As the newly budget-conscious hoards of American families rush away from the big SUVs towards smaller crossovers and sports-wagons, Volvo will be praying in earnest that they rush towards their XC70. As a luxury wagon that offers all the space of a SUV without the gas guzzling and heavy handling that they are noted for, the 2009 XC70 is a great alternative in this growing class of opportunists, alongside the Subaru Outback, Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series wagons. While the XC70 certainly looks good and offers plenty of space, as well as a mind-boggling range of safety equipment, it doesn’t quite stack up in the performance department and isn’t quite as frugal on the fuel as many would like. It is redeemed somewhat this year by the addition of the turbocharged T6 which brings back some of the Volvo oomph that we have grown to love.
The 2009 Volvo XC70 carries the 3.2-liter inline-6 engine that has become part of the establishment in so many of the Volvo vehicles. It generates 235hp and 236lb-ft of torque, and while some appreciate its solid performance, there has been a great deal of criticism of this engine for its lack-lustre power. Overall we have found it to be perfectly adequate for most normal driving conditions, and even manages to pack a punch in uphill highway overtaking. However the folk at Volvo have answered the criticisms with a new T6 engine this year. It sports a 3.0-liter inline-6 that manages to increase the horsepower to 281hp and the torque to 296lb/ft. For the 3.2-liter engine’s detractors this should keep them happy at least until the upgrade comes about in a few more years. It is impressive in its lack of turbo lag and most certainly accelerates with an enthusiasm that its base cousin lacks.
Both models use a six-speed automatic with Geartronic that shifts smoothly in automatic mode and adds even more responsiveness with its manual shift mode. They also feature AWD that sends the majority of power to the front wheels in normal traction conditions and then shifts up to 65% to the rear wheels in the event of slippage. This makes it an ideal all-weather vehicle and also adds high ground clearance of 8.3inches to make even light off-road duties possible.
Driving the XC70 is definitely an improvement on a SUV but suffers from overly light steering and a high degree of body roll around corners. Suspension is particularly firm as is Volvo’s tendency, but we actually like the directness of it so have no complaints in that department. Fuel economy is not spectacular despite Volvo’s boasting that the XC70 is clearly better than most SUVs. The regular 3.2-liter engine makes 15/23mpg in city/highway with the T6 posting one less mpg on the highway.
2009 Volvo XC70 Interior and Features
Volvo always puts together simple but stylish interiors and the XC70 is no exception with just enough luxury elements to get it a place in the luxury class. The seats on all Volvos are one of the big drawcards for us, with just-enough-but-not-too-much bolstering and support to make it comfortable on long-haul trips but not feel like we are driving in a formula one vehicle. Space in the front and back seats is plenty even for the tallest amongst us, although trying to squeeze three large adults in the back seat may prove uncomfortable. In the cargo department, the XC70 offers as much if not more than most of its SUV rivals, with flat-folding second row seats that yield 72 cubic feet of storage area.
The main trim available for the 2009 Volvo XC70 is the base trim that comes with the 3.2-liter engine. Standard features include 16-inch alloy wheels, power front seats with memory, premium cloth upholstery, dual-zone climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel, universal garage door opener, cargo cover, Bluetooth and CD/MP3 player with 8-speakers. The T6 engine adds 17-inch alloy wheels with a unique instrument layout and dual exhausts.
An upgrade to the Premium Package is well worth the money for the wood and leather trim and sunroof which add a real luxury feel to the minimalistic Swedish design of the XC70. A Technology Package adds an upgraded stereo system with rear seat controls, bi-xenon headlights and satellite radio. The Climate Package adds heated headlamp washers and heated seats, and the Convenience Package adds park assist, power tailgate and air quality system. Finally the Collision Avoidance Package adds more warning beepers than could possibly be healthy, including lane departure warning, vehicle distance alert, collision warning and adaptive cruise control that adjusts braking in traffic situations. Additional is a blind spot alert system, navigation system, rear seat entertainment with dual screens, and remote starting system.
2009 Volvo XC70 Safety
Volvo is a hard act to beat in terms of safety, and each year seems to add an even more fantastic range of features. To keep the price down, Volvo has left many of these as options (as outlined above), but you can just see the engineers there at Volvo itching to get them included as standard. Apart from the features mentioned above, our personal favourite is an optional heartbeat monitor that detects if an intruder is in your car.
Safety features include:
- Stability control, ABS, brake assist and traction control
- Front-seat active head restraints
- Hill-descent control
- Dual front, front side and side curtain airbags
- Tire pressure monitor