Volvo is jack of all trades (From Craven Herald)

Volvo is jack of all trades

1:57pm Wednesday 27th July 2011 in Road Tests By Steve Teale

In marketing terms, the XC70 is a difficult car to categorise. It could be an estate, a cross-over, a 4x4, something of a people-carrier or a combination of all four.

It isn’t really an estate (Volvo already has the V60) or a cross-over (the XC60 fills that gap). But no matter how hard it is to label, it still does a damned fine job.

Volvo is a car company with enough personality not to worry too much about motor industry categories, as it turns out cars which ‘Volvo people’ just adore.

Few marques have the sort of loyalty that this Swedish company enjoys, and that counts for a lot.

The XC70 is essentially a four-wheel-drive estate toughened up for life in the country. And while it looks more like an estate car than a mud-plugger, it can handle rough stuff with distinction, yet looks, feels and sounds like a proper executive car.

Neat design, wonderful ergonomics and a high level of versatility are all priority items on a Volvo buyer’s shopping list, which means combining an estate bodystyle with four-wheel drive doesn’t always equal a full-blown off-roader in the Swedish firm’s book, despite the existence of the hugely popular XC90.

Which is why, in its own way, the XC70 has become something of a sleeper hit. It isn’t a car totally without fault. I, for one, prefer my Volvos to be sleeker without the body-bulges which this car sports. But I guess Volvo wanted this car, of all cars, to be a little different.

The rugged premium estate sector is the niche to end all niches, with Audi’s Allroad the only other direct rival. The Audi is many things, but it’s no Volvo. Cabin and exterior design display the familiar thrusting and powerful Audi trademarks and, despite the brand’s ever rising fortunes, such things aren’t to everyone’s liking.

In contrast, the XC70 looks less threatening from the outside and boasts one of the industry’s best cabins in terms of design, use of trim materials and ergonomics.

In essence, the XC70 is a V70 estate with a little more ground clearance, an intelligent four-wheel drive system and a slightly more rugged-looking exterior.

Now based on the firm’s S80 saloon, the V70 series is a little bigger in all the usual dimensions and now boasts a cabin more able to accommodate a growing family.

Key to the XC70’s appeal is its more refined road manners. Some critics weren’t kind towards the old model, but the use of the S80’s platform sees a marked increase in refinement and ability – on and off road.

From a driver’s perspective, the car’s fixed suspension height poses no real problems on the road, despite the XC being 74mm higher than the regular V70. Adjustable air suspension is still not a widespread technology, and with the XC70 Volvo proves that it’s not an absolute necessity.

The car corners easily and with no discomfort to passengers. Ride quality is pretty good too, which is all the more impressive when you realise that it’s also built to cope with terrain more challenging than the speed bumps in a supermarket car park.

Don’t forget, this is an all-wheel drive Volvo that’s not an XC90. But you can take more liberties than you can with the regular estate variant. The XC70’s beefy exterior and bash-proof styling hint at the ability to cope with moderate slopes, slippery terrain and the odd ford.

In practice, the car proves to be highly capable. The intelligent four-wheel drive system distributes the power to whichever wheels have traction, while the Land Rover-inspired hill descent control allows for drama-free descents at little more than walking pace.

Of course, none of this would be possible without a decent choice of engines. Tested here is a 2.0-litre five-cylinder unit.

Essentially, potential owners have a straight choice between petrol and diesel – a 3.2-litre straight-six with 238 horsepower and a 2.4-litre five-cylinder with 185 horsepower respectively, plus the newer 2.0-litre diesel option.

Each engine has its own merits, and if you are after low-down performance for towing or regular off-roading, the diesel will probably suit your needs. The petrol option is certainly quieter at low speeds and more suited to drivers seeking an added on-road performance edge. A six-speed auto gearbox comes standard with the petrol variant, and is optional over the standard six-speed manual on the diesel.

As you’d expect, almost every other aspect of the XC70 mirrors that of the V70. From the perspective of living with the car, its cabin feels exceptionally well-built and thought out, while Volvo’s interior colour palette includes some seriously refreshing light shades. You won’t find any Germanic doom and gloom here.

Available in the same SE, SE Sport and SE Lux specification levels of the V70, equipment levels are pretty good. Most things are electric, there’s a powerful stereo as standard plus leather upholstery, while Sport and Lux variants gain various combinations of driver adjustable suspension settings, an electrically operated tailgate, Xenon headlamps and rear parking sensors. And don’t forget, all cars share the V70’s 40/20/40 split rear seats and 1,600-litre boot, with the seats folded.

As niche cars go, the XC70 is surprisingly mainstream. The car’s building blocks are known quantities and its overall appeal stems from its practical nature. And yet, try finding something with the same quality feel and understated design and you’ll struggle. Thanks to a certain German rival, the XC70 can’t be described as a unique proposition, but viewed in isolation it might as well be.

Volvo XC70 D3 DRIVe ES five-door:- PRICE: £27,960. Range spans £27,960 to £39,230.

ENGINE: a 1,984cc, five-cylinder unit generating 163ps via six-speed and front wheel drive.

PERFORMANCE: Top speed 127mph, 0-60mph in 9.6 seconds.

COSTS: urban (town) 36.7mpg; extra-urban (country) 58.9mpg; combined 47.9mpg.

EMISSIONS: 154g/km.

INSURANCE: Group 29 (1-50).

WARRANTY: Three years, 60,000 miles.

Steve’s ratings: Performance: 3/5 Economy: 4/5 Ride/Handling: 4/5 Space/Practicality: 4/5 Equipment: 4/5 Security/Safety: 4/5 Value For Money: 3/5 OVERALL: 4/5