Volvo should seriously reconsider the way they package their options, because I really think they would sell more cars if more options were stand alone.

So the natural approach would be to take another look at an Outback XT. But I struggle with seeing myself every single block (literally, 9 out of 10 wagons here are Subaru Outbacks), and the comparison in fit and finish in my friends Subies just don’t have that nice feel that my car does.

And at the end of the day, if you’re leasing, Volvo is subsidizing the crap out of the XC. It’s actually CHEAPER to lease than an Outback.

We’ll see where that goes, but I liked this review. I just wish they’d not created a fatter and slower beast. I want my turbo!

It is expensive, but look what a new BMW all wheel drive wagon will do to your wallet:

A 328xi wagon starting at $36,100 or a 535xi starting at $54,000!

The Volvo is bigger than the 328 and a much much cheaper than the 535. Yeah, the 535 has that sweet engine, but for that price it had better.

The most comfortable seats that I’ve ever felt were in a previous gen (or was it previous, previous gen?) XC70. Man, were they nice.

Now, you can argue all you want about whether Volvo, as a brand, should be playing in these price ranges. However, if you look at the actual product being offered, the Volvos seem to be fairly priced. Not a screaming bargain, but not laughably expensive either.

Functionally and structurally, I’ve not really ever heard one bad word against a Volvo. A Volvo has been groomed for us to believe it is a really, really safe car with a subtle hint of luxury, right?

Does anyone outside a Ford boardroom think positioning Volvo above Lincoln is a good idea? I understand that Lincoln is a North American brand, and now that PAG is being dissolved, Volvo is the closest thing in Ford’s coffers to being a global luxury brand, but outside of Ford trucks, Volvo is the one Ford brand that is without a personality disorder. Why make one?

No one disagrees that Lincoln is not what it once was, but Lincoln as a shadow is still closer to that upmarket brand segment than Volvo is now. Right?

FoMoCo still sells most of its cars in North America, and Volvo is making money internationally as it is. Lincoln sells more cars in NA than Volvo does across two continents. Plus, it has the platform sharing going for it.

I’m sorry, Ford, it just doesn’t make sense. Some one or some persons are creating an identity crisis inside the company that would not exist otherwise.

Amen! I agree with all you’ve said about Volvo’s brand situation. Sticking a V8 under the XC70’s hood might be a bit extreme, but can you imagine the buzz that would generate? Marketing is becoming less and less about traditional outlets and more about what people are saying. Knee airbags? Wow! I’m telling all my friends…

Thanks for the comprehensive post; it’s always best to hear from someone who just went through a relevant purchase experience.

I’ve found that an opinion of a car can change drastically when it comes to the real world of putting down bucks on one.

I would have considered the new XC but it wasn’t available yet and even if it was I didn’t want the 3.2.

I always stop at the Volvo store when I’m shopping for a new wagon, but I have never left with one.

Remember those old Volvos they looked like they were designed by a 3rd grader.

Volvo’s safety image is still in the buyer’s mind when I talk to Volvo owners, but I think they have done a horrible job at working that angle. We should be seeing commercials on TV with drivers saying how their Volvo saved their life, THEN do the “who would you give a Volvo to” line. I don’t care if knee airbags are not needed if the car is properly designed as Volvo says, stick those damn things in there anyway, Volvos should have more airbags than a mother-in-law convention. Perception is reality in the customer’s mind and with Honda and VW selling safety, Volvo needs to refocus. I’d be OK with the upmarket push if it rode on a revamped safety bandwagon.

Still, the fit and finish is honestly superb inside. The detail in design of the patterned rugs, unique cross stitching on the seats (quite unlike the previous XC70) and attention to kid hauling and cargo hauling is very Volvo. The interior dimensions really are the result of rearranging the interior space, rear leg room is improved and the feel is more spacious than before. The cargo room is (according to Volvo) 3cu ft smaller than the last model as a result of the sloping rear windshield.

I gave it 4/5 stars which is in essence 80% or a “B” if you like. The car could be so much more. If the base model was $5k lower with the turbo I5 and the up model got the turbo I6 it would solve the power problem. If the prices on the individual options were brought down to reality, the overall price tag would come down, and lastly if they wedged that V8 under the hood (it fits since this is the same platform as the S80) it would broaden the appeal more. Bottom line: lower the price a tad, keeping the same price range stuff more goodies in, bring back the active suspension and perhaps I’d give it an A.

