Not cheap
Admittedly, by upgrading the equipment levels of the XC70, Volvo allowed Subaru to become the lone supplier of affordable AWD wagons. Hard to argue with prices ranging from about $47,000 to just over $60,000.
The luxury features are tantamount to the car's price. The XC70 comes standard with dual-zone automatic climate control, a 160-watt, 8-speaker premium audio unit, a three-section fold-down rear seat (40/20/40) and heated front seats, just to name a few.
The modular cargo area incorporates plenty of storage compartments as well as tie-downs to secure objects, big or small. Cargo room is impressive, even when the rear seat is up. In fact, it's 60-liter greater than in the old XC70. On top of that, the hatch is now optionally available with a power-operating mechanism.
I have to point out how ergonomically designed the bucket seats are: they really fit any body size, tall or short. If only all cars offered such seats...!
A truly "intelligent" key
My tester featured Volvo's Personal Car Communicator (PCC). This is more than just a remote entry system: this intelligent transreceiver allows you to unlock your doors without using the traditional key. Provided that the PCC remote control is in your possession, you only have to gently pull the door handle to unlock it. Once behind the wheel, you can start the engine by pressing a button on the dashboard -- child's play. In my opinion, it's one of the best systems of its kind.
Yet there's more to it. At a range of 60 to 100 meters when approaching the car, you can get a security status report by pressing the information button. Different LEDs (green, yellow and red) tell you if the car is locked or unlocked. Meanwhile, a flashing red light means that the alarm has been activated and that someone tried to break in. And if the intruder is still inside the car, the same indicator light will report it to you thanks to the PCC system's heartbeat sensor!
Admittedly, by upgrading the equipment levels of the XC70, Volvo allowed Subaru to become the lone supplier of affordable AWD wagons. Hard to argue with prices ranging from about $47,000 to just over $60,000.
The luxury features are tantamount to the car's price. The XC70 comes standard with dual-zone automatic climate control, a 160-watt, 8-speaker premium audio unit, a three-section fold-down rear seat (40/20/40) and heated front seats, just to name a few.
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| The XC70's maximum cargo capacity is rated at 2,042 liters, which puts many competitors to shame. |
The modular cargo area incorporates plenty of storage compartments as well as tie-downs to secure objects, big or small. Cargo room is impressive, even when the rear seat is up. In fact, it's 60-liter greater than in the old XC70. On top of that, the hatch is now optionally available with a power-operating mechanism.
I have to point out how ergonomically designed the bucket seats are: they really fit any body size, tall or short. If only all cars offered such seats...!
A truly "intelligent" key
My tester featured Volvo's Personal Car Communicator (PCC). This is more than just a remote entry system: this intelligent transreceiver allows you to unlock your doors without using the traditional key. Provided that the PCC remote control is in your possession, you only have to gently pull the door handle to unlock it. Once behind the wheel, you can start the engine by pressing a button on the dashboard -- child's play. In my opinion, it's one of the best systems of its kind.
Yet there's more to it. At a range of 60 to 100 meters when approaching the car, you can get a security status report by pressing the information button. Different LEDs (green, yellow and red) tell you if the car is locked or unlocked. Meanwhile, a flashing red light means that the alarm has been activated and that someone tried to break in. And if the intruder is still inside the car, the same indicator light will report it to you thanks to the PCC system's heartbeat sensor!
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| The PCC is one of the best systems of its kind. |