Volvo a comfy family hauler

• December
• 13

6:20 am Trucks

One of the greatest automotive marketing innovations of the mid-1990s occurred when Volvo jacked up one of its safe but staid wagons with an all-wheel-drive system and some extra ground clearance, added more aggressive tires and a few manly styling cues and named it the Volvo XC70 Cross Country.

Essentially one of the first crossovers, the XC70, which debuted 10 years ago, launched a new product range for Volvo of off-road-capable vehicles equipped with all-wheel drive. The original XC was one of the best-selling vehicles in Volvo’s lineup, and the XC lineup now includes the XC90 SUV. Volvo is scheduled to add the XC60 in 2009.

The new, third-generation XC70 builds upon the more aggressively styled nature of its predecessor, but it also adds more refinement to the crossover’s inherent functionality. The dark-coloured plastic panels at the bottom have been toned down. At the front, a new, painted nose replaces the characteristic dark one. The headlamps and grille have grown and there are larger air intakes at the corners of the front bumper that feature larger, dark plastic panels.

The rear of the wagon features large tail lamps and a large hexagonal glass tailgate to improve rearward visibility.

Dumping the previous version’s five-cylinder unit, the 2008 XC70 is powered by the 3.2-litre, in-line six-cylinder engine from the S80, which turns out a reasonable 235 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. The six is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and an electronically controlled all-wheel-drive system with Instant Traction. Off-road aids, such as a new Hill Descent Control, manage the car’s engine and braking systems to maintain a maximum speed of 10 kilometres an hour when descending steep grades.

Launching the crossover to 100 km/h takes a leisurely 9.2 seconds. This time was recorded by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada during last month’s Test Fest, placing the Volvo near the back of the pack among 10 gasoline-powered contenders in its SUV/crossover category. Passing acceleration (80 to 120 km/h) was a little better at 8.5 seconds, but it’s still slow compared with the new crop of sport-utes and crossovers.

If not exactly speedy, the XC70 more than compensates with ride and handling that can border on the luxurious. The tester’s optional Four-C Active Chassis provides three distinct settings — comfort, sport and advanced — when you press a button on the centre console to alter the vehicle’s setup to suit your tastes.

Speaking of comfort, the XC70 sports one of the nicest seats I have ever had the pleasure of dropping my posterior into. Those front seats are the cornerstone of an interior that is dutifully upscale considering the vehicle’s base $46,495 price, with the Ikea-inspired blend of light and dark soft-textured surfaces mixed with unique patterned brushed aluminum trim that only the Swedes can pull off with such ease.

The only real disappointment in the XC70 was with its fuel economy — a week with the tester generated a thirsty average of 14.1L/100 km (although the six was still in its break-in period with less than 500 km on the odometer).

More traditionally wagon based than many of the newest crossovers, the XC70 is also decidedly more nimble and user friendly in everyday use. And it remains an important bridge within Volvo’s lineup — more robust for light off-road adventures than the V70 wagon yet not as bulky as the SUV-like XC90.