Volvo XC70 versus Lexus RX 400h

[vtie]

Here is a story for all of you who are driving an XC70...

Currently, I am looking for something a bit more upscale to replace my manual 6-speed D5 XC70. Since my wife has a Prius and I love the silk-smooth city driving that it offers, I was considering a Lexus RX 400h, which also has a hybrid drive train. So, I test drove one of them.

End result: after the test, I like my XC70 twice as much as I did before! I consider it superior in almost every aspect. The only thing the 400h does (much) better is flat 0-100km/h acceleration. But the way the car handles sucks all the fun away from it. When you accelerate the 400h, there is a horrible amount of torque steering (it's basically a FWD car, apart from a weak electric engine on the rear). That makes it unpleasant and even unsafe. At high speeds (>120km/h), acceleration is very unpredictable: sometimes you get a lot, sometimes you get almost nothing.

The XC70 handles sooo much better. It isn't exactly a sports car, but it almost feels like that after you have driven that 400h. Much more stable in the corners, and *much* more predictable.

There are lot of speed bumps in my neighborhood, and I know exactly how fast I can drive my XC70 to take them in a speedy but comfortable way. I tried the exact same speed with the 400h. The result was quite shocking: the suspension flattened out with a sick-sounding noise. A few more of these and I could have damaged the car. It's simply too heavy for the suspension. Lexus explicity discourages off-road use because the batteries are underneath and can easily be damaged. So far for an "SUV". I have done things with my XC70 that no one could ever do with a 400h.

Then about the so much rumoured mileage: I got 10L/100 km on the 400h, whereas with my XC70 I stay below 8L/100 km (drove in the same way)

The bottom line: no way I going to replace my car with that one. A manual, 6-speed D5 XC70 is infinetely more fun to drive. It has more room, is equally comfortable, and is a much more confident car on rough roads. It is less performant but that is easily compensated by the fact that the poor handling of the 400h makes it's performance almost useless.

The good news is that I now enjoy my XC70 even more than before. It's a great car, with a surprising good balance between ruggedness and drivability.

Now I need to check out the BMW X3 with the new 270hp diesel engine...

[tgwillard]

One other benefit I find with my new XC70 is the fact you can put up to ten feet pieces of lumber inside the car using the feature of the fold down front seat as well as the rear seats. And for 4x8 sheets of sheet rock or plywood I have build a platform for the roof rack that allows me to carry those items on the roof. The XC70 is a good replacement for my pick up truck.

[Willy]

Thanks for the elaborate test report!
The results do surprise me, but since I drive an XC, I don't mind all that much :D
I did think about the RX300 for a while, but found the engine (and transmission)
not a good choice (tax policies in Belgium punish cubic inches :o).
Willy

[vtie]

Thanks for the elaborate test report!
The results do surprise me, but since I drive an XC, I don't mind all that much :D
I did think about the RX300 for a while, but found the engine (and transmission)
not a good choice (tax policies in Belgium punish cubic inches :o).
Willy

The "regular" RX (RX350 these days) might actually handle better. It's considerably lighter, may have a better weight balance and is a true AWD.

What I'm dreaming of is BMW's 270hp 3-liter biturbo diesel engine in an XC70...

[Palisandr]

I drove several Toyota brand vehicles and just find them way too soft on steering and plain-vanillish boring. Certainly the historical reliability is a plus. But that's about it. Service at the dealership (here in the US) is just horrible vs my Volvo dealership. It seems to me that Toyota just staffs their advisors with warm bodies instead of knowledgeable experienced mechanics. Never used Lexus dealership though. It looks like Toyota slowly but surely becomes another GM.

[RB's]

What I'm dreaming of is BMW's 270hp 3-liter biturbo diesel engine in an XC70...[/QUOTE]

I'm waiting on the X3 diesel myself, my son is about to start driving and I think my XC would be a good, safe match for him. He isn't going to drive either my car or the Wife's, so, Volvo it is. However, since that leaves me in the lurch in really bad weather, I had better get something safe... (ahem) Like the X3d...:D

[tomclick]

Just intall a nice intake, downpipe, sport exhaust, ECM upgrade and suspention upgrades....you'd be very surprised how invigorating these cars can be both at low and top-end speeds...I am![thumbup]

[griso4r]

nice report!
I considered the x3 before going for the xc, but the internal space and the quality of the materials were so bad that i even didn' t ask the dealer for further info. it is such a step back in quality from the 320 e46 i owned.
for sure bmw engines are the best on the market and the handling should be more sporty but xc still remains the best compromise (imho).
i started thinking to replace my d5, but at the moment i don't see, i'm talking about europe, any good alternative since audi and bmw are definitely too expensive.
please let us know about your experience with the x3.
ciao

[tom's new car]

nice report!
I considered the x3 before going for the xc, but the internal space and the quality of the materials were so bad that i even didn' t ask the dealer for further info. it is such a step back in quality from the 320 e46 i owned.
for sure bmw engines are the best on the market and the handling should be more sporty but xc still remains the best compromise (imho).
i started thinking to replace my d5, but at the moment i don't see, i'm talking about europe, any good alternative since audi and bmw are definitely too expensive.
please let us know about your experience with the x3.
ciao

look at the VW passat 4motion wagon.......costs less, you get a superior AWD system, and substantially more power under the hood without
taking a hit on gas mileage.......tho you are out of luck if you want a 3rd row seat

[mortensv]

look at the VW passat 4motion wagon.......costs less, you get a superior AWD system, and substantially more power under the hood without
taking a hit on gas mileage.......tho you are out of luck if you want a 3rd row seat

The AWD system in the Passat is nearly identical to the XC's (and superior to many other...)

[Boarder]

Thanks for the informative review. XC70 holds up pretty well. BMW inline 6 is super smooth, but interested in impressions of X3 overall.

[griso4r]

look at the VW passat 4motion wagon.......costs less, you get a superior AWD system, and substantially more power under the hood without
taking a hit on gas mileage.......tho you are out of luck if you want a 3rd row seatmmm, i had the former passat, the 1.8 turbo 20 v and i loved it. changing the bmw i was considering also the new passat even if i don't like the shape at all. my impression is that also the passat is a step back from the former one, or better is not following the same concept. the former one was quite close to the audi a6, while this one is closer to the golf. vw repositioned the car and increased the differences with audi reducing the prices as well. moreover vw diesel engines are going to shift from the injector-pump system to the common rail in a couple of years highly depreciating the current production. the awd system is always haldex, so no difference at all, even gas mileage is quite similar while i consider the D5 engine definitely better than the tdi even the 170 hp .
at the end, i don't like the passat even if i'm aware that in a couple of years could represent the best quality for price in the market.