Test drive Volvo S70 1997 - 2000 sedan

Goods by face ... in the Far North

Volvo S70/V70 - a new designation of a thoroughly modernized model range of the 850th series with bodies sedan and station wagon. Cars are equipped with seven types of gasoline engines with a working volume of 2 to 2.5 liters and a turbodiesel, five -speed mechanical or four -speed automatic gearboxes, and two suspension options. Along with the front -wheel drive, part of the V70 station wagons is released with all -wheel drive transmission.
Whatever you say, but Volvo knows how to show the goods face. The S70/V70 Cars demonstrated the world community in the Far North - in the Norwegian town of Kirkines. The climate there is not pleasant, especially in December. Narrow mountain roads, severe frost, snow, ice and polar night - a harsh test for any car. But, it turns out, even in the conditions of permafrost, you can enjoy driving - you feel like a volvo here, like a fish in water. We could see for this ourselves. The Swedes did not in vain choose the north. If in the southern latitudes the Scandinavian car has worthy competitors, then he has no equal.
1800 changes
S70/V70 indexes are not just a change in the signs of the popular 850th series. The car is thoroughly updated - made, no less, about 1800 changes!
Outwardly, the car has become more modern - I would say stylish. Rounded smooth shapes came to replace the angularity. In general, the design is designed in the style of the younger model range of S40/V40 (1997, No. 1) and compartment C70 (1996, No. 12). The S70 sedan has new hoods, wings, front bumper, new external mirrors, trunk lid, rear roof racks, new lighting equipment (combined lanterns) and rear bumper. The V70 station wagon is more modest - only the front of the car is changed, and the feed remained the same. However, at one time it was designed so successfully that now she does not look archaic.
The interior decoration of the cabin is completely updated. Both the sedan and the station wagon was equipped with a dashboard from the prestigious compartment C70. There are many devices on it, but getting the necessary information is not difficult. Everything is very simple and functional - such is even a display of a route computer.
The internal space generally deserves only praise. Spacious, comfort both in front, and behind. S70 has a voluminous trunk, but there is no need to talk about the station wagon. The steering wheel is convenient, the adjustment range of the re -designed front seats will arrange a driver of any height. Moreover, electric heating is provided on all seats, including the rear! This is not a trifle, if we recall that we are in the north. When Morozets on the street is in twenty, the car will not warm up quickly, and it has to be waiting for warm air from the heater for quite some time. It is then that all the inhabitants of the salon will help out the electric heating.
 
Another pleasant surprise is the pedal node. Of course, in the belongings of the test pilot there will always be a place for convenient sneakers, but ordinary drivers go in the cold in warm shoes. Therefore, first of all, for the purity of the experiment, I tried to drive a car in bulky winter boots. No negative sensations. Unlike many other foreign cars, in Volvo it is impossible to cover the clutch, gas and brake at the same time. The pedals are spaced quite widely, and hefty soles do not interfere with intensive work with their feet. Say, such a specific sports technique as braking with the left foot is easy to perform without the use of additional pedal overlays. In short, the knot is designed sensible.
Despite the fact that the Volvo 850 is considered one of the safest machines in the world, the S70/V70 family has even higher level. The system of protection against the side strike (SIPS) has been improved, the design of the seat belts has been improved, a new three -piece steering column is installed - now, in a collision, it is able to move away from the driver further than on previous models.
The new family is literally stuffed with modern electronics. In addition to the already mentioned route computer, the installation of the RTI complex, informing about the road and road situation, is provided. On a color display, you can find a map of the area, find the right street, hotel, airport, and also learn about traffic jams, accidents, repair work and lay the optimal route. S70/V70 cars are well protected from theft. They have a central castle with remote control and an immobilizer with contactless code recognition. You can order an alarm with a siren, a roll sensor, ultrasonics, a broken glass sensor, specially adapted specifically for Volvo.
The description of all 1800 new products of the lineup could probably take the entire magazine, so we will not continue, but we will move on to test impressions.
 