But that still doesn’t address Volvo’s brand position. I’m not sure just how “premium” Volvo wants to be. The interior is certainly BMW/Audi/Merc class, but the whiz-bang features are usually a step behind, and they lack the performance abilities of their German rivals. Perhaps 285HP T6 engines base with a fire-breathing twin turbo 350-400HP twin turbo 6 would give them more competitive ability, but then, maybe not.

PB35. I agree with you 100%. The NHTSA and IIHS tests are not always real world, and with everyone getting 5 stars it is hard to tell one from the other. Perhaps Volvo is still king because of their intense research into crash safety? I don’t know. The Euro NCAP rates them quite high and helps separate the men from the boys a bit, with US made cars getting 5 stars here and 1-3 stars there it makes you wonder where the truth lies. Until the crash tests are made more thorough and severe we may not know. Volvo and Saab’s headrest designs however do seem to reign supreme in terms of actual force transmitted to the neck in a crash.

But the specs I used are for the 2008 model that I got from Edmunds. If they’re wrong, your gripe is with them. For what it’s worth, the 2007 XC70 had more headroom, legroom, luggage space and wighed 400lbs less (as per Edmunds specs)than the ‘08 XC70. Now that’s progress.

-As others have mentioned, Volvo has arguably the best seats in the industry. I took a 4 hr. drive recently and didn’t have to stop once.

-Nobody is paying MSRP for Volvo. For instance, I got a 12k discount when I leased an XC90 earlier this year. Not saying the discount would be as deep on the new XC70 but there are incentives available.

-Sure, other marques have caught up in the safety arena. Nobody other than Volvo (Saab?) have an in-house safety center that investigates real-world crashes that I’m aware of. Sure, Subarus (which have always had a good safety record I believe) is as safe as a Volvo on paper but if the unthinkable happens, I want to be in the Volvo. My .02.

I like the way my Volvo drives/rides. Like someone said in another comments section here, I don’t autocross to work.

I guess I’ll slum it, keep my scoobie…and charter a Hinckley in several locales for the cash difference. Poor me?

Are you looking at the current (reviewed) XC70 or the previous generation?

Base ‘08 XC70 vs Outback 3.0 LL Bean
Price: +$5,000
Weight: +400lbs
Length: +5″
Width: +4″
Track: +5″
Fr Headroom: +.1″
Rr Headroom: +1.5″
Fr Legroom: -2″
Rr Legroom: +1
Fr Shoulder room: +3″
Rr Shoulder room: +3″
Fr Hip room +3.8″
Rr Hip room+3″

Seems to me that my statement of the XC70 being a larger car is 100% valid in every way except front leg room.

Also remember the XC70 brings you EBA, rain-sense wipers, an extra cog in the tranny, a hair more towing capacity and a better warranty (5/50 vs 3/36).

Lots of complaints about the price, but I went to Volvo’s site and “built” one for fun. Leaving off some of the unnecessary frippery (nav system and DVD in the seats) nets an extremely well-equipped vehicle for $41K. Add to that the exceptional bad weather abilities the XC70 has always had and I think you’ve got a very fine vehicle on your hands. No one drives these things like performance cars; 8.4 to 60 is plenty good enough for this vehicle.

Here in Maine, XC70s of all years are as common as air molecules, and for good reason: they’re great in the snow and muck, very comfortable to drive and ride in (Volvo’s seats are exceptional), and are more stylish and luxurious than the equally ubiquitous Subarus. Plus I am 5′ 11″ and I cannot get my legs to sit comfortably in an Outback’s driver’s pod; it’s too shallow and my legs cramp up. I have no such problems in my S60 and will undoubtedly have no problems in an XC70.

Some of us don’t want an SUV or minivan. We do want AWD, lots of space, and the best interior environment you can get for the money.

The folks who look at the XC70 are not looking for the proverbial speed demon. If that were the case, a Hemi would be in the cards… and somehow I don’t see the Magnum in the same demographic mix as the Japanese and German wagons.

