2008 Volvo XC70
by Jim Prueter -03/08

Yes, they still make station wagons

I test a lot of vehicles, but I honestly can’t remember the last time, if ever, someone asked me who makes a good station wagon these days. I get plenty of inquiries about SUVs, CUVs, sedans, trucks and sports cars, but no one asks about wagons.

I must confess it took me a moment to come up with the answer and Volvo wasn’t at the front of my mind, popping up somewhere behind Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Dodge Magnum and Mazda with the Mazda6.

The latter two, Mazda and Dodge, recently axed those vehicles from their lineups and Volvo, too, is struggling with the XC70 and related V70 models. Their sales have been cut in half by the introduction of Volvo’s XC90 sport utility crossover.

The Ford-owned Scandinavian company has redesigned the all-roading XC70 wagon, which is essentially a V70 wagon wrapped in high composite charcoal colored body cladding. It features a raised body height of 8.3 inches of ground clearance and all-wheel drive components.

The new XC70 is now based on the S80 luxury sedan, resulting in a longer vehicle (even longer than the XC90). I found it roomy and appealing after driving a long succession of SUVs.

The XC70 shares the same all-wheel-drive system as its Ford Motor Company sibling, Land Rover LR2. Both use a Haldex clutch-pack to route torque to the rear wheels when the front wheels slip. They also share the same excellent hill descent control system.

While the XC70 won’t be offered with a V-8 like the XC90, it has thankfully shed the dreaded five-cylinder power plant in favor of a new standard 3.2-liter inline six-cylinder that produces 235 horsepower. But with a portly curb weight in excess of two tons, those ponies are straining and acceleration is strenuous at best; zero to 60 mph time is slow, very slow. Unofficially I timed it at just over 9 seconds. I even tried the Manumatic shift-gate with no performance change. If there is a positive here, it’s the new electronically designed six-speed automatic transmission that performed quite well, though it downshifted with a noticeable clunk.

Even though the XC70 mimics some styling cues of an SUV, it doesn’t drive like one. Body roll is controlled and the XC70 handles the curves better than most SUVs. I found the steering responsive and accurate. The ride is comfortable and quiet inside except under full acceleration where the engine gets noisy and complains about getting all that weight up to speed. Visibility is excellent.

Volvo has a reputation for safety and along with airbags and electronic stability control, there are some new safety features. One, a blind spot warning system, illuminates an amber-colored light on the respective rear view mirror to alert the driver when a car is in his blind spot. When the other vehicle moves into visibility, the light goes out.

Inside, the cabin is spacious and comfortable with thick front bucket seats, ample head, shoulder and legroom, a slim “pass through” center console and intuitive controls. I especially liked the climate controls with a pictogram that illuminates at night.

What I really didn’t like was the two-step ignition process that first requires you to insert the key into a slot on the dash and then use a push button to start. Reverse the process to shut the vehicle off. I also didn’t like the manual lumbar support adjustment that was tucked between the seats and center console. It’s, at best, awkward to use.

The interior materials are exceptionally high quality with leather seats, door trim and steering wheel. My tester also came equipped with the optional and ingenious built-in child booster seats that pop out of the rear seat bottoms. This means no lugging extra booster seats around for the kids.

With the rear seats down, there’s 77 cubic feet of space. But don’t look for a third row seat, Volvo doesn’t offer one. What it does have is a large hidden compartment below the well-finished load floor.

Outside, the XC70 has received a facelift for 2008. Its new grille mimics that of the XC90 SUV and cladding surrounds the fog lights, which — along with the front valence and grill surround — are trimmed with brushed aluminum. Out back there are new taillights and a first-time power tailgate is offered as an option.

With a base price of $36,775 plus a $745 destination charge, some might consider it expensive. But consider the Audi A6 Avant with a base price of $49,000 and the Mercedes E-Class wagon priced at $56,475 — both of which have similar engines and size — and the Volvo seems a comparable bargain.

With options, my XC70 listed at $44,065, priced comparable to the XC90 and other near-luxury SUVs, well below wagons offered by BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi.