- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
2.5T, 5 cyl.
- Engine Power
154kW, 320Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (95) 11.1L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4WD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Volvo heads off-road
Although it's never been known for its off-roaders, Sweden has finally built a 4WD, says Jonathan Hawley.
For: Strong and easily accessible performance, great practicality, handy extra ground clearance, overall comfort.
Against: Slightly compromised handling, complicated and expensive options.
Score: 3.5 (out of 5).
Sometimes it is easy to place the type of car by the country it comes from, simply by looking at the predominant driving environment. Sometimes it isn't.
Take Japan. Famous for its small cars simply because there's not much space or domestic oil supplies, but also hungry for high-powered, high-speed sports cars such as the Nissan GT-R and Honda NSX.
Or Germany, where sleek sedans that top out at 250kmh are common enough given the unrestricted autobahns available, but there's also a swag of convertibles built there. It seems strange when, on a good day, you can't see the German sun through the smog, and in winter it struggles to crack zero degrees. Then there are all the 4WD wagons from a country with barely a dirt road.
Sweden is another strange example. Vast in area, small in population by European standards, covered in forest tracks and frozen solid for at least half the year, but do domestic manufacturers Saab and Volvo pump out lots of rugged off-roaders capable of handling the tough terrain? You'd better believe they don't.
Well, Volvo at least has a 4WD wagon in the XC70, a kind of hybridised mixture of V70 station wagon with some off-roader overtones, and it won't be long before the more convincing XC90 makes an appearance as well. The XC70 has been with us for a few years, although it has gone through several name changes, from Cross Country to V70 XC and now its current moniker. And as a sign Volvo is maybe getting more serious about its all-terrain wagons, it has also just come in for a reasonably significant facelift.
Not that you could tell by looking at the XC70, because all the improvements have happened under the skin. The major one is in the engine, still basically the same in-line five-cylinder unit as before, but capacity has been increased to just over 2.5 litres, and variable valve timing added to the exhaust side. It's still turbocharged, with a "light-pressure" turbo tuned to deliver more torque at low engine speeds than power higher up.
This is the same engine that will do service in the cheaper XC90 variant, and on paper it looks to deliver the goods. Power has lifted slightly over the old V70 XC from 147kW to 154kW, but significantly that peak is developed 1000rpm lower, at just 5000rpm. Torque has been pumped up even more, and now there's 320Nm instead of 285Nm, and it happens at only 1500rpm.
The previous version of this engine was hardly a screamer, so the extra reserves of power are noticeable rather than overwhelming. But, teamed with the standard five-speed automatic transmission, it makes for one of the more convincing drivetrains in a light-duty, mid-sized 4WD wagon.
Unlike some rival sixes that struggle to overcome the weight of a large body, the Volvo's five-cylinder turbo has plenty of urge from the word go. It almost leaps away from the line with a strangely throbbing, off-beat engine note thanks to the unusual cylinder layout, and while it hardly needs to be stretched through its rev range, it is happy and smooth enough to do so. There's no turbo-lag, just plenty of flexibility from idle through to engine rev limit.
Thanks to the all-wheel-drive system -- a newly introduced Haldex variety, by the way -- there's no wheelspin or torque steer, making for easy and trouble-free wheeling around the suburbs. Long-travel suspension gives a supple and absorptive ride, and there's the psychological security of knowing the extra ground clearance and high-profile tyres can handle kerbs and potholes without damaging rims, suspension or bodywork.
Away from town, this is not an off-roader designed for crawling over logs and through creeks, but something nominally tough and high-riding enough to cope with unmade roads without being damaged. It does that well-enough, too, and the all-wheel-drive gets the driver a little closer to that favourite picnic spot without getting bogged.
Because the XC70 is based on a road car, the handling is less compromised than in some bigger off-road wagons, but it is still far from perfect. Front-end grip falls away early and the soft suspension allows plenty of body roll, so the XC70 is less at home on twisting roads. But it cruises quietly and comfortably on sealed highways or dirt.
Chances are, though, family types will spend time loading and unloading kids, dogs and household junk, and it's a role in which the XC70 excels. The cargo bay is huge with a flat floor, and the tailgate is cut into the roof for added access with a cunning lack of locating struts to get in the way.
Rear seat room is a bit more limited -- you get the feeling luggage space was priority -- but another new feature for the XC70 is a 40/20/40 split for the rear seat, replacing the old 60/40 set-up and increasing the flexibility of passenger and load arrangements. For the driver, there's a comfortable seat lacking slightly in lateral support. It has good, clear instrumentation and switchgear, and even a lovely padded armrest for the left elbow.
There's luxury aplenty as well, as befitting a car costing around $70,000. There's soft leather upholstery, cruise control, a comprehensive trip computer and climate control fitted as standard, but the options list seems expansive and expensive. Rear cup holders for $240, a grocery bag holder for $200 and metallic paint at $1350 seem a little steep.
Nuts 'n' bolts
Volvo XC70
How much: $68,950 (auto), plus on-road costs.
Insurance: Premium $781 (RACV, 40-year-old rating one male driver, medium-risk suburb, $450 excess).
Warranty: Three years/unlimited km.
Engine: 2.5-litre, DOHC, 20-valve five-cylinder, 154kW at 5000rpm and 320Nm at 1500rpm.
Transmission: Five-speed auto. All-wheel-drive.
Steering: Rack-and-pinion, 3.0 turns lock to lock. Turning circle 11.9m.
Brakes: Ventilated discs front, discs rear. ABS standard.
Suspension: Front -- Independent by MacPherson struts with anti-roll bar. Rear -- Independent by multi-links with coil; springs and anti-roll bar.
Wheels/tyres: 16 x 7.0-inch alloy wheels, tyres 215/65.
How heavy? 1655kg (auto).
How thirsty? 13.2L/100km average. Premium unleaded, 70-litre tank.
Equipment: Driver airbag, cruise control, CD player, remote locking, side airbags, power windows, alloy wheels, air conditioning, ABS brakes.
Interior notes: Simple, gimmick-free instruments are typically Volvo. Steering wheel has buttons for cruise control and stereo. Stereo is impressive for power and sound quality. Plenty of thought gone into comfort including padded armrests for driver.
Competitors:
Audi Allroad Quattro TDI -- $88,070, 3.5 stars (out of 5)
Very similar concept to Volvo's crossover wagon, but more expensive. Diesel engine is excellent (petrol versions cost more); makes this luxury car with extra toughness.
Lexus RX330 -- $69,990, 4 stars
Not quite a wagon, not quite a 4WD but dripping with refinement and standard equipment. Engine smooth but a little weak, but otherwise hard to criticise.
Honda MDX -- $69,990, 3.5 stars
Another 4WD that's more luxury wagon than off-roader. The MDX has a bigger V6 than some, and clever folding seats in the rear. Well equipped, and nice to drive.
Prices correct at publication date.