- station wagon 162,190
- 1,359 below average
- 1,800 great
- Stratford, CT
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- autoshopper.com
- 1,359 below average station wagon 162,190 green manual
1998 volvo v70 review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Polishing the gold standard. introductionthe introduction of a new volvo is such a rare occasion that it deserves to be noticed. Change comes slowly to the swedish firm, which tends to keep good products in its catalog far longer than industry norms. with the new s70 and v70--plus the soon-to-arrive c70 coupe and a later soft-top sibling--volvo is revealing both a new car and a new model designation system. Said system, in which s denotes a sedan, v a wagon (and, perhaps, a rumored sport-utility machine) and c a coupe or convertible, is combined with a number that applies to an entire line. S- and v90, for example, are the new names for the current 960 sedan and wagon. it's not entirely correct to call the s- and v70s totally new. There's a strong resemblance to last model year's 850 that will be readily apparent at a glance. Good reason: the 70-series sedans and wagons are mildly facelifted 850s, with some improvements made where they count most and a new face that follows volvo design tradition but is more up-to-date. but the 70-cars are new enough to warrant a good, long look, and keep enough of the virtues 850 owners prize to make them attractive replacements for those cars when trade-in time rolls around. Volvo hasn't offered a sporty coupe since the 1970s; this one is worth the wait. For starters, the basic s- and v70 use a 168-hp inline five-cylinder engine, transversely mounted and driving the front wheels. Standard equipment includes abs, air conditioning, all the usual interior power assists (with keyless remote entry for the door locks), heated side mirrors, an excellent sound system and a host of smaller but significant comfort and convenience features. The gt version adds aluminum alloy wheels, a power driver's seat and a power glass sunroof. at the glt trim level, the 70s are equipped with a turbocharged version of the base powerplant, raising output to 190 hp and, more important in the real world, increasing torque and lowering the engine speed at which it peaks. An even more powerful (236 hp) edition of the same engine powers the t5 wagons and sedans, as well as the c70. a separate model, the v70 awd, is volvo's first all-wheel drive car. It is powered by the same engine used in the glt and, like that version, is available only with an automatic transmission. interiorthe 70-series new interior represents a major improvement over what was already a well-designed and roomy cabin. Former hard corners have been rounded off, giving dashboard, center console and door panels a more attractive look. Soft-faced switches are placed for easier use. For example, window switches are now on the driver's door armrest rather than the center console, and the seats have new frames and padding. other important changes are invisible. The b or central roof pillar has been reinforced to provide extra crush resistance in side impacts; driver and front-seat passenger are further protected by standard side-impact airbags. A new steering column design reduces wheel intrusion into the cabin in frontal impacts. those items add mental comfort for occupants who are already well taken care of in physical comfort terms. Little is left to be added in the 70 series, though the automatic air conditioning (glt and t5 models) and optional heated front seats will be appreciated in certain climates. Wood trim accents are optional. though more stylish, the interior has lost none of its functionality. The driving position is, as always, good, made better for all drivers by tilt/telescope steering wheel adjustments. Gauges for car and engine speed, fuel level and coolant temperature have large, clear markings, and can be supplemented with an optional trip computer. Stretch-out room for all five occupants is more than ample, and the sedan's large 15 cubic-foot trunk can be doubled in size by folding the rear seat back. Even the base engine will get a 70 down the road smartly while returning good fuel economy. A harmonic-rich hum (common to five-cylinder engines) is too muted to bother anyone, and wind and road noise are kept to a minimum. improvements in ride and handling give the 70s broader appeal. Past versions have been criticized for ride quality judged too harsh by many testers; this was especially true of the high-performance versions. The 70s still ride firmly, but changes to springs and shock absorbers should mute the complaints. T5 drivers may want to avoid bad road surfaces, but the standard, gt and glt versions are noticeably more comfortable, if not yet as soft-riding as some competitors. conversely, the softer suspension settings seem to have had no affect on handling. Both sedan and wagon are more nimble than their size might suggest, and take readily to fast driving on winding roads. Even in arctic weather conditions, the v70 awd felt safe and secure, picking its way over snow- and ice-covered roads with considerably more ease than its front-wheel drive counterparts, even when the latter were equipped with the optional tracs traction-control system. summarythe 850 was a very good car. The 70-series is better. Polishing the gold standard. introductionnavigating alaska's rugged chugach mountains is not a challenge we'd normally accept in a car designed for an affluent urban lifestyle. But with the introduction of the v70 xc cross country wagon, volvo is boldly going where no swedish automaker has gone before. for years, volvo has enjoyed a distinct identity. Long the leader in automotive safety, volvos were popular among people with families. But along came minivans, sport-utility vehicles and pickups and they now account for nearly half of all sales. unwilling to get into the sport-utility business, volvo has introduced the v70 xc awd. Xc is short for 'cross country' and is among a growing new breed of vehicles designed to blend the best features of passenger cars and sport-utilities. volvo's v70 xc awd is based on a conventional volvo v70 station wagon, so it handles like a european sports sedan and comes loaded with an attractive interior and a range of luxurious options. A sophisticated all-wheel-drive (awd) system dramatically improves traction on wet and snowy roads. An increased ground clearance gives the xc better capability over backwoods trails. in short, volvo's new xc wagon adds off-highway capability to volvo's legendary level of safety engineering, comfort and driving pleasure. After spending time driving this car down highways and rough unpaved roads, we think it more than exceeds the needs of most people. walkaroundimage has a lot to do with the huge popularity of sport-utility vehicles. Volvo engineers recognized that simply adding all-wheel drive to their superb v70 wagon wouldn't be enough to compete in the booming sport-utility market. so they raised the xc body a bit to give it not only more ground clearance, but also a more macho appearance. The exterior is sportier, with an aggressive grille, front air dam and aggressive, gray body moldings unique to the xc. Fog lights are standard, as is the roof rack. Taller 205/65hr15 tires add to the xc's heightened stance compared to the more conventional v70 and v70 awd wagons. drivers sit higher, giving them a more commanding view of the road, a big draw for suvs and other light trucks. Air Conditioning✔ Sunroof/Moonroof✔ Alloy Wheels
1,800 Stratford, CTStratford, CT at autoshopper.com