Test drive Volvo V70 2000 - 2004 station wagon

Unusual "Cross"

The Volvo 850 was born eight years ago. Our current heroine V70 XC Cross Country is much younger. And although both are dressed in almost the same five -door body, there is very little common between them. Especially after restyling, conducted three years ago, when along the way with the appearance of this body, the designation of all models of the company: Volvo-Sedan 850 became called S70, and the station wagon 850 Estate, respectively, V70.
The main fundamental difference between the V70 XC and the basic option is all -wheel drive. Here, the full -time leading front is supplemented by connected via Viskyoft when slipping the front bridge by the rear leaders. The force is redistributed depending on the load from the standard 95/5 up to the opposite, when all four or almost the rear are rowing. Such a scheme is conceived for the station wagon. Moreover, for a powerful, charged station wagon. True, later the AWD all -wheel drive sedan also appeared. But the Cross Country exists only with five doors, one of the only low -blanket engine 2.4 liters, and differs in 2 centimeters with a body and increased by 4 and 7 cm with the moves of the front and rear suspensions, respectively.
Under the windows of our editorial office, such a machine appeared on November, precisely when I wanted to. And the most desirable indescribably yellow-brown-gray color. Only the specks were not enough! However, they formed after the first two kilometers of urban ride, and therefore the flakes of dirty, seduced snow almost did not change the color of our horse.
The first thing you want in such a joyless season, easy start, unobtrusive heating of the spin and effective blowing of all glasses. Do not forget about non -freezing mirrors and heated nozzles of glass washing. And the wipers on the headlights are among the necessary. So, in the V70 XC all this is.
Of course, it is necessary to climb out of habit of the cabin, but almost everything here is known to us by the basic model.
It is difficult to list all the bells and whistles and options. Naturally, powerful music with both the cassette and with the siduk in one bottle. Sound quality is higher, in addition in the middle of the torpedo square mesh Dolby Pro Logic. Steering wheel wood and leather; moves in two planes. Climate and cruise- control. A little upset the lever for the power of blowing the salon. Unlike other rotating pens, it is a slider type, with an extremely short stroke. We will list the other annoying little things at once. It is not very convenient to control the information computer that turns the switch to the right of the steering wheel on most cars, it is button and lies somewhere in the handle field, for example, on a turn signal or directly on the hub of the steering wheel. There is almost no support for the left leg. Almost because it is, but it is directed in the unnatural side with the toe of the boot inward to the right, and the shoes should be no more than forty. But these are just trifles.
Seats of ideal shape, by the way, are unusually soft and skin -skinned with tissue inserts. The plastic in the lining of the cabin is heavy, not rattle. The back is spacious, there is a lot of air above your head, there is no discomfort.
Well, finally, the starter is cool. A short turn of the key, and a pleasant timbre of a five -cylinder of a transversely located engine, imperceptibly filled the cabin, not a drop without passing the vibration to the steering wheel and the automatic transmission lever.
I admit that I am not a fierce supporter of such a layout precisely because of possible vibrations and a screening of the machine with a sharp set of revolutions. But, running ahead, I honestly say when driving these shortcomings did not appear in any way.
So, the start is given. We undoubtedly drive, oh, what amateurs, but even then restrain our agility for the time being. I would like to enjoy the silent and quiet driving in the morning of Moscow. But tolerate unbearable, and finally, click the gas on the floor, putting a preliminary automatic box in the sport mode ... The flight of a bumblebee, moreover, a reactive bumblebee. Acceleration is uniform, a sharp jerk from the turned on the turbine, fortunately, no, and this is a clear plus of not the coolest boost. And the power is not bad 193 hp, and a set of revolutions is smooth. No wonder the maximum torque begins already at 1800. The noise from the engine is small, but you feel the turns not only in the tachometer, but with the whole gut. We jump out onto the tram tracks, not on the sleepers, of course, but it shakes off. The speed is eighty, we add a speed sharply, the machine includes the second instead of the fourth, but the wheels also tenaciously hold wet uneven paving stones and small fossaes. Any incomplete machine would start scouring and looking for a support point, grabbing wheels by the areas with the best clutch. V70 XC is only worshiped vertically, but the exchange rate stability is magnificent. We are convinced of the same on the absolutely icy site, where, with full gas, we go in a circle of meters of one hundred and fifty meters. The rotation can be considered neutral, since at first, mostly with the front leading, the usual demolition of the trajectory occurs, but immediately Wyskoft immediately throws part of the thrust to the rear bridge, and the back of the back begins to bring slightly. In general, we walk along the circular circle slightly with the nose inside and, adding gas, smoothly increase the radius, while without changing our position regarding the center.
At the beginning of the winter, it is difficult to find deep snowdrifts, but it was not a problem to move on a small one, ten centimeters, and only slowing down, by shocks to the pedal sent by ABS, you understand that you are moving along a rather unsteady ground.
Usually, having traveled even on a very mediocre technique, it is not customary to kill the manufacturer and seller with a negative assessment of the manufacturer, and you have to look, to look for any advantages that pull out the second variety to the average level. Immediately, without croaking, I will say the Volvo V70 XC Cross Country is a highly worthy car. Worthy of their master and worthy of domestic, not sparing anyone, climatic and road conditions.
So, we will leave the converts and the coupe who have them for the summer, and those who are going to buy a new machine for year -round operation, nothing better Cross Country, no matter how you call this car with an all -wheel drive barn or a passenger jeep.
P.S. The day after our test, the Volvo-Kuntsevo company held a presentation for journalists and other interested audience of this particular model, and in addition and S80 T6, which we will definitely talk about in one of the future numbers.
Vladimir Smirnov
Photo by Andrei Baranov and Alexander Chernyaev
 

 

A source: Cars