Looking at its design, you would not think that this is a vehicle that was launched almost 30 years ago. Yes, this Volvo XC70 is 30 years old this year and it was designed to be the perfect motoring accompaniment for drivers with an outdoor lifestyle.
It offered good comfort and luxury for five adults yet has more than enough carrying space for items such as mountain bikes, skis (European and north American nations) and other sporting equipment.
This unique blend of abilities made the XC70 range a great success in America and Europe since it was first introduced in 1996, pioneering a whole new type of car.
For negotiating muddy forest tracks, wading rivers or powering up icy roads to ski chalets, the Volvo XC70 had electronically controlled All-Wheel Drive (AWD) as standard. Volvo’s unique Active Four-C chassis, which automatically adjusts dampers to provide flatter and more secure behaviour, is standard on SE Sport versions, improving handling and stability both on and off-road.
Hill Descent Control (HDC) which limits speed down steep, slippery descents to 6mph going forward and 4mph in reverse and greatly improves low-speed control which further boosts off-road credentials.
We all know that most crossovers like SUVs are rarely used in the rough stuff, Volvo XC70 owners do exploit their cars’ capabilities. ‘The XC70 has primarily been created to get you to the end of the road. But it has also shown its ability to take you further if you want to and dare to.
This Volvo XC70 was available with the second-generation, turbocharged, five-cylinder, common-rail D5 engine. This ultra-clean, 185PS, 400Nm engine, first shown on the S80, had a self-cleansing particulate filter as standard. Fuel economy was rated at 37.7mpg in the combined cycle, which equates to 199g/km which is a fine performance for a car with so much carrying capacity and on- and off-road potential.
The D5 diesel engine was available with a six-speed manual gearbox or six-speed Geartronic automatic, which also has a manual facility.
Safety innovations included a new design of child car seat with two-stage height-adjustable booster cushions that ensures optimal seatbelt geometry for maximum safety and protection but also offered good visibility out of the windows, making children (and parents) happier.
Primary safety is also improved thanks to an innovative new Adaptive Cruise Control with Distance Alert and the new Collision Warning with Auto Brake, which warns drivers when they are getting dangerously close to the car in front and then primes the strong disc brakes for maximum braking force.
Other safety features include numerous electronically controlled braking systems such as HBA (Hydraulic Brake Assist), RAB (Ready Alert Brakes), FBS (Fading Brake Support) and OHB (Optimised Hydraulic Brakes).
These above features ensured that the Volvo XC70 stops in the shortest possible distance. DSTC (Dynamic Stability and Traction Control) prevents skids and slides (especially useful on slippery surfaces).
