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Volvo XC70
Road test - April 2008
by Kevin Fenix.
The Volvo XC70 looks like a normal estate car, yet it comes with permanent four wheel drive. In this it is similar to the Audi A6 Allroad and the A6 Avant Quattro. The four wheel drive also works perfectly. On the first day of the test, I was down at a local coastal estuary, taking pictures, when I noticed a family hatchback stuck deep into the mud at the water’s edge. Once I had got a suitable towing rope, I reversed the XC70 up and managed to tow them out, proving the XC70 is not just a pretty face, it has remarkable abilities too.
In fact my first and lasting overall impression of the XC70 is of refined high quality and top notch workmanship. In other words a premium quality vehicle in every respect. In my view it looks good and everything you touch feels good. The interior of the car was finished in a dark brown and light beige. I must say it is a very long time indeed, since I last saw dark brown leather upholstered seats in a car, but in this Volvo they toned in very well. My only criticism of the interior is that the floor mats, covering the light beige carpet, should have been dark brown, rather than a matching beige. After my towing episode, they were mottled dark brown from the mud on the driver’s side anyway.
This particular car had the 2.4 litre, five cylinder diesel engine, driving a six speed sequential manual/automatic gearbox. This combination seems to be perfectly suited to this application, delivering an effortless performance, in silence and comfort. Zero to 100 kph acceleration takes just 9.9 seconds and it all happens so utterly effortlessly. Top speed, for those who are interested is 205 kph (127 mph). The XC70 appears to be just as happy on narrow Irish country roads, as it is on modern motorways. While the steering wheel is a little bit on the large size, possibly to satisfy the Yankee market and the steering itself is geared for comfort, with three turns from lock to lock, the car is as easy to handle on narrow country lanes, as it is cruising long straight motorways at the legal maximum. Although it is physically a big car, it is also easy to manoeuvre in tight spaces like parking lots, thanks to that effortless power steering, excellent all round visibility and the audible parking sensors. In fact I could very easily live with the XC70 as my only everyday car.
As I mentioned earlier, the XC70 is not just a pretty face, it is a practical everyday workhorse. It comes with roof rails as standard and if you need to, you can carry up to 100 kg on the roof. It can tow braked trailers/caravans of up to 2100 kg, or unbraked trailers of 750 kg. With all five seats in use, it offers 0.575 cubic metres of space beneath the luggage tonneau cover. If you fold the rear seats flat and only load to the lower level of the windows, you have 0.840 cubic metres of space, while if you choose to load to the roof you have 1.600 cubic metres of space. On the underside of the roof, above the luggage space, there is a metal grid that folds downward to seal1 off the luggage space from the passenger area when all five seats are in use. This is ideal if you like to take your dog/dogs with you, when you go out. Incorporated into the luggage floor, there is a flap that opens up into a vertical position, to prevent items rolling around when the boot is not full. Then if you have a variety of small items, these can be stored in the polystyrene tray located below the luggage floor. About the only essential it does not have is a spare wheel. You are given one of those plug-in electric air compressors and latex, but I have to admit to having absolutely no faith, whatsoever, in this method of puncture repair. Basically, if you get a puncture, you have to call out the rescue and recovery services.
Above : 0.575 cubic metres of luggage space
Below right : 1.600 cubic metres of space, loading to roof
That tubular safety guard can be moved into a position behind the two front seats, when the rear seats are folded. The rear seat backrest is divided 40/20/40, so it is not just a case of five seats or two seats. The narrow centre section can be folded flat to facilitate the transport of long items like fishing rods or skis, with two full sized adults in the back on either side. A catch on the top of the outer corners of each main seat, is simply lifted to allow the backrest to drop into a horizontal position on the seat cushion. The catch for the centre section is in the top centre of that section. The two outer places also incorporate ISOfix fittings for child safety seats.
Those two outer rear seats are superbly comfortable, fully on a par with the two front seats. The centre section is soft and remarkably comfortable, although an adult sitting here would be a little higher than those on either side. While the cushion is reasonably soft and comfortable and headroom is adequate, an adult in this position does compromise the shoulder room for all three rear seat passengers. It would be fine for children.
Two large analogue instruments for engine speed (tachometer) and road speed (speedometer) are located in a binnacle under a curved sweep of the facia panel, behind the steering wheel. The centre section of each dial also provides digital information for other things like the time, total and trip distance recorders, fuel level, door open etc. To the left of this binnacle there is a button for stop/start, alongside the slot for the electronic key. On the facia, to the right of the steering wheel, below the ventilation outlet, there is the rocker switch for the electronic handbrake. The centre console is one of those thin designs and houses the audio equipment controls as well as the air conditioning operations. There are buttons on the steering wheel for the cruise control and the audio system. It is all very neat, clearly marked and easy to use.
The driver’s door armrest has a full set of controls for the four electric windows, the locking/unlocking of the four doors, as well as the controls for the heated and electrically adjustable, exterior rear view mirrors. Each passenger door has a switch to operate its electric window, but these can be over ridden by the driver. Both front seats can be heated and have height and lumbar adjustment. The heating element for the seats offers the choice of three heat settings. The steering is reach and height adjustable. Overall the XC70 in Lux specification offers a very pleasant, refined and comfortable ambience for both the driver and the passengers.
