2008 Volvo XC70 Review

The Great Pretender

With all-wheel drive and burly styling cues, the Volvo XC70 wants buyers to believe it's an SUV, but under the skin it's really a station wagon Â? and a pretty good one, too.

The midsize Volvo XC70 is essentially a repackaged V70 wagon with added ride height and body cladding to mimic the look of a sport utility vehicle. It underwent a major redesign in 2008. Like its chief competitor, the Subaru Legacy Outback, the Volvo XC70 remains an evolutionary step between a wagon and crossover SUV.

• Get a Volvo XC70 price quote

As with the V70, the Volvo XC70 shares platforms and components with the S80 sedan. While it doesn’t offer that model’s V8 engine, it performs adequately with its standard 3.2-liter inline six-cylinder powerplant. It’s no speed demon, reaching 60 miles per hour from a standing start in just over eight seconds, but it gets reasonably good fuel economy, operates smoothly, and should be sufficient for most buyers. A six-speed Geartronic automatic transmission is the Volvo XC70’s only available gearbox; it includes a manual-shift function.

While the Volvo XC70 is not capable of serious off-roading, a standard “Instant Traction” all-wheel-drive system makes it a foul-weather friend. It automatically shifts power to the front or rear wheels as needed for traction on slick roads or loose surfaces. Volvo’s Dynamic Stability Traction Control system is standard and helps keep the vehicle's wheels from spinning and prevents a loss of control during emergency maneuvers. Also included is Hill Descent Control, which makes traversing steep downhill grades safer and easier.

Overall, the Volvo XC70 handles the curves better than most SUVs, thanks to a rigid structure and a four-wheel independent suspension; a self-leveling rear suspension — useful when transporting heavy cargo — is optional. The wagon’s stopping power is enhanced by a sophisticated four-wheel antilock disc braking system.

• See Volvo XC70 specs

As is the automaker’s tradition, the Volvo XC70 offers an array of safety features, including front-side and side-curtain airbags and whiplash-preventing front headrests. Even pedestrians and cyclists are protected by an energy-absorbing hood and a front-end structure that features softer surfaces and a less intrusive lower spoiler.

The optional Collision Warning with Brake Support system works in tandem with a laser-guided adaptive cruise control system and warns the driver if the XC70 is closing in too quickly on another vehicle or other obstruction; if it determines that a collision is possible, the system will automatically move the brake pads up against the discs and prepare full braking pressure in anticipation of a panic stop. An available Blind Spot Information System uses cameras mounted near the sideview mirrors and signals when another vehicle is located in the driver's blind spot.

• Volvo XC70 Vehicle Summary

The Volvo XC70’s cabin is spacious and comfortable, with a slim center console and straightforward controls. The driver and front passenger are treated to supportive “Ortho-Posture” seats, with a 40/20/40 split-folding bench in the rear. Unlike most midsize SUVs, a third row of seats is not available.

With many conveniences standard, the Volvo XC70 offers a full range of high-end options, many of which are family-friendly, like an integrated height-adjustable child booster seat and a dual-screen rear DVD entertainment system. An available Personal Car Communicator is not only a keyless entry/start system, it can tell you whether you’ve locked the car, if the security system is activated, and even whether there’s someone inside the vehicle.

• See all Volvo models in the Volvo Showroom