Volvo is famous for its big and comfortable estates… so the all-new V70 has a lot to live up to. It hits UK showrooms next month, and will go head-to-head with rivals from Audi, BMW and Mercedes.

The newcomer has an understated look, and the fresh styling is designed to give the car a more modern feel without offending the firm’s loyal fan base. At the front, the V70 is pure S80 saloon, but its extended roofline and near vertical tailgate set it apart from the four-door model. Unusual rear light clusters provide the estate with a distinctive look at the back, but the result could hardly be described as pretty.

The cabin layout also takes a low-key approach, and there’s further evidence of the fact that the estate shares much with the S80. The high-quality interior is identical to the saloon’s, with a classy dashboard de-sign and some of the most comfortable seats in the business.

There’s plenty of head and legroom in the back seats, but it’s in
the load bay where you expect any Volvo estate to score highly. As a result, the modest 540-litre boot capacity is something of a surprise, because when it comes to sheer space, the V70 lags behind the 565-litre Audi A6 Avant and massive 690-litre Mercedes E-Class Estate. There is no shortage of practical touches, though. The rear seats are split 40/20/40 for added versatility and folding them liberates up to 1,600 litres of load space.

However, that’s still less than the Audi and Mercedes at 1,660 and 1,950 litres respectively. To secure small items there’s a handy flip-up floor, which effectively divides the boot in half, and a variety of anchor points and luggage nets.

Our SE Lux test car also features leather upholstery, heated and powered front chairs, 17-inch alloy wheels and a useful powered tailgate. The entire V70 range comes with Volvo’s Dynamic Stability and Traction Con­trol (DSTC) as standard.

On the road, the D5 diesel delivers 182bhp, and performance is brisk. However, the 0-60mph sprint time of 8.4 seconds is accompanied by plenty of noise from the vocal five-cylinder powerplant. The unit is better suited to gentle cruising rather than sprinting along straight roads.

When you follow this relaxed approach, the superb seats, quiet cabin and composed ride all come to the fore. However, dive into a corner and the big Volvo isn’t as nimble as its German rivals, and despite having secure handling, the steering is numb and there’s plenty of body roll.

Other engine options include the 161bhp 2.4-litre diesel and a trio of petrols, ranging from the 197bhp 2.5T and 235bhp 3.2-litre units to the 3.0-litre T6, which produces 281bhp.

Entry-level SE models start at £26,495 and selecting SE Lux trim adds £2,750 to the price tag. Go for the SE Sport, which includes Volvo’s Four-C active chassis control system, and the difference over the SE is £2,850. Whichever model you choose, you will get class-leading safety and a choice of optional equipment packages which provide everything from integrated child booster seats to sat-nav. Just don’t expect the boot to swallow any antique wardrobes!

Rival: Saab 9-5 Sportwagon
Compared to the fresh-faced Volvo, the Saab is long in the tooth. And as with its Swedish compatriot, the 9-5 struggles to compete with its established German rivals. Yet the 9-5 is stylish, has a decent diesel engine and undercuts the competition on price. However, its small boot and so-so
dynamics let the side down.

TO: AutoExpress

Sporty, stylish and practical – the new Volvo V50 is as versatile as a Swiss army knife. But can it cut through the competition on UK roads?

The Swedish brand has revised its smallest estate range with the addition of two new engines. Along­side a fresh entry-level 2.0-litre petrol unit, there’s now the option of the potent D5 diesel powerplant for the first time.

Cosmetic revisions are limited, and only true Volvo fans will spot the wider grille, plus the revamped light covers and bumper at the front. It’s much the same story at the back, where new lamp clusters featuring LED bulbs are the only obvious difference.

None of this is bad news, though, because the V50 has always been a handsome estate. Unfortunately, it’s never been a particularly big one – and, disappointingly, the modest 417-litre boot capacity is the same as on the previous model. At least it expands to a more useful 1,307 litres with the rear seats folded down.

Opt for the SE Sport trim of the car we drove, and you get large 18-inch wheels and a full bodykit to help set your V50 apart from lesser variants. The cabin also features leather upholstery and some of the most comfortable seats on the market.

