1000km Road Test - Volvo V70 R

Volvo wagons have typically been very safe, comfortable and practical, which makes them ideal family transport. However when Volvo has tried to turn them into sports cars, the results have generally been less than impressive. The new V70 R is such an example.

Value for money

Pricing

The V70 R costs $102,950, with either a six-speed manual or five-speed-adaptive-automatic transmission.

Warranty

Three years/unlimited kilometres, which is above average.

Standard features

Standard equipment includes leather upholstery, automatic air, a terrific audio system with an in-dash four-stack CD player, Volvo's full suite of safety features, remote central locking, heated front seats, cruise control and Xenon headlights.

Retained value

A three year old V70 T5 retains 64 per cent of its new price, which is average.

Design and function

Ergonomics

The driver's seat has plenty of travel and a height/reach adjustable wheel is provided. Vision is clear around the car.

The instrument panel features iridescent blue faces on the dials, with fake metal bezels. Audio and airconditioning controls are easy enough to use, however the display screen which monitors their status is impossible to read if you're wearing sunglasses.

The cruise control switches are conveniently located on the wheel. Oddment storage is minimal.

Innovation

The V70 R's lowered suspension, developed with renowned Swedish firm Ohlins, features electronically controlled adaptive damping and three manually selectable damping rates: Comfort, Sport and Advanced - each activated by a button on the dash. The Advanced setting also enhances accelerator responsiveness.

The adaptive damping system works with the stability control to, in theory, keep the car balanced when cornering; the drive bias is also apportioned to the rear wheels when entering corners, promoting slight oversteer, and to the fronts on exit, where some understeer is deemed desirable.

Safety

It's a Volvo, so a good safety rating is a given. The V70 sedan scored four stars out of five in Euro NCAP crash tests.

Security

Remote central locking, an immobiliser system and an alarm are standard.

Comfort

The long travel driver's seat is big and luxuriously padded, with substantial bolstering. It's a bit too wide to securely hold those of moderate build, though, while the lumbar adjuster is difficult to get at and provides insufficient adjustment range.

Space and practicality

Rear seat space is sufficient for most adults. The seat has a long, flat cushion and the back rest is lightly contoured for two. It is wide enough for three, but as with most cars these days the middle passenger sits on a hard, raised centre section.

Volvo's integral child booster seat is provided on the two outboard positions.

The cargo area is long and wide; the low floor is very easy to load. A load cover and net are included; a mesh barrier can also be secured to the roof with the cargo area configured in normal or extended capacities.

The rear seat is split 60/40; it can be folded to create a flat 1.72 metres of floor length without compromising front seat travel or requiring removal of head restraints. A space saver, plus a storage bin, are underneath.

Build and finish quality

The V70 is very solid. Interior fit and finish, plus the quality of materials used, is excellent.

On the road

Fuel efficiency

The test car returned 9.4 litres/100 km on the highway and 15-18 litres/100 km in town, which is reasonable for a car of this size and performance. 98 octane is recommended.

Performance

The V70 R's 2.5 litre five-cylinder turbocharged engine produces 220 kW of power and 350 Nm of torque (with the five-speed automatic) or 400 Nm when bolted to the six-speed-manual gearbox.

So it's certainly quick.

It pulls easily from about 2000 rpm, then kicks into full boost mode and produces very strong acceleration from 4000-7000 rpm. Some turbo lag is evident in the lower midrange, but if you keep it spinning above 4000 responsiveness is crisp.

The manual gearbox ratios are close and low, with sixth turning the engine over at 2300 rpm at 100 km/h. The gearbox action is a touch stiff and notchy, while clutch takeup is abrupt.

Ride

Ride comfort on all but relatively smooth surfaces is poor. The firmer suspension settings are hard and lack compliance. The Comfort setting causes the car to float on undulations, and the suspension to transmit excessive road shock to the body on rough bitumen.

Handling and steering

Volvo's main area of difficulty with its sports variants has been suspension. It has been unable to deliver the tuning finesse required for taut, disciplined handling and a tolerably compliant ride, especially on less than perfect surfaces.

This situation continues with the V70.

The suspension's Advanced setting is almost race car firm. However it is impractical on all but billiard table surfaces because the ride becomes intolerably hard.

It is slightly more compliant on Sport, however mismatched compression and rebound damping, and a lack of suspension travel, occasionally cause the front end to trip on a rough patch of road, throwing the car off balance and inducing a nervous twitch at the rear.

This is exacerbated in Comfort mode, where the car actually feels unstable at times as the body also moves vertically and laterally on the suspension. At highway speeds, this can be quite frightening.

The V70 R also feels heavy and ponderous. Strong grip from the 235/40 Pirelli P Zero tyres (on 18 inch alloy wheels) saves it to a certain extent in tighter corners, as does acceptable steering precision, but feel at the wheel is lacking, rack shake is apparent on choppy bends and the turning circle is excessive.

Braking

The premium specification Brembo brakes, with four piston calipers, are excellent in power, progression and pedal feel.

Smoothness and quietness

Refinement is not a strong point. Engine vibration is quite intrusive under hard acceleration; some surge is also apparent when backing off at high revs, accompanied by a pop from the turbo.

On less than perfect surfaces, the suspension is also very noisy.

Summary

The Volvo V70 R is expensive. On the road its ability, particularly its harsh ride and untidy handling, does not justify its price. It is also quite unrefined by luxury car standards, even allowing for its sporting intent.

Test by Bill McKinnon, February 2004

The writer of this report does not necessarily represent the views of the NRMA and this report is provided for you as an alternative to our own NRMA car reviews.

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