With each new test car, I always wonder what impressions people form without knowing me simply based on the car I drive. For example, when I was driving the Porsche Cayman a couple weeks ago, one of my co-workers told me I looked like a trophy wife. I don’t quite dress the part, but, um, OK.
Over the years, I’ve had people give me thumbs up, double takes, the finger, a wide berth, smiles and stares. I’ve had people follow me, tap on my window, shake their fist at me, take my picture and honk at me. All this based on the car du jour.
2009 Volvo XC70
Engine: 3.2-liter inline 6-cylinder (base); 3.0-liter turbocharged inline 6-cylinder
Horsepower: 235 (base); 281
Torque: 236 pound-feet (base); 295 pound-feet
Transmission: six-speed automatic
Drive train: AWD
Wheelbase: 110 inches
Length: 190.5 inches
Width: 73.3 inches
Height: 63 inches
Fuel economy: 15/23 (base); 15/22
Base price: $38,075 (base); $40,325
As tested: $46,490
When the 2009 Volvo XC70 pulled into my parking space last week, I didn’t have to think too hard about what the persona du jour would be. And it was immediately reinforced by a friend who looked at the car and said: Soccer mom.
With its wagonlike profile and elevated sit height, the all-wheel drive XC70 does have a soccer mom-like aura. And I have to admit, not having kids, I wouldn’t even consider the XC70 as my personal car. But … for a mom-mobile, I thought the XC70 had quite a bit of merit.
All-new for 2008, the boxy façade got a little sleeker, smoothing out some of the harsh lines. It looks little less like a wagon and a little more like a crossover. The vehicle also got safer and a little more family friendly.
In addition to a slew of standard safety features such as stability and traction control, a tire pressure monitoring system, front side-impact airbags, inflatable side-curtain airbags, Volvo’s next-generation Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS) and a stronger side structure, there are some optional safety features that take the XC70 to the next level.
One of my favorite new safety features is the blind spot monitoring system, which Volvo offers as a $695 option. While this wasn’t available on the test vehicle, I have seen it on other vehicles, and it’s a great little catch-all for those cars that creep into your blind spot. If you opt for the Collision Avoidance Package ($1,695), you’ll get some other excellent safety features that also help prevent an accident from occurring: adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, distance alert and driver alert control. The downside is that you have to purchase the Premium Package ($2,995) in order to have the option to purchase the Collision Avoidance Package.
However, in terms of families, perhaps one of the more unique and interesting safety options is the dual height-adjustable integrated child booster cushion ($495). I know this is a far cry from the $20 - $80 booster seats available at Toys “R” Us, but consider that the seat is specially designed for the XC70, and you won’t have to mess with switching a single set of booster seats from car to car. Buy the single set and leave them in Dad’s car.
While safety is a huge consideration when purchasing a family vehicle, it’s nice to know that the XC70 isn’t a complete dud in the fun department. The drivability of this car is actually quite good, and the acceleration is more than decent.
The base XC70 comes equipped with a 3.2-liter inline six-cylinder engine that delivers 235 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. New for 2009, there is an available 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine that delivers 281 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Luckily, this is what the test vehicle had, and as long as I was behind the wheel, I completely forgot I was playing the role of soccer mom for the week.
As a "soccer mom," however, the one thing I would have liked to see on this car is better fuel economy. The base engine brings in city/highway ratings of 15/23 mpg, and the turbocharged engine is only slightly worse at 15/22 mpg. As a wagon of the crossover ilk, those numbers should be at least 5 mpg higher.
The overall ride and handling was pretty carlike. I couldn’t completely race through sweeping highway onramps, but I didn’t have to limp along at a lope either.
Steering on the XC70, however, is a little stiffer than I would prefer. I especially noticed it the day after a weights workout at the gym, and every turn of the wheel in the parking garage left me cringing in pain. Parallel parking itself is a workout.
The interior of the XC70 is very Euro and very simple. I liked the clean lines of the center stack, and I really liked the storage space behind the control panel as it was perfect for a small purse. My favorite interior feature has to be the “ortho posture” front seats. They have great bolster and lumbar support, and the seat bottoms themselves are the right size for varying leg lengths. These seats – and those in all Volvos – are probably among the most comfortable in an automobile.
The XC70 does have an optional power liftgate, and boy could I have used it. I was about an inch too short – even in heels – to grasp the hand grip to lower the hatch. Every time I opened the back, I had to crawl into the cargo area and kneel on the bumper to grab the hand hold. Then, while clasping the grip, I had to keep my balance and climb off the bumper. At that point, I could shut the hatch. The only bad thing about the power liftgate: You’ll have to fork over $1,195 for the Convenience Package.
Since the XC70 was all-new last year, there aren’t too many changes for the 2009 model year. You’ve got standard Bluetooth, a new paint color and a new technology package with more features. But the biggest change is the addition of the T6 model, which has the upgraded turbocharged engine, 17-inch Sargas alloy wheels, T6 tailgate badge, visible dual tailpipes, cross-brushed aluminum inlays and optional 18-inch Minos alloy wheels.
The test vehicle, as previously mentioned, was this new model and carried a base price of $40,325. It added the Premium Package ($2,995), Climate Package ($380), Booster seats ($495) and the Technology Package ($2,295), which brought the as-tested price to $46,490. The base XC70 with the 3.2-liter engine starts at $38,075.
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