2008 Volvo V70 Review

Volvo has been building wagons since 1953, and has made the genre a specialty. If the Swedish automaker has a small presence in the general automotive marketplace, it is a major player in the wagon class throughout the world. Wagons are a minor sideline for most manufacturers, but they make a significant contribution to Volvo's income.

Hence the third-generation V70, the latest in a line going back to that 1953 PV445. If the name is the same, and the shape looks familiar, at least at first glance, nearly everything else has changed. Like its predecessor, introduced in 2001, the 2008 V70 is based on the S80 platform, but that platform was all-new with the 2007 S80. The new V70 is a touch larger, more filled-out in looks, and has a stronger structure, for improved occupant safety. A comprehensive list of standard safety features, including standard integrated rear booster seats, is augmented by newly-available once-upscale options including adaptive cruise control with collision warning and Auto Brake, the Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), and the Personal Car Communicator (PCC).

Volvo's newest inline six-cylinder engine is the only choice under the V70's hood, matched to a six-speed automatic transmission with "Geartronic" manual-shift mode. There is really no need for anything else. In moderate everyday driving the 3.2-liter twin-cam, aluminum alloy powerplant works well, with the smoothness for which inline sixes are famous and a broad, flat torque curve, thanks in part to a variable intake system and both Variable Cam Timing (VCT) and Cam Profile Switching systems. Maximum power is 235 horsepower at 6400 rpm, with maximum torque 236 lb-ft at 3200 rpm. The ECU (engine control computer) and transmission both seem to be set up to maximize fuel economy, with the highest gear possible used in D and shifting under anything but wide open throttle far below the redline. No complaint about that, as even then it's quick enough for most operation. When more go is needed, move the shift lever to manual and mash the throttle.

© Source: theautochannel
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