Inside, storage is improved, thanks to large door bins, while solid build qual­ity and superior materials reinforce the V50’s premium feel.

Our test car also had the advanced Blind Spot Information System (BLIS). At £650 it’s not cheap, but the clever set-up alerts the driver to objects in the over-the-shoulder blind spot.

Rear-facing digital cameras mounted in the door mirrors monitor the areas where your vision is restricted, and flash warning lights positioned on the A-pillars if it’s unsafe to change lanes. The same system is available in the XC90, and although it takes some getting used to, it eases some of the strain of motorway driving.

In comparison, the D5 engine is a familiar piece of technology that has been tried and tested in cars across the Volvo model range. The power output has been reduced for the V50, although it still produces 178bhp and 350Nm of torque – which is enough to propel the revised load-lugger from 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds.

Thanks largely to its five-cylinder configuration, the oil-burner also has a distinctive growl – but under full throttle the noise is all too noticeable. Once cruising, refinement improves, making the Volvo a relaxed motorway cruiser.

Sport models like ours come fitted with a chassis package designed to improve handling – although as the V50 shares underpinnings with the Ford Focus, it’s stable and sure-footed anyway. Unfortunately, the steering feels a little numb. Still, the Volvo is composed in bends, and despite its large 18-inch alloy wheels, the V50’s ride is impressive. Combine this with the brand’s smooth Geartronic automatic transmission, and the estate is a soothing car to drive.

Although lower-spec variants argu-ably make more sense than the top-of-the-range SE Sport, the revised V50 is a desirable family car. Overall, it’s a solid alternative to contenders from the likes of Honda, Saab and BMW.

But it’s not cheap. If you want your Volvo with as much equipment as the option-laden model here, you will have to spend £30,240! It’s not difficult to find cheaper alternatives with more tempting prices.

Rival: BMW 3-Series Touring
Compact executive models don’t come much better than BMW’s class-leading 3-Series Touring. It’s great to drive, has plenty of room inside and is refined. What’s more, it’s available with some of the best diesel engines money can buy.

Based on the Swedish firm’s new V70 estate, the all-wheel-drive load-lugger adds protective body mouldings and an increased ride height. Research by Volvo shows that more XC70s are used off-road than full-sized XC90 SUVs, so designers have concentrated on the car’s performance over rough terrain.

Ground clearance is improved compared with the outgoing model, while there are big bumpers, front and rear scuff plates and embossed roof rails, too. Volvo’s Instant Traction AWD set-up distributes torque for top grip, while all models are also equipped with Hill Descent Control as standard. The electronic system allows for just a touch on the brake or accelerator pedal to slow down or speed up a descent. As the set-up also works in reverse, it’s ideal for tricky manoeuvres such as launching a boat on a slipway. Inside is the brand’s trademark floating centre console, while the boot has grown by 55 litres to 575 litres. Three-part split-folding rear seats combine with a folding front passenger chair to improve carrying capacity.

Engines include a 234bhp 3.2-litre petrol with a six-speed Geartronic automatic transmission. There’s also a 182bhp 2.4-litre D5 diesel, which is available with a six-ratio manual or a Geartronic set-up. The petrol car covers 0-60mph in 8.1 seconds on its way to a 134mph top speed, while the oil-burner completes the sprint in 8.8 seconds and hits 130mph.

Prices will be announced in June, with the new XC70 arriving in show­rooms here in September.

Source [Auto Express]

It’s the most luxuriously equipped Volvo ever and prices start at £38,4151. The first customer deliveries start at the end of January.

There are three engines available. The five-cylinder 2.4-litre D5, six-cylinder 3.2-litre (front wheel drive or All Wheel Drive) and a V8 AWD, all with six-speed Geartronic transmission as standard.

Meanwhile Volvo’s V70 estate is getting in trim. The new Special Edition Sport replaces the existing Sport model, and offers more kit for less money.

It gets leather trim, 17-inch alloys, a rear spoiler and colour-coded bodykit. Prices range from £24,310 for the 168bhp 2.4-litre petrol to £26,815 for the 183bhp D5 diesel.

SOURCE [Auto Express]