Volvo's new V70, standard bearer for middle-class family motoring, is still a good all-rounder, says Michael McAleer, Motoring Editor
Blink twice and you may miss the subtle changes, but this is the new Volvo V70, an icon to middle-class motoring, and the lord of the manor long before suburbia discovered the SUV.
For many, the large estate is the first car that comes to mind when they think of Volvo. It epitomises all the brand's strengths and weaknesses: a bit boxy but reassuringly sturdy and with enough boot space to be able to double as a delivery van.
Long before middle-class mothers aspired to sitting 10 feet up in the air in vehicles designed to conquer desert sand dunes rather than Dublin 4 suburbia, the car of choice for larger families would have been the Volvo estate. It was as comfortable in the drives of leafy suburbia as it was out the front of the 40-bedroom country house.
With this in the drive, why would you even consider a five-seater SUV? Sadly, the premium estate market has been squeezed by a car park full of over-engineered SUVs, bought for the purpose of school runs and large shopping trips, both of which are more than adequately catered for by an estate car.
But enough about the failure of most motorists to fully consider their daily motoring needs and purchase accordingly. Instead let's concentrate on this latest Swede. In terms of appearance, the new car is not exactly revolutionary, and owners of the current model may be slightly disappointed that there are not enough styling changes. Of course it had to retain its iconic boxy look - harking back to the days when the 850 ruled the roost and even won touring car races with a full-size toy dog strapped into the boot for good measure.
However, the truth is that this is actually a very new car. From the ground up Volvo has changed the V70's underpinnings, with the chassis coming courtesy of parent company Ford and already well-tested in the likes of the S-Max, new Mondeo and the Volvo S80.
The good news is that the Mondeo platform has already been critically acclaimed and the mix of parts put together to create the V70 doesn't greatly alter its ability.
So to the criteria for any test of a premium estate: it must be stylish inside, have room for a wardrobe in the boot and finally have plenty of pulling power and be comfortable for those long-haul journeys.
In terms of interior styling, the cabin has received much more of a makeover than the exterior. The positives are undoubtedly the smooth sweeping lines of the dashboard and the premium ambience, particularly in the SE Lux with leather seats.
The downside is the inclusion of Volvo's "floating central console", a feature that seems to have been designed by the Swedes simply because they could. It's not as if the space saved at the back of the dash is of much practical use. The buttons are also quite small, and that doesn't make for ease of use while driving. We also had difficulty tuning into some BBC stations: an unfortunate occurrence in a car that would seem to be a natural choice for BBC Radio 4 listeners.
The positives of the interior, however, outweigh these minor foibles. For a start the front seats are incredibly comfortable. While I must admit to a complete ignorance in all things chiropractic, the multiple adjustments to the seating position and the support they give makes long-distance travel a lot less of a chore than in some of its rivals.
In the back, we were slightly disappointed with the legroom on offer, and headroom both front and rear is not as ample as we would have expected for a car that will undoubtedly take on some of the people carrying minivans and those aforementioned off-roaders.
The rear seats do, however, harbour some ingenious features, such as the 40/20/40 split that allows the middle seat to fold down for long cargo, while still allowing two backseat passengers. There is also a set of optional built-in booster seats in the back. Simply flip up the seat cushion and it can be set at two different heights for children.
Right to the back and the boot is as enormous as you would expect. There's no lip, which makes loading easy and the wheel arches don't interfere with the internal space, two features we can never understand in some estates. One smart feature is a small, flat underfloor storage area, where you can keep the likes of a laptop safe, away from prying eyes. It's not the biggest boot in this sector - with the Mercedes E-Class estate king in that regard - and neither is it quite as long as the Audi A6 Avant, but it should serve most family load lugging needs.
Taking to the road with a full load, the Volvo's suspension does manage to bottom out on a few of the more challenging bumps but it's not as skittish as its BMW rival when running empty in the rear.
Steering is not as direct as the BMW, which is good on long motorway stretches, but a bit off-putting on Irish country backroads. While the ride is comfortable, there is the odd occasion when the Volvo gets caught out, but it's certainly on a par with the rest for mile-munching ability. One of its strongest suits is the D5 diesel engine, which powers away nicely with plenty of low-end torque that will come in handy when fully loaded or when towing.
It's not as smooth as the fantastic 3-litre diesel from BMW and it's louder than we would have hoped for, but in terms of meeting requirements for a large premium estate, it does its job.
Sticking strictly to the premium estate market, the Audi and BMW are its biggest rivals in terms of styling; the BMW has its beating in terms of driving ability; while the E-Class challenges it for load-lugging ability.
Yet the V70 has a heritage the others can't match and while the others may have its beating in various individual categories, the overall impression you're left with after a week behind the wheel is that you'd be happy to have the Volvo in your driveway. Its iconic status will also protect residuals, making it one of the better Volvos to own in terms of resale value.
The real threat to V70 sales, however, will come from the SUV market, where for similar money the badge-conscious suburban families can pick up something as silly as the BMW X3 or, more likely, as smart, if over-engineered for their needs, as the Land Rover Discovery.
It's incredible how few Irish motorists realise the true strengths of the estate classes, where you get all the practicality but none of the extra height, which in turn means far better handling and driving ability. After all, if you do need to venture off the tarmac, there are four-wheel-drive versions like the XC70.
For those with enough sense to consider a premium estate over an SUV, the V70 should be on the test schedule. If you are after a good driving car with load-lugging ability then the BMW 5-Series Touring will probably win you over; if you want more comfort and a decent all-rounder, then this Swede will do the trick.
Factfile
Volvo V70 SE Lux
CC 2400 BHP: 182 0-100km/h: 9.4 seconds Top speed:
215km/h Consumption (combined): 7.4l/100km (38.2 mpg) Price:
€60,600
ENGINE:A 2400cc common-rail direct injection turbodiesel D5 engine with an output of 182bhp @ 4,000rpm and 400Nm of torque between 2,000 to 2,750rpm
SPECIFICATION:Standard features include front, side and curtain airbags with kneebag; whiplash protection system; ABS with brake assist; dynamic stability control; tinted windows; day running lights; lockable load floor; alarm and immobiliser; electronic climate control with b-pillar ventilation; cruise control; electric windows; leather steering wheel with remote audio controls. SE adds electric driver's seat; leather-faced upholstery; front fog lights; auto wipers. SE Lux adds wood trim; chrome trim on vents; heated front seats; bi-xenon lights. 16" alloys standard on S version; 17" alloys on SE and SE Lux. Options include: Blind spot information system (BLIS) - €945; adaptive cruise control with collision warning and brake support - €1,800; Bluetooth hands-free system - €350.
L/100km (mpg):
Urban: 9.8 (28.8)
Extra-urban: 6.0 (47.1)
Combined: 7.4 (38.2)
CO2 emissions:195 g/km
Annual motor tax:€786
Price:€60,600 (€52,500 to
€69,950)