The obvious line would be: If Ozzie and Harriet were Swedish, they’d drive a Volvo V70. Well, they’d drive one if Ozzie were status-conscious and wanted an up-market, luxury wagon to take David and Ricky on a family vacation. Or perhaps the Bradys could take a very Brady vacation in a V70.
OK, maybe today’s young families aren’t hip to old-school allusions, so suffice it to say that today’s soccer moms and Little League dads and those families who don’t want to drive around in minivans or SUVs may well gravitate toward the V70. Those PTA parents and scout-troop mentors who want a safe, upscale vehicle to carry lots of kids around town or on vacation can certainly look toward Volvo’s wagon.
Volvo began its association with the station wagon in 1953, with the Duett. The Duett represented a departure for Volvo as its underpinnings were a ladder-frame chassis, while the rest of its line relied on a unibody platform. The Duett featured a carbureted 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine under hood and it was slow, but fuel-conscious, in an era of 29-cent per gallon gasoline.
Volvo debuted the V70 in 1966 on a front-wheel-drive platform. In the ensuing decade and two generations, the Volvo wagon has toyed with all-wheel-drive and cross-over designs.
The new V70 has been refined as a premium wagon, starting with new, sleek exterior lines that put to rest the lingering memory of Volvo’s 20th century boxiness. At 60.6 inches high, 73.3 inches wide and 189.9 inches long on a 110.8-inc wheelbase, the V70 is a sporty-looking family hauler that doesn’t pretend to be a sportwagon.
Under the hood is a quiet 3.2-liter, in-line 6-cylinder DOHC 24-valve engine that creates 235hp and 236 lbs.-ft. of torque, to achieve an EPA rating of 16mpg in city driving and 24mpg on the highway, using regular gasoline. I did better than that, as my seven days of test-wagoning around Central Pennsylvania and Maryland reached an average of 24.0mpg.
With a curb weight 3527 lbs., the V70 provides a self-assured, substantial ride that gets the driver, passengers and cargo where they need to go, but without smoking tires or blazing tailpipes. The manufacturer claims a zero-to-60mph time of 7.8 seconds, but I found that 8.2 seconds was a more realistic time, as my track tests also included a 16.4-second quarter-mile, though I doubt many child-filled upscale wagons will ever see quarter-miles and zero-to-60s at those speeds. We’d certainly hope not. What these tests show is that the V70 is a slow-but-steady, safe-and-confident vehicle, with enough power when called upon to pass slower vehicles on the highway while keeping a family of passengers in their seats and out of trouble.
Quick moves reveal some oversteer, but a relatively low center of gravity keeps the thought of any rollover out of the driver’s and passengers’ minds. The suspension is a bit loose, but the front MacPherson struts, with asymmetrically mounted coil springs, hydraulic shock absorbers, stabilizer bar and the rear multi-link independent suspension with coil springs, hydraulic shock absorbers, stabilizer bar, cast aluminum subframe create a gentle experience for those in the cabin. Power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering is adequately responsive and the 4-channel anti-lock braking system with hydraulic brake assist, optimized hydraulic brakes, ready alert brakes and fading brake support give excellent and sure stopping power.
In developing the V70, Volvo aimed to produce the safest car in its segment. To that end, they utilized a network of interacting safety systems that include energy-absorbing material and a stronger side structure. Also included as standard are next-generation whiplash protection system, inflatable curtain side impact head protection front and rear, driver and front passenger dual-chamber side impact airbags, dual-stage supplemental restrain air bags, improved LATCH system for kids, dynamic stability and traction control, tire pressure monitoring system, safe home approach lighting and enhanced impact protection for pedestrians and cyclists.
The upscale cabin provides a roomy, intuitive home for parents and kids. With a capacity of 72.1 cu.ft. there’s plenty of room for camping gear, scout tents, bats, gloves, balls and nets … or even an assortment of baked goods for weddings or community functions. Headroom measures 37.8 inches in front and 38.5 behind; legroom is 41.9 inches in row one and 34.6 in row two; shoulder room measures 57.4 for driver and front passenger and 56.5 for rear occupants.
The cabin comes equipped with a Scandinavian luxury interior accentuated by a super-slim center console, power 8-way adjustable, heated driver seat, dual -climate control 8-speaker sound system with 4x40-watt amp, AM/FM/CD/Stereo with MP3/WMA capability and attractive and efficient gauges, lighting and storage.
My V70 test wagon was base priced at $32,465. The only add-ons were metallic paint ($475), heated front seats and windshield washer with headlamp cleaning and rain sensor ($725) and destination charges of $745, for a price-as-tested of $34,410.
Is the V70 the car of choice for 21st-century renditions of The Cleavers? The Seavers? The Huxtables? The Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana crowd? For safety and looks, the station-wagon crowd can certainly look at Volvo for its premium wagon purchases.
Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.
Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.
Related Items:
