Volvo V70
June Neary and Family Check Out Volvos Spacious V70 Estate
As a family we've always thought an estate car would suit us. And in this day and age of fast motorways, town congestion and sheer volume of traffic, we're tempted to invest more money in a family car than we've done in the past for the extra peace of mind that superior build quality brings. The
Volvo V70 2.4 D5 estate that I was driving recently appealed to me far more than I expected it to. After all, it looks like a Volvo, solid and dependable but, in its latest form, not quite as dull as the car it replaces.
My dark blue model certainly reflected understated style and the practical greys of the interior were both
smart and soothing. It took me a bit of time to get the hang of starting up and pulling away. There's a hint of delayed reaction with this diesel compared with petrol cars, opening into a surge of power that's quite alarming when you're not ready for it, but stimulating when you know it's there. That said, there was nothing else to complain about. I was reluctant to hand back the keys of a car which would suit not just me but the whole family very well.
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Shorter, wider and higher than its predecessor, the latest V70 feels more spacious inside. The body is also stronger and stiffer so the car feels more solid to drive and does a better job of absorbing bumps while responding more sharply than its predecessor. Volvos second-generation Four-C system helps here. Its available for the first time on the V70 enabling drivers to choose from Comfort and Sport settings with resultant changes to the suspension and steering feel Volvos are nothing if not practical.
Five passengers will travel in complete comfort and the boot space will swallow up a fair bit of kit, too. The driving position is well thought out, with all the buttons and switches close to hand and easy to identify. 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 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.
Apart from struggling to get started smoothly - my fault, I'm sure - I can't criticise the V70 D5 in terms of performance. The book says that its five-cylinder engine develops some 185bhp, if you know about these things, which takes the car to sixty in around 8.5 seconds. For a larger car than I'm used to, the V70 handled beautifully. The power steering felt to me a bit lighter than I might have expected in a heavy car like this, but it's responsive and relaxing. I found myself in a few tight corners, having got lost negotiating my way around East London in the dusk, but was able to effect speedy three-point turns with ease. On the motorway it eats up miles without draining the driver. If like me your longer journeys are few and far between, you'll enjoy letting your hair down in this anything but sluggish estate.
Prices for the V70 estate models start from £22,683 or from £25,913 for the 185bhp D5 diesel version I tried. As usual with Volvo, you can order the car to any one of a variety of different trim packages.
The V70 is an impressive executive contender that's also an admirable family car. If, like us, you're into 'need not speed', then this estate should suit you beautifully, meeting day to day needs while still offering a reasonable level of driving enjoyment. I could certainly live with this Volvo.
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