Volvo V70 T6 AWD 2008 review

It was not long ago that Volvo had the prestige wagon market sewn up. Before 2000, Volvo V70 wagon sales accounted for a sizeable slice of Volvo Cars Australia's local volume. But as carmakers moved away from traditional wagons and into pseudo off-roaders, Volvo also chased a new market.

It gave consumers the five-seater XC70 and seven-seater XC90, leaving the V70 trailing in the sales stakes.

In launching its new V70 T6 AWD, Volvo Cars Australia managing director, Alan Desselss, says the company has tried to reposition the new V70 away from its traditional family wagon role and present it more as a high-end alternative to large off-roaders.

The V70 has the same all-wheel-drive system as the XC70 but will be sold as one model only, the turbo-charged 3.0-litre T6. Positioning the V70 into the local line-up has been a challenge, Desselss says. Because of the success of the XC70 and XC90, the company had toyed with the idea that the V70 may not be needed.

“But from our customer feedback, people wanted this car,” he says.

“We've positioned the V70 above the XC range for the family buyer who wants more performance and luxury.”

Desselss says the V70 is a relevant model, despite a conservative sales forecast of just 120 a year.

The V70 is based on the S80 sedan, the petrol 3.0-litre T6 mated to a six-speed sequential 'Geartronic' automatic driving all four wheels.

The six-cylinder sits sideways in the engine bay and the location of the airconditioning compressor and power steering pump behind the engine in the space above the gearbox provides a compact format.

The turbo is a twin-scroll device that allows quick response low-down in the rev-range and excellent mid-range overtaking ability. Desselss says there are no plans at this stage for other petrol engines, or even a turbo-diesel engine, for the V70.

“I can't imagine there would be a demand for a V70 diesel,” he says.

With pricing set at $67,950 the V70 sits fractionally above the XC70 D5 LE but the Volvo boss says it will attract a different type of buyer.

As expected of a Volvo there is a raft of passive and active safety equipment as well as the expected luxury features such leather, heated front seats, climate control, auto dimming rearview mirror, 18-inch alloys, automatic tailgate, active bi-Xenon headlights and six-stacker CD stereo.

The T6 is fitted with Volvo's active chassis technology, called Four-C.

This is essentially an active suspension system that has three-mode damper settings — comfort, sport or advanced. The system also resists a tendency to squat, dip or roll under hard acceleration, hard braking or emergency steering manoeuvres.

Speed-dependent power steering, meanwhile, is an option, while the power steering effort has three levels of assistance — low, medium and high. The luggage area is a work of art.

There is 555 litres of space with the rear seats in place.

That's 70 litres more than the previous generation V70, adjustable anchorage points on aluminium rails and a 40/20/40 split-rear seatback.

The V70 and XC70 actually share much in styling terms.

But the V70 looses all of the plastic cladding, high-riding attitude and looks more conventional. Only the stylish 18-inch alloys and AWD badge on the back give a hint of the car's performance.

The deep rear glass echoes the C30 hatch and allows excellent rear visibility when reversing. A reversing camera, combined with parking sensors are available as an option.

One thing that strikes you about all Volvos is the integrity and design sophistication of the cars.

The doors shut with a Volvo thunk, the quality and presentation of the interior equals the best out of Germany and ergonomics are spot on.

All-wheel-drive and little things such as the power tailgate, 40/20/40 split rear seatbacks and the thought put into the versatility of the luggage area makes you wonder why anyone would bother with a gas-guzzling SUV. And there are no complaints about the turbocharged 3.0-litre six either.

Snapshot

Volvo V70 T6 AWD

Price: $67,950

Engine: 3L/6-cylinder 210kW/400Nm

Transmission: 6-speed Geartronic automatic 0-100km/h: 7.2 seconds

Economy: 11.3L/100km claimed