Volvo of Houston

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Walk Around

For 2008, nearly everything in the Volvo V70 has changed, from its engine to the interior to the basic architecture of its chassis.

Exterior dimensions have changed with everything else. The V70, along with the XC70, is now built on what Volvo calls its large car platform, which was introduced with the 2007 S80 luxury sedan. The previous V70 shared its underpinnings with the intermediate S60 sedan. The important point is that the V70 now has more in common with the line-topping S80 than the mid-size S60. And given that it shares a larger car's platform, it might seem odd that the 2008 V70 is nearly a foot shorter than the 2007 V70. Its wheelbase, however, increases about two inches to 110.8. The result is more room inside while taking up less parking space outside. Overall, the 2008 V70 is a bit shorter but wider than a BMW 5 Series wagon. It's slightly lighter, too, despite a 231-pound increase in curb weight compared to the 2007 V70. The 2008 V70 weighs 3,527 pounds.

The V70 body was developed with Volvo's usual attention to impact-dissipating crumple zones, and it features fully laminated glass. The styling is Volvo evolution, but the 2008 V70 is smoother, less gangly and visually tighter than the 2007 V70. In profile, the character line at the bottom of the windows rises a bit more dramatically, creating a more forward leaning, dynamic stance. The rear glass now angles forward toward the front of the car, rather than dropping cliff-like from the back edge of the roof, yet there's still there's a bit more cargo volume inside.

The headlights and grille are larger, a bit more angular and more prominently defined. From the rear, the V70's hexagonal shape reminds us of Volvo's new, small C30 coupe. The tail lights are very big and bright enough to startle in the dark, and the rear glass window extends down lower than the side windows to improve rearward visibility. The optional, hydraulically operated power tailgate is handy if you approach the back of this car with arms loaded, and it keeps hands cleaner if the tailgate is coated with grime.

Interior

2008 Volvo V70

The Volvo V70 cabin is the company's best interior yet. It's understated, elegant and nicely polished. Materials and overall finish are high-grade. While its interior borrows heavily from Volvo's line-topping S80 sedan, taking both design themes and components such as gauges, switches and console, the V70 interior has its own feel.

Safety was a priority. With the 2008 V70, Volvo refined its whiplash-limiting seat design, called WHIPS. During a rear-end impact, the seatbacks move rearward to reduce acceleration forces on the occupant's back and neck, while the headrest pushes forward and upward slightly to meet the neck and head as they are thrust backward.

The V70 driver sits before a fat, leather-wrapped steering wheel, looking at big, crisp gauges with bright-white backlighting and number gradients that are easy for the brain to absorb. The standard trim is etched aluminum, but the optional walnut and walnut root are gorgeous. The overall effect is very Scandinavian.

The coolest element may be the thin-panel center stack. It's no more than two inches thick, with open space behind it. Most controls are placed here, with audio above climate and a display at the top, arranged in a neat, symmetrical pattern. The primary knobs are big and raised substantially from the surface, and the airflow controls are fashioned in an icon shaped like a seated person shaped icon, so there's absolutely no confusion about directing air toward the face, feet or windshield.

It's all quite clean and pleasing. Most significantly, measured by function and simplicity of operation, the V70's various controls are better than most other luxury brands, and particularly German brands, which still insist on layering more menus in their interfaces while adding more buttons. This might be enough reason for some to choose Volvo.

The navigation system is new, and promising. The screen pops up vertically from the center of the dash, though it's canted forward at what seems like a strange angle. The driver surfs through menus and makes choices with buttons on the back of the steering wheel spokes, almost where you'd expect paddle shifters for an automatic transmission. Our initial reaction is that it's better than other systems (unless, of course, you absolutely need those paddle shifters). The menus are no more difficult to learn, and they're managed without taking hands from the steering wheel and fishing for the controls. Passengers can control the system with a remote.

The seats are excellent. It's hard to find a better mix of comfort and support for daily driving. The optional leather upholstery is smooth and stretched tautly over the front seats. Ventilated cool seats are optional.

The value of the fold-flat front-passenger seat should not be underestimated as it allows hauling of long items, such as a ladder or a nine-foot fly rod rigged and ready to move to the next spot upstream. The design seems to do nothing to diminish the seat's comfort, yet its back can fold forward to a level on the same plain as the folded rear seat and cargo floor. In-cabin storage tends to be short in modern Volvos, though it's decent in the V70. The center console and glovebox hold quite a bit of stuff. The pockets behind the front seatbacks are handy and the cupholders work well.

The rear seats are not the roomiest, given the apparent size of the vehicle. We wouldn't recommend six-footers sit back there for a cross-country trip. However, there is enough room that someone 5-foot, 9 inches won't get claustrophobic or cramped riding across town, and we think it would be fine for families until the kids are well into their teens. The rear DVD system puts a screen in the back of both front headrests, which we prefer to those that drop from the headliner.

The cargo area is one of the V70's strengths. The rear seat folds easily, 40/20/40, allowing lots of flexibility with passengers and

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