2009 Volvo XC70 Review

PROS  Passenger and cargo room, Versatility, Nice interior materials

CONS  Mediocre fuel economy, Bounding ride on base, Confusing climate and radio controls

XC70 was introduced in 2001 as the first luxury "crossover" utility vehicle. It's a high-built version of the V70 station wagon that seats five on twin front buckets and a split-folding rear bench seat. It competes with vehicles like the Acura MDX, Cadillac SRX, Infiniti FX, Lexus RX, Lincoln MKX, and Mercedes-Benz M-Class.

The XC 70 comes in two flavors 3.2 and T6. The 3.2 has a 235-horsepower 3.2-liter inline six-cylinder engine. The T6 comes with a turbocharged 281-horsepower 3.0-liter inline six. Both come standard with all-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission with separate shift gate for manual operation. The all-wheel-drive system does not have a low range and is not intended for severe off-road use. Towing capacity is 3307 pounds.

Standard safety features include antilock four-wheel disc brakes with brake assist, stability control, hill-descent control, traction control, tire-pressure monitor, and dual-front, front-side, and curtain-side airbags. Optional are front- and rear-park assist, blind-spot alert, collision warning with automatic braking, distance alert, lane-departure warning, and driver's alert control.

The 3.2 has a base price of $37,250 and includes air conditioning with dual-zone automatic climate controls, tilt-telescope leather-wrapped steering wheel with radio controls, cruise control, eight-way power driver seat with lumbar adjustment, memory system, center console, heated power mirrors, power windows, power locks, keyless entry, AM/FM/CD/MP3 player with digital-media player connection, Bluetooth cell-phone link, outside-temperature indicator, universal garage door opener, automatic day/night rearview mirror, illuminated visor mirrors, cargo cover, rear defogger, intermittent rear wiper/washer, floormats, theft-deterrent system, roof rails, front and rear fog lights, 215/65R16 tires, and alloy wheels. The $39,500 T6 adds to the 3.2 the more powerful engine and 235/55R17 tires. A sunroof is available at no-charge on either model.

Options include leather upholstery, power passenger seat, wood interior trim, satellite radio, rear radio controls, steering-linked adaptive HID headlights, power liftgate, rear privacy glass, heated front and rear seats, rain-sensing wipers with heated nozzles, headlight washers, integrated child seats, navigation system, rear-seat DVD-based entertainment system, and remote engine start. Both models have an $825 destination charge and are assembled in Sweden.

Get Up and Go  Acceleration with the 3.2-liter is a trifle mild away from stoplights, but passing response is good and the transmission upshifts smoothly and downshifts quickly when called upon. The combo pushes the XC70 from 0 to 60 mph in about 8.5 seconds. That's a little slow for the class, but more than adequate for most needs.

Those wanting a little more oomph can opt for the turbocharged T6. Its engine provides an additional 46 horsepower and 59 pounds-feet of torque. While the turbo motor doesn't turn the XV70 into a race car, the additional power is certainly felt when pulling away from stoplights and in passing situations.

Being a crossover utility wagon, the XC70 isn't intended to be an off-road champion. Rather, it's designed to be capable on dirt and snow-covered roads. The all-wheel-drive system doesn't have a low range, but with 8.3-inches of ground clearance and hill-descent control the XC70 has a leg up on most competitors.

The 2008 XC70 T6 is EPA rated at 15 mpg city and 22 mpg highway. Volvo recommends premium-grade gasoline for best performance and economy. In routine suburban driving expect to average about 17 mpg. If your commute includes a fair amount of highway driving you might be able to average as high as 20 mpg.

On the Road  As far as crossover SUVs go, the XC70 offers one of the better blends of ride comfort and driving dynamics. That's not to say the ride is perfect. The suspension is very supple and does an excellent job of absorbing road imperfections. What imperfections the suspension doesn't filter the tires do. Sadly, this setup allows for a lot of secondary ride motions that induce a bit of queasiness. T6 models, with their larger wheels and tires seem to suffer less from this phenomenon.

Though the XC is more nimble than most crossover competitors, the base model has too much body lean and under steer in quick maneuvers. The steering is accurate, if a little slow, and requires a lot of attention at highway speeds. Brakes are strong and stopping power is impressive. Again, T6 models feel more buttoned up when the road grows twisty.

Given it's tall build and upright stance, XC70 is quieter than you'd expect. Wind noise is appreciably low at extra-legal highway speeds and the engines are gentile-quiet when cruising. Tire roar gets annoying on rough concrete surfaces, but it's not any greater than on competitors.

Behind the Wheel  If you've been in a Volvo lately, the interior of the new XC70 will look very familiar. If not, then you are in for a surprise. Though still somewhat angular in design, current Volvo interiors are contemporary and fresh. Materials and assembly are impressive given the price point and buyers can opt for a premium package that adds lots of wood and leather surfaces.

Two large dials face the driver from behind the extra-large steering wheel. There's a digital bar graph inside the tachometer representing fuel load. Climate and audio controls are placed in an upright center stack. While the design is very post-modern, it isn't all that functional. Thankfully there are large knobs for temperature, volume and tuning, but the rest of the buttons are all jumbled together, making quick operation more of a distraction than it should be.

The optional navigation-system display screen pops out of the top of the dashboard. It's a great location that allows drivers to keep their eyes on the road and doesn't distract when not in use. Too bad the controls are somewhat confusing.

Front seats are super comfy on long trips and well bolstered, holding passengers firmly in place when blasting around on twisty roads. Head and leg room abound, and the tilt-telescope steering wheel makes it easy for drivers to find a comfortable driving position. Thin roof pillars and a tall greenhouse make for excellent outward visibility.

The rear seats are also quite comfortable and offer excellent room for two adults. Sitting three across is a challenge because of the center hump. Getting in and out is a snap thanks to large door openings.

Because the XC70 is basically a high-built V70 wagon, the cargo area usefully shaped. On the downside, ultimate cargo space is about average for the class and the tailgate isn't the largest. Second-row seats fold flat and there's some extra under-floor storage if you want to keep smaller items concealed. Interior storage is highlighted by extra-large front-door map pockets, a perfect nook for a woman's purse behind the center stack, and a shallow center-console bin.

Bottom Line  Perhaps the original crossover, the Volvo XC70 offers all of the features crossover buyers expect in a package that's much more maneuverable and practical that some of its larger competition. Nits are few, namely the bounding ride on the base models and mediocre fuel economy.

In a good way, the XC70 has a major identity crisis. It doesn't know if it wants to be a wagon or a midsize sport-utility vehicle. That allows it to offer the room and comfort of a sedan, the cargo versatility of a wagon, and the utility of an all-wheel drive. A case where being a Jack of all trades is better than being a master of one.

The $37,250 base price is reasonable as well, given all of the standard safety and convenience features. However, buyers need to be judicious when selecting options, as it's easy to push the sticker price north of $45,000.