Volvo XC70
Well what can I say I really enjoyed driving this car, its great,
I can honestly say this is the first time I have been sorry to hand the keys back
The black leather trim edged in cream coupled with the walnut veneer dash and door trims was just so classy. it can only be described as pure luxury. Add to this the fully comprehensive optional extra pack and it becomes perfect.
When out on the road I just wanted to head into the countryside pull up at the side of the road, open the boot and have a picnic.
The XC70 is packed with safety features such as ground breaking pedestrian and cyclist detection.If anything get too close to the car, even when stationary you get flashing lights and warning pings going off telling you someone or something is close.
The same thing happens when you’re driving on roads and you cross over into another lane it pings to give you a warning. This is a good safety feature but could get a little annoying - I did get used to it.
Externally some of the changes to the look of the car include a bolder front grill, day time running lights also the XC70 is available with wheels up to 19” in diameter raising the ground clearance.
The interior is well designed and very spacious having a family of four kids there was loads of room in the front and in the back you can fold the seats down independently for extra space when loading. With the seats all folded flat you get a huge 1600 litres of space which for a full weekly shop came in handy. or going on holiday it could easily handle our suitcases
It’s great for driving around town and in the country it’s a great four wheel drive with good ground clearance, although I wouldn’t want to use is as an off roader, but I still really liked it
Key points, lots of safety features so you feel safe driving it, the car holds the road well, I liked the steering, the Volvo XC70 gets 2 thumbs up from us at femalefirst. Susan Reay
Volvo XC70 - model year 2014 the official line
The new XC70 also features the groundbreaking Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection with full auto brake.
DESIGN
Bold and wide
A number of new exterior design cues sharpen the XC70's contemporary road presence. These include a bolder front grille, a new bigger ironmark, and details such as the Daytime Running Lights and added matte silver touches. The XC70 is available with wheels up to 19-inches in diameter. The aim is to emphasise the luxurious feel with a more road-hugging stance.
The XC70 also features improved off-road design cues such as skidplates that protect the car on really uneven surfaces.
Luxury interiors with first-class functionality
The rugged, yet sophisticated exterior is also reflected in the bespoke interior packages.
The XC70 offers first-class comfort and sophistication combined with an impressive 575 litres of load space. The rear seats can be folded down in three 40/20/40 segments, giving more options to configure the space. With all of the rear seats folded flat, the load space grows to a cavernous 1,600 litres. The power-operated tailgate, operated remotely via the key fob or the dashboard, is another human-centric detail.
The rear seat can integrate double two-stage child seats - with one simple movement, booster cushions pop up from the seat giving a comfortable and safe ride height for children from the age of three and upwards.
CHASSIS & POWER TRAINS
Controlled ride
The car has been developed and balanced to give a first-class driving experience, based largely on pliant ride and secure road holding allied to high stability. Stability is particularly important when driving with many passengers and a lot of luggage.
All-Wheel Drive and the optional Hill Descent Control are a further boost to the XC70's go-anywhere promise.
The XC70 can be optionally specified with an active chassis based on Volvo's Four-C technology. It is an advanced self-regulating chassis system that uses a number of sensors to continuously monitor the car's behaviour. The dampers are adjusted to suit the current driving conditions in mere fractions of a second.
Powerful T6 version
The T6 petrol engine has a displacement of 3.0 litres and pumps out 304 hp and no less than 440 Nm of torque. Fuel consumption is 26.7mpg (EU Combined). The engine's power is delivered to the wheels via Volvo's second-generation six-speed automatic Geartronic transmission. All Wheel Drive (AWD) is standard.
D5 with 215 hp
The five-cylinder D5 turbo diesel has 215 hp and 440 Nm of torque. AWD is standard. The D5 with manual gearbox has fuel consumption at 53.3mpg (139 g/km).
