Has anyone here read the latest Forbes article (http://www.forbes.com/2004/02/17/cx_cd_0217test_print.html) on the XC70?
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">What's the only thing better than being at a ski resort in Vermont in late January with a layer of fresh powder on the ground?
Being there in a Volvo XC70 AWD.
With the temperature huddling in the single digits on days when only large pickup trucks with snow plows affixed to their front seemed capable of navigating the frozen highways, the XC70 was in its element. The suffix AWD stands, of course, for "all wheel drive" and this sweet little Swede is as frisky in the snow as an amorous Eskimo.
Previously badged as the Cross Country, the $34,810 XC70 is one of a recent breed of luxury wagons--like the Audi S4 Avant and BMW 5-Series Sport wagon--that offer the handling and speed of a sedan with greater cargo volume. Styled with the same aerodynamic designs as their two- and four-door counterparts, these are wagons that provide a driving experience that just can't be found in a sport utility vehicle or minivan.
What's curious is that, despite the appeal of these cars, they don't sell all that well. According to the manufacturers, for 2003 the Mercedes-Benz E-Class wagon sold 1,995 units, BMW sold 1,500 5-Series Sport wagons, and Audi sold only 122 S4 Avants. Volvo was far and away the most popular in the category, although it costs on average $10,000 less, selling 17,185 units in 2003. That was still down from more than 19,000 in 2002.
To put it in perspective, the best-selling wagon in the United States, the Ford (nyse: F - news - people ) Taurus, which comes fully loaded for around $23,000, sold more than 30,000 units last year and that was a down year. The best-selling SUV, the $26,000 Ford Explorer, moved more than 44,000 units in 2003, representing a 45% jump over the year before. (The best sellers in the United States are the Toyota (nyse: TM - news - people )Camry and Honda (nyse: HMC - news - people ) Accord, which sold more than 400,000 each.)
Why aren't these wagons selling? For one thing, they cost a lot. There's a reason why most people in Vermont, a state that has an average per capita income of under $30,000, choose practical pickup trucks instead of sleek Eurowagons. Outside pockets of upscale communities around the country, few people have the money or inclination to blow around $40K on a new Audi, BMW or Mercedes wagon. (Sedans are a different matter entirely, however: for 2003 Mercedes says it sold 53,240 of its comparably priced E-Class sedans.)
The other reason is that, while practical, they aren't practical enough. Sure, the XC70 is great at tackling the tundra but you can't hang a snowplow on it. The Audi, the Mercedes, the BMW just don't have the carrying capacity of an SUV.
What do they offer, though, is solid engineering, good looks and, frankly, snob appeal. Some people don't want to drive pickup trucks and there's nothing wrong with that. Other people just want the versatility that a wagon like the XC70 can offer.
Sitting in the front of the Volvo XC70 provides the driver and passenger with the kind of tactile, kinetic experience one expects today from a European luxury car. Although not as beautiful as the Mercedes-Benz E wagons or Audi's S4 or A6 Avants, the dashboard is clean, stylish and attractive, the dials and gauges both elegant to look at and easy to read. Nothing is hard to find or, worse, overly engineered.
The seats are comfortable and, again, for the lucky pair sitting in front, heated. There is also ample forward leg room. There are two cupholders and a handy storage well between the two front seats. Paddles on the wheel help the driver control sound and climate without taking his eyes off the road. Quibbles would include a rotary pre-set dial on the radio and power-window switch that is difficult to adjust. Trying to lower the window an inch or two to let in fresh air was nearly impossible, which given the arctic Vermont temperature outside proved overly bracing for the people in back.
If the experience of the two adult passengers who rode up to Vermont in the back seat of the XC70 is anything to go by, however, the comfort of rear passengers is definitely not on a par with those in the front. Not only do they lack heated seats--a real luxury on cold winter mornings--but the seats are shallow and when the people in front are over six feet tall, there is not much leg room aft. In fact, one of the passengers, after sitting for several hours, heaved a huge sigh of relief when our ski lodge came into view, saying that if we had to travel further she might experience "deep vein thrombosis" in her legs.
Of course, the majority of people using the XC70 are families; a long trip with four adults will probably be the exception rather than the rule. There is also a rear-facing third-row seat available for an additional $1,500, which is great only for kids or, if adults are along, for trips under 15 minutes.
