Most SUVs make you sacrifice style, performance, safety or a little of all three. Not Volvo’s all-new XC70.
During the week, this third-generation of the Swedish automaker’s all-terrain station wagon is classy enough that you won’t be mistaken for some crazed mountain man when you show up to take your important new clients to lunch. On weekend roadtrips, you’ll find its new 235-horsepower, 3.2-liter inline six-cylinder engine and remarkably improved suspension, steering, and brakes make it noticeably more fun to drive than both the model it replaces and bulky traditional SUVs. And when the blacktop runs out, the XC70’s all-wheel drive system and rugged lower body cladding will allow you to explore rough dirt and gravel roads that would stop owners of other upscale vehicles in their tracks.
Inside, the XC70 combines stylish Scandinavian design and high-quality materials with good room for four adults or a surprising amount of cargo with the front passenger and rear seatbacks folded down. The list of available luxury features is extensive, and includes several new cutting-edge safety options.
All of which makes this new XC70 a unique SUV alternative that’s just as comfortable and capable on the road as it is off of it.
Strengths:
Much-improved drivability compared to previous version
Comfortable, luxurious cabin
Volvo’s reputation for safety
Weaknesses:
Not capable of tackling difficult off-road terrain
Limited rear seat leg room
Gets pricey when you start adding options
Bottom Line:
All the off-road capability most buyers will ever need wrapped up in a safe, stylish package.
17-inch alloy wheels|Xenon HID headlights|Rain-sensing windshield wipers|Deep-tinted rear privacy glass|Ultrasonic front/rear parking assist|Power-operated rear liftgate|Power sunroof|Leather upholstery|Genuine wood trim|Power-adjustable front passenger seat|Heated front/rear seats|Integrated child booster seats|Adaptive cruise control|Blind spot warning system|Lane departure warning system|Personal Car Communicator with heartbeat sensor|GPS navigation system|Dual-screen rear seat DVD entertainment system|Premium 650-watt Dynaudio surround sound system with 12 speakers|Sirius satellie radio
Safety features
/*Antilock Brakes:*/|Standard|/*Electronic Stability Control:*/|Standard|/*Traction Control:*/|Standard|/*Multistage Front Air Bags:*/|Standard|/*Side-Impact Air Bags:*/|Standard|/*Side-Curtain Air Bags:*/|Standard|/*Active Front Head Restraints:*/|Standard|/*Tire-Pressure Monitor:*/|Standard|
Standard features
/*3.2 AWD:*/|16-inch alloy wheels|Daytime running lights|Front fog lights|Rear fog light|Front/rear skid plates|Hill descent control|Power-adjustable heated outside mirrors|Roof rack rails|Rear window defogger|Rear window washer/wiper|Dual-zone climate control|Cloth upholstery|Power-adjustable driver's seat with memory settings|40/20/40-split folding rear seatbacks|Flat-folding front passenger seat|Auto-dimming rearview mirror|Universal garage door opener|Keyless entry|Cruise control|Outside temperature display|Power windows|Power door locks|Leather-wrapped steering wheel|Tilt/telescope-adjustable steering column|Illuminated vanity mirrors|Floor mats|Steering wheel-mounted audio controls|160-watt AM/FM/CD/MP3 stereo with 6 speakers
