CLASSY AND COMPETITIVE
Considering a Volvo for a family vehicle always has started with recognizing the company’s tremendous safety standards. However, Volvo has been an innovator in areas exceeding simple vehicle safety.
Take the new R performance offerings as well as Volvo’s unique turbocharged T6 engine and you have a world-class combination from Sweden that is classy and competitive. The refreshed 2012 XC70 SUV I tested featured the Polestar T6 performance software upgrade that adds 25 horsepower and 30 pound-feet of torque to the XC70.
The Volvo XC70 blends crossover versatility and reasonable performance and fuel mileage (17/23) with the heritage of safety Volvo wagons and SUVs have offered.
On the outside, the XC70 is a refined and attractive crossover. My tester featured an impressive Electric Silver Metallic ($550) hue that
John Stein jstein@suntimes.com was overshadowed only by the Volvo signature grille and distinctive flowing lines from the A-pillar to the rear light assembly. This XC70 seems to have never known the boxy wagons of Volvo’s earliest days, but it sure manages to create an attitude of sophistication and athletic ability with the 18-inch alloy rims and all-season tires pushed far out to the corners.
The XC70 five-passenger premium crossover delivered all-wheel-drive traction on roads of varying surfaces and one day during all-out thunderstorms. It stayed planted to the road regardless of highway passing maneuvers or aggressive farm road challenges.
Inside the quiet cabin you will find an exquisite interior featuring supple leather, chrome and wood accents, and a distinctly Scandinavian character for the dash that is highly functional with a touch of refined technology.
Passengers will find the XC70 to be comfortable and roomy. Front-row seats offer eight-way power adjustments with memory while secondrow passengers have plenty of leg and headroom; Jennifer Burklow John Lemein storage space behind the second row is ample.
The most appreciated interior change is a new center stack, which Volvo re-contoured to soften some of the hard corners and realign the control layout. I found the Volvo Sensus infotainment system, which replaces the distinctive pop-up navigation screen from 2011 with an integrated screen at the top of the dash, to be a nice improvement in form and function. The centerpiece 7-inch screen provides audio control, navigation, backup and panorama cameras, plus a DVD player.
The 2012 Volvo XC70 AWD T6 is powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder power plant matched to a six-speed automatic transmission. The T6 Polestar upgrade delivers 325 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. Volvo collaborated with Polestar Performance in developing the new engine management software.
While the midsize Volvo XC70 has some size at 190.5 inches and a curb weight of 4,279 pounds, this crossover provides excel-
Terry Boyle lent handling that was responsive and a delight to interact with at highway speeds.
The XC70 base starts at $32,950 and my XC70 T6 AWD tester, which started at $39,100 and added several option packages, landed at $44,965 (with an $875 destination charge). This is a solid value for the luxury accommodations and refined ride characteristics — and, of course, the safety promise of Volvo.