2002 Volvo V70 - Consumer Guide Automotive

Category	2.4, auto. Rating (See All Ratings)	Premium Midsize Car Average Rating

Acceleration	4	6.2

Fuel Economy	5	4.6

Ride Quality	7	7.2

Steering/Handling/Braking	6	6.7

Quietness	6	6.8

Controls	6	6.3

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)	7	7

Room/Comfort (rear)	6	5.4

Cargo Room	7	4.2

Value within Class	4	5.1

Total Score:	58	59.5

Ratings: Maximum 10 points per category

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2002 Volvo V70 Review

Addition of a "regular" all-wheel-drive model highlights the 2002 changes to Volvo's best-selling line. All V70s are station wagons built on a slimmed-down version of Volvo's flagship S80 sedan platform. All have an inline 5-cyl engine. The base 2.4, the turbo 2.4T, and the sporty T5 models have front-wheel drive. The XC ("Cross Country") has the 2.4T turbo, raised suspension, SUV-influenced trim, and all-wheel drive. Joining it with AWD is the 2.4T AWD, which uses the standard suspension and trim. The 2.4 and T5 offer manual transmission or a 5-speed automatic; other models are automatic only. A manual shift gate for the automatic is available on all but the front-drive 2.4 model. Traction control is standard on front-drive models. An antiskid system is standard on the T5 and optional on all other V70s except the base 2.4. All V70s feature antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, front side airbags, and curtain side airbags. Optional are dual integrated rear child seats and a rear-facing 3rd seat. A navigation system is available on all but the base 2.4, and all but the base 2.4 and XC are available with 17-inch wheels.

Competition

This hotly contested segment has two clear benchmarks; the Acura TL and Lexus ES 300. Both succeed in blending comfort, style, luxury, and sport into an efficient package at an affordable price. ES 300 offers a little more luxury and TL, with it's Type-S, a bit more sport.

We Recommend the sporty and Euro-flavored BMW 3-Series as a rear-drive alternative. The "3" has enough bodystyles and engine choices to suit anyone. At the other end of the near-luxury spectrum is the posh and comfortable Buick Park Avenue--an old-school luxo-cruiser from Detroit.

News

Volvo's midrange wagons are only in the second year of their current design, so no big changes are due for a while. However, a lower-priced XC with front-wheel drive and fewer frills is being rumored for the near future, likely as a sales booster.

The V70 could use a boost. Despite the redesign, year-to-year sales in 2001 were off nearly 27 percent through the third quarter--and that on top of a near 22-percent drop in calendar 2000. A slumping economy didn't help, but Volvo executives must be worried about the trend, especially for such a young basic design that won't be replaced for several years.

2002 Volvo V70 Road Test >

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