Thanks to the full drive ...
Cute V70 AWD is certainly the highlight of the family. It is he who is equipped with a unique all -wheel drive transmission. When driving along a normal dry highway, 95% of the torque falls on the front wheels and only 5% on the rear. Almost like in a regular front -wheel drive car. But it is worth starting the front wheels to slip, as Wyskoft will almost instantly connect the rear axle. In addition, a self -locking differential is installed in the rear gearbox, and the TracS electronic system at speeds up to 40 km/h redistributes the power between the front wheels for the one that has the best adhesion to the road surface. Thus, not a single wheel will begin to slip alone.
The car received a new engine modification. The well-known five-cylinder 20-valve gasoline engine was taken as a basis with a 2.5-liter working volume and equipped it with low-pressure turbocharged. Now it develops a power of 193 liters. p., but, most importantly, has an excellent characteristic of torque - 270 N. M in the range of 1800-5100 rpm.
What do all these tricks give? The car literally breaks down even on a slippery coating. There is no need to spin the engine especially - it perfectly picks up in any gear with almost idle revolutions. The elasticity of the motor, or, in other words, its adaptability, is simply fantastic. Where other cars would have long been required to include a lower gear, Volvo confidently pulls on the highest. The assault on the mountain lifts is so confident that you involuntarily recall the painful tractor. Only on the speedometer not twenty kilometers per hour, but all ninety.
You can’t imagine the atmosphere on the highway where the test was held - closed turns, on one side of the rock, on the other - a cliff, in some places for a tamped snow, in some places bare ice, polished by the north wind. And from the sky, white cereal is constantly sprinkled. At the same time, the car tenaciously holds the road surface. Partly - thanks to the studded tires of Gislavwebet, but the main thing is all -wheel drive.
Almost at the end of the route, the opportunity to feel it, to evaluate it in full. I repent, I was mistaken: I was too close to the walking car ahead and for the train of snow dust missed the entrance to the turn. The front wheel clings to a snowdrift, and Volvo leaves the road to a gentle slope. While the station wagon plows the virgin lands, I pray so that there are no stones under the snow. I will not describe in detail how I managed to return to a rut. Believe the word - helped out all -wheel drive. It is certainly good, but at the same time very dangerous for an inexperienced driver. On winter tracks, the accelerated dynamics clearly prevails over the brake, and excellent stability can also weaken vigilance. In order to avoid trouble, you need to look at the speedometer and control the speed. Otherwise, do not stop at the right time - neither the spikes nor the anti -lock brake system will save. The laws of physics, alas, cannot be canceled. On the bare ice - even more so.
In the mornings, the organizers of the test did not warm up the cars and it was possible to check how the engine starts after the cold night. So, the engine came to life from the half -turn, which instilled confidence - minus twenty -five for it is far from the limit. The heater very tolerably heated the spacious salon of the station wagon. And although at high speeds the side glasses froze in some places, there was always a wormwood, through which you can look to the sides and at the outer mirrors. The windshield and the rear with built -in heating were entirely transparent all the time.
This is a machine gun!
From the S70 sedan with an automatic gearbox, colleagues-journalists shied away like a devil from incense. You can understand them - there was a test on the ice of the lakes and trial races on an oval track, somewhat reminiscent of our highways for hippodrome races. To whom the desire to take risks - for some reason the glory of unprofitable situations for extreme situations was firmly strengthened behind the machines with a machine gun. It is not surprising that the keys to ordinary cars were immediately grabbed, and the author of these lines got the one that with an automatic box, and even with the most powerful engine of 240 horsepower with a turbocharged.
There is nothing to do, you have to go. I look into the salon: the decoration is the most luxurious - wood and skin of light tones. The radio is better than that of others. A spoiler flaunts on the lid of the trunk. In short, the exterior and interior are normal. What is the situation with running qualities? Literally the very first meters showed - this sedan has a temperamental character. Regardless of the operating mode of the box (sports, winter or economical) rushes, as scalded. But the driver’s teams are willingly, and, most importantly, the box switches softly, without jerking. We drive into the foothills - contrary to expectations, everything is in order. Clear predictable reactions, no attempts to rebel. The front -wheel drive car writes complex ligaments of the turns with a machine gun, as if by the pattern, and every minute I like it more and more.
 
Reached the lake - we go down on the ice. A sports regime is included. Well, dear, do not let you down! Intensive acceleration in a straight, light braking with the left foot without gas discharge - and the sedan easily takes the first turn. Happened! Now add speed. Turn, the other and ahead appeared a full -wheel drive station wagon. A little more and we overtake our colleagues testing the V70. It is impossible to overtake - the organizers were banned. I never ranked himself to the great drivers, which means that the matter is in the car.
Now we are moving towards the track, where we were allowed to make only one circle. But this is enough. The tactics are the same, only the speed is higher - acceleration in a straight line, upsetting with the left foot, even gas. The sedan with a slight sliding prescribes a turn, and at the exit even allows you to adjust the trajectory to fit into the argument. What!
Having played enough with a gun captivated by me, I give way to a partner, or rather, a partner - a representative of the best half of humanity. The heavy sedan, it would seem, is not intended for women. But the satellite on the test drive quickly finds a common language with him - the return trip along the icy mountain roads, at night, and even overcomes in the snowfall independently and without much stress. What is not the proof of excellent running qualities of the car!
Of course, in terms of incomplete two days to try out all models of the S70/V70 family. But the fact that the thoroughly renewal of models of the 850th series, called restyling, managed to be obvious, was obvious.
The choice of a particular car brand is not least due to the financial capabilities of the buyer, but in Russia - in particular. Nevertheless, I am convinced that the consumer qualities of the machine are so high that, despite the high price, safe, comfortable, well adapted to cold (also prestigious) Volvo in our country will still be in demand.
Kirkinese Vadim Kryuchkov
Moscow photo of the author
Technical characteristics of the car
Volvo V70 AWD with a wagon body
(in brackets - different parameters of the S70 sedan with an automatic gearbox)
General data: number of places - 5; Equipped mass - 1575 (1370) kg; maximum speed - 220 (235) km/h; acceleration time from a place to 100 km/h - 8.5 (7.3) s; The average fuel consumption is 11.2 (11.5) l/100 km; fuel supply - 70 liters; Fuel - gasoline with an octane number not lower than 91. Dimensions, mm: length - 4720; width - 1760; height - 1450 (1400); base - 2650 (2660); Front/rear track - 1520/1490 (1470); The volume of the trunk is 480/1610 (470) l. Engine: gasoline, five-cylinder, in order, 20-valve with turbocharged, is located in front of the front; working volume - 2435 (2319) SMZ; compression degree - 9 (8.5); Power - 142 kW/193 l. With. (176 kW/240 l. P.) At 5100 rpm; The maximum torque is 142 (176) N.M at 5100 rpm. Transmission: gearbox - mechanical five -speed (automatic four -speed); Transporting numbers: I - 3.07 (3.61); II - 1.77 (2.06); III - 1.19 (1.37); IV - 0.87 (0.98); V - 0.70; h. X. - 2.99 (3.95); The main program is 4.00 (2.56). Brakes: with an amplifier, front - ventilated disk, rear - disk. Tires: 185/65R15 m+S.
 
 
 
 

Source: The magazine "Driving"