Wilvo XC70 test drive since 2007

Calm itself

In Russia, there is a wary attitude towards all universals, except for universals of increased cross -country ability.

 
Machines of this format are in good demand. New Audi A6 Allroad and Subaru Outback have been sold for a long time. Now the Swedish version in the person of Volvo XC70 has been updated. In the year of the third generation of the car, the entire line celebrates its decade. In 1997, the first Volvo car with an abbreviation XC V70 XC appeared. The car immediately became popular. Full -wheel drive, a spacious trunk is an excellent option for traveling to nature on weekends and for everyday operation in the city.
 
The new XC70 definitely looks brighter than its predecessor. The machine is built on the basis of the V70 station wagon, which in turn turned out from the S80 sedan. The version for the crossed terrain received a dashing plastic plumage in the lower part of the body, which the artists decorated with silver inserts. It turned out beautifully, emotionally. Partly by the Bulk appearance, the station wagon as if asking to grab on it with a breeze in gravel areas.
 
However, the mood changes when you are driving a car. If outwardly the model managed to decently move away from their asphalt counterparts, then inside all three cars are identical. The same solid front panel with an elevation above the tidy. The same stylishly compiled small keys on a soaring central console. Ergonomics are good, however, you will have to get used to beautiful, but small buttons on the console. The steering wheel has exhaustive adjustments in height and departure.
 
The chairs provide a relaxed landing. They neglect lateral support. This is the first obvious hint of the character of the car. But there is optional ventilation and, of course, heating. You are sitting high (I didn’t have enough appropriate adjustment, I all the time wanted to lower the seat just below), but before the overview of the crossover, a universal is far from a clearance of 210 mm. There is a complete feeling that you are driving in a passenger car. However, the way it is. The ceiling is high above the head. Spacious in all directions. Behind too. Great visibility is provided by large mirrors, which seemed to be installed here with XC90. On the S80 there are others, smaller and more vague.
 
And what a trunk! 575 l is only a dry figure. And about how diligently the Swedes approached the layout of the luggage compartment, we must not read, this must be seen. The door, for example, is closed by pressing the button in the end. When it is open, the dream of a business executive appears to be a gaze. Firstly, volume. Secondly, the convenience of access. Thirdly, the gender of the trunk rises and is fixed in this position, and under it a space for storing little things is found, broken into compartments. Under the second floor of the reserve with standard tools. Rails are launched along the trunk, from which you can get several hooks. The backs are naturally folded (in the proportion of 40/20/20). And in their posterior part, boxes with leaving nets are fixed under the headrests, which form the screen in the upper part behind the second row of seats.
 
The suspension of the machine did not undergo fundamental changes in the car. Here, perhaps their shock absorbers with springs and, as already mentioned, increased by 67 mm clearance. It was surprised that the car was shod in small 16-inch wheels with almost juper rubber dimensions of 215/65. High tire profile another evidence of the character of the car. The all -wheel drive scheme is completely civilian in the rear wheel drive of Haldex. Helled by electronics, it, if necessary, selects the torque from the boxing front axle and passes it back.
 
The meeting with the new XC70 was also noteworthy and acquaintance with the new power unit Volvo in a row six volume of 3.2 liters. The engine's voice just sings the juicy at high speeds. And the characteristics are good 238 forces and 320 Nm. However, for a car, the total mass of which exceeds two tons, such a motor is enough just for a normal life. Acceleration without a spinning car confidently, without excitement, gains speed. The situation is revived in those cases when you drive the tachometer arrow closer to the red zone. Volvo acceleration can be called comfortable.
 
Of course, a considerable merit in this belongs to the machine. This would be so soft to such a representative limousine, smoothly it switches the gears and regulates power flows. Even when accelerating into the floor, it does not violate comfort. If you need to switch down, the box makes an elegant pause and gently inserts the next gear into the clip. The passenger learns about switching only when the machine begins to gain speed more intensively.
  
The maximum speed of the station wagon is 215 km/h, but I do not want to rush at such a speed. Even 200 km/h on such tires-leafers is much. The direct course of the XC70 holds well, but the emptiness in the steering wheel makes him rebuild with caution. In the turn, significant departments of high -profile tires immediately make themselves felt. The car reacts to the wheel with a delay, and the feedback seems not enough, even if the steering wheel is specially weighed (this setting is carried out through the onboard computer).
 
However, I go to a station wagon with an incorrect assessment system. For XC70, the main values \u200b\u200bare not speed and controllability. People who want to buy this car will not bring down all the money for speed. Most likely, for them the main concepts will be safety and comfort with their loaded trunk, with their households in the back row. It is the safety and comfort of trump cards of the new Volvo.
 
Therefore, gas in half a man, pose is more impressive, speed below. Fuel consumption in this case falls from 20 liters to 1617. For some time I am going with the audio system turned off, I listen to the salon. The streets are not heard at all, the noise of the tires is also heard very detached, only at high speed does unobtrusive aerodynamic noise occur. Sound insulation at the premium-segment cars is very worthy. Yes, and the assembly of the interior at the height of either the creak or the cricket to you. Silence and obvious quality are pacified, made less vain, beneficially affecting the driving manner. At the wheel of the XC70, I absolutely do not want to hooligate.
 

But when you find yourself on a wet primer, soft reactions turn into pluses, and a long -flowing and rather soft suspension allows you to comfortably move along bumps. In general, where the driver will strain at the wheel of an ordinary S80, carefully choosing the road sitting at the wheel XC70 without tension will follow. Actually, for this, the car was created. XC70 turned out to be many -sided. Outside, it looks easy and swift. Inside is solid and calm. On the move, the embodiment of comfort. I am sure that this combination will seem the only right.
 
Prices and configuration

The car is available with two engines. The diesel five-cylinder unit is paired with a mechanical 6-speed checkpoint. The cost of such a car starts from a mark of about 1,290,000 rubles. The top version that has been on our test costs from 1,393,000 rubles. The automatic transmission for the diesel version is estimated at 51,700 rubles, and the hatch for both configurations costs 25,800 rubles.
 
Nikolai Ilyin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Source: Motor magazine [November 2007]