Wilvo XC70 test drive since 2011 station wagon

Signs

Volvo XC70. Price: $ 52,000. On sale: since September 2007
The spring thaw on many evokes sadness: you can’t go to nature, you can’t get to the dacha. But such conditions are only on the hand. What is no reason to check the real capabilities of the Volvo XC70!
Spring is the time of the year when asphalt goes along with the snow from the roads. As for the lanes, they completely turn into such that it is difficult to name the dear. Mesiva from snow, sand and motioned earth sucked more than one vehicle in its abyss, starting with a car and ending with the tractor. Only the owners of all -wheel drive technology always felt good in such a situation. What are we worse? In the end, the Volvo XC70 arsenal has a four -wheel drive, and an impressive clearance even by off -road standards, and there are plenty of relics in general, we decided on an adventure: to drive where the majority prefers to leave the car and continue to get on asome.
To begin with, we tested the car on the lane. A shallow, 15-20 centimeters, the slurry on a more or less solid substrate did not become an obstacle to the car. It was slightly driven, it was thrown out of the rut, but this did not cause serious fears. XC70, as they say, PE forward. Full -wheel drive allowed to easily maneuver in this mess, groping a fairly solid surface. Only sometimes the traction control system strangled the engine, without giving the car of a full -fledged move. Later it was turned off, and the ride on such a coating turned into something spectacular. Roaring the engine and throwing dirt two meters above the roofs, the respectable station wagon literally flew over all this outrage no worse than a real SUV. The first stage of the XC70 withstood with honor, which featured us for more serious tests.
Huge puddles with fragmented edges, and, apparently, the same bottom, visually seemed completely impassable. In any case, felled branches and other improvised means lying on the sides unequivocally hinted that more than one car sat before us. But there is nowhere to go, there is a test, and we continued. True, before this, they still felt the bottom of the sixth for the presence of some obstacle like a boulder. Mix motor oil with this slurry, if we split the crankcase, did not enter our plans at all. The ford was clean. Burl with the exhaust gases in the area of \u200b\u200bthe exhaust pipe and leaving behind a wake of a waist of a shabby slurry, our experimental easily emerged on the opposite shore. Judging by the trail on the sides of the car, the depth of the ford was thirty centimeters.
The next test was sand. This stage has become the longest. At first, the car was completely calm along a loose base. But then it seemed to press it into the sand like a mold. They took and pressed. We did not even have time to react. In general, they sat down, moreover. And it began. There is no one to pull out, there is nothing to dig, there is nothing to put. Fortunately, there is a regular trapezoidal jack in stock, and you can slip it literally under the car lying on the belly. However, he was not on top. In the most lowered state, the effort on it when lifting is such that the handle, for which you need to twist, begins to wrap around the axis. I had to dig sand with my hands to install the jack as deeply as possible under the threshold. It took about two hours to release from the captivity. Which, however, we do not consider it in vain spent by time. Firstly, the experience has been raised. And secondly, they even more believed that the cooler the SUV, the further go beyond the tractor. By the way, if we were in such a situation on a real SUV, the result would most likely be the same. The sand in this place was already very loose. Yes, and the Black Cat, before the trip, crossed the road to us. So do not believe in signs after that.
Driving
Undoubtedly, on the relative off -road XC70 it looks much better than an ordinary station wagon. Nevertheless, you should not like it to a real SUV. Not that geometric patency. And there are no hard locks.
Salon
It is good for off -road driving. In any case, from finishing materials the dirt brought into the salon is not difficult to shake away or washed.
Comfort
Even on disgusting roads, the suspension can provide proper comfort for passengers.
Security
High.
Price
Acceptable.
Advantages and disadvantages
+ Versatility, comfort, excellent running qualities on the highway, good cross -country cross -country.
- An uncomfortable regular jack.
Specifications
Mark and model - Volvo XC70
Dimensions - 4838/1861/1604 mm
Engine - gasoline, 3192 cm3, 238 hp/6200 min -1
Transmission - automatic, 5 -speed
Dynamics - Max 215 km/h; 8.6 s to 100 km/h
Competitors - Subaru Outback, Audi Allroad.
Our opinion
There are no miracles. Any universal car is a reasonable compromise, and therefore cannot fully comply with any one of the qualities embedded in it. So, the Volvo XC70 can be called an SUV only with a stretch. However, where there are still roads, albeit bad, albeit crooked, but still dear, he obviously does not save.
Author: Oleg Kalaushin
Photo: Igor Kuznetsov
 

Source: Magazine 5 wheel [May 2008]