Volvo V70 R
Volvo Have A Formidable Record Of Quick Estates Yet The V70 R Is The Most Capable Of The Lot. By Andy Enright
Coming from a country frequently blanketed in snow it is a little baffling that Volvo took so long to embrace four-wheel drive. The V70 Cross Country model paved the way for a number of ever improving all-wheel drive cars but only with the launch of the V70 R have the company married a capable four-wheel drive chassis with their tradition of building maniacally fast estate cars. It may have taken its time, but we can assure you, the Volvo V70 R is well worth the wait, especially now the standard Four-C active chassis has been further fine-tuned with second generation software and settings specifically for UK road conditions.
With 300bhp on tap from its 2.5-litre turbocharged engine, the V70 R is rarely at a loss for traction, the intelligent Haldex differential directing drive to whichever wheel is most capable of deploying it. The V70 R is a far cry from the Volvo estates that preceded it. Hands up if you remember the Volvo 850 T5 estates of the eighties.
| Build |
 |
| Comfort |
 |
| Depreciation |
 |
| Economy |
|
| Equipment |
|
| Handling |
|
| Insurance |
|
| Performance |
 |
| Styling |
|
| Value |
|
With an engine developing 225bhp, rock hard suspension and super-low profile tyres youd have thought it would have made mincemeat of most hot hatches on a twisty road. Yes, they rubbed a few noses in the gravel traps on the Touring Car circuits, but the road car was a different kettle of fish. Unleash the power and youd see the revs rise, hear the front tyres scrabbling desperately for grip and watch the speedometer needle make no appreciable progress whatsoever. It was even worse in the wet, whilst anybody who even managed to negotiate their driveway in snowy conditions in a T5, or worse still a T5-R, deserved a medal for outstanding car control.
In short, the car appeared good on paper, but the traction shortcomings meant it was an absolute misery to drive in poor conditions.
Volvo thus found itself in a position familiar to
Audi. With an increasingly powerful range of cars all based on front-wheel drive architecture, the only practical way forward is through the provision of four- wheel drive. The V70 R is a testament to this pragmatic approach and, carrying a retail price of £38,133, a surprisingly affordable one.
If you want a full-sized estate with four-wheel drive, you can either pay for the Volvo or stump up another £6,500 for the significantly slower Audi A6 4.2V8 Avant. If you want a slightly quicker estate, you could opt for a Mercedes C55 AMG, but youd have to fork out another £11,000 and youd be getting a much smaller car without four-wheel drive. Suddenly the V70 R looks a very astute piece of marketing.
"If you want a car that screams look at me, the V70 R will disappoint. If inconspicuous speed is more your thing, we can think of few better"
Other than these two choices there dont appear to be too many other credible options. Compared to these two contenders the V70 R is not only bigger and better value, but is also more economical and the only car fitted with a six-speed gearbox as standard. Performance is very rapid indeed, the manual car reaching 60mph in a flashing 5.7 seconds with a top speed of 155mph.
Opt instead for the £39,483 Geartronic automatic version and the sprint is covered in a more sedate 7.5 seconds. A combined fuel economy figure of 25.9mpg is some achievement for such a big, powerful car.
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, this 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.
A recent set of revisions has left few areas of the V70s make-up untouched. Amongst the cosmetic changes is a more streamlined bumper and grille set with clear rear lights being fitted to all models. Volvos second-generation Four-C suspension system is included on the V70 R with the Comfort and Sport settings now better tuned for UK road surfaces. The cabin has also been spruced up.
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 new V70 come 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 models also get a passenger airbag cut off switch and the Blind Spot Information System (BLIS).
This 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, producing a warning light if theres anything lurking there. For a company as pragmatic as Volvo its amazing that the V70 R has taken this long to materialise. Now that it has, the opposition should be very afraid.
Although it doesnt boast the most dynamic image, those who like to get from A to B quickly, safely and with room to spare will appreciate its spare good looks. Offering a major bang for your buck, the V70 R looks to be this years Q-car supreme.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Volvo V70 R
PRICES: £38,133 on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 18
CO2 EMISSIONS: 261g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 5.7s /Max Speed 155mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 19mpg/ (extra urban) 32.8mpg/ (combined) 25.9mpg
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
<< Back to Volvo car reviews
<< Back to car reviews homepage
Find New & Used Cars in the UK |
New & Used Volvo Cars For Sale UK
