Consumer Guide spent over 700 miles in Volvo's redesigned-for-2008 XC70.
Base Price: $32,465
Optional Equipment: Metallic Paint, Climate Package (Heated Front Seats/Headlamp Cleaning, Heated Windshield Washer Nozzles/Rain Sensor)
Price as Tested: $34,410
Total Miles Tested: 705 miles
Fuel Economy: 21.55 mpg
Editors' Notes: Tom Appel:
The Volvo I grew up with had a reputation for sober solidity with just
a smidgen of European flair and luxury--at a price well below the
on-continent competition. Despite its SUV exterior decor, XC70
reminds me of those Volvos of yore. This roomy wagon feels ingot solid,
and boasts an open, airy, modestly luxurious interior. Even the engine
is an exercise in restraint. The smooth inline six comes in at a
parsimonious 3.2 liters...big and strong enough, but certainly not too
much. So, is this car an expensive midsize wagon, or modestly priced
alternative to Audi, BMW, and Mercedes family haulers? I say the latter. John Biel:
The XC70 is a safe, pleasant, and useful wagon. It can, however, get
$40K-plus pricey with some of its options (particularly the packages).
Still, that makes it the "budget" alternative to vehicles like the Audi
A6 and BMW 5-Series AWD wagons. Ed
Piotrowski: XC70 is a good alternative to the very expensive wagons
from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. It's not as strong a value, though,
when compared to the much less costly Subaru Outback and more
fun-to-drive Saab 9-3. If the XC70 appeals to you, stay at the Volvo
dealer and check out its front-drive V70 sibling. It handles about the
same, has slightly stronger acceleration, a better ride and fuel
economy, and costs much less. Don
Sikora: Volvo XC70 is a pleasant alternative to the every-day SUV, and
you'll be reminded of that every time you pull into the gas station.
Looked at that way, XC70 makes a lot of sense. If you're looking for
something more sporting, you should be able to buy a much more engaging AWD
sedan for the same kind of money.
