VOLVO XC90

It is very difficult to build a car that can do two things, a point demonstrated this morning by the meat of the missive
– the Volvo XC70.

What we have here is a normal five-seater Volvo estate car, converted with some stilts so that it can get down your
rutted driveway without losing its sump to a stone.

Sure, it can’t climb the north face of the Eiger, and it would come unstuck if it were pressed into service with the Highland
mountain rescue service but because of the extra ground clearance and four-wheel drive it’ll be fine when you go to those
parties where you’re made to park in a muddy field.

In theory this is excellent. Because it isn’t a proper off-roader, environmentalists won’t throw eggs at it and leave insulting
messages under the windscreen wipers whenever you leave it alone for a moment.
And nor will you have a typical off-roader’s fuel bill to foot.

What’s more, the car on which it’s based is much underrated. The new version of the V70 is nowhere near as pretty as its
predecessor – no, don’t laugh: it was a good-looking car – but it is hugely spacious with a trunk big enough to stage a
medium-sized air display. It’s nice to drive as well, in a quiet, softly softly sort of way.

Sadly, many of these attributes have been lost in the XC version. You can fiddle around with the suspension settings but
no matter which button you press, the ride is never anything other than soft, with a hard and chewy centre. I didn’t like it at all.

I’m not sure either about the tough-looking body cladding, principally because I’m not sure it’s tough at all. I suspect it’s just
something else to repair after a crash. And I wasn’t all that fussed about the engine. It was a 3.2 litre six, and while it wasn’t
very bad, it wasn’t very good either.

If it were a person, I suspect you wouldn’t invite it round for drinks because it would bore your friends.

The most worrying thing about this car, though, is who you’re buying it from. Ford, as we know, is thinking of selling Volvo,
My driver came with an optional "Luxury Package" of cargo cover, automatic levelling system, mass movement sensor,
rear parking assistance, retractable mirrors, wood steering wheel and premium stereo for $1800; $600 metallic paint and
$875 freight charge for a total price of $60,570. 

That's a fair chunk of change, but then, a 4.4-litre BMW X5 is $71,700, a 5.0-litre Mercedes-Benz ML500 is $68,690,
and a VW Touareg is $67,200 with a 4.2-litre, so it's around the industry average.

In many ways the XC70 is a good car. It’s light and airy, well equipped and fitted with every safety feature known to man.
It also meets a genuine demand – for a non off-road car that can do a bit of off-roading if asked.

But it doesn’t quite work. As a result, unless I really needed the Volvo’s vast trunk, I’d save myself $30,000 and buy a
Subaru Legacy Outback.

Vital statistics

Model Volvo XC70 SE Sport
Engine 3192cc, six cylinders
Power 235bhp @ 6200rpm
Torque 236 lb ft @ 3200rpm
Transmission Six-speed manual
Fuel 24.8mpg (combined cycle)
CO2 272g/km
Acceleration 0-60mph: 8.1sec
Top speed 134mph
Rating
Verdict Not bad, not good, too costly