Volvo V70 2.4-litre 140/170bhp RANGE
Volvo Continues To Dominate The Executive Estate Sector With The V70. A Look At These Entry-Level Variants Explains Why. Jonathan Crouch Reports
The V70 is a prestigious Volvo estate that looks expensive. And if by expensive, you mean over £25,000, then the turbocharged petrol versions very definitely are. That is, of course, until you start to consider the comparable and generally pricier opposition from
Saab,
Audi, Mercedes and
BMWOf course, if you dont really need turbocharged power, life becomes a lot cheaper. The V70 variants that most people buy are the entry-level 140bhp or 170bhp 2.4-litre models, priced from £22,683. Both engines are five cylinder units offering decent performance despite the lack of turbocharged urge.
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Opt for the 140bhp version and sixty is 10.5s away en route to 127mph. In the 170bhp model (priced from £24,083), sixty is 9.0s away from rest and 130mph is possible flat-out.
Buyers choose between three different trim levels S, Sport or SE but whichever model you choose, expect to find it decently equipped. The S models get ABS, twin front and side airbags, all-round electric windows and air conditioning, wood-effect trim, alloy wheels, a leather steering wheel, an eight-speaker stereo system and cruise control. Sport chips in with the expected bigger alloys, spoiler and sports suspension. The SE variants meanwhile, also boast climate control, front foglamps, a trip computer and leather upholstery.
In the latest round of revisions,
Volvo have also taken further steps to differentiate the trim levels visually. Sport and SE versions also feature body coloured side mouldings, bumpers and spoilers while the SE versions additionally feature chrome strips on the bumpers. Enough of the showroom talk what of the car itself? Well, as you might guess from a cursory glance, this estate-only model range shares much with the flagship S80 saloon, though its some 110mm shorter and 30mm narrower overall on a wheelbase shrunk also by 30mm. Much has been made in Volvos advertising of the cars good looks but what customers in this sector really care about is load-lugging ability.
They get it.
"What customers in this sector really care about is load-lugging ability. They get it...
"
Volvo claims a rear-seats-down capacity of 1641 litres in a boot that is longer, wider and taller than that of the old V90, for so long the king of the Volvo estate castle. Nor has style been sacrificed at the altar of practicality. Where the old V70 was all sharp angles and boxy looks, the new one is curvy all over. British designer Peter Horbury has cleverly decreased the amount the side glass curves from front to rear, for maximum style at the driving end and maximum carrying ability at the business end.
That rear, as before, is distinguished by Volvos now-usual pillars of tail lights which now have clear lenses. The other major change to the exterior is a more streamlined bumper and grille set. While the old wiper system for the front lights has been replaced by a high pressure jetwash and the light lenses themselves are a lightweight plastic that offers better resistance to stone chipping. The V70 cabin has also been spruced up with a revised aluminium trim and the deletion of the rather unconvincing wood effect trim in favour of genuine Californian walnut.
The audio systems have been upgraded and the centre of the dashboard and the centre console both offer superior build quality and features with an armrest that doubles as a tray and cupholder. Clever detailing, not all of it Volvo-original, abounds. Balti-loving Brummie designers may have been first to put a take-away curry hook in a (
Land Rover Discovery) centre console but theres no harm in Volvo lifting the idea and suggesting its also ideal for a handbag. And, of course, theirs folds away.
Then theres the two-position rear
seat backrest to boost luggage space. Plus Volvo exclusives such as an under-floor shopping bag holder, an (optional) airline-style centre table for rear seat passengers, a plastic rubbish bag holder in the centre console and a hook in the front passenger seat headrest so the driver can grab his jacket without leaving his seat. Nifty. Safety? Take top-spec for granted; this is a new Volvo, after all.
From previous models you get SIPS side impact protection, WHIPS whiplash protection, an inflatable curtain of head-level side airbags and the DSTC anti-skid system. With the V70 comes dual-stage airbag inflation (determined by impact severity) and Isofix mountings for the optional rear-facing child seat to ensure correct fitting every time you install Junior. The latest model also includes A passenger airbag cutoff switch has been fitted in response to customers looking to carry child seats up front and theres another Volvo safety innovation that will doubtless find its way into many other rival cars. Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) acts much like an extra set of eyes and utilizes digital camera technology mounted in the door mirrors to monitor the areas 3m to each side and up to 9.
5m behind the driver. Special water repellent glass is fitted to the mirrors and side windows. Water beads up on the glass and the airstream quickly clears it, leaving unimpeded visibility. If you really dont like the entry-level 2.
4-litre units featured here, there are other options. First, a turbo diesel Volvos own common-rail unit which is offered in 163bhp 2.4D form or as a 185bhp D5. If you want a bit more performance, then a good option is the turbocharged 2.
5-litre 220bhp engine fitted to the 2.5T but theres also a less powerful 2.0T engine with 180bhp. Then there are the Dual Fuel versions which can utilise LPG and CNG to cut fuel bills.
The sporting T5 model gets a mighty 2.4-litre fully turbocharged powerplant recently upgraded to punch out 260bhp. A more extreme version of this engine, tuned for 300bhp, is fitted to the flagship V70 R sports estate, good for a top speed of 155mph and a sprint to 60mph in just 5.7 seconds.
As ever, the model line-up is vast. Theres a long list of factory-fitted options and dealer-installed accessories. If your eyes glaze over at brochures that look like computer program code, consider the various option packs that group popular options together and make the choosing easier. Tougher-looking and taller four-wheel-drive XC Cross Country versions are also available.
Though an excellent car, the previous V70 was starting to look - and feel - just a little dated. This car put that right and the latest set of revisions should ensure that its maker will continue to dominate this sector.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Volvo V70 2.4 140/170bhp range
PRICES: £22,683-£26,583 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 13
CO2 EMISSIONS: 197-210 g/km
PERFORMANCE: [170bhp] 0-60mph 9.0s /Max Speed 130mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [170bhp] (urban) 23.5mpg/ (extra urban) 40.4mpg/ (combined) 32.1mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Driver's airbag, side airbags, ABS, whiplash protection, Isofix child seat mounts
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: (length/width/height) 4710/1804/1488mm
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