| AUTO FINANCE |
Get a FREE, No-obligation
internet price quote!
At Automobile.com we strive to
provide hassle-free auto finance quotes.
|
|
|
|
| Concept Car Tools |
|
|
|
|
Large wagons are quintessentially Volvo. Big, spacious, roomy and great forthe long haul. Truly, if there's one thing that Volvo does well, it's that they make amazing large station wagons. Continuing with tradition is the brand new V70, an extremely important vehicle to the brand. Volvo has modified the large family carrier's direction for '08, putting greater emphasis on styling and luxury, while maintaining the current car's reputation for comfort, safety and practicality. Volvo predicts that its new V70 won't just be for growing families with young children, but rather the new car is expected to be bought by active empty nesters, or those who don't have any children at all.
The new V70 is what we'd call a conservative update of the currentcar's body style. There's a lot going on underneath the sheet metal, but the skin might have you believe otherwise. The familiar face of the current car is slightly softer this year,
 |
| The big Volvo wagon rides again. (Photo: Volvo) |
although there's a greater emphasis on some of the existing curves and contours which have helped forge Volvo's revitalized image over the last eight or so years. For instance, the way that the hood is raised up from the side fenders is further accentuated with greater height. There are also the trademark shoulders that run from nose to tail, a Volvo tradition for as long as I can remember. In the new car, Volvo's put greater emphasis on these shoulders by altering the vertical tail lamps; now they broaden towards the bottom into a bulb-like cluster, just like on the stylish C30. The tailgate design features a low liftover height and smoothly integrates
 |
| Looking especially sharp from the tail; LEDs light up the C30-style tail lights. (Photo: Volvo) |
into the rear bumper, and just in case its overall wagon shape doesn't give away its lineage from the rear, it's capped with classic Volvo script. Overall, the profile of the V70 has changed ever so slightly, although it still maintains its place in the five-door market segment as a traditional wagon with an upright tail, as opposed to "lifestyle" wagons that have angled rear pillars, such as the Audi A6 Avant and the BMW 5-Series Touring, which don't hold as much cargo.
If it's space that you're after, it's hard to argue against the new V70 as it offerseven more interior and cargo volume than the outgoing model. The completely new platform that it rides on grants it an extra 1.89
 |
| Interior a wonderful blend of leather, wood and metal. (Photo: Volvo) |
inches of rear legroom, plus more headroom. Meanwhile, owners can haul an extra 1.94 cubic feet worth of cargo, which firmly puts the V70 at the top of its class for load hauling capability. But with the V70 it's not just the space that matters, but rather it's what you can do with it. Volvo has paid close attention to this area of the vehicle offering features such as a power operated tailgate, a sliding floor to ease loading and unloading, lockable under-floor storage, and even a pair of aluminum rails for tying down loads. One option that we really like is the availability of laminated glass to deter smash and grab thefts, important for those who leave their valuables in the car or live/work in an area prone to hapless vandalism.
Now that Volvo is phasing out the inline-five engine for
 |
| No V8, but for the family that likes to get where they're going fast, Volvo will offer a turbo I-6. (Photo: Volvo) |
its largermodels, the XC90 and S80, the V70 follows suit as far as North Americans are concerned. The main powerplant for our market will be the 3.2-liter inline-six that was developed with Ford's PAG division, turning out 232 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. It provides more power than most of Volvo's inline-fives, with the exception of the performance-oriented T5 model, and the ultra-high performance 300-horsepower R. Elsewhere around the world, the V70 can still be had with inline-five motors, including ones that are capable of running on E85. To our knowledge, Volvo will not be installing the V8 engine that it developed with Yamaha, even though the motor would fit, and would certainly give the new V70 the image of a hot rod family hauler.
But the family man (or woman) should be able tohave fun behind the wheel just the same. Those who appreciate Volvo's
 |
| AWD, Four-C damping and the turbo should make this a brisk driving experience. (Photo: Volvo) |
performance models will be glad to know that a turbocharger will be available in the new car. Though it has yet to be confirmed for North America, the Europeans will be getting a new "T6" model that makes use of a smaller-displacement, 3.0-liter version of the naturally aspirated engine, developing an impressive 281 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. Given that the previous-generation T5 had trouble putting its 257 horsepower though the front wheels, the extra ponies in the new car are corralled through all-wheel drive. This most certainly will give the standard crop of Teutonic touring wagons a good run for their money, confirmed by Volvo which says that the T6 is capable of hitting 60 mph in just about seven seconds. Unfortunately, as the current generation passes on, so will the choice of a manual transmission. Only the six-speed Geartronic automatic transmission will be offered.
Like the move to automatic-only, the new V70's not as bold or daring as some
 |
| Some things never change: Volvo V70 is a true cargo hauler. (Photo: Volvo) |
of Volvo's previous efforts, but then again,this being their biggest wagon, Volvo hardly wanted to alienate buyers with anything too radical. The dashboard and console are near identical to the S80, which is itself draws from the smaller C30/S40/V50/C70, all of which feature the thin floating center console and television remote-style HVAC/stereo controls. Layout aside, the interior of the V70 is a world of high-end Scandinavian luxury, including rich leather, natural grain woods and beautiful metal. New seats provide excellent support for fatigue-free drives, but enhance the legendary comfort factor by offering heat and ventilation. The cabin is rounded out by a wide selection of high fidelity stereo systems including a top of the line unit that pumps out 910 watts of Bang & Olufsen IcePOWER enhanced through Dynaudio speakers, plus the capability to play MP3s direct from an iPod or via a USB cable without using an aux-in jack.
When Volvo says that they're out to make the safestvehicle in the sport wagon class, you know that whatever they come up with will
 |
| Keeping kids of all sizes safe and secure. (Photo: Volvo) |
be segment leading. The V70 brings brand new safety features to the table, including built-in child booster seats with two height levels, as well as a new kind of side impact protection system that utilizes side airbags that deploy at different speeds in order to give the occupant as much protection as possible. Volvo also prides themselves in some advanced braking technology. It's not as groundbreaking as ABS, brake assist or stability control was when these debuted, but nevertheless each technology provides a step forward in optimal safety. The V70 features Optimized Hydraulic Brakes that use hydraulics to compensate for low vacuum power, Ready Brake Alert which primes the brakes once the driver lets off the gas pedal, and Fade Brake Support that dials in hydraulic force to keep pedal feel and braking performance consistent, even under heavy loads. Dynamic Traction and Stability Control (DTSC) will be standard.
Being what might be the ultimate family-friendly vehicle, the V70's advanced child booster seat deserves a more detailed description than the mere mention earlier in this review. Volvo, as well as other automakers, have offered
 |
| Cargo bay is flexible thanks to new attachments and aluminum floor rails. It also holds more. (Photo: Volvo) |
such a feature before, but the Swedish brand is now delivering a dual-height system intended for different sized children. We all know that kids grow up fast, so Volvo has designed a booster that helps provide optimal safety no matter the child's age or size, streamlined in with the rest of the vehicle's safety equipment. Because the safety seats are mounted on the car's outboard positions, Volvo lengthened the side curtain airbags to provide better crash protection for little ones. The car's side airbags have also been modified with the design from the S80; the portion that protects the hips inflates faster and stronger than the areas that protect the torso and head, giving better overall protection while reducing the risk of injury. Second-generation whiplash protection is also standard, providing a gentler damping motion in the event of a rear-end collision.
The new V70 will make its world debut shortly at the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland. It will be on sale in Europe by autumn of this year. Expect more details with regards to its pricing and specification pertinent to the North American market closer to its launch, expected late this year, or early next year.
Preliminary Specifications:
