Volvo V70 DRIVe : DRIVe DOWN YOUR COSTS

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Volvo's DRIVe models offer enhanced efficiency but at what cost? Steve Walker checks out the V70 1.6D DRIVe.

There are plenty of performance estate cars around at the moment. Some have upwards of 400bhp if you really want to get your dog's attention, but if it's family-friendly thrills that you're after, Volvo's V70 isn't one of the obvious choices. The V70 is family-friendly alright; safe, well built and roomy, but it leaves the exhilarating driving experiences to its pet-worrying rivals. All of which might suggest that a 1.6-litre diesel engine and Volvo's flagship estate might not be the mismatch it sounds. Let's take a look at the V70 1.6 DRIVe.

A few short years ago, fitting a 1.6-litre diesel to a car the size of the V70 would have been like recruiting a team of elderly hamsters to pull a stagecoach. Time and engine technology have moved on though and Volvo wouldn't have dropped its 1.6-litre oil-burner into the V70 if it didn't think it could do the job. Performance, after all, isn't the point of the V70 1.6 DRIVe: this car is all about efficiency. `DRIVe' is Volvo's economy brand and models carrying the badge feature various alterations designed to minimise their fuel consumption and emissions. The 1.6-litre diesel engine was developed by PSA Peugeot Citroen and BMW. It crops up in numerous Ford products as well as models from those manufacturers but few if any of them are as substantial as the Volvo V70. At least the engine itself is lightweight, helping the V70 DRIVe to achieve 0-60mph acceleration in 12.2s and an eventual top speed of 115mph. Maximum torque of 240Nm is developed at 1,750rpm, so there's a reasonable amount of low-end shove but a fully-loaded V70 is still likely to be a challenge for a 109bhp engine. To help get the most out of the 1.6-litre diesel unit from an economy point of view, a number of modifications were made to the V70. The suspension is lowered by 20mm and the radiator grille is partially screened off to help with aerodynamics. Low rolling resistance tyres are fitted and there's an electric power steering system to replace the hydraulic one of the standard cars. There are also modifications to the engine itself in the form of tweaked fuel injectors and adjustments to the engine management software, while the top three gears of the five-speed gearbox are longer than normal.

"The V70 looks conspicuously good value for money in 1.6D DRIVe guise"

Recent styling tweaks mean that the rear end of this V70 looks a little more svelte than before but Volvo hasn't been diverted from this car's raison d'etre - lugging gear. Lots of it. The clever trick is that Volvo has disguised the car's inherent boxiness with neat detailing like the split high-level tail lights. There's a class-competitive 540-litres of virgin space back there and a massive space of 1,600 litres can be liberated if you fold the rear seats down and stack your cargo to the roofline. The 40-20-40 three part split/fold rear seat offers 16 different combinations and the loadbay floor itself features aluminium rails and movable anchoring points. A sliding load floor is also offered as an option, as is a powered tailgate. There's no cheaper way into a Volvo V70 than the DRIVe model. It's available in SE or SE Premium trim but there's a hefty £2,000 price differential between the two. The standard specification is far from shabby with a 160 watt stereo, rain-sensing wipers and a rear-view mirror with integrated compass (who needs satellite navigation?). On the outside, there's a smart set of 17" alloy wheels. Being a Volvo, the V70 comes with a massive array of safety kit. The Premium upgrade is basically leather trim and satellite navigation, so many buyers will deem it worth the £2,000, but such luxuries aren't really in-keeping with the austere approach of the DRIVe model and we'd be tempted to stick with the car in its most basic and cost effective form. The running costs attached to the V70 1.6D DRIVe are suitably modest and will go a long way towards making up for its lack of firepower. 57.5mpg is the combined cycle bottom line and that comes with CO2 emissions of 129g/km. There are plenty of superminis that can't equal these kinds of figures. The big names like BMW, Audi and Mercedes all have models that run the V70 DRIVe very close with economy in the low 50's from cars that have far superior performance but if outright economy is your bag, the Volvo will hold definite appeal. Company car user-choosers and fleet managers will take particular interest in the big Volvo, which could represent a viable alternative to the downsizing into a compact model. The V70 looks conspicuously good value for money in 1.6D DRIVe guise and buyers looking for a big estate car will certainly struggle to find one with similar capacity for much less. The running costs will further massage the bank balance of owners and performance shouldn't be quite the snooze fest you're imagining. People looking for a big estate car that they're really going to put to work with big loads and towing duties would be better off with a more powerful model but as a spacious car for everyday family driving, this eco-focused V70 delivers the goods.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: Volvo V70 1.6D DRIVe
PRICES: £22,745-£24,745 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 12 [est]
CO2 EMISSIONS: 129g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 12.1s /Max Speed 115mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 57.7mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Driver's airbag, side airbags and curtain, ABS, whiplash protection, Isofix child seat mounts, DSTC stability control, rear child booster seat
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: (length/width/height) 4823/1861/1547mm