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Volvo XC70 D5 SE road test report

D5 SE

As one of three Volvo XC cars, this car is a close relation to the classic Volvo V70 estate car. The XC70 is the slightly chunkier, offroading sibling for people yearning for the practicality of an estate coupled to the adaptability of all wheel drive. Throw into the mix that it has more ground clearance than the V70 and this car is ideally suited for outdoor pursuits when the odd muddy track or icy road needs to be carefully negotiated.

Road Test Reports Says 4 star rating
A front-facing image of the Volvo XC70 D5 SE

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RICHARD LAWTON SAYS

Performance Performance - 4 stars

The Volvo XC70 comes with a choice of three engines – a single petrol choice, or two diesels. For motorists looking at petrol, the car is available with a powerful turbocharged 3.0 litre T6 engine; however the car on test was the more powerful of the two diesel units available – the D5. The 2.4 litre engine has 205PS on call which enables the manual to get from 0-60mph in 7.9 seconds or 8.4 seconds for the geartronic (automatic). The alternative diesel, the D3, is a 2.0 litre unit available in front wheel drive and is the DRIVe option, meaning it’s the most fuel efficient XC70 available with a combined mpg of 47.9. Back to the test car, the D5 was coupled to Volvo’s geartronic transmission, and opting for the autobox does impact on fuel economy and performance but not excessively so – official figures indicate that it takes 0.5 seconds longer to get from 0-60mph, and combined mpg falls by 1.7 to 39.2. Unlike some automatics the geartronic system in the XC70 didn’t suffer any noticeable lag and responded quickly and athletically when called upon, gear changes were smooth and swift making it a very easy drive. The D5 delivers brisk performance when you’re behind the wheel and there always feels like there’s more power lurking should the situation require it. Less impressive is that although the car is supremely comfortable in munching through motorway miles the engine is pretty thirsty. For example, during a long motorway run on test we were experiencing around 36.5miles to the gallon. And while the fuel tank is a big 70 litres so fuel stops wont be frequent, it won’t be winning any mpg awards either. For many drivers though it will be the car’s rugged off-road skills which will be of interest. In fact, even though the bigger Volvo XC90 is a genuine SUV, it is the XC70 which is most used by Volvo customers as an offroading vehicle. According to Volvo most XC90s never leave tarmac! The same cannot be said of this car, with it being popular with people participating in outdoor pursuits, whether it’s biking, surfing, or skiing.

Ride & Handling Ride & Handling - 4 stars

The balancing act of having a capable off roading vehicle and one which is adept on the roads can be a tricky one – and Volvo has made a serious effort in ensuring that the car has good dynamics on both surfaces. Its rigid body ensures that the driver remains in control off road, and this rigidity also helps on the road too. Behind the wheel handling is responsive and gives plenty of feedback to the driver, while the ride is firm without becoming harsh. As you would expect on a four wheel drive car, there’s plenty of grip to be had, and you can throw it around corners safe in the knowledge that the car isn’t going to do anything unexpected. It is 74mm higher than the Volvo V70 meaning that the XC70 has an effective clearance from the ground beneath of 210mm, giving the car genuine offroad ability.

Build Quality & Reliability Build Quality & Reliability - 5 stars

It’s difficult to find fault with the revised XC70. Extremely well put together and along with a very impressive interior finish makes it a score well in this category. Volvo’s current interior finish is something to behold, and much like the V60 and S60, the classy and uncluttered dash reeks of quality. Some of the finer controls can be a little fiddly to suss out but that’s a minor quibble. To cope with the rigours of off road, the XC70 is fitted with a substantial lower body kit to protect it from scrapes and scratches.

Safety & Security Safety & Security - 5 stars

Being a Volvo you can also be assured that the XC70 is a very safe car, featuring a myriad of safety equipment. In fact, it shares much of the same equipment as what is found in the S80 saloon, including DSTC (Dynamic Stability and Traction Control), Collision Warning with Auto Brake, and a patented body shell designed to dissipate the energy in an impact.

Space & Practicality Space & Practicality - 5 stars

Four wheel drive and an estate, that’ll make it a supremely practical car then, and it can genuinely be taken offroad – although careful about clearance because while it has been raised up a little in comparison with the V70 it doesn’t have the clearance of an SUV. The benefits of an estate body are there for all to see and the XC70 doesn’t disappoint. Boot space is a healthy 575 litres, which extends to 1,600 litres with the back seats down. Most Volvo’s also come with a surprisingly handy ‘floor flap’ which partitions the boot and helps prevent items rattling around a half empty space. There’s more than enough in the back for bikes, camping equipment, or lots of shopping bags. Roof rails are also a standard feature right across the range, if that cavernous boot isn’t quite big enough for you.

Ownership & Value Ownership & Value - 4 stars

Available in three trim levels – ES, SE, and SE Lux – prices start from £28,285 for the D3 DRIVe ES model. The model on test was the D5 SE priced at £34,380, although with the extras taken into account this pushed the car’s price to just over £40k (June 2011 prices). So not cheap then, but it is a lot of car, and a lot of equipment for your hard earned cash. It also sits in a segment where there aren’t a whole lot of genuine alternatives – pretty much its only direct competition are Audi’s two allroad models, based on the A4 and A6. Offering a similar amount of space to that of the A6 but for around the same money as the A4. Although Volvo has made significant fuel consumption improvements compared to the older versions of the model, it is still a relatively expensive car to run. We struggled to get much more than 36mpg on a run and CO2 emissions place the car in VED band J. But this criticism is one levelled at the whole 4x4 market and not just this car; it’s the price you pay for having a heavy vehicle with a big engine. However, if it’s a high quality alternative to a SUV you’re after then the Volvo XC70 should be seriously considered.

Submitted: 27/06/2011 15:29:43

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