Volvo XC70: Big, boxy and dependable
Uncomplicated: if the Volvo XC70 collects a scratch or a dent, it really doesn't matter
Specifications
Model: Volvo XC70 D5 SE Automatic
Engine: 2.4-litre turbo diesel
Max power: 185bhp @ 4,000rpm
Max Torque: 2,95lb ft @ 2,000-2,750rpm
Top Speed: 127mph 0-62mph: 9.9 seconds
Fuel consumption: 34mpg (combined)
Price: €46,295
In the days when engines were as ecologically-friendly as whaling ships built from rainforest lumber, only three main body-shapes existed – saloon, estate or sports car.
Today we have moved on from destroying the planet as we travel and the choice of silhouette is greater than ever before. Some efforts have been less successful than others – adding gas-guzzling 4x4s to a range just as green became the hottest thing since Kermit the Frog – and only a few household names held their original values highly enough to continue as they first began. Land Rover, Jeep and Bentley fall into that category; Volvo does, too.
The new XC70 is a perfect example of a manufacturer sticking to what it does best. The car makes no false claims, it's just a large estate car with an optional four-wheel drive system for those who want it. Does that sound unfair? I hope not.
You see, not much has changed in the 11 years since it went into production. Apart from minor tweaks and abolishment of the "Cross Country" appellation, it's still the same durable car it always was. Big, boxy, and the perfect vehicle to move your mother-in-law's washing machine without compromising passenger space or securing the tailgate with a short piece of string. Volvo estates are loved by antique traders everywhere because it's hard to find a car that will swallow a Louis XVI wardrobe whole.
"Ah-ha!" I hear you say, "but if that's the case, why not buy the V70 and be done with it?" It's a valid argument – the cars are almost identical – but all-wheel drive makes the XC70 as capable as several, larger compact SUVs. It doesn't have lower gearing, but the car's electronics organise torque distribution to whichever wheels are in need of it. And in that respect the system is like any other – it's an insurance policy against bad weather conditions, not an invitation to gallop across the Yorkshire dales.
Unfortunately, the premium for that insurance is quite high. The entry-level XC70 starts at €46,295, €6,771 more than the basic V70 SE model, which is a considerable sum for 4WD, increased ride height and chassis guards. The XC70 also weighs in at nearly two tons, so brake too hard and that increased ride height means on-road handling is more of an aspiration than a certainty. To improve matters, a further price hike would include the supplementary Four-C active chassis. But while three additional driving settings sound tempting, it's important to remember this is, after all, still an estate. Miracles are rare in a car that wallows all over the place to begin with.
Better news appears as hill descent control and a smattering of leather appear in all three levels of trim. The floating centre console has lost its novelty appeal, and "out of sight, out of mind" means Polos thrown into the convenient storage area behind it are still quickly forgotten. But on the positive side, passive and non-passive safety features still abound and an integrated child's booster seat within the rear seat is a piece of sheer brilliance. Light ash veneer in the cabin area is the only real negative in the XC70's interior. It's begging for a Swedish cliché, such as "looks like an off-cut from Ikea". That aside, it's still hard to knock the build quality of any Volvo.
I have a simple test, which proves this point. I thump a new car's door panels, just enough to mimic a small child deprived of a Big Mac on the way home from school. It's not the most scientific test but fracturing my trapezium was more likely than inflicting any damage to the XC70. Volvo have built their reputation on protecting occupants. Add durability to the mix, and you understand why they have an enviable 70 per cent loyalty rate amongst their customers. When it goes on sale in September, there will be two engines available; the trusty 2.4-litre D5 diesel and a 3.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol unit. The diesel is expected to take the lion's share of sales, as 34mpg is probably preferable to the minimal improvement in performance from the petrol engine. The automatic gearbox, which is standard with petrol and optional with the diesel engine, is far happier left to its own devices than used in the manual mode. But in either case, it's reassuring to remember that a Volvo with 100,000 miles on the clock is a rarity: a 200,000-miler Volvo is not.
This is an uncomplicated car. If it collects a scratch or dent from the supermarket car park it really won't matter and, actually, that's part of the car's greatest charm. Once a good estate car, always a good estate car; the XC70 will be capable of holding our attention and our loyalty for a long while after its competitors have come and gone.
