Volvo XC70: One Minute Test Drive

Date: 03 July 2007   |   Author: John Mahoney

Volvo XC70

Category: Estate Prices: £31,035-£36,200 Key Rival: Audi A6 Allroad

What's new: Volvo has prepared its V70 for the rough stuff, jacking up the suspension, adding 4WD and hill descent as standard and beefing up the styling with tough plastic protection.

Excellent: It will slip under even the most vehement anti-4x4 hater's radar while offering some genuine off-road and towing advantage over the V70.

Good: Petrol 238PS 3.2 does 0-62mph in 7.8secs, with a broad power spread across rev range.

Average: There will be limitations to its off-road prowess, and the elevated suspension adds to roll and fractionally reduces body control.

Poor: Petrol slips into the highest 35% BIK group and averages just 24.8mpg, almost 14mpg less than the diesel. There's also the £2850 premium, on top-spec SE Lux, over the 2WD 3.2 to consider.

Verdict: If you need four-wheel drive capability without the stigma of a full-size 4x4, this could be the car - but we'd pick the cheaper diesel.

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