with metallic paint, Geartronic gearbox and Winter Pack. Tack on another £300 for the SE. Due to its thirst, the 2.5T car isn’t in quite such demand and used valuations reflect this. An S-trimmed manual car that rolled out of dealerships at £29,530 in September 2002 can now be yours for £17,200 on the nose.

The Volvo XC70 is a rugged thing and has yet to report any significant faults although as with any estate car, check the rear load bay for signs of damage. The interior trim is hardy and the fittings are well made, so the interiors tend to bear up pretty well. You may well want to check for correct wheel alignment and inspect the suspension and exhaust if you suspect it may have been subjected to something more arduous than a grassy car park. The ramp and departure angles of the car aren’t great so take a look at the underside for scuffing or other damage.

(approx based on a 2003 XC70 2.5T) Volvo consumables aren’t going to break the bank. A new air filter for the V70 is around £12, whilst a fuel filter will be £20. Spark plugs retail at £15 whilst a cam belt is £40, and an oil filter £8.

When the XC70 was launched, it retailed at around £3,000 less than the equivalent XC90. Volvo had seriously misjudged the demand the big XC90 would create and two years later, the price differential between equivalently specified XC70 and XC90 models was a yawning £8,000. This means that if you need a 4x4 Volvo, the XC70 is the value pick. We’d certainly recommend an XC70 over the conventional V70 AWD model, since the premium buys you not only the extra ground clearance but a much more sophisticated 4x4 system. Instead of a viscous coupling in the propshaft distributing power between front and rear wheels, the XC70 opts instead for a far more sophisticated Haldex differential that works in a quicker and more intelligent fashion than the viscous set-up. We’ll spare you the technical details on how the whole thing works but the bottom line is that the next time you’re in a muddy carpark with a heavy towing load on the back, you’ll be in a much better position to avoid borrowing the local farmer’s tractor. Two engines are on offer and the choice between the two will be clear-cut, depending upon your priorities. The entry-level price buys you the engine most owners will probably choose – Volvo’s excellent 161bhp turbo diesel D5 unit, capable of a 33mpg average, plus sixty from rest in 11.5s on the way to 121mph. Spend a little more and there’s also the option of the light pressure turbo 2.5T 210bhp petrol unit which suffers a little more at the pumps (a 27mpg average) but is considerably more rapid, making sixty in just 7.5s on the way to 140mph. That’s close to Audi Allroad 2.7T pace for thousands less. The diesel engine mated to Volvo’s clever Geartronic automatic box is a particularly good combination in the D5 variant, the 2.4-litre all aluminium five-cylinder engine receiving additional strengthening to cope with the torque loading and stresses of a diesel unit. If you don’t like that, there’s a 6-speed manual to consider. Talking torque, the D5 generates a healthy 340Nm at just 1750rpm, which is more than Volvo’s 250bhp T5 petrol unit and only 10Nm less than the larger-engined BMW 525d Touring. Don’t be tempted to think that this amount of lugging power comes at the expense of refinement. Twist the key and you’ll get a slight thrum that’ll remind you which pump to pull up at but nothing that’s going to make you invest in an uprated stereo system to drown out the din. On a par with the better diesels from Audi and Mercedes, if not quite BMW standard, engine noise is well controlled even when ascending the rev range, when this powerplant takes on an impressive, albeit muted, induction roar like a very powerful petrol unit. Unlike many diesels, there’s a useable amount of flexibility to be had near the top end of the rev band, although a bit of a hole exists at the bottom end. So, a diesel that revs like a decent petrol engine and sounds like one too – does it have the performance to match? To be frank, no it doesn’t. Audi’s 2.5 TDI Allroad easy has the legs on this XC, though to be fair, it can’t match the Volvo’s fuel economy, is less well equipped and costs more. You pays your money…

The Volvo XC70 is a well-judged study in compromise. To find yourself in the target market, you need a little off road ability but not too much, a modicum of extra ride height but nothing excessive and you want a prestigious badge without lapsing into ostentation. If that’s you, then you’ll be pleased to know that used examples of this car are relatively plentiful and – by and large – well looked after. The D5 diesel version gets our nod and makes a very satisfying option if you need one quality vehicle to fulfil a number of tasks.