|
|
|
|
29/09/2008
By EWAN KENNEDY
|
|
|
Volvo's new luxury-sport V70 estate wagon is a quiet, comfortable cruiser that seems certain to pick up quite a few customers. We wouldn’t be surprised if it enticed many of them away from large SUVs, because rising fuel prices finally seem to be slowing big 4WD sales.
Volvo was once the king of the luxury station wagon market in Australia but sales of its conventional wagons have declined dramatically as buyers have moved in the direction of the aforementioned 4WD wagons. However, the Swedish maker now is offering the V70 as a backup to its XC range of soft-road wagons. While the V70 has been on sale in two previous generations, this time around the only import is the V70 in its topline T6 sporting format.
Though it looks sleek and sporting, the V70's rear end is close to being vertical and the body sides are wide. This wagon can cope with bulky loads, something that can’t be said for many of the boutique wagons from Germany and Italy. This big Swede really is a station wagon in the old-fashioned manner and a lot of sensible people will appreciate it for that. Sensible people with a sporting note to their driving style that is, because this is something special in the performance stakes.
This Volvo V70 estate has a 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six engine, it produces a powerful 210 kilowatts and 400 Nm, the latter on offer all the way from 1500 to 4800 revs. Thus top torque will be there virtually all the time in normal driving for maximum efficiency and minimum emissions.
Transmission is by a sporting six-speed automatic with Geartronic semi-manual selection if the driver looks ahead for the required gear and selects it as necessary. Drive is to all four wheels for added stability in corners as well as impressive acceleration off the line, even on slippery surfaces. This big, practical station wagon can accelerate like a sports sedan, going from rest to 100 km/h in only 7.2 seconds. On a more sensible note, that sort of performance means you spend a minimum of time on the wrong side of the road when overtaking.
 There's plenty of performance from the turbo engine, the six-speed automatic complements this nicely and the car is extremely easy to drive. But the real revelation is the way the V70 handles, it hugs the road beautifully and is controllable even at extreme driving pressures. Yet it does all this with high comfort levels that belie the sporting nature of this complex machine.
Fuel consumption will generally be about 10 to 12 litres per hundred kilometres in suburban driving, dropping to an impressively low eight to nine litres per hundred in country running. Take it to a racetrack to have a fang and show up many a sporting sedan and the numbers will rise significantly! You must be joking, I hear you say. Not really, because this Volvo wagon really is well and truly in the sporting category and deserves to stretch its alloy legs every now and then…
But back to the practical side of the equation; the Volvo's folding rear seat is split 40/20/40 per cent, and the front passenger seatback can be folded flat to further improve versatility. Letting you carry really long loads inside. The rear seat has the latest Volvo inbuilt booster seats. This pair of seats can now be set at two different levels to suit children of various sizes and weights.
There's a lot more to this wagon than simply sporting performance. A long list of luxury features are installed. These include leather trimmed seats, timber highlights on the dashboard, climate-controlled air conditioning that has special air-filtering systems, an audio system that can accept various MP3 players and which contains an iPod jack, and adaptable cruise control. Satellite navigation, a rear view reversing camera and built-in rear seat video screens are extra-cost options, as is a heating/cooling system built into the seats.
Interior room is good in all seats and five adults can be carried, though four and a child makes a more pleasant interior environment. There are plenty of interior stowage spaces including a centre console and door pockets that can cope with decent-sized items.
Safety continues to be a priority at Volvo. The latest V70 has six airbags, including long curtain units; a strong passenger cell, anti-whiplash head restraints amongst numerous other items aimed at active and passive protection of occupants. There's even a power operated tailgate with inbuilt safety lockouts to protect stray fingers, or even a stray head, from getting the chop. And built in protection for pedestrians and cyclists who are hit by the front of the car.
A Volvo wagon like we have never seen before, the latest V70 estate is strong, powerful, practical – and a huge amount of fun to drive. Its well worth a visit to your local Volvo dealer if you are looking to get away from streets crowded with upmarket German machines.
AT A GLANCE
MODEL RANGE
Volvo V70 T6 3.0-litre five-door wagon: $67,950 (automatic)
FEATURES
ABS Brakes: Standard
Air Conditioning: Standard
Automatic Transmission: Standard
CD Player: Standard
Central Locking: Standard
Cruise Control: Standard
Dual Front Airbags: Standard
Front Side Airbags: Standard
Stability Control: Standard
Traction Control: Standard
SPECIFICATIONS (Volvo V70 T6 3.0-litre five-door wagon)
ENGINE:
Capacity: 2.953 litres
Configuration: Transverse, six cylinders in line
Head Design: DOHC, four valves per cylinder
Compression Ratio: NA
Bore/Stroke: 82.0 mm x 93.2 mm
Maximum Power: 210 kW @ 5600 rpm
Maximum Torque: 400 Nm @ 1500-4800 rpm
DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: All-Wheel-Drive
Manual Transmission: Not offered
Automatic Transmission: Six-speed
Final Drive Ratio: NA
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4823 mm
Wheelbase: 2816 mm
Width: 1861 mm
Height: 1547 mm
Turning Circle: 11.2 metres
Kerb Mass: 1730 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 70 litres
Towing Ability: 2000 kg (with braked trailer)
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: Coil over struts, anti-roll bar
Rear Suspension: Multi-link, anti-roll bar
Front Brakes: Ventilated disc
Rear Brakes: Ventilated disc
PERFORMANCE:
0-100 km/h Acceleration: 7.2 seconds
FUEL CONSUMPTION:
Type: Petrol 95RON
Combined Cycle (ADR 81/01): 11.3 L/100km
GREEN VEHICLE GUIDE RATINGS:
Greenhouse Rating: 4.5/10
Air Pollution Rating: 6.5/10
STANDARD WARRANTY:
Three years/unlimited km
|
|
|
|
|
|
Print Article
Submit Feedback
Email This Article