Last month I bought my mom a 1998 Volvo XC70 Cross Country that had one grandma owner (that passed away unfortunately), and had 82k overall. She HAD to have the same type of car my wife has whenever we go to Myrtle Beach, and wanted all the trimmings as well. Our family always has FWD Volvo’s, but if we were in the snow belt the XC70 would probably be our car of choice. She wanted AWD and all the options. Since she tolerated me as a teenager, I figure it was a reasonable request.

As a long distance cruiser the Volvo wagons are absolutely marvelous machines. The Audi may be more sporty and svelte. The Mercedes may have more room and cache. The Subaru may be more involving and youthful. But for a family of four, or for a buyer that’s looking strongly at the luxury and safety sides of the equation, the Volvo 70 Series is the best out there.

My wife and I spent about three months test driving and pricing wagons and really wanted to buy the Subaru, but could not buy one in the end. Full and fair disclosure, my wife is a life-long Subaru fan, but that was not enough to overcome the Subaru’s weaknesses. The XC 70 did not excel in any one area, but was the winner based on a number of factors.

Price

- Subaru Outback approximately $34k
- Volvo XC70 approximately $45k
- Audi A6 Avant approximately $55k
- MB E350 4Matic approximately $57k
- BMW 535xi approximately $58k

Subaru wins on price, but Volvo is also lower than the Germans.

Space

- MB E350 (maybe bigger than the Volvo?)
- Volvo XC70 (it still is a brick)
- BMW 535xi (Angled rear)
- Audi A6 (Angled rear)
- Subaru Outback (smaller than all the rest)

The Volvo and the rest of the German wagons are significantly larger than the Subaru.

Interior fit and finsih and Ergonomics

- Volvo XC70 (Swedish simple)
- MB E350 (chicklets for all)
- BMW 535xi (idrive – why?)
- Audi A6 (MMI makes iDrive a joy)
- Subaru Outback (not bad, but there is a difference)

My wife and drove the Subaru for about 2.5 hours and then immediately drove the Volvo for another two hours. But after ten minutes in the Volvo we knew it was superior to the Subaru. Try as many commenters have, there is no escaping the fact that a few thousand dollars buys better materials, soundproofing, fit and finish. The Volvo was not quite as good as the Audi, but on par with the MB and BMW.

Safety

I would call this a draw for all models.

Handling and ride

This is where it becomes incredibly subjective. We liked the Subaru (XT is sweet) and the Audi (the best for sheer drivability). The Volvo, and oddly the BMW seemed almost the same. Still cannot figure that out, what happened to BMW?

Final Analysis

While we really wanted to go with the Subaru, the Subaru’s deficiencies become apparent after an hour or two (yes, we take afternoon-long test drives). Maybe I am reaching Buickonian levels in my expectations of a pillow soft ride, but the Subaru felt like I was going back to Civic I drove in the 80’s. Sure it handled well, but it’s still an Outback and not a Legacy or Impreza. Also, the wind noise in the Subaru once you hit 65 became jet engine-like, but that’s a slam against jet engines. If I wanted a car to run errands, and make a quick drive dirve (less than two hours) to the ski hill, the Subaru would have won.

If money and reliability were no object, the Audi would have won, barely. The BMW and MB did not do much for us, and the price was a real challenge.

After much time and effort, the Volvo was our winner because it did well enough in all areas. Curiously, in every glossy car mag comparison test that I’ve seen, the XC70 has come out on top, and generally for the same reason. The Volvo is very competent. Bravo for comparison tests.

I have to disagree; it is this specific trim piece that, to me, looks garish and completely out of place.

Agreed. I think they’re way overdone.

Length: Volvo +1″
Front headroom: Outback +2″
F legroom: Outback +2″
R headroom: Outback +1″
R legroom: Volvo +1″
Luggage: Tie

The Outback starts at $21k

Compared to an Outback, the XC70/V70 isn’t that competitive on price though having given serious thought to an Outback recently I find it hard to get over the so-so interior and lousy transmissions.

I think there’s not many vehicles in this niche, Outback, Audi A4/A6 and V70/XC70. The BMW and Mercedes are in a higher price point, Saab is just not competitive and a VW Passat wagon is scary. No doubt Acura and Lexus will cotton on to this.