During the course of this test I travelled all over Dublin city, both the central area and the suburbs, as well as the Fingal area of County Dublin and large parts of County Kildare. This covered a huge variety of road surfaces from good to bad. I found the ride to be comfortable and well able to smooth out some of the less than acceptable surfaces. Large diameter, ventilated disc brakes are fitted front and rear and they always provided, safe confidence inspiring stopping power.
I have already mentioned the fast and utterly effortless acceleration, with seamless gearchanges, thanks to the Geartronic transmission. Although it is a diesel, the XC70 is a big comfortable and very versatile car, so I am more than happy with its urban cycle fuel consumption of 26 mpg (10.5 lt/100 km). On an extra urban cycle, this has been recorded as an excellent 40 mpg (7.0 lt/100 km), giving a more than satisfactory combined cycle average of 34 mpg (8.3 lt/100 km).
Technical data
Dimensions
Overall length ------------------ 4838 mm
Overall width ------------------- 1861 mm (without mirrors) --------- 2119 mm (with mirrors)
Overall height ------------------ 1604 mm (including roof rails)
Wheelbase ----------------------- 2815 mm
Front track ---------------------- 1614 mm
Rear track ----------------------- 1580 mm
Turning circle ------------------ 12.0 M (kerbs)
Unladen weight ----------------- 1884 kg
Gross vehicle weight ---------- 2400 kg
Max. towing weight ------------ 2100 kg (braked) ---------------------- 750 kg (unbraked)
Max. roof load ------------------ 100 kg
Power/weight ratio ------------ 17.647 kg/kW
Luggage capacity --------------- 0.575 cu.M (5 seats) ---- 0.840 cu.M (2 seats) ---- 1.600 cu.M (2 seats loading to roof)
Tank capacity ------------------- 70 lts
Engine
Type ------------------------------ 5 cyl. DOHC 20v, turbocharged, diesel
Capacity ------------------------- 2400 cc
Compression ratio ------------- 17.3 : 1
Max. injection pressure ------- Volvo appear to be unable or unwilling to supply this information
Max. boost pressure ----------- Volvo unable or unwilling to supply this information
Bore x stroke ------------------- 81 mm x 93.1 mm
Power ----------------------------- 136 kW @ 4,000 rpm ----------------- Specific output -------- 56.666 kW/lt
Torque --------------------------- 400 Nm @ 2,750 rpm ----------------- Specific torque ------ 166.666 Nm/lt
CO2 emissions ------------------ 219 gm/km ----------------------------- Specific CO2 ------ 91.250 gm/km/lt
Transmission
Type ------------------------------ 6 speed sequential manual/automatic (Geartronic)
Ratios ---------------------------- Gearbox -------------------------------- Overall
1st -------------------------------- }
2nd ------------------------------- }
3rd -------------------------------- }
4th -------------------------------- } Volvo unable or unwilling to supply this information
5th -------------------------------- }
6th -------------------------------- }
Reverse -------------------------- }
Final drive ----------------------- } ***********
Suspension
Front ----------------------------- MacPherson strut, L-shaped lower transverse arm, 23 mm anti-roll bar
Rear ------------------------------ Blade type trailing arm, short forward lower transverse arm, upper transverse arm, long lower rear transverse arm, seating coil spring and telescopic damper, 20 mm anti-roll bar
Steering
Type ------------------------------ Power assisted, rack and pinion
Turns lock to lock ------------- 3.0
Wheel diameter ---------------- 380 mm
Brakes
Type ------------------------------ Servo assisted dual circuit with anti-lock, emergency brake assist, electronic force distribution, fading brake assist, ready alert brakes, dynamic stability control plus traction control
Front ----------------------------- Ventilated disc ------------------------- 316 mm x 28 mm
Rear ------------------------------ Ventilated disc ------------------------- 302 mm x 22 mm
Wheels
Type ------------------------------ 6 spoke, cast alloy, 5 stud
Size ------------------------------- 7.5J x 18
Spare ----------------------------- None
Tyres
Type ------------------------------ Pirelli Scorpion Zero
Size ------------------------------- 235/50 R 18 ---- 97V
Spare ----------------------------- None
Performance
Top speed ----------------------- 205 kph --------------------------------- 127 mph
0-100 kph ----------------------- 9.9 secs
Fuel consumption
Urban ---------------------------- 10.5 lt/100 km ------------------------- 26 mpg
Extra urban ---------------------- 7.0 lt/100 km -------------------------- 40 mpg
Combined ----------------------- 8.3 lt/100 km -------------------------- 34 mpg
Warranty/service
Coverage ------------------------- 2 years unlimited, 2 years paint, 12 years perforation
Service interval ----------------- 30,000 km (20,000 miles)/1 year
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Recommended retail price (excluding delivery and associated charges)
Volvo XC70 2.4 diesel Lux ------------------------------------ Euro 65,500
Plus optional extras fitted:
Power folding door mirrors ---------------------------------------------------------- 585
18” alloy wheels ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 795
Front and rear park assist ------------------------------------------------------------ 440
Price as tested ------------------------------------------------------------ Euro 67,320
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Photo gallery
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