One thing that people will also notice is that because of the reinforced frame and the safety features for which Volvo is famous, the cabin feels cramped. Compared with the Mercedes wagon, head and shoulder room, even in the front, feels tighter, as does the cargo space--even though according to the specifications the E-class wagon is smaller than the XC70.
(The Volvo, however, has an MSRP that is roughly $15,000 less than the Mercedes wagon so it is unfair to compare it too much.)
That said, the XC70's 2.5-liter 5-cylinder engine with 208 hp and peak torque from 1500 rpm to 4500 rpm--a powerplant which it shares with the new XC90 SUV--gives the car plenty of push, particularly once the turbocharger is engaged. But it needs the extra juice. Despite its relatively small size, the curb weight of the XC70 is a solid 3,827 lbs and, at just under eight seconds, zero to 60 seems sluggish.
Thanks to the heavy weight, fuel economy is also less than impressive, averaging around 19 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway, which is comparable to many mid-size SUVs.
Still, the car performed well on the highway and in the snow. The five-speed automatic transmission with optional manual drive was smooth and the car's high ground clearance and rear wheel drive were perfectly suited for the rough roads of backwoods Vermont. On the highway, too, the car handled well and drove comfortably, its turbocharger piquant enough for the demands of I-95.
Most important was the peace of mind we had knowing that we were driving a Volvo. It's not always a conscious thing, but there is something undeniably reassuring about knowing that a car has been submitted to the most rigorous safety checks on the planet. If you're considering using the XC70 to ferry around your family, such minor concerns as turbo lag seem unimportant indeed.
Consider such flaws as turbo lag and high fuel consumption the price you pay for peace of mind. Volvo may not be famous for building the fastest, snazziest or largest cars in the world, but it is famous, and justifiably so, for building the safest. The extra weight that the XC70 is carrying around is due not only to the car's reinforced frame but also to such standard additional safety features as dual front airbags, front side airbags, curtain side airbags, front-seat active head restraints, antilock four-wheel disc brakes, and daytime running lights.
Making the car safer still is an advanced all-wheel-drive system from Sweden's Haldex (whose other clients include Volvo's fellow member of Ford's Premier Automotive Group, Land Rover, as well as Volkswagen and Audi), which electronically counters wheel slip in just one-seventh of a wheel rotation. There is also an optional anti-skid system available for an additional $695.
It is for safety first, and then for performance and styling, that people buy Volvos. For that reason alone, the XC70 is worth considering. Among its peers, its sticker price is approximately $10,000 less but you still get AWD standard.
Volvo has long relied on its confirmed base of buyers who recognize the brand's value and reputation. Now that Ford owns it, it is trying to increase sales and reach out to a wider audience. So far the strategy seems to be working. 2003 was a record year for Volvo, in which the company sold more than 135,023 units, a 22% year-to-year increase. Unfortunately, sales for the XC70 are down by 23.4%, mostly due to the success of Volvo's $40,000 XC90 SUV, which has probably cannibalized much of the XC70's natural sales base.
So, should you buy this car? Despite our criticisms, we liked it for its safety, AWD, versatility and, compared with other luxury wagons, its competitive pricing. If we lived in Vermont, however, we'd probably have to buy a pickup truck as well to keep the driveway plowed.
Specs
Manufacturer Contact: The Volvo Web site
Color Options: Black, Ice White, Nautic Blue Metallic, Silver Metallic, Ash Gold Metallic, Ruby Red Metallic, Crystal Green Metallic
Suspension Type: Front: MacPherson strut with coil springs. Rear: Multilink independent with coil springs
Acceleration: 0 to 60 mph in 7.9 seconds (est.)
Engine Type; Displacement: 2.5-liter dohc turbocharged 5-cylinder engine; 5-speed automatic transmission
Horsepower: 208 hp @ 5000 rpm
Torque: 236 ft-lbs @ 1,500 rpm
EPA Mileage: 19 city/24 highway
MSRP: $34,810
HIGHS:
Handsome lines; all-wheel drive; good cargo room; optional third row seat; and Volvo's famous reputation for safety
LOWS:
Mediocre fuel economy; sluggish acceleration; tight back seat[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>