The automatic D4 (163 hp) version with front wheel drive now has fuel consumption of 47.9mpg (154 g/km), while the figures with the manual gearbox are up to 53.3 (139 g/km). AWD versions of the D4 come in at 53.3mpg for the manual and 44.1mpg for the automatic.
SENSUS
Sensus Connected Touch - new connectivity possibilities
The HMI (Human Machine Interface) functionality Sensus is extended with the option to add intuitive all-new technology that enables connectivity and Internet in the car. The Sensus Connected Touch turns the 7-inch display into a state-of-the-art infrared, beam-scanned touch screen that can be used even when wearing gloves - a world first in cars.
The driver goes online either via a car-mounted 3G/4G dongle or a personal mobile phone and the features include the industry's first in-dash, fully integrated, voice search Spotify application. The voice-activation system works on all music sources connected to the Connected Touch. It is also possible to share a WiFi network with everyone in the car.
Adaptive Digital Display
The Adaptive Digital Display, which debuted in the all-new V40, uses an active TFT (Thin Film Transistor) crystal display to bring the driver personalised information. The default mode Elegance has a classic look and layout. The Eco mode has a green colour theme and is designed to encourage and reward a fuel-efficient driving style. Performance features red illumination, and a rev scale replaces the speedometer displayed in the Elegance and Eco versions.
Heated steering wheel and paddle shifters
To give drivers in cold climate extra comfort, three-spoke steering wheels can now be specified with electric heating. Cars with automatic transmission can get paddle shifters that give the driver the opportunity to shift gear manually with both hands on the wheel. Cars equipped with a rain sensor can now also get an electrically heated windscreen for rapid de-icing on cold winter days.
SAFETY
IntelliSafe, Volvo's blanket name for all active safety systems, is an important part of the driver-centric approach in the XC70.
New Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection technology
New advanced software, including more rapid vision processing, has now made it possible to extend Volvo Cars' present detection and auto brake technology to cover certain cyclist situations as well.
The new Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection with full auto brake is equipped with an advanced sensor system that scans the area ahead. If a cyclist heading in the same direction as the car suddenly swerves out in front of the car as it approaches from behind and collision is imminent, there is an instant warning and full braking power is applied.
The technology also detects if a pedestrian steps out into the road in front of the car. If the driver does not respond in time, the car can warn and automatically activate the brakes.
City Safety - active up to 31mph
The XC70 features an upgraded City Safety system. This system is active at speeds up to 31mph. The car automatically brakes if the driver fails to react in time when the vehicle in front slows down or stops - or if the car is approaching a stationary vehicle too fast.
Active High Beam Control - more relaxed driving in the dark
The Active High Beam Control helps the driver use high beam more efficiently. It also offers automatic switching between high and low beam at the right moment.
Road Sign Information - an extra "eye" on the traffic environment
Road Sign Information supports the driver by displaying road signs in the instrument display. Road Sign Information can be combined with the Speed Alert function, which provides the driver with a visual warning in the speedometer if the speed limit is exceeded.
Volvo On Call combined with Bluetooth
The Volvo On Call system can be combined with the Bluetooth mobile phone service. The Bluetooth connection allows hands-free phone conversations as well as music streaming from a preferred Bluetooth enabled portable music player. Volvo is actually the only brand to offer Bluetooth music streaming throughout the entire vehicle range.
Keep in touch via mobile application
A mobile application that makes sure that the driver can stay in touch with the parked car via an iPhone or Android smart phone. The mobile application is an extension of Volvo On Call.
Owners of all new models with Volvo On Call can download the application that opens up a range of connectivity possibilities. The mobile app is free and downloaded via the iPhone and Android application stores. The app is designed to offer the owner an intuitive, easy-to-use relationship with the car from a distance.
Crumple zones made using different grades of steel
The patented front body structure is divided into zones, each of which has a different task during the deformation sequence. The outer zones are responsible for most of the deformation. The closer the collision forces get to the passenger compartment, the less the material deforms. In order to give each zone the right properties, different grades of steel are used